Locomotive Services Fleet (LSL) updates

[bleeder4]

Great day out on the Statesman yesterday, despite it being an hour late for the pick-up in the morning. It started at Newport rather than Cardiff, with Cardiff passengers going on a service train to Newport. Coaches were all freshly painted, although with all the vegetation strikes down the Conwy Valley Line they'll be arriving back at Crewe with more touch-ups needed!

 

[gazthomas]

A couple of "The Statesman" at sunny Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wednesday 10 September 2025.

As @bleeder4 said, the scratches on the carriages were clear to see.

 

[The_Train]

A couple of "The Statesman" at sunny Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wednesday 10 September 2025.

As @bleeder4 said, the scratches on the carriages were clear to see.

That'll be a nice bill landing on the mat at Network Rai HQ then

 

[_toommm_]

A couple of "The Statesman" at sunny Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wednesday 10 September 2025.

As @bleeder4 said, the scratches on the carriages were clear to see.

Where did it go between arriving and departing Blaneau? Did it shunt into the loop between the platform line and the Ffestiniog?

 

[gazthomas]

Where did it go between arriving and departing Blaneau? Did it shunt into the loop between the platform line and the Ffestiniog?

Yes, into the siding between the platform and narrow gauge line

 

[_toommm_]

Yes, into the siding between the platform and narrow gauge line

Thank you. Is the headshunt long enough at the end of the platform, or would it have to go back out towards Roman Bridge and change directions on a shunt signal?

 

[bleeder4]

Thank you. Is the headshunt long enough at the end of the platform, or would it have to go back out towards Roman Bridge and change directions on a shunt signal?

It reversed back out in the direction of the tunnel, going to just past the station where the platform line and centre siding come together. A crew member then used the ground frame lever to set the points, where it then went forward into the centre siding to make the platform line free for TfW services.

 

[47286Dan]

LSL 37667 has gone on hire to Colas to work the I.M diagrams. Working with 37116 today.

37667 LSLO DERBY RTC 571Z751E16 L * CARDFTVSD N
37116 COTS DERBY RTC 571Z751E16 L * CARDFTVSD N

Dan

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Sep 2025 ==

LSL morning movements

37401 LSLO CREWE HS 425Z372317 E RDGTRNDEP N
37409 LSLO CREWE HS 425Z372317 E RDGTRNDEP N

47593 LSLO CREWE HS 425Z481617 E SHLLOCSRV N
57002 LSLO CREWE HS 425Z481617 E SHLLOCSRV N
57311 LSLO CREWE HS 425Z481617 E SHLLOCSRV N

Dan

 

[Jacob Porrett]

When does the boiler ticket finish on No. 34046 "Braunton" please if this is true?

 

[HertiageFan]

When does the boiler ticket finish on No. 34046 "Braunton" please if this is true?

I believe at some point in 2026

 

[Jacob Porrett]

I believe at some point in 2026

I believe at some point in 2026

Thank you for confirming. Glad I saw her at Shrewsbury yesterday.

 

[Trackman]

55 022 is at Northern's Heaton open day this weekend.
It went light engine on one power unit (which is normal for LE).
No news on how ill she is, not going to post the rumours, however it's a good sign travelling under its own power to Heaton.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

55 022 is at Northern's Heaton open day this weekend.
It went light engine on one power unit (which is normal for LE).
No news on how ill she is, not going to post the rumours, however it's a good sign travelling under its own power to Heaton.

Sir Nigel Gresley is there as well.

 

[HertiageFan]

By the looks of things (correct me if I’m wrong), it seems that 61306 will be hauling Tuesdays golden arrow since that’s the only steam loco at Southall

 

[alexl92]

A question came to me the other day.
LSL have a huge fleet of active diesels - various 37s and 47s, 40, 45, 50 etc.

In the case of for example the 45, it appears to haul maybe 3 or 4 tours a year and that's largely it. It seems to be similar for the 40 and 50. How do LSL justify the cost of keeping all these machines active when they're not earning money working tours or out on hire?

 

[HertiageFan]

It’s more of a hobby than a business for profit

 

[Peter749]

A question came to me the other day.
LSL have a huge fleet of active diesels - various 37s and 47s, 40, 45, 50 etc.

