What are Steam Dreams like to travel on?

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello all,

I see this Saturday is the St David's excursion to Cardiff which picks up at Bath, with a cut price fare between Bath and Cardiff, probably to sell seats for those choosing to spend the day in Bath.

It's now booked for a Black 5 which is more interesting, plus I've not done mainline steam before. I have never done Steam Dreams either but looking at the booking, the Standard class fare is called 'Standard Premier' which apparently means there are cloths over the tables and you get served tea/biscuits.

To me this sounds like a lower grade of first class, which makes me wonder is it normal standard or is the train probably all first class.

Due to me having Dyspraxia, I get rather worried about these new things, I'm actually more worried if I look like a pillock in 'Standard Premier' in my normal basic clothes (I don't do street wear fancy things) only to find everyone is wearing casual smart clothing (as you would do in, say, First Class).

I don't mind smart casual, but then it's not appropriate when I want to do a Valleys ranger bash, and maybe the odd window leaning on departures too.

Do you get a book too like with Pathfinder/UKR along with a timings section where you can fill out the actual times?


Any help appreciated as I want to book this ASAP, but I don't want to find out I've booked myself on some VSOE train!

 

[Siqulme]

Hi

I travelled on the St Davids express 2 years with Steam Dreams and had a very enjoyable time. I travelled in Pullman class (free upgrade due to a network rail mess up. Result) and people in that werent that smart. I was dressed in a shirt and trousers and was smarter then most. Its certainly not VSOE standard its far more relaxed and causal.

You do get a book to read and it has lots of information. My other half enjoyed reading it as not being a steam buff she didnt know that much.

Cheers

Simon

 

[thegrimeater]

Just got back from their London to shildon trip and while it was a good trip the catering service in standard was abismal. There was no access to the buffet car so you had to order food from the guys doing the free tea and coffee, fine, except they were dreadfully slow and inefficient.

 

[Techniquest]

Gotta point out one thing there:

Dyspraxia is a problem of co-ordination between the brain, eyes and hands/feet. I have that in a mild form but I just get on with it.

Dyslexia, if that's what you meant, is the one with spelling and reading issues.

As for the tour, never done Steam Dreams but it sounds worth it. Dress code, well I'd liken it to going to your Mum's for dinner, smart casual clothes should do the job.

 

[Johnny_w]

I did the double black 5's around kent in December.

Very enjoyable. More tea than i could drink, excellent staff.

Seating a tad uncomfortable. ..but i am 6ft5!

Clothing wise....anything went

JW

 

[broadgage]

I have travelled with steam dreams at least twice and would recomend them.

I would consider any normal casual or business atire to be fine in "standard premier" which is basicly standard class with free VERY LIMITED refreshments.

I wore work trousers, a polo shirt and a pullover, and safety shoes and felt suitably dressed.

As posted above, catering service could be improved.
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Gotta point out one thing there:

Dyspraxia is a problem of co-ordination between the brain, eyes and hands/feet. I have that in a mild form but I just get on with it.

Dyslexia, if that's what you meant, is the one with spelling and reading issues.

As for the tour, never done Steam Dreams but it sounds worth it. Dress code, well I'd liken it to going to your Mum's for dinner, smart casual clothes should do the job.

Yes, both are usually relatively minor disabilities.
Dyspraxia is arguably more of an impediment on a moving train, any impairment of cordination between brain and limbs is more likely to be a problem on a moving train, with increased risk of falling over, splling food and drink etc.

Dyslexia on the other hand might be a problem when booking, but should matter not in the least once on board. On most rail tours dining is offered, but with a set menu so no need to read a long menu and decide.
"roastbeeforveggieburgerwhosenextplease" !

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Also dyspraxia counts as:

There may be a range of co-occurring difficulties which can also have serious negative impacts on daily life. These include social and emotional difficulties as well as problems with time management, planning and personal organisation, and these may also affect an adult’s education or employment experiences.
Many people with DCD also experience difficulties with memory, perception and processing. While DCD is often regarded as an umbrella term to cover motor coordination difficulties, dyspraxia refers to those people who have additional problems planning, organising and carrying out movements in the right order in everyday situations. Dyspraxia can also affect articulation and speech, perception and thought.

It's what my doctor once said I'm likely to have when I was depressed, as you know I have speech problems and a couple of other things. I tend to get nervous doing 'new' things like this, hell I get worried and nervous if I have to make a phone call!


