UK Day Trips and Tours by Steam - Second Edition Brochure

The Railway Touring Co. UK Day Trips and Tours 2013–14

Second Edition

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Nigel Dobbing and the staff at The Railway Touring Company welcome you to the 2013 2nd edition of our UK Day Trips and Tours brochure. We have planned a superb programme of day trips and tours covering many of the UK’s best loved railway routes and destinations. We trust that you will find time to read through our brochure and be inspired to join some of our excursions. We hope to hear from you soon and look forward to sharing with you the enjoyment of travelling by steam train.

Travel by Steam Train Our Day Trips and Tours almost exclusively make use of specially chartered trains hauled by steam locomotives. The trains offer a choice of types of seating to suit your particular requirements. Each passenger is allocated their own reserved seat ensuring that travel on these special trains is a relaxing experience providing the perfect escape from all the hustle and bustle of modern day life. All of the seats on our trains line up with the carriage windows, unlike many modern trains, and thus provide the maximum viewing area to add to the enjoyment of your journey.

In addition to our Day Trips and Tours in the UK, The Railway Touring Company has a programme of tours using steam hauled charter trains in many other countries of the world. These tours can be for a few days duration or last for up to two weeks, with overnight accommodation provided in good quality hotels. Please visit our website (www.railwaytouring.net) for further details and to request an overseas brochure, or contact us by telephone if you prefer.

Premier Dining Class Premier Dining Class on our trains is a luxury experience providing a full meals service at tables with spacious comfortable seating. Usually, this service includes a traditional full English breakfast soon after you board the train, a light lunch before you arrive at your destination, and a four course meal on the return journey. Onboard chefs prepare fresh food for all of your meals for the day and it is professionally silver served to your table. Any special dietary requirements can be accommodated providing we are notified in advance. A fully licensed bar service is always available. The dress code is smart casual, as we like our passengers to be relaxed and travel in comfort.

Tables are available for four or two in Premier Dining Class. Our tables for two are the ideal choice for an unusual and memorable celebration, for a special occasion like a wedding anniversary or birthday. Tables for two, where both passengers have window seats, can be guaranteed for an additional charge of £20.00 per person, subject to availability. Premier Dining Class is available up to and including any pick up station before 10:30.

First Class First Class accommodation on our trains is provided at tables for four or for two in deep cushioned armchairs with plenty of room. Tables for two, where both passengers have window seats, can be guaranteed for an additional charge of £20.00 per person, subject to availability.

First class usually includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry, and afternoon cream tea when scones with jam and cream and a selection of finger sandwiches will be served.

Standard Class Standard Class seats are arranged in groups of four around a table. All seats are reserved. Passengers in First and Standard classes regularly bring hampers and picnics.

Booking Arrangements Passengers can book their tickets online by visiting our website www.railwaytouring.net or by downloading a booking form which can be printed and sent by post to:- The Railway Touring Company, 14A Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JN A completed booking form can also be sent to us by fax on 01553 661800. Passengers can also book by telephone during office hours on 01553 661500. Office hours are Monday to Friday: 08:45 to 17:00 and Saturday: 09:00 to 16:00.

We accept most major credit and debit cards.

When posting a booking form please enclose the full payment by cheque or postal order made payable to The Railway Touring Company, and, quoting your name, address, telephone number, choice of train, the number of seats you require, class and joining station. We regret that seats cannot be reserved unless full payment is received.

Acknowledgements and Tickets Bookings made by telephone will be verbally acknowledged at the time of booking and a written confirmation sent within 7 days. Tickets and travel information will usually be despatched at least 5 days before the date of travel. However, this information and the tickets cannot be sent until the departure times are confirmed by the train operator which may be at shorter notice. Please pay particular attention to the departure and arrival times sent with your tickets as these may vary from the approximate timings given in this brochure.

Gift Vouchers We are pleased to offer gift vouchers which can be used against any of our future trips.

Front cover image: Bob Green

Junior Tickets Junior Tickets are available for children who are 15 years old and under.

