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The problem at the moment is that people turn on their TVs, radios or smartphones and are automatically bombarded with news reports about death and destruction, civilian buildings being bombed, thousands dying, millions of refugees. Because this is right on the doorstep of Europe it's all over...

The writing has been on the wall for this for some time. In between the Covid lockdowns I actually travelled direct from Worcester Foregate St to Brighton on one of these trains, and then back again. I wanted to make a direct return journey between Worcester and Brighton while I still could...

This is the one I use, although it's not steam-specific, it lists all railtour movements. https://www.railwayherald.com/railtours

My employer has today finally removed the requirement to wear a mask when walking around the office, which has been the only place I've been wearing one for the last several weeks. At last I can dispose of my remaining masks! They are also requesting that staff with positive test results work...

I was talking to my neighbour yesterday and I discovered that he volunteers to answer phones for The Samaritans. I had no idea. He spends 3 hours every Saturday morning answering calls, has been doing it for years. Back before Covid on a typical 3 hour shift roughly 1/4 of his calls would be...

A pleasant day in Worcester at the moment. Blue skies, quite warm. A bit breezy yes but not as strong as I was expecting. I don't think it would be strong enough to break an umbrella, for example. It's bin day as well and people's wheelie bins are all still standing upright. I was expecting...

I've never known WCR provide locos for trains they're not operating. Happy to be corrected though.

So, as was probably to be expected after all the talk about DRS and DBC cutting back, the first Pathfinder trip to use WCR as the operator has now been released. https://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/events/the-settle-and-carlisle/ "Motive power is expected to be a pair of class 37 diesel...

That's my local line, as I live only a few minutes from Shrub Hill. You'll be taking the left curve at Smethwick Jn to pass from the New Street line to the Snow Hill line. Left side of the train will probably scrape against foliage there. Then you'll pass through the remains of the old platforms...

My employer is opening the office up again on Monday so no more working from home. Unfortunately they're requiring masks to be worn when walking around the office, but not when sat at your desk. I was hoping I could burn all my remaining face masks this week but it seems I'll have to keep a...

I've booked on the Statesman one anyway, rather than keep waiting for Pathfinder to announce. I had such a good time on the S&C trip a couple of weeks ago and I'm quite partial to class 47s. With Pathfinder's boss retiring and their operator talking about pulling out, this might be an...

With regards to Mazey Day, there is a Statesman Rail trip to Penzance on Mazey Day (25th June) that takes exactly the same route from Birmingham and Worcester that Pathfinder's trip usually takes. So that would be 2 charter trains on an identical route on exactly the same day. I'm not sure what...

Yeah I did thanks. 500 miles with double-headed class 47s, and just a 10 minute walk home at the end of of the day. I think I was the only enthusiast on board though, as expected on a Statesman trip it was primarily normal people just wanting a nice day out through stunning scenery. Excellent...

It's just the standard LSL text they put in the passenger information for all their brands. It's the same guide, just with the logo changed. My Statesman ticket for last Saturday said the same thing yet people were watching a football match on their phones. I'm not a football person but...

I wish them the best of luck but they're going to have to do a lot of advertising in a very short time. Other than the occasional LSL trip there is a real dearth of trips starting from that area, so people just aren't used to the idea of being able to get a railtour from that neck of the woods...

Splashed out 175 quid for the S&C Statesman this Saturday, as it's from my local station Worcester Shrub Hill. I figure the all day circular trips like this one represent the best value for money, rather than the short jaunts. A 13 hour train trip for £175, with first class seating, unlimited...

The other potential problem is that DRS are considering pulling out of operating charters, and they operate a lot of the Pathfinder trips. You can read the article here: https://www.pressreader.com/uk/railways-illustrated/20220104/281745567706587 It also says that both GBRF and DBC are trimming...

The coverage of this is in the latest Steam Railway magazine.

I held out from getting jabbed for ages due to my extreme fear of needles. Finally had my first jab on 12th December as I was forced to by society. We are creating a two tier society where only those with jabs can access normal society functions. There will be a forgotten underclass society of...

It depends whether the border closes. As long as travel is still allowed between the two countries then I imagine it will still go ahead. LSL have always claimed that their trains are "hospitality" rather than "public transport". LSL-operated trains are currently the only ones in which you're...