• Re: Private Hire Train

    From Recliner@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, June 02, 2026 22:10:03
    Extracts from

    https://new-app.spectator.co.uk/article/666428/content.html

    Train travel is so expensive these days, but œ25,000? For that you get a
    couple of nights stay on board, with double bed, bathroom, sitting room,
    views down the track as it recedes into the distance and a rear balcony
    should you come over all Harry S. Truman.

    This is the master bedroom on The Chairman?s Train, puffing into action in
    July as the UK?s first fully private heritage train for hire. And yes, for œ45,000 ? a day ? you and your 15 guests can have the whole thing, its
    dining carriage and many comfy rooms pulled by the locomotive of your
    choice, electric, diesel or steam. Steam certainly isn?t its only throwback either ? with its wood paneling, leather armchairs and marble sinks, bar, pianist, chef and a dozen uniformed staff, mobile phones, sneakers and
    first name terms all start to seem like painfully incongruous intrusions
    from another, less refined time.

    ?

    Hosking ? the Fat Wallet Controller ? doesn?t expect it to make a profit.
    With the carriages costing a million plus to restore, and most steam
    engines comfortably upwards of œ5m, he says this venture is economically disastrous. Who cares? Here is a man who finds himself with the best, and certainly the most well-appointed, train set. He?s never going to have to
    use busy textiles to hide dubious stains, explain to his passengers that
    the delayed train is still awaiting its driver, or enjoy the cool touch of
    a fully-loaded metal loo, … la Belmarsh. There?s a brass plate at the foot
    of each carriage door that reads simply ?private train?. And it beats
    private plane travel any day.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marland@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 06:53:06
    Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
    Extracts from

    https://new-app.spectator.co.uk/article/666428/content.html

    Train travel is so expensive these days, but œ25,000? For that you get a couple of nights stay on board, with double bed, bathroom, sitting room, views down the track as it recedes into the distance and a rear balcony should you come over all Harry S. Truman.

    This is the master bedroom on The Chairman?s Train, puffing into action in July as the UK?s first fully private heritage train for hire. And yes, for œ45,000 ? a day ? you and your 15 guests can have the whole thing, its
    dining carriage and many comfy rooms pulled by the locomotive of your
    choice, electric, diesel or steam. Steam certainly isn?t its only throwback either ? with its wood paneling, leather armchairs and marble sinks, bar, pianist, chef and a dozen uniformed staff, mobile phones, sneakers and
    first name terms all start to seem like painfully incongruous intrusions
    from another, less refined time.

    ?

    Hosking ? the Fat Wallet Controller ? doesn?t expect it to make a profit. With the carriages costing a million plus to restore, and most steam
    engines comfortably upwards of œ5m, he says this venture is economically disastrous. Who cares? Here is a man who finds himself with the best, and certainly the most well-appointed, train set. He?s never going to have to
    use busy textiles to hide dubious stains, explain to his passengers that
    the delayed train is still awaiting its driver, or enjoy the cool touch of
    a fully-loaded metal loo, … la Belmarsh. There?s a brass plate at the foot
    of each carriage door that reads simply ?private train?. And it beats
    private plane travel any day.



    Did Sir William McAlpine ever hire out his ex N.E.R Directors Saloon to
    others or just use it himself?
    It now resides on the Fawley Hill Railway which the late businessman constructed on his estate
    but back in the 1980?s and 90s it could be seen occasionally on the
    national network with its owner
    and guests sat on the rear balcony on an outing.

    GH

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marland@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 10:36:27
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
    Marland wrote:

    Did Sir William McAlpine ever hire out his ex N.E.R Directors Saloon to
    others or just use it himself?
    It now resides on the Fawley Hill Railway which the late businessman
    constructed on his estate

    Faceache says it's currently at the Aln Valley Railway.

    My mistake .
    I forgot to edit, the vehicle I meant was ex GER, not NER. Though I think
    Sir William had a hand in preserving other vehicles.