Children 3 years old and under may travel free if they do not occupy a seat. If they do require a seat then the junior ticket price applies.

Family Tickets Family tickets are available for 2 adults & 2 juniors (aged 15 and under).

Standard Conditions of Booking and Travel Every effort will be made to ensure that the locomotive, rolling stock, route and timings which are hired in from third parties, will run as advertised. However, the organisers reserve the right to alter these details at any time and shall not incur any liability to any person who has bought, or contracted to buy a ticket or tickets, as a result of any such changes. All reasonable efforts, within the control of the organisers, will be made to ensure that on the day of the trip, the train runs as planned.

However, we cannot accept any responsibility for delays, mishaps, alterations or curtailment of the tour from situations outside of our control. There may be occasional re-scheduling or re-routing of a train.

The nature of steam trains is that breakdowns, delays and substitutions have to be accepted. Every genuine effort will be made to ensure that the tour runs as planned and advertised, or as close to it as possible.

The organisers cannot accept responsibility for the options under the control of third parties and are only responsible for returning passengers to their joining stations. Your booking is taken as constituting acceptance of these conditions. No refund is available, other than due to cancellation by the organisers.

Please note, all timings shown in this brochure are approximate and subject to change.

UK Day Trips 2nd Edition 2013-14

Tours The West Highlander Steam Express

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The Great Britain VI

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Day Trips The Scarborough Flyer

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The Christmas White Rose

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The Waverley

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The Christmas Cheshireman

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The Dorest Coast Express

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The Lindum Fayre

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The Welsh Mountaineer

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The Bath Christmas Market

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The Cumbrian Mountain Express

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The Christmas Sussex Belle

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The Royal Duchy

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The York Yuletide Express

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The Devonian

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The Christmas White Rose

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The Royal Wessex

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The Christmas Yorkshireman

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The Bluebell Explorer

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The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express

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The Wandering 1500

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The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express

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The Cumbrian Mountain Express

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The Buxton Spa Express

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The Dartmouth Express

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The Tin Bath

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The Cheshireman

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The Peak Forester

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The Cumbrian Mountain Express

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The Hadrian

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The Dartmouth Express

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The Wansbeck

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The Bluebell Explorer

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The Atlantic Coast Express

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The Kentish Belle Armistice Day

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The Heart of Wales

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The Capital Christmas Express

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The Dartmouth Express

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The Welsh Borders

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The Southern Irishman

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The Tynesider The Bath & Bristol Christmas Markets

Reservation and Booking Forms Tour Reservation Form

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Day Trips Booking Form

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THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY, 14A TUESDAY MARKET PLACE, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK, PE30 1JN Phone: 01553 661500 • Fax: 01553 661800 • E-mail: enquiries@railwaytouring.co.uk • Website: www.railwaytouring.net

The holiday tours in this brochure are covered by the terms and conditions in our Great Railway Adventures 2012 brochure and are available on request.

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The West Highlander Steam Express Saturday 21st September to Tuesday 24th September 2013 Join us for an exhilarating four day tour around the Western Highlands of Scotland on our own exclusive steam hauled chartered train, featuring five different steam locomotives. The tour begins in Preston, where there are good connections from London, Birmingham, The Midlands and the North of England.

There is no better way to enjoy the superb scenery of the Western Highlands than to travel through it by train.

Highlights of the tour include visits to Fort William, Mallaig and Oban plus views of the majestic Ben Nevis, the tranquil Loch Lomond, the barren beauty of Rannoch Moor, and much, much more.

Mountains and moorland, lochs, glens and seascapes abound as we travel the West Highland Line, the world famous Fort William to Mallaig Line, plus the Oban Line.

Our train will be hauled by an LMS Royal Scot class, two LMS Black 5’s, LNER K1 class steam locomotives and an LNER K4 steam locomotive. It offers the option of travel in Premier Class, with a full meal service served at your seat, First Class or Standard Class. A buffet car will be included in the train.

