Duxford via the Orient Express.

I guess the assumed intelligence of the observer depends on one’s own position? Or isn’t it a case of the pot calling the kettle smut encrusted? 😀 I’m sure it was fun for all. 😉

Nice one, cracked me up.

…get eyefulls of smuts, a black, insect encrusted face, and feel the excitement of it all, especially when we hammered through Cambridge and all the divs on the platform ran back in panic…

I guess the assumed intelligence of the observer depends on one’s own position? Or isn’t it a case of the pot calling the kettle smut encrusted? 😀 I’m sure it was fun for all. 😉

The Orient Express have been doing these trips for the last 5 years and up to last year they also used to fly in Classic WIngs’ Rapide over Cambridge. There is also an option to stay on the train to Cambridge and tour there and also to Ely. I don’t remember a steam engine on any of the trips as it was usually a diesel in good condition. Dress code seemed to vary from “Very smart casual” to “Chavs day-out” but they all seemed to enjoy Duxford.

Brunch with Bucks Fizz on outward journey, guided tour to Duxford’s Air Museum, three course dinner with champagne and wine on return journey.

😮 Do we get Culture Club or Kajagoogoo for the return journey? 😮

John.

Pete: I’ll take a bet you didn’t get champagne and a classy meal on your £18 ride and I don’t think there is a requirement to wear a dinner jacket, just no jeans allowed. I wonder if a nomex flying suit would ruin the atmosphere!

Depends on the position of the zip.

Champagne and a classy meal was available, ok as an extra, but I preferred to hang out the window at the front with me cans of beer, get eyefulls of smuts, a black, insect encrusted face, and feel the excitement of it all, especially when we hammered through Cambridge and all the divs on the platform ran back in panic.
Cool day out, there’s something about an A-4 pacific at speed when you are only a tender length away, saddo you think, but google and see what they look like, the finest locos ever built anywhere.

Pete: I’ll take a bet you didn’t get champagne and a classy meal on your £18 ride and I don’t think there is a requirement to wear a dinner jacket, just no jeans allowed. I wonder if a nomex flying suit would ruin the atmosphere!

I presume it will be hauled by a Battle of Britain class steam locomotive, though I’m not sure which one is currently available, could be ‘Tangmere’, yes, I’m sure it is.
Problem is, how do you turn it for the return journey without going all the way up to Ely for the reverse junction, could be why it’s so expensive, not. My last steam trip up that line from Bishops Stortford to Ely behind different A-4 pacifics out and back ( Sir Nigel Gresley out, Union of South Africa back ) only cost me £18 quid, and that was only 10 years ago, according to my timings, I recall we went through Whittlesford at about 80mph.
I don’t think I would fancy shuffling round Duxford in a dinner jacket anyway, even if I had one, perhaps everyone gets a flight in the Grace Spitfire as a surprise package.

1.5 hours is the guided tour. It does say “There is some free time to explore at your leisure“.

And I though £8 return on the bus from St Ives (the one in Cambridgeshire that is) was a bit steep 😀 . They could have used an up to date photo and only 1.5 hrs to look around when the Duxford web site gives it 5hrs for a look around. 🙂

Brian