    The GER coach built 1920 was actually known as the General Managers Saloon
    and had been restored with both vacuum and air braking with steam and
    electric heat so is/was fairly versatile.

    <https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=GBO6KXCU7TPYAJN810D3>

    The Aln Valley one is as suits the area an older NER example, nicely
    restored but I don?t think it has ever run on the National Network since it
    was part of the Engineering Fleet.

    < https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=MJEWAO8Y7FLQ1K56H2R0>

    Which leads to a supplementary question , would a six wheel passenger
    vehicle be allowed on the national network now? We had the four wheel replicas for the Stockton and Darlington anniversary do an excursion but
    that was a very rare situation for a special event.

    Indeed are these old wooden bodied caches allowed at all ? I have a
    feeling they are not which maybe was why Sir Williams coach eventually was retired to his own line.

    GH

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Recliner@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 12:10:05
    Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
    Marland wrote:

    Did Sir William McAlpine ever hire out his ex N.E.R Directors Saloon to
    others or just use it himself?
    It now resides on the Fawley Hill Railway which the late businessman
    constructed on his estate

    Faceache says it's currently at the Aln Valley Railway.

    My mistake .
    I forgot to edit, the vehicle I meant was ex GER, not NER. Though I think Sir William had a hand in preserving other vehicles.

    The GER coach built 1920 was actually known as the General Managers Saloon and had been restored with both vacuum and air braking with steam and electric heat so is/was fairly versatile.

    <https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=GBO6KXCU7TPYAJN810D3>

    The Aln Valley one is as suits the area an older NER example, nicely
    restored but I don?t think it has ever run on the National Network since it was part of the Engineering Fleet.

    < https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=MJEWAO8Y7FLQ1K56H2R0>

    Which leads to a supplementary question , would a six wheel passenger vehicle be allowed on the national network now? We had the four wheel replicas for the Stockton and Darlington anniversary do an excursion but
    that was a very rare situation for a special event.

    Indeed are these old wooden bodied caches allowed at all ? I have a
    feeling they are not which maybe was why Sir Williams coach eventually was retired to his own line.


    At least one (Ibis) of the British Pullman coaches is wooden-bodied. I?ve travelled in it, and was told that it has its own distinct creaks and body flex, though I?m not sure I?d be be confident in spotting it. I assume it
    has some discreet reinforcements added.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/recliner/54934207198/in/album-72177720330423987

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/recliner/54934001616/in/album-72177720330423987/

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/recliner/54926541962/in/album-72177720330423987/

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/recliner/54933130667/in/album-72177720330423987/




    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Ulf Kutzner@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 12:19:39

    Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> posted:

    Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
    Marland wrote:

    Did Sir William McAlpine ever hire out his ex N.E.R Directors Saloon to >>> others or just use it himself?
    It now resides on the Fawley Hill Railway which the late businessman
    constructed on his estate

    Faceache says it's currently at the Aln Valley Railway.

    My mistake .
    I forgot to edit, the vehicle I meant was ex GER, not NER. Though I think Sir William had a hand in preserving other vehicles.

    The GER coach built 1920 was actually known as the General Managers Saloon and had been restored with both vacuum and air braking with steam and electric heat so is/was fairly versatile.

    <https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=GBO6KXCU7TPYAJN810D3>

    The Aln Valley one is as suits the area an older NER example, nicely restored but I don?t think it has ever run on the National Network since it was part of the Engineering Fleet.

    < https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=MJEWAO8Y7FLQ1K56H2R0>

    Which leads to a supplementary question , would a six wheel passenger vehicle be allowed on the national network now? We had the four wheel replicas for the Stockton and Darlington anniversary do an excursion but that was a very rare situation for a special event.

    Indeed are these old wooden bodied caches allowed at all ? I have a feeling they are not which maybe was why Sir Williams coach eventually was retired to his own line.


