Created 11-Jun-22
Modified 22-Apr-24
This Saphos excursion was driven by the need to convey motive power from its Crewe HQ to the south west, in readiness for its suite of English Riviera expresses this summer, on which the steam element will commence at Taunton and continue to Kingswear. For this reason, we were promised double headed steam from Crewe to Bristol via the Welsh Marches, and return with a Class 40 diesel. As a result, the tour was named the Welsh Marches Whistler.
However only one steam engine joined the train at Crewe: BR Standard pioneer No 70000 Britannia, immaculate and gleaming in Brunswick Green. Its support coach made us load 11: 5 Mark 1 First Opens, kitchen car, two Mark 2s, buffet and the brake/generator car. And, unusually for Saphos, no diesel on the rear. We gathered the second loco was needed in the London area to support the Steam Dreams operation which Saphos’ parent, Locomotive Services Limited, had just acquired.
We set off briskly across the Cheshire and Shropshire countryside to Shrewsbury, our last pickup point. Then we began to climb confidently, passing Bayston Hill at 40 and Dorrington at 55, but speed dropped as the line steepened: 44 at Leebotwood, then down to 39 before recovering to 44 at the Church Stretton summit. Then down through Marsh Brook at 65 before slowing through Craven Arms, then 70 at Onibury and 73 at Bromfield before the excellent Saphos breakfast commanded attention until the Hereford stop.
We spent an hour sitting in the train on the middle road but we could at least look across to see the engine watering in the up bay. Then more lively running: 65 after Tram Inn rising to 70 and we were still in the 60s approaching Pontrilas, where were heavily slowed at the foot of the climb to Llanvihangel. Despite this we were well into the 50s before Llancillo and still at 49 through Pandy. Speed dropped only slowly through the 40s on the final stretch, with 34 the minimum at the summit. Then we rattled down through Abergavenny at 73, then onwards and upwards until the brakes went on at Penpergwm. Progress was more modest after that with 61 at Panteg and 69 through Cwmbran, but we reached the Maindee junctions on time, and headed east.
We were back up to the 60s past Llanwern, Magor and Undy, but slowed right down before the Severn Tunnel, in which we spent 5 mins 37 seconds. Do the maths: my GPS wouldn’t help with the detail. Nothing more of note until we reached Bristol Temple Meads. Britannia basked in the bright sun for a short while then headed westward with its support coach.
Two hours later, Class 40 No D213 Andania, also in perfect Brunswick green, whistled in with its (now) ten coaches and we boarded for the return. Burdened with champagne, amuse-bouches, four full courses and then petit fours and coffee to finish, I did not pay much attention to the locomotive performance. However the running was lively for much of the way and of course no waterstops. Often well into the 70s but rarely over 80. (The linespeeds are variable between 70 and 90 on this route.)
This was an excellent day out with a lively performance from a spotless Britannia – handsome did as handsome was. And in my view Saphos have demonstrated that on both food and service they are up with British Pullman and well ahead of other providers – expensive, but value for money.
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© Peter Hewitt's Transport Pictures