Saturday 21st September A Royal Scot from Preston to Glasgow Our train departs from Preston hauled by steam locomotive No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” and heads north, passing through Lancaster.

After Oxenholme Lake District, the gradient begins to increase and our steam locomotive will be working hard as we climb up to Grayrigg Summit.

We pass through the scenic Lune Gorge and Tebay before commencing our assault on the dramatic Shap Fell, a major obstacle in the days of steam.

On arrival at Carlisle there will be a break while our steam locomotive is serviced. We cross the border into Scotland at Gretna and, after Lockerbie, face a formidable climb up to Beattock Summit. The route then drops down through undulating countryside to Carstairs and Glasgow Central Station. We transfer to Glasgow hotels for overnight accommodation.

Sunday 22nd September The spectacular West Highland Line to Mallaig We transfer to Glasgow Queen Street Station for an early departure, at around 06:30. Today our special train will be hauled by steam locomotive No. 61994 “The Great Marquess” for the journey to Fort William. We travel around the outskirts of Glasgow towards the West Highland Line. We shall soon be passing within sight of the famous River Clyde between Dalmuir, Dumbarton and Craigendoran. After a brief stop at Arrochar & Tarbet Station we witness the tranquil beauty of Loch Lomond. We leave Crianlarich, where the Oban line branches off, and head for the wild and desolate Rannoch Moor. We pass by Loch Treig and through the amazing Monessie Gorge.

The highest mountain in Scotland at 4,418ft, Ben Nevis, comes into view as we approach Fort William around lunchtime. Here we have a short break and a different steam locomotive, K1 class No. 62005, comes on to our train for the journey to Mallaig and back.

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We cross the impressive Caledonian Canal at Banavie and run beside Loch Linnhe. The splendid curved Glenfinnan Viaduct is a masterpiece of engineering famous in its own right but given greater prominence recently through the Harry Potter films. Take the opportunity to photograph it, it’s a fabulous sight. We are travelling through some of the most breathtaking scenery that Scotland has to offer. The beautiful colours of the glens and lochs stand out in contrast against the sombre tones of the mountains. There are views of the Atlantic Ocean and distant islands before we arrive at Mallaig. Here we have a break and an opportunity to explore this fishing and ferry port, to take a leisurely stroll to sample the bracing sea air, to spend some time shopping, or enjoying the excellent traditional fish and chips! We return to Fort William, make our way to our hotels for overnight accommodation and maybe ‘a wee dram or two’!

Monday 23rd September Fort William, Oban and Glasgow At 09:00, after a hearty traditional Scottish breakfast, we leave Fort William, steam hauled by No. 61994 “The Great Marquess”. Climbing out of Fort William through the spectacular scenery of the Monessie Gorge, we pass Roy Bridge, then tackle the steepest part of the climb up to Corrour, the second highest summit on British railways.

We cross Rannoch Moor and continue through Tyndrum Upper to Crianlarich where we change locomotives. We set off for Oban double headed by two Black 5 locomotives 44871 and 45407, passing through Tyndrum Lower and continuing through the magnificent scenery of Loch Awe and the Falls of Cruachan. Soon after passing Taynuilt we arrive at the terminus of the line, Oban, where there will be a break for lunch. As soon as we leave Oban we begin an awesome climb where the locomotives will be working flat out to reach the summit. We begin our descent to Connel Ferry and Taynuilt, retracing our route to Crianlarich, from where “The Great Marquess” will return our train to Glasgow. We face another stiff climb up to Glen Douglas before descending to Helensburgh and the Clyde valley.

We pass through Dumbarton and Springburn before arriving at Glasgow Queen Street.

Tuesday 24th September Journey home We depart Glasgow Central at 09:30 hauled by No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” travelling by the Glasgow and South Western route through Paisley and Dalry to Newton on Ayr. Here we take the freight only line to Mauchline Junction where we join the Glasgow and South Western Main Line. We continue through Kirkconnel, Dumfries and Gretna to Carlisle.