    At least one (Ibis) of the British Pullman coaches is wooden-bodied.

    Wooden carriages behave badly in possible accidents.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marland@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 13:25:45
    Ulf Kutzner <user2991@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:

    Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> posted:

    Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
    Marland wrote:

    Did Sir William McAlpine ever hire out his ex N.E.R Directors Saloon to >>>>> others or just use it himself?
    It now resides on the Fawley Hill Railway which the late businessman >>>>> constructed on his estate

    Faceache says it's currently at the Aln Valley Railway.

    My mistake .
    I forgot to edit, the vehicle I meant was ex GER, not NER. Though I think >>> Sir William had a hand in preserving other vehicles.

    The GER coach built 1920 was actually known as the General Managers Saloon >>> and had been restored with both vacuum and air braking with steam and
    electric heat so is/was fairly versatile.

    <https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=GBO6KXCU7TPYAJN810D3>

    The Aln Valley one is as suits the area an older NER example, nicely
    restored but I don?t think it has ever run on the National Network since it >>> was part of the Engineering Fleet.

    <
    https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=MJEWAO8Y7FLQ1K56H2R0>

    Which leads to a supplementary question , would a six wheel passenger
    vehicle be allowed on the national network now? We had the four wheel
    replicas for the Stockton and Darlington anniversary do an excursion but >>> that was a very rare situation for a special event.

    Indeed are these old wooden bodied caches allowed at all ? I have a
    feeling they are not which maybe was why Sir Williams coach eventually was >>> retired to his own line.


    At least one (Ibis) of the British Pullman coaches is wooden-bodied.

    Wooden carriages behave badly in possible accidents.


    The Sun rises in the Morning.

    GH


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Ulf Kutzner@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 13:29:06

    Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> posted:

    Ulf Kutzner <user2991@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:

    Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> posted:

    Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
    Marland wrote:

    Did Sir William McAlpine ever hire out his ex N.E.R Directors Saloon to >>>>> others or just use it himself?
    It now resides on the Fawley Hill Railway which the late businessman >>>>> constructed on his estate

    Faceache says it's currently at the Aln Valley Railway.

    My mistake .
    I forgot to edit, the vehicle I meant was ex GER, not NER. Though I think
    Sir William had a hand in preserving other vehicles.

    The GER coach built 1920 was actually known as the General Managers Saloon
    and had been restored with both vacuum and air braking with steam and
    electric heat so is/was fairly versatile.

    <https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=GBO6KXCU7TPYAJN810D3>

    The Aln Valley one is as suits the area an older NER example, nicely
    restored but I don?t think it has ever run on the National Network since it
    was part of the Engineering Fleet.

    <
    https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=MJEWAO8Y7FLQ1K56H2R0>

    Which leads to a supplementary question , would a six wheel passenger >>> vehicle be allowed on the national network now? We had the four wheel >>> replicas for the Stockton and Darlington anniversary do an excursion but >>> that was a very rare situation for a special event.

    Indeed are these old wooden bodied caches allowed at all ? I have a
    feeling they are not which maybe was why Sir Williams coach eventually was
    retired to his own line.


    At least one (Ibis) of the British Pullman coaches is wooden-bodied.

    Wooden carriages behave badly in possible accidents.


    The Sun rises in the Morning.

    That's great for you. Do you have anything more to contribute?

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From ColinR@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 16:06:16
    On 03/06/2026 14:25, Marland wrote:
    Ulf Kutzner <user2991@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:

    Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> posted:

    Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
    Marland wrote:

    Did Sir William McAlpine ever hire out his ex N.E.R Directors Saloon to >>>>>> others or just use it himself?
    It now resides on the Fawley Hill Railway which the late businessman >>>>>> constructed on his estate

    Faceache says it's currently at the Aln Valley Railway.

