WITH REGULATOR FULL LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE THEN AND NOW
FIRST a correction. In my last column I referred to five spring ‘Aberdonian’ trips, when of course there was only one on March 14. No excuses – it’s all down to my advancing years. This time though, I am covering the much anticipated but ill-fated Saphos ‘Golden Arrow’ trip round Kent on October 26. Much anticipated as there is now very little in the way of main line steam haulage on the main lines of Kent, despite a number of alternative options being available for circular trips, most of which can include the city of Canterbury, a very attractive destination in itself. It is also the case that more train paths are available on the main line via Tonbridge since the reduction in service following the opening of HS1. Therefore, I booked early for the Saphos trip on October 26, but even so standard class was full so I ‘settled’ for first class, a treat in itself as it turned out.
Saphos has acquired a reputation for a new standard in train presentation and on-train customer care, which on the basis of my first outing is fully deserved.
The operator is in a league of its own in the so-called ‘non-luxury’market, the only downside for some being the sealed air-conditioned Mk.2 coaches, making it difficult to hear the engine working up front.
Our locomotive No. 70000 Britannia, dressed up as No.70014 Iron Duke in full Golden Arrow regalia, was beautifully turned out, reviving for me memories of this engine and No. 70004 William Shakespeare on the real Golden Arrow back in the 1950s.
Heavily loaded engine in poor conditions
FOR once the timings for this tour enabled a civilised start