We continue steam hauled climbing up to Shap summit, and then descend to pass through Carnforth and Lancaster en route to Preston.

The Locomotives The West Highlander Steam Express will be hauled in turn by five different steam locomotives.

LMS Royal Scot Class 4-6-0 No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” Preston – Glasgow Glasgow – Preston LNER K1 Class 2-6-0 No. 62005 Fort William – Mallaig – Fort William 2 x LMS ‘Black 5’ Class Nos. 44871 & 45407 Crianlarich – Oban – Crianlarich LNER K4 Class 2-6-0 No. 61994 “The Great Marquess” Glasgow – Fort William Fort William – Glasgow Approximate Timings Saturday 21st September Preston 10:20 Glasgow Central 17:55 Sunday 22nd September Glasgow Queen Street 06:30 Crianlarich 10:35 Fort William 12:50 – 13:15 Mallaig 15:00 – 17:00 Fort William 18:50 Monday 23rd September Fort William 09:00 Crianlarich 12:00 – 12:30 Oban 14:00 – 15:00 Crianlarich 16:30 Glasgow Queen Street 19:30 Tuesday 24th September Glasgow Central 09:30 Preston 16:00

Tour Summary Premier Class £955 First Class £755 Standard Class £545 Premier Class Single Supplement £100 First Class Single Supplement £100 Standard Class Single Supplement £79 Premier Class price includes: • 3 nights hotel accommodation in Glasgow and Fort William • 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners silver served at your seat on the train • First class accommodation on the train Table for two supplement £50.00 per person First Class price includes: • 3 nights hotel accommodation and breakfast in Glasgow and Fort William • Dinner in Fort William • First class accommodation on the train Table for two supplement £50.00 per person Standard Class price includes: • 3 nights hotel accommodation and breakfast in Glasgow and Fort William • Dinner in Fort William • Standard class accommodation on the train September 2013 M

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The Great Britain VII Saturday 26th April to Sunday 4th May 2014 The extremely successful Great Britain rail tour enters its seventh year with another interesting and varied itinerary covering high profile main lines as well as highly scenic routes. The steam-hauled tour begins at London Victoria and on day one takes the Southern main line to Exeter and then the Great Western main line along the sea wall at Dawlish, over Saltash Bridge, and on to Falmouth.

Other features of this tour include ‘double-headed’ trains, travelling the Welsh Marches and the Cumbrian Coast lines, crossing the Forth Railway Bridge, and travelling the Great North of Scotland Line. Our train will divide in Scotland, thus operating two trains around Scotland at the same time. Passengers change from one train to the other by travelling across the beautiful Isle of Skye. This allows all passengers to experience the spectacular Mallaig & Kyle of Lochalsh routes. There is the option of a day sightseeing in Edinburgh or a trip to Stranraer and back with two ‘Black 5’ steam locomotives.

Saturday 26th April Bulleid ‘Pacifics’ to Exeter; a ‘Castle’ and a ‘Hall’ to Truro We steam out of London Victoria at around 09:00 hauled by West Country class ‘Pacific’ No. 34046 “Braunton”. We call to pick up further passengers at Staines, Woking, Basingstoke and Salisbury.

At Salisbury Battle of Britain class ‘Pacific’ No. 34067 “Tangmere” will be attached to our train and we depart ‘double-headed’ for Exeter.

We continue westwards through Templecombe and Chard Junction to Exeter St. Davids. Here our train reverses direction of travel and we shall be ‘double-headed’ by the ex-Great Western Railway (GWR) duo of No. 5029 “Nunney Castle” and No. 4936 “Kinlet Hall”. We follow the Exe Estuary and then run beside the sea wall from Dawlish to Teignmouth, one of the most superb stretches of railway line in Britain. It is an exhilarating experience to travel along this route through tunnels and rock cuttings right at the edge of the sea. After Newton Abbot, there are some of the steepest gradients on main lines in this country.

