Class 43 LNER Farewell Railtour Dec 2019

[Entertexthere]

What are the prices going to be?

Check post #85, it's already been mentioned that it'll not be cheap most likely.

 

[AnthonyRail]

Seems all very last minute. Not a lot of time for people to sort out cheap travel to be able to get to the placesame that they'd want to be able to travel on it

 

[BRX]

It's also not a very convenient time of year - just before Christmas when people probably have various social events planned and are likely to be travelling places just a few days later. It would be better to do it after the new year.

 

[43096]

It's also not a very convenient time of year - just before Christmas when people probably have various social events planned and are likely to be travelling places just a few days later. It would be better to do it after the new year.

How do they do that, then, when they’re off lease?

 

[tbtc]

You can argue what you like, and you may well be right, but for a farewell tour it is fitting to paint trains in original livery.

I wonder whether they'll have to have "contrasting" doors (or whether the fact that this is a railtour, rather than a scheduled passenger service will give them exemption)?

Good on them for doing this - it'll never satisfy everyone - there'll be a few people complaining that it doesn't visit a certain city or that the tickets aren't cheap enough or that the blue isn't quite blue enough or that the seats aren't the original 1970s ones or whatever but it's a nice bit of PR - I hope those who do it enjoy themselves (and that everyone else doesn't get too hung up on the fact that this one event won't be tailored to everyone's needs)

 

[BRX]

How do they do that, then, when they’re off lease?

I dunno, maybe something that would not be impossible with sufficient goodwill from the leasing company? But if it's not possible it's not possible.

 

[Derbyshire Gra]

Typo or not, an informed source tells me that 43302 isn't one of those being repainted.

Quite correct. Already labelled up as EMR at Craigentinny.

 

[Rhydgaled]

I wonder whether they'll have to have "contrasting" doors (or whether the fact that this is a railtour, rather than a scheduled passenger service will give them exemption)?

Isn't there a 'heritage' exemption anyway that allows use of non-PRM stock (even on regular passenger services) as long as said stock is only used for a few days a year? That's just something I vaugely remember reading on the forum, so could be a load of rubbish. Also, surely the PRM rules would not have come into full force yet?

It's also not a very convenient time of year - just before Christmas when people probably have various social events planned and are likely to be travelling places just a few days later.

Or indeed travelling that very day. When I mentioned this at home it was quickly pointed out that the trains to get out there to see it would likely be rammed. I'm going off the idea as a result; shame as I was quite excited by the initial announcement of a full BR-liveried rake.

 

[iamterry]

I'm hoping to do one of the farewell routes, in anticipation of the last minute nature of ticket release for it, I've already prebooked my train to the start the night before and my overnight accommodation. Most of the cost can be recovered if I change my mind but I expect if I wait till it's actually announced then the price would have rocketed up by then.

 

[Ianno87]

I wonder whether they'll have to have "contrasting" doors (or whether the fact that this is a railtour, rather than a scheduled passenger service will give them exemption)?

The 313 farewell in NSE livery didn't require contrasting doors did it?

I dunno, maybe something that would not be impossible with sufficient goodwill from the leasing company? But if it's not possible it's not possible.

Presumably being off lease may also have allsorts of insurance etc issues that go with it too.

 

[Tony2]

Just been told that the two power cars for the tour are being undercoated at Craigentinny today.

 

[cactustwirly]

Quite correct. Already labelled up as EMR at Craigentinny.

Have you got any pictures of this?

 

[AnthonyRail]

3 weeks to go.

 

[Entertexthere]

This morning I received a newsletter from UK Railtours, however it doesn't seem to have anything covering the subject...

 

[jymiee]

Is there any particular reason for the set being 2+7, rather than say the original 2+8 or even a full LNER 2+9?

I’d put some but not all of my money on it being to do with acceleration and the available paths.

 

[y3j]

I’d put some but not all of my money on it being to do with acceleration and the available paths.

