English Riviera Express 2022

[MatthewRead]

Does anyone know why they’re all on Saturdays and not Sundays this year?
Plus they're coming from as far afield as Wolverhampton.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Does anyone know why they’re all on Saturdays and not Sundays this year?
Plus they're coming from as far afield as Wolverhampton.

Who are operating these and are they steam or diesel?

 

[JonathanH]

Does anyone know why they’re all on Saturdays and not Sundays this year?
Plus they're coming from as far afield as Wolverhampton.

Presumably they are more marketable on a Saturday and it allows easier passage from further afield. A Wolverhampton start is quite handy for stock and locomotives based in Crewe as it reduces empty running.

Ultimately the reason they run at all is to make money for the operator.

Who are operating these and are they steam or diesel?

Saphos Trains running with steam traction. This is one example of a number of journeys.
https://saphostrains.com/journey/english-riviera-express-30-07-22

DEPARTING FROM
KETTERING,
WELLINGBOROUGH,
BEDFORD,
LUTON,
ST ALBANS,
SLOUGH,
MAIDENHEAD,
READING,
TAUNTON
We recreate one of the great holiday trains of the golden age of railway travel for a steam hauled journey through Somerset and around the beautiful Devon coast with time available to discover the many charms of the pretty ‘English Riviera’ resort of Dartmouth.

The train is diesel hauled to Taunton where one of our famous steam locomotives takes over for the journey through the remote Blackdown hills and down the Exe Valley to Exeter, before heading along the estuary with its pretty fishing boats and stunning views across to Exmouth and the Jurassic coast. Continuing past Powderham Castle and along the famous sea wall line we race through tunnels and cuttings of red rock and beside beaches and coves with the sea keeping company with the train.



At Paignton we join the steeply graded heritage line and travel through the woodland estate once owned by Agatha Christie, then alongside the beautiful River Dart with views of HMS Britannia – not a ship but the college that has trained generations of naval officers. We soon arrive at the riverside terminus at Kingswear, where it is a short crossing on the ferry (price included) to the historic and romantic port of Dartmouth – there are antique shops, galleries, and cafes to explore – why not take a leisurely cruise on the River Dart or explore Dartmouth Castle before perhaps indulging in a delicious Devon cream tea. There should be around four hours at leisure before we return in the late afternoon.

The train is steam hauled from Taunton by one of our immaculately restored pool of engines including: the world famous LMS Royal Scot Class, No.46100 ‘Royal Scot’ – West Country Class, No. 34046 ‘Braunton’ – Britannia Pacific Class, No 70000 ‘Britannia’ – LNER A4 Pacific No 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’

 

[MatthewRead]

Presumably they are more marketable on a Saturday and it allows easier passage from further afield. A Wolverhampton start is quite handy for stock and locomotives based in Crewe as it reduces empty running.

Ultimately the reason they run at all is to make money for the operator.


Saphos Trains running with steam traction. This is one example of a number of journeys.
https://saphostrains.com/journey/english-riviera-express-30-07-22

I thought that there would be more pathing constraints on a summer Saturday.

 

[JonathanH]

I thought that there would be more pathing constraints on a summer Saturday.

Not these days. The timetable on Summer Saturdays through Devon no longer includes a lot of off-pattern mainline services, any more than a Sunday does. It looks like the trains have a stop at Taunton to put the steam engine on. Taunton to Kingswear isn't that far in the grand scheme of things.

 

[JKF]

Bizarrely, this one has a pick-up at Patchway! Is that unusual for an excursion? Perhaps no capacity for stopping south of the Filton junctions so this is the least-worse option to serve Bristol?

Page not found – Saphos

saphostrains.com

Also not sure they will quite capture the real feel of the seaside excursion, my memories of childhood train journeys (firmly in the diesel era) are of compartment stock, with buckets and spades in the overhead racks. An open MK2 is lacking something of the atmosphere.

 

[JonathanH]

Also not sure they will quite capture the real feel of the seaside excursion, my memories of childhood train journeys (firmly in the diesel era) are of compartment stock, with buckets and spades in the overhead racks. An open MK2 is lacking something of the atmosphere.

I'm not sure you have identified the market segment these particular trips are aimed at. Most of the Saphos coaches are open first class Mark 1s, although there is an air conditioned Mark 2 and a compartment first class Mark 1 as well.