First there is the difficult climb of Dainton Bank, up to Dainton Tunnel, before dropping down to Totnes, and then it is the climb up Rattery Bank before the descent to Plymouth. After leaving Plymouth we cross the River Tamar on Brunel’s

masterpiece, The Royal Albert Bridge, and enter Cornwall. Our train continues through the wonderful Cornish countryside crossing numerous viaducts en route to Truro. From Truro Station we transfer by road coach to our hotels in Falmouth.

Sunday 27th April Over the South Devon banks to Bristol with a ‘Hall’ and a ‘Castle’; through the Severn Tunnel to South Wales We leave Falmouth early in the morning hauled by No. 5029 “Nunney Castle” and No. 4936 “Kinlet Hall”. We join the main line west of Truro and should then enjoy some spirited running through the splendid Cornish countryside. We cross Brunel’s Saltash Bridge before arriving at Plymouth. Leaving Plymouth our two steam locomotives demonstrate their true power as they tackle the long steep climbs of Hemerdon and Dainton banks. After Exeter the climb to Whiteball will be followed by a fast run from Taunton to Bristol across the Somerset Levels. At Bristol ‘Battle of Britain’ class No. 34067 “Tangmere” replaces the two ex-GWR steam locomotives for the run to Cardiff. The route is through the Severn Tunnel and along the South Wales main line to Cardiff. Overnight accommodation is in Cardiff.

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Monday 28th April A ‘Britannia’ on the Welsh Marches route & West Coast Main Line We leave Cardiff hauled by ‘Britannia’ class 4-6-2 No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”. We pass through Newport before joining the scenic Welsh Marches route along the Welsh/English border. Our steam locomotive will be working hard as we climb through Pontypool and Abergavenny to Llanvihangel Summit. We stop at Hereford for our locomotive to take on water before continuing to Leominster, Ludlow and Shrewsbury. We follow the Shrewsbury to Chester Line through Gobowen, Ruabon and Wrexham. Soon we cross the River Dee and the city walls of Chester come into view. We leave Chester and travel northeastwards towards Manchester stopping at Frodsham for our steam locomotive to take on water. We join the West Coast Main Line (WCML) at Acton Grange Junction just before Warrington and can expect to speed along through Wigan to Preston. We continue north to Lancaster and Carnforth, where we take the former Furness Railway Line along the north shore of Morecambe Bay. Our destination is the picturesque seaside resort of Grange-over-Sands in the South Lakeland District of Cumbria. We transfer to a selection of hotels, many close to Windermere.

Tuesday 29th April A ‘Jubilee’ duo round the Cumbrian Coast and over Beattock summit to Edinburgh We transfer by road coach to Grange-over-Sands Station where we rejoin our train ‘double-headed’ by two ex-London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMSR) ‘Jubilee’ class locomotives 45699 “Galatea” and 45690 “Leander”. Our route today is along the highly scenic Cumbrian Coast line with views to the west of the Irish Sea and to the east of the Cumbrian Fells. We begin by travelling westwards towards Barrow-in-Furness before heading northwards through Ravenglass, St. Bees, Whitehaven, right beside the sea to Workington, Maryport and Carlisle. We have a break at the Border city of Carlisle while our steam locomotives are serviced.

We leave Carlisle heading north along the WCML, crossing the border into Scotland at Gretna, and after Lockerbie begin the great climb to Beattock Summit, the highest point on the WCML north of the border. We descend to Carstairs where we leave the Glasgow line, then tackle the shorter gradient to Cobbinshaw en route to Edinburgh Waverley. We transfer to hotels in Edinburgh for two nights accommodation.

Wednesday 30th April Free day in Edinburgh or optional trip to Stranraer steam hauled by two ‘Black 5’s’ Breakfast at the hotels is included today.

Free day in Edinburgh Those choosing to explore the Scottish capital may wish to visit the Old Town which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of the famous sites are in this area which runs along the Royal Mile from the world famous Castle to Holyrood Palace. It also includes St. Giles Cathedral, Greyfriars Kirkyard, The Grassmarket area, and the Scottish Parliament. Edinburgh’s historic centre is bisected by Princes Street Gardens, a broad swathe of parkland in the heart of the city with the Sir Walter Scott monument nearby.