I'd put money on it being the money to paint the set. I doubt many on here realise how much painting a coach or power car costs....... If Wabtec are painting the set then you won't see much change from £200K!!!

 

[E759]

Update from UK Railtours
https://www.ukrailtours.com/news/more-news-about-the-lner-hst-farewell/

More news about the LNER HST Farewell

Subject to final details being confirmed by LNER and Network Rail, we hope to announce confirmed details, along with timings and fares, on Tuesday 3 December.

The four days’ events have changed slightly, and will now be:

Wednesday 18 December: From Edinburgh to Inverness via Aberdeen and Elgin.

Thursday 19 December: Inverness to Edinburgh via Highland Main Line.

Friday 20 December: Edinburgh to Leeds via Newcastle and York.

Saturday 21 December: Leeds to London King’s Cross.

As soon as we have more news, so will you!

Edited to provide the statement source.

 

[Kite159]

I bet some people who booked accommodation in Aberdeen for the first night are now looking for accommodation in Inverness and cancelling the Aberdeen booking.

 

[big all]

worth a mention
50 years ago the origional north british warship class allocated the class 43 but never made tops where in there last year or two in service some on lowly stone trains to merstham and gatwick for temporary stone terminals to build the m25 and connecting m23 sections off road

 

[TheBeard]

Ohh they did though. They had Class 43 on the TOPS panel. Similar withdrawals with a TOPS designation on the loco includes Class 22, 29,35,43,52, and 53. none receiving the renumbering though, except perhaps 52015...
But Class 16(D8400),21(not reengined),28(?), 34(later actually became 33/1) , 36(10001) 41 (D600)are made up designations that were talked of but never actually given to the locos. Class 77 doubtful too. Cranks have kind of adopted them.
Anyway, the DMU Bashers are getting restless for more news on the Banana. Hear rumours Craigy are painting 2 power cars....shame their 'pet' had a bump.

 

[theblackwatch]

I bet some people who booked accommodation in Aberdeen for the first night are now looking for accommodation in Inverness and cancelling the Aberdeen booking.

And no doubt there will be at least one person who booked their accommodation non-cancellable.

 

[50039]

So when did the power cars become class 43? At introduction, they were class 253 for the whole set (or 254) - so when did the change happen?

 

[Journeyman]

So when did the power cars become class 43? At introduction, they were class 253 for the whole set (or 254) - so when did the change happen?

The 253/254 designation only lasted a very short time. They've been class 43 since sometime in the eighties, I think.

 

[ainsworth74]

The 253/254 designation only lasted a very short time. They've been class 43 since sometime in the eighties, I think.

Even when they were classes 253 and 254 didn't the power cars have 'carriage' numbers in the 43xxx ranges?

 

[greatvoyager]

Even when they were classes 253 and 254 didn't the power cars have 'carriage' numbers in the 43xxx ranges?

Yes, and they were classified as 43s in order to avoid renumbering them.

 

[O8yityityit]

Even when they were classes 253 and 254 didn't the power cars have 'carriage' numbers in the 43xxx ranges?

They did, they also carried a regional prefix like a DMU , E43058 etc..... .

 

[Kite159]

And no doubt there will be at least one person who booked their accommodation non-cancellable.

Hope that wasn't you

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes, and they were classified as 43s in order to avoid renumbering them.

They did, they also carried a regional prefix like a DMU , E43058 etc..... .

Thanks

 

[theblackwatch]

Hope that wasn't you

No, I'm always careful. A lot of people aren't though, then moan and think they should have the right to claim off the tour promoter...

 

[Polarbear]

So when did the power cars become class 43? At introduction, they were class 253 for the whole set (or 254) - so when did the change happen?

My recollection is that when HST’s first appeared, the intention was to operate sets in fixed formations. This was the reason for the classification 253 & 254.

It didn’t take long for reality to set in that keeping each set as a fixed rake impacted overall availability, so to be more flexible, with power car swaps etc, the unit designations were quietly dropped.

As mentioned above, the power cars always carried their own numbers, with either the W or E prefix in the early days.