I've gone ahead and booked it, Cardiff Days ranger for me on Saturday then!

 

[Techniquest]

Things like speech and nervousness would explain a lot with me too. Especially applies when dealing the boss lol

 

[heart-of-wessex]

You know I thought you had the same as me, where like me I know what I want to say ahead of what I'm saying, then I just end up tumbling the words over.

Cannot wait for some Stanier 5 thrash, Especially up the 1 in 100 part of the Severn Tunnel! You've had a pair of these beast's haven't you Techniquest?

Also looking at the Steam Dreams Brochure, it does look like an operator that picks up at places where no one else does. What other tour starts at Horsham and calls at Dorking, Leatherhead, Cheam then RA Canterbury! Don't even know what route that is taking to Canterbury..

 

[Siqulme]

The Steam Dream Brochure is very odd. With all the railway photographers out there who would love there pictures in print why would you use the photos of a) Canadian Pacific (a locomotive being stripped down and hasnt been mainline in years) and b) Clan Line pretending to 35017 Belguim Marine (Only does 2 tours a year and it was Belguim Marine many years ago for just a couple of months). Just seems rather odd.

 

[thegrimeater]

The Steam Dream Brochure is very odd. With all the railway photographers out there who would love there pictures in print why would you use the photos of a) Canadian Pacific (a locomotive being stripped down and hasnt been mainline in years) and b) Clan Line pretending to 35017 Belguim Marine (Only does 2 tours a year and it was Belguim Marine many years ago for just a couple of months). Just seems rather odd.

The information booklet for the trip yesterday had an unbranded virgin livery Hornby 47 to illustrate the motive power of the day!

 

[Techniquest]

You know I thought you had the same as me, where like me I know what I want to say ahead of what I'm saying, then I just end up tumbling the words over.

Cannot wait for some Stanier 5 thrash, Especially up the 1 in 100 part of the Severn Tunnel! You've had a pair of these beast's haven't you Techniquest?

Also looking at the Steam Dreams Brochure, it does look like an operator that picks up at places where no one else does. What other tour starts at Horsham and calls at Dorking, Leatherhead, Cheam then RA Canterbury! Don't even know what route that is taking to Canterbury..

I do get like that a lot aye!

Not aware of having had a pair of Black 5s or even a single one. At least I've had a Manor on the mainline, on some of the toughest gradients around

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Hello all,

I see this Saturday is the St David's excursion to Cardiff which picks up at Bath, with a cut price fare between Bath and Cardiff, probably to sell seats for those choosing to spend the day in Bath.

It's now booked for a Black 5 which is more interesting, plus I've not done mainline steam before. I have never done Steam Dreams either but looking at the booking, the Standard class fare is called 'Standard Premier' which apparently means there are cloths over the tables and you get served tea/biscuits.

To me this sounds like a lower grade of first class, which makes me wonder is it normal standard or is the train probably all first class.

Due to me having Dyspraxia, I get rather worried about these new things, I'm actually more worried if I look like a pillock in 'Standard Premier' in my normal basic clothes (I don't do street wear fancy things) only to find everyone is wearing casual smart clothing (as you would do in, say, First Class).

I don't mind smart casual, but then it's not appropriate when I want to do a Valleys ranger bash, and maybe the odd window leaning on departures too.

Do you get a book too like with Pathfinder/UKR along with a timings section where you can fill out the actual times?


Any help appreciated as I want to book this ASAP, but I don't want to find out I've booked myself on some VSOE train!

Did you go on the steam dreams trip recently. Hope it was good.

When I travel in standard class or even rarely in first class, I wear jeans or slacks and a dark coloured pullover, which most people tend to do (I wore an off white cricket sweater once, which got rather smutty by the end of the day, hence the darker pullover suggestion) .

I may tend to dress a bit more formally if I was going premier dining or VSOE, but that would only be if someone else was paying or my lottery numbers came up.

 

[waynenm1]

I've done three Steam Dreams trips now (two 4 day trips and one single day trip) and enjoyed them all. My only regret is the lack of photo runby's on the UK main lines. I've gotten the Premier Dining option every time since the extra cost is insignificant compared to my cost for the flight across the pond and wandering around the UK and the continent visiting friends and relatives for a couple weeks. Besides, I'm curious about the meals served. As folks have mentioned, slacks and sport shirt (with a sweater, jacket or raingear if needed) is sufficient, you can leave the tux/tiara at home.....
--
wf.