Next class 50 tour?

[TomJ93]

I can't find word on any happening, is there likely to be one in the near future?

 

[Drimnagh Road]

From the current Rail Express magazine:

European railtour and holiday promoter PTG tours has announced tentative details of a number of weekend breaks for 2011 which will use Class 50 power, initially in the form of D444 & 50049 Defiance.

Provisional destinations are Paignton, Edinburgh and North Wales, with all tours starting from London at 'sociable' times (the aim being to leave after 09:00 and arrive back by 20:00 on Sunday).

The trains will be formed of mk3 coaching stock, which will compliment the pair of hoovers, (both in versions of blue, original and large logo). In due course, 50026 Indomitable is also expected to be used on the series of trains, a logical move given that it is owned by PTG director Paul Spracklen.


Sure enough, a check on the PTG website reveals more information on this,

18 / 19 June is London-Edinburgh, http://www.ptg.co.uk/tours/UKEdinburgh.pdf

3 / 4 September is London-Holyhead http://www.ptg.co.uk/tours/UKSnowdon.pdf

 

[4SRKT]

Hmmm. The curse of aircons on railtours continues. Count me out.

And since when did mk IIIs 'compliment the pair of hoovers'? If you're going to shut people up in coffins it's good that they're upfront about it (rather than trying to avoid any reference to it on websites as some operators do), so that the thrash meisters don't get conned. But please PTG, don't make up lies to justify the use of them.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

4SRKT, despite the fact it's aircons, I thought there was no way you could miss this one, what with the overnight stay giving you that much sought after extra time to enjoy the full delights of Holyhead!

 

[4SRKT]

I'm sure the full delights of Holyhead can be discovered in as much time as it takes to walk to that fish and chip shop a couple of hundred yards down the A5 from the station!

 

[Chester025]

Hmmm. The curse of aircons on railtours continues. Count me out.

And since when did mk IIIs 'compliment the pair of hoovers'? If you're going to shut people up in coffins it's good that they're upfront about it (rather than trying to avoid any reference to it on websites as some operators do), so that the thrash meisters don't get conned. But please PTG, don't make up lies to justify the use of them.

Big deal, its a pair of vacs on the ECML in 2011, be greatful that you can still enjoy it!

 

[4SRKT]

I won't be enjoying it because I won't be on it. I've got much better things to spend my money on than this.

 

[TomJ93]

Will there be a fight for windows by bashers?

 

[4SRKT]

Will there be a fight for windows by bashers?

Possibly!

You've stumbled on my pet grievance here! Ignore me as I always bang on about this. I'd rather tour operators didn't use aircons, but I'm always pleased that when they do they advertise it in advance. Some operators seem to think this doesn't matter, but to me it'd be like not advertising the traction.

I like aircons on loco-hauled service trains BTW, but that's because there's rarely any bashers on board and plenty of vestibules to go round.

 

[theblackwatch]

Will there be a fight for windows by bashers?

There isn't normally - it's only a problem if too many 'vestibule veg' turn up. There are 16 windows inside the coach if you want to look out.

 

[4SRKT]

There isn't normally - it's only a problem if too many 'vestibule veg' turn up. There are 16 windows inside the coach if you want to look out.

'Vestibule veg'! I like it!

 

[alex57601]

Possibly!

You've stumbled on my pet grievance here! Ignore me as I always bang on about this. I'd rather tour operators didn't use aircons, but I'm always pleased that when they do they advertise it in advance. Some operators seem to think this doesn't matter, but to me it'd be like not advertising the traction.

Possibly because, as you've chosen to ignore in the past, some operators are only given what's available. Tours using WCRC stock can, and have been, a mixed bag of what ever is available (the first Retro tour was a scratch set of Mk1s and Mk2s when it was supposed to be Mk1s).

And in my experience, there are many cranks who would rather go for a spin behind their favourite traction and be thankful it is still possible to do that in 2011 than pass up the opportunity.

Quite frankly, coaching stock shouldn't really be the reason why people choose to flag it. In this case, it is the first time in several years a pair of 50s will be let out in anger at high speed (and the first in a long time on the mainline for 50026 should it make it). If people start to get too fickle on coaching stock, then they don't deserve tours with heritage traction. Mk1s and PV Mk2s aren't going to last forever.

Finally, as for the PTG tour, I understand the main target market for this are normals wanting a weekend in Edinburgh, with the use of 50s being an added extra to attract a few enthusiasts. I doubt they will be crying over your decision to not book on the grounds of coach snobbery.

 

[4SRKT]

Here's Alex again! I wouldn't want to disappoint him!

You seem to think I give some sort of monkey's about this. How very weird. As long as I know upfront that a tour's going to be aircons so I can flag it, that's fine by me.

Coaching stock 'shouldn't be the reason'? People who 'don't deserve tours'? How very kind of you to decide what my preferences should be. I'd be truly lost without your voice of reason to guide me!

 

[TomJ93]

I guess it'd be nice to be right up next to the 50 hearing it go, but i'm not too bothered aslong as I get a window to stick my head out of somewhere!

 

[matt]

Once both 50044 and 50049 are both back in action (as well as 50026) then I suspect other railtour operators will start to use them again.

 

[alex57601]

Here's Alex again! I wouldn't want to disappoint him!

You seem to think I give some sort of monkey's about this. How very weird. As long as I know upfront that a tour's going to be aircons so I can flag it, that's fine by me.

Coaching stock 'shouldn't be the reason'? People who 'don't deserve tours'? How very kind of you to decide what my preferences should be. I'd be truly lost without your voice of reason to guide me!

Well considering that you've been like a broken record player on the matter, you always come across as somebody who struggles to understand the reasons for doing so despite being told many times in the past.

