Typical charter train formations

[ryan125hst]

Having booked my first ever railtour on Friday (The Cathedral's Express from Retford to York and back behind Sir Nigel Gresley ), I was wondering about the usual formation of charter trains. While I have a rough idea, they do vary a bit and the other thing is that most tour promoters offer three or four classes, yet there will normally be only first and standard class accommodation.

From my observations, a typical charter rake is:

• BSO (could also be a BSK, but typically a standard class brake vehicle. This sometimes also contains a generator)
• FO
• FO
• RBR
• FO
• FO
• FO
• RMB
• TSO
• TSO
• TSO
• TSO

BSO- Brake Standard Open
FO- First Open
RBR- Restaurant Buffet (Kitchen Car)
TSO- Tourist Standard Open

Note that this is just one example. Sometimes there might be an additional first class carriage instead of a standard class coach for example.

What I would like to know as well as this is the accommodation carried in each coach. For example, the railtour that I am booked on has premium standard (using standard class coaches), first class (using first class corridor coaches) and then both premier dining and pullman dining. How many of the coaches are first class, how many premier dining ect.

It would be good if members could compile a list of typical formations as well as the accommodation carried on-board if possible. Maybe even coach letters! I understand this can vary, so this thread can be used to record observations.

There are several coaching stock sets to look out for: Riviera Trains has The Royal Duchy and The Royal Scot. West Coast appear to have several sets: Two (admittedly shorter) sets for The Jacobite, one for the Scarborough Spa Express and one for The Fellsman- all on the same day. Then there's Vintage Trains' rake.

All of this is just Mark 1's and early Mark 2's! Then there's the air conditioned Mark 2's and the VSOE set to add!

Thank you

Ryan

 

[theblackwatch]

The number of carriages of each type will vary from tour to tour, dependant on the promoter's requirements. Onn occasions, promoters will even swap a coach of one type for a different one, depending on how bookings go - although this is subject to the rolling stock provider being able to do this.

With regard to coach letters, again this will vary from promoter to promoter. UK Railtours normally has coach A as dining/first, and the higher letters for standard. Pathfinder start with standard on coach A.

 

[AndyW33]

There is no difference in the rolling stock used for the various first class and dining options - the difference is in the catering service provided. Indeed you might find passengers with two different options being seated in the same coach but at different ends.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I hope you have a great trip with Cathedrals Express / Steam Dreams and Sir Nigel. Let us know how it went.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

UKR tend to stick to the Dining/FC market on simple A-B trips too, or at least have in the past, especially when the Riviera Air Cons have been out. I remember one trip from KX to Newcastle and back only had 2 Mk2F's for standard, the other 11 or so were First Class and Dining.

There have been some Pathfinder tours with the Royal Scot set where the RMB and RF (or something, where the Frying Scotsman/Griddle Car is) are next to each other, recent times I've seen the RF in the middle of the First Class rake.

As you say, there is usually a Genny coach, and of course charters with steam locos will have their support coach in tow too.