To the north lies Princes Street, Edinburgh’s main shopping boulevard, and the Georgian period New Town.

There are four different routes around the city operated by sightseeing buses which all start and finish at Waverley Bridge, adjacent to Waverley Station. A sightseeing ticket is valid for 24 hours so can be used for getting around central Edinburgh. The Royal Yacht Britannia is berthed at the Ocean Terminal in Leith and has been voted one of Edinburgh’s best new attractions.

Britannia offers visitors the chance to tour the royal apartments and view a selection of the many gifts offered to the royals by dignitaries worldwide. There are bus services from the city centre to Leith. For those who enjoy walking then Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano to the east of the city centre offers fantastic views from its 251 metre high summit. It is located in Holyrood Park and paths lead up to the summit from the car park at Holyrood Palace.

Tour Summary Premier Class Price per person: £2785 Single Supplement: £395 Optional trip to Stranraer £175 First Class Price per person: £1895 Single Supplement: £340 Optional trip to Stranraer £125

Optional steam trip to Stranraer Our train will leave Edinburgh Waverley hauled by ‘Black 5’s’ No. 44871 and No. 45407. We pass through Haymarket and at Midcalder Junction take the Shotts Line, one of three routes between Edinburgh and Glasgow. We travel over part of the WCML before branching off to the south of Glasgow and joining the Glasgow South Western Railway Line (G&SWR) at Shields Junction.

We pass through Paisley, Dalry and Troon before arriving at the coastal town of Ayr from where there are views of the Isle of Arran.

The route is now single track and passes through Maybole and Girvan, from where there is a tremendous climb to the summit at Pinmore Tunnel. The line descends to Pinwherry and then climbs steeply again through Barrhill to Chirmorie Summit. Stranraer Station, formerly Stranraer Harbour Railway Station, is on Loch Ryan and the terminus of the line that once served the ferries operating to Northern Ireland. Our train returns from Stranraer ‘double-headed’ by No. 44871 and No. 45407 over the steeply graded switchback line to Ayr and on to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Class and First Class for a supplement of £159 per person. (subject to availability)

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• Coffee or tea and Danish pastries served at your seat

Premier Class includes: • Eight nights overnight accommodation and breakfast (when not served on the train) in 3 and 4-star hotels • Eight lunches served on the train • Four breakfasts served on the train • Five dinners and one afternoon tea silver served at your seat on the train • Seats will be in first class open coaches with comfortable deep cushioned Pullman style seats at tables for four, or two with a supplement of £159 per person (subject to availability) • Apart from breakfast, other meals at the hotels will be at your own expense First Class includes: • Eight nights overnight accommodation and breakfast in 3-star hotels

• Afternoon tea and biscuits served at your seat • Seating is in first class open coaches at tables for four, or two with a supplement £159 per person (subject to availability) • Apart from breakfast other meals in hotels will be at your own expense April – May 2014 M

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Bob Green

Thursday 1st May Over the Forth Bridge to Inverness or with “The Great Marquess” to Fort William Today we travel by two separate steam hauled trains. Train 1 runs via Aberdeen to Inverness and Train 2 runs via Bathgate to Fort William.

Train 1 – Edinburgh to Inverness Ex-London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) class A4 ‘Pacific’ No. 60009 “Union of South Africa” will leave Edinburgh Waverley with our special train at around 09.30. We cross the magnificent Forth Bridge with superb views of the Firth of Forth and enter Fife. We head northwards with views of Lomond Hills and cross the River Tay, hugging the coast line en route to Carnoustie and Arbroath. We continue through Montrose and after Stonehaven there will be spectacular views of the North Sea much of the way to Aberdeen.

We enjoy a short break in the Granite City, more recently dubbed the ‘oil capital of Europe’.

