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I'm sure a degree of that will be down the sheer generational experience passed on between the maintenance people and crews working on them who actually either like or accept them in the main as they've been a part of the railway scene down there for over 45 years.

Bristol to Carlisle with Tangmere Carnforth - CARLISLE - S&C - Preston announced today. Presumably top n tail type 4s on the other 2 legs. Same sort of standard class fare as the diesel trips so OK with the steam legs. First Saturday in September.

Scotland will potentially be the last hst home and XC potentially the first to get rid. The main obstacles in Scotland to getting rid of them quickly will be crew training on replacement trains, followed by needing something IC standard, or that can be passed off as such at least.

It's a shame running them with Voyagers via Nuneaton then Water Orton to serve Birmingham isn't possible given that drags are no longer possible.

For context a Statesman 3 day weekend railtour in first class this weekend and last weekend is £470 non dining now and that doesn't include hotels but does include hot drinks and a few light snack boxes. Other food and meals bought separately. So sounds like it's in a similar range to your idea...

Let's hope it goes OK on the day and some more last minutes book. Generally the first has sold well recently but standard class has struggled more than usual since the post covid lockdowns resumption. This one very much an out of usual season experiment but has attracted some folk from England...

Remember having such challenges several years ago when involved in the revival of small passenger carrying steam tug. It was bad enough then but don't envy the heritage sector a few years later. Comrade Drakeford and the champagne guzzling pair of eco fanatics in number 10 may well help strangle...

90 something was mooted elsewhere BUT the BLS "IC spokesperson" never confirmed or denied that so it was passengers on the train stating that. 2x mk3 FO and an RFM plus DVT would fit that amount of people in, but you'd probably take an extra FO and leave the buffet spare. I guess there is no...

Unfortunately with rising costs and above inflation fare rises necessary I'd expect to see more of it. Good for solving the problem short term but bash goodwill with those already booked.

And sure enough on my last point I believe at least 3 of the AC hauled ones between North West big cities and Euston in conjunction with the Jubilee have been removed from the INTERCITY website. I've a good degree of faith in most of what's left going ahead, but a donkey is a donkey alas, and...

Owch. Similar arrival times/issues on the diverted F24 and equivalent late running on Saturday nights into the Sunday AM into Liverpool, also diesel worked. Waiting at Crewe with locked waiting rooms until 02xx instead of 23xx followed by clashing with the dregs of the nightclubs in a very long...

Had a good few runs on the last Euston to Wolves over 20 years ago and recall some set down only stops but generally it ran via Nuneaton the nights I chose. A couple of times it was attached at Rugby at weekends but in later years it was dragged throughout a handful of weekday nights per month...

That was suggested some months back but I've no idea whether it happened as I've not noticed anything since on the subject. For all I know the set is still in existence.

Seems to be a return to the scrap moves now its determined TFW have what they need, there's no additional LNER spares wanted and Grand Union don't seem to be proceeding with their mk4 plan now. On the latter note, I say that on the basis that it's gone quiet and there's not going to be the...

Only less than several years ago they were a core part of the fleet still on at least a few of these most days. Now they are very much the contingency/RHTT season pool. It is rare these days to see them do all that much agreed.

They could be better, but the data doesn't quite back that up. They are not the common reason for inappropriate units substituting. As I said crewing problems first, followed by stock/DVT gremlins, then route/network issues and the locos probably 4th place albeit not as good as they could be. I...

Said with no particular liking for the locomotives themselves - it's not the 67s themselves that are all that bad for these services. The crewing is that finely balanced still that sometimes few, if any 67/mk4 sets can be turned out on the 6 scheduled runs Monday to Friday (with a weekly stock...

Hopefully you raised the issues with staff on the day and could move seats. It's possible the sticking door could have been sorted out by someone taking a look and adjusting something.

You simply haven't got time on the Ffestiniog steam trip. It's early off Preston, 3 hours at BF, and late back. No give in it at all from that perspective. The Valley triangle is only any good for the Holyhead trips really although on rare occasions stuff taking 4 or 5 hours at Llandudno Town...

Yes, still the case. Tender first operation does happen still but usually for short distances and for operational necessity. In recent years one of the farthest such examples is Chester area (after a spin on the triangle) to Llandudno Junction on the annual RTC Preston to Ffestiniog steam...