    My mistake .
    I forgot to edit, the vehicle I meant was ex GER, not NER. Though I think >>>> Sir William had a hand in preserving other vehicles.

    The GER coach built 1920 was actually known as the General Managers Saloon >>>> and had been restored with both vacuum and air braking with steam and
    electric heat so is/was fairly versatile.

    <https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=GBO6KXCU7TPYAJN810D3>

    The Aln Valley one is as suits the area an older NER example, nicely
    restored but I don?t think it has ever run on the National Network since it
    was part of the Engineering Fleet.

    <
    https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=MJEWAO8Y7FLQ1K56H2R0>

    Which leads to a supplementary question , would a six wheel passenger >>>> vehicle be allowed on the national network now? We had the four wheel >>>> replicas for the Stockton and Darlington anniversary do an excursion but >>>> that was a very rare situation for a special event.

    Indeed are these old wooden bodied caches allowed at all ? I have a
    feeling they are not which maybe was why Sir Williams coach eventually was
    retired to his own line.


    At least one (Ibis) of the British Pullman coaches is wooden-bodied.

    Wooden carriages behave badly in possible accidents.


    The Sun rises in the Morning.

    GH


    ;-)

    --
    Colin


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Marland@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, June 03, 2026 15:14:16
    Ulf Kutzner <user2991@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:

    Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> posted:

    Ulf Kutzner <user2991@newsgrouper.org.invalid> wrote:

    Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> posted:

    Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
    Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:
    Marland wrote:

    Did Sir William McAlpine ever hire out his ex N.E.R Directors Saloon to >>>>>>> others or just use it himself?
    It now resides on the Fawley Hill Railway which the late businessman >>>>>>> constructed on his estate

    Faceache says it's currently at the Aln Valley Railway.

    My mistake .
    I forgot to edit, the vehicle I meant was ex GER, not NER. Though I think
    Sir William had a hand in preserving other vehicles.

    The GER coach built 1920 was actually known as the General Managers Saloon
    and had been restored with both vacuum and air braking with steam and >>>>> electric heat so is/was fairly versatile.

    <https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=GBO6KXCU7TPYAJN810D3>

    The Aln Valley one is as suits the area an older NER example, nicely >>>>> restored but I don?t think it has ever run on the National Network since it
    was part of the Engineering Fleet.

    <
    https://cs.rhrp.org.uk/CarriageSurvey/displaycarriage.php?Ref=MJEWAO8Y7FLQ1K56H2R0>

    Which leads to a supplementary question , would a six wheel passenger >>>>> vehicle be allowed on the national network now? We had the four wheel >>>>> replicas for the Stockton and Darlington anniversary do an excursion but >>>>> that was a very rare situation for a special event.

    Indeed are these old wooden bodied caches allowed at all ? I have a >>>>> feeling they are not which maybe was why Sir Williams coach eventually was
    retired to his own line.


    At least one (Ibis) of the British Pullman coaches is wooden-bodied.

    Wooden carriages behave badly in possible accidents.


    The Sun rises in the Morning.

    That's great for you. Do you have anything more to contribute?


    It is a reply to your post and likes yours is a statement of the bleeding obvious, a habit you specialise in just so you can type something.Most of
    the contributors that remain in this newsgroup have been involved with it
    or have taking an interest in UK railway matters for decades, they don?t
    need a relatively new newcomer to it constantly chipping in with things
    they are already familiar with because someone who reads Wikipedia from
    dawn to dusk feels a need to pass it on all the time.
    Occasionally you post something interesting but most of your contributions
    are just the squarkings
    of a Parrot seeking attention.

    GH

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Roland Perry@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, June 04, 2026 04:21:15
    In message <n8aum8F123jU1@mid.individual.net>, at 15:14:16 on Wed, 3 Jun
    2026, Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> remarked:

    most of your contributions are just the squarkings of a Parrot seeking >attention.

    Parity error "Pieces of Seven".
    --
    Roland Perry

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)