An LNER B1 class 4-6-0 steam locomotive will take over our train for the journey from Aberdeen to Inverness. The route of the former Great North of Scotland Railway is single track and passes through undulating agricultural land to Huntly, Keith and Elgin. After Forres and Nairn, there are views across the Moray Firth before arrival at Inverness where we transfer to our hotels.

Train 2 – Edinburgh to Fort William Our train leaves Edinburgh Waverley hauled by ex-LNER steam locomotive No. 61994 “The Great Marquess”. We take the Bathgate line towards Glasgow and pass through Springburn to the north of the city. We travel along the north bank of the River Clyde and pass through Dumbarton before joining the West Highland line at Craigendoran. After a brief stop at Arrochar & Tarbet Station, we glimpse the tranquil beauty of Loch Lomond. We leave Crianlarich, where the Oban line branches off, and head for the wild and desolate Rannoch Moor. We pass by Loch Treig and through the amazing Monessie Gorge.

The highest mountain in Scotland at 4,418ft, Ben Nevis, comes into view as we approach Fort William where we arrive in the mid afternoon.

Overnight accommodation is in Fort William.

Friday 2nd May Steam on the Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig routes Train 1 – Inverness to Fort William We depart from Inverness steam-hauled by an ex-LNER B1 class 4-6-0. Premier class passengers will be silver served a full Scottish Breakfast at their seats soon after departure. We pass over the Caledonian Canal on the Clachnaharry Swing Bridge, then take the Kyle line at Dingwall; possibly the most scenic line in the country.

The route takes us up to Raven Rock Summit and Luib Summit before we stop at Achnashellach for our steam locomotive to take on water.

We descend to the shores of Loch Carron and experience fine views of the lochs and mountains.

At Kyle of Lochalsh we join road coaches which take us on a scenic tour over the Skye Bridge on to the Isle of Skye and to Armadale. Here we take the ferry to Mallaig. On arrival at Mallaig our special train will be waiting with steam locomotive No. 61994 “The Great Marquess”.

We enjoy a scenic journey east passing the Sands of Morar and crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct en route to Fort William. Overnight accommodation is in Fort William.

Train 2 – Fort William to Inverness We depart from Fort William, steam-hauled by K4 class 2-6-0 No. 61994 “The Great Marquess”, for our journey to Mallaig. We cross the impressive Caledonian Canal at Banavie and run beside Loch Linnhe. The splendid curved Glenfinnan Viaduct is a masterpiece of engineering famous in its own right but given greater prominence through the Harry Potter films. Take the opportunity to photograph it, it’s a fabulous sight. We are travelling through some of the most breathtaking UK Tours - The Great Britain VII

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scenery that Scotland has to offer. The beautiful colours of the glens and lochs stand out in contrast against the sombre tones of the mountains. There are views of the Atlantic Ocean and distant islands before we reach Mallaig.

On arrival at Mallaig we join a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry to Armadale on the Isle of Skye.

Here road coaches will be waiting to take us on a scenic tour through the Isle of Skye and over the Skye Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh. Here our special train will be waiting for us and we shall be steamhauled to Inverness by an ex-LNER B1 class 4-6-0.

Overnight accommodation is in Inverness.

Saturday 3rd May The best of Scottish scenery en route to Edinburgh Train 1 – Fort William to Edinburgh We depart from Fort William mid-morning steamhauled by former ex-LNER 2-6-0 No. 61994 “The Great Marquess”. We climb out of Fort William through the Monessie Gorge and pass Roy Bridge before tackling the steepest part of the climb up to Corrour (1,350 ft.), the second highest summit on British railways. We cross Rannoch Moor and continue through Tyndrum to Crianlarich where our steam locomotive takes on water. We face another stiff climb up to Glen Douglas before reaching Garelochhead.

From here “The Great Marquess” will haul our train through Helensburgh and Dumbarton to Edinburgh Waverley. Overnight accommodation is in Edinburgh.