And I'm not deciding for anyone what their preferences should be. To me, coaching stock is often out of the hands of those who make heritage traction available, and I think they would rather make their locomotives available to anyone who wants to use them rather than stipulating what coaches they use. It is a very trivial matter which doesn't really rank at the same level as other reasons why people don't go on tours, such as the promoter, price, destination, routing. In the case of the PTG tours, they are aimed more towards daytrippers, though I imagine enthusiasts would be welcomed.

Also, I should point out at this point that I am a steward for several railtour operators and worked on railtours that are both of the daytripper and enthusiast variety and worked on Mk1s, Mk2s and Mk3s for both daytrippers and enthusiasts. On any of those tours, nobody, not once, has commented on the rolling stock used, and neither have the organisers mentioned anything to me about rolling stock matters other than the usual complaints such as "it's too cold/hot" which you get with any type of coach.

I am afraid you are in the minority, but then it's always the minority that shouts the loudest.

 

[4SRKT]

Well considering that you've been like a broken record player on the matter, you always come across as somebody who struggles to understand the reasons for doing so despite being told many times in the past.

And I'm not deciding for anyone what their preferences should be. To me, coaching stock is often out of the hands of those who make heritage traction available, and I think they would rather make their locomotives available to anyone who wants to use them rather than stipulating what coaches they use. It is a very trivial matter which doesn't really rank at the same level as other reasons why people don't go on tours, such as the promoter, price, destination, routing. In the case of the PTG tours, they are aimed more towards daytrippers, though I imagine enthusiasts would be welcomed.

Also, I should point out at this point that I am a steward for several railtour operators and worked on railtours that are both of the daytripper and enthusiast variety and worked on Mk1s, Mk2s and Mk3s for both daytrippers and enthusiasts. On any of those tours, nobody, not once, has commented on the rolling stock used, and neither have the organisers mentioned anything to me about rolling stock matters other than the usual complaints such as "it's too cold/hot" which you get with any type of coach.

I am afraid you are in the minority, but then it's always the minority that shouts the loudest.

I'm not shouting, nor attempting to impose my view on anyone else, unlike you. I fully understand the reasons and all I've ever asked is that operators show the stock on their websites, and if they do I'm happy enough. I can only go on 2 or 3 tours a year, so I can afford to pick and choose the combination of traction, route and stock to satisfy my own personal needs. I really can't see why you've got an issue with this. Everyone has their own individual reasons for going on tours, and I can't believe how angry you get that mine don't conform to yours. For me stock is not a 'very trivial matter'. That it is trivial may well be your opinion and I respect that, but you can't make that decision for me. I can be in a minority of one and it doesn't make my view invalid. I just won't go on the tour, and I doubt either of us will mind that much.

 

[Aictos]

The Edinburgh one would interest me as I'm due for a week or so up there about then,

 

[nedchester]

Here's Alex again! I wouldn't want to disappoint him!

You seem to think I give some sort of monkey's about this. How very weird. As long as I know upfront that a tour's going to be aircons so I can flag it, that's fine by me.

Coaching stock 'shouldn't be the reason'? People who 'don't deserve tours'? How very kind of you to decide what my preferences should be. I'd be truly lost without your voice of reason to guide me!

Strangely 50s used to work most of their trains on the mainline using AirCons in the 1980s....didn't seem to bother folk back then........

 

[4SRKT]

Strangely 50s used to work most of their trains on the mainline using AirCons in the 1980s....didn't seem to bother folk back then........

Gawd! Not again! Even on this thread I've dealt with this question :roll:

From post #7: "I like aircons on loco-hauled service trains BTW, but that's because there's rarely any bashers on board and plenty of vestibules to go round".

 

[87015]

Strangely 50s used to work most of their trains on the mainline using AirCons in the 1980s....didn't seem to bother folk back then........

But you could get in the front coach without having to be in the right clique and were not spending two days on one train without hearing the engines from your seat.

The number of airline seats on the (quoted, so I may be wrong on it) Virgin Mk3 set would also I'd have thought be an issue for a tour. The Retro grid tour with the same stock DID cause issues due to groups split into airline seats aswell as the problem of little to no noise heard past the front coach.

 

[4SRKT]

You've done it now 87015. You have expressed a deviant opinion*, and The Voice of Reason will be along in a minute to tell you you don't deserve to go on tours :roll:

* in reality not that uncommon an opinion, but whatever about that....

 

[TomJ93]

Right arguments aside on regular loco hauled services 1st is furthest away from the loco, what's the case on tours normally?

 

[matt]

Right arguments aside on regular loco hauled services 1st is furthest away from the loco, what's the case on tours normally?

Usually first class will be at the front one way but it some cases it could be at the front both ways. (as could standard). It depends if the stock is turned at all.

 

[Chester025]

It is mentioned in the booking form that Standard class should lead both ways on the KX - Glasgow tour. I reckon standard will lead from Euston - Holyhead, LLJ - Llandudno Town, Bleanau - LLJ & Chester - Euston via Shrewsbury on the September tour.

 

[spark001uk]

Where did i see a tour a while back that hauled a preserved 4VEP? Think it was on the MNR. No arguments over windows in one of those things eh! They should haul 'em on all tours!!

 

[junglejames]

Crikey, interesting argument. If someone doesnt want to go on a tour because of the coaching stock, then thats fine. Its like i wont go on a tour if its a 66 up front anymore. We all have reasons. Out of interest Mr Thumper, what would you prefer? A hauled Thumper?!!

 

[4SRKT]

No hauled thumpers for me!

 

[Aictos]

Obviously the traction used would interest me but if it means covering rare lines or lines I don't usually cover/have covered then I don't mind what the loco is as long as it doesn't break down.

This being the case a 66 could provide the power and I would be content!