In the case of for example the 45, it appears to haul maybe 3 or 4 tours a year and that's largely it. It seems to be similar for the 40 and 50. How do LSL justify the cost of keeping all these machines active when they're not earning money working tours or out on hire?

If you have a Classic Car parked in your garage or even on a drive what do you need to do to it between one trip out and another a month or two later.
I don't think there is much difference between a classic car and a classic locomotive

 

[Spaceship323]

A question came to me the other day.
LSL have a huge fleet of active diesels - various 37s and 47s, 40, 45, 50 etc.

In the case of for example the 45, it appears to haul maybe 3 or 4 tours a year and that's largely it. It seems to be similar for the 40 and 50. How do LSL justify the cost of keeping all these machines active when they're not earning money working tours or out on hire?

Trips to Eastleigh plus the chairman's train keep the green 20's and 37's busy

 

[HertiageFan]

Steam Dreams have a ‘Cornish Riviera’ holiday next year

 

[alexl92]

If you have a Classic Car parked in your garage or even on a drive what do you need to do to it between one trip out and another a month or two later.
I don't think there is much difference between a classic car and a classic locomotive

One classic car in your garage is sustainable for pleasure. A whole fleet of heritage diesels that each work a couple of times a year owned by a commercial business doesn't add up to me but it must work for Hosking!

 

[Richard Scott]

One classic car in your garage is sustainable for pleasure. A whole fleet of heritage diesels that each work a couple of times a year owned by a commercial business doesn't add up to me but it must work for Hosking!

It may work as a way of reducing the tax bill?

 

[Mollman]

One classic car in your garage is sustainable for pleasure. A whole fleet of heritage diesels that each work a couple of times a year owned by a commercial business doesn't add up to me but it must work for Hosking!

So you would rather they went for scrap?

 

[bleeder4]

2026 tours went on the various LSL brand websites today, for anyone who is interested.

 

[Killingworth]

Inevitably more expensive than ever. Sadly the novelty for us has worn off, we've done the routes within reasonable distance for pick up. Sitting in passing loops and meandering slowly round obscure diversions is offset to some extent by the fine dining and excellent service.

Earlier this year we returned from Inverness and took an age getting from York to Chesterfield. The couple opposite saw the routing and baled out to take a Crosscountry service instead.

I wonder how well bookings will hold up if other former regulars feel the same. Are enough younger people happy to pay these prices to keep the lovely trains running?

 

[Nym]

Finally actually upping the price in a saturated market?

Honestly even without the owners politics and beliefs I don’t see the appeal, bring that into it and we’ll… yeah

 

[Rail Quest]

Crickey, the prices really have risen. I think that's me now priced out of the LSL offerings.

Regarding classes of travel, I note that no second class is offered for Saphos, has this changed from the current year? I swear I remember seeing second class being offered on Saphos previously.

Statesman tours are offering standard class seats, is this new for that offering as well? I seem to remember that tour being similar to the Midland Pullman (IE all first or premium dining).

 

[bleeder4]

Crickey, the prices really have risen. I think that's me now priced out of the LSL offerings.

Regarding classes of travel, I note that no second class is offered for Saphos, has this changed from the current year? I swear I remember seeing second class being offered on Saphos previously.

Statesman tours are offering standard class seats, is this new for that offering as well? I seem to remember that tour being similar to the Midland Pullman (IE all first or premium dining).

The buffet coach that used to be Standard Class on Saphos has been transferred to the Statesman set to serve as Standard Class there instead.

 

[Rail Quest]

The buffet coach that used to be Standard Class on Saphos has been transferred to the Statesman set to serve as Standard Class there instead.

Ahh, that makes sense. Thanks for the info!

 

[Iskra]

Realistically, we aren’t the target market on here for these tours. It will be more revealing to see what the next tranche of Intercity tours look like.

I have noticed they now seem to have introduced a seat selector of sorts though, which is an improvement.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

2026 tours went on the various LSL brand websites today, for anyone who is interested.

Doesn't look like anything is up on intercity yet, or am I missing something?