Train 2 – Inverness to Edinburgh We depart from Inverness hauled by a B1 class 4-6-0 and head eastwards with fine views over the Moray Firth. We pass through Nairn and Keith heading further east on the Great North of Scotland main line. We arrive at Aberdeen where we exchange our B1 class 4-6-0 for A4 class ‘Pacific’ No. 60009 “Union South Africa”.

As we head south there are panoramic views of

Tour Summary Premier Class Price per person: £2785 Single Supplement: £395 Optional trip to Stranraer £175 First Class Price per person: £1895 Single Supplement: £340 Optional trip to Stranraer £125 Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Class and First Class for a supplement of £159 per person. (subject to availability) Bob Green

the North Sea for much of the way to Stonehaven.

We pass through Montrose and Arbroath then run along the North bank of the River Tay before arriving at Dundee. We cross the impressive Tay Bridge over the Firth of Tay and head south across Fife. We are close to the Firth of Forth between Kinghorn and Inverkeithing, then we cross the spectacular Forth Bridge and head for Edinburgh Waverley. Overnight accommodation is in Edinburgh.

Sunday 4th May A ‘Jubilee’ and a ‘Duchess’ to Euston Our train leaves Edinburgh Waverley hauled by an ex-LMSR ‘Jubilee’ class 4-6-0 and heads south over Cobbinshaw Bank to Carstairs. From here we climb steeply up to Beattock Summit then descend to Lockerbie and continue over the Border to Carlisle. We head south along the WCML and once we have passed through Penrith we climb up to Shap Summit. We descend to Tebay and pass through the Lune Gorge and continue to descend through Oxenholme Lake District to Carnforth.

We should make speedy progress through Lancaster to Preston, and then through Warrington and on to Crewe.

At Crewe ex-LMSR ‘Pacific’ No. 46229 “Duchess of Sutherland” takes over for a fast run up the West Coast Main Line to Euston. A diesel locomotive will take the train from Euston to Staines, Woking, Basingstoke and Salisbury, where stops will be made to set down passengers.

Optional steam trip Edinburgh to Stranraer and return 30th April 2014 Premier class includes a reserved seat, full Scottish Breakfast and 3-course lunch with tea or coffee.

First class includes a reserved seat, Danish Pastries with orange juice, morning coffee or tea, afternoon tea or coffee served with a selection of finger sandwiches and scones with jam and cream.

Luggage All luggage transfers from Falmouth to Edinburgh, around Scotland and back to Edinburgh are taken care of by RTC. Passengers are responsible for taking their own luggage to the train and to the first hotel in Falmouth and then to the train from the last hotel in Edinburgh. All other transfers between hotels and trains are made by RTC.

Premier Class includes: • Eight nights overnight accommodation and breakfast (when not served on the train) in 3 and 4-star hotels • Eight lunches served on the train • Four breakfasts served on the train • Five dinners and one afternoon tea silver served at your seat on the train • Seats will be in first class open coaches with comfortable deep cushioned Pullman style seats at tables for four, or two with a supplement of £159 per person (subject to availability) • Apart from breakfast, other meals at the hotels will be at your own expense First Class includes: • Eight nights overnight accommodation and breakfast in 3-star hotels • Coffee or tea and Danish pastries served at your seat • Afternoon tea and biscuits served at your seat • Seating is in first class open coaches at tables for four, or two with a supplement £159 per person (subject to availability) • Apart from breakfast other meals in hotels will be at your own expense April – May 2014 M

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Bob Green

UK Tours - The Great Britain VII

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Bob Green

The Scarborough Flyer Friday 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th August and 13th September 2013 The “Scarborough Flyer” is a summer series of steam trains running on Fridays from the end of July until mid September. The trains originate at Crewe and pick up passengers at stations on a scenic route through Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. There is a choice of destination, either York or Scarborough.

The trains will be hauled by an express passenger steam locomotive evoking memories of the 1950’s and a former train named the “Scarborough Flyer”.

The “Scarborough Flyer” leaves Crewe at around 06:55 and stops to pick up further passengers at Wilmslow, Stockport and Huddersfield. The route is then via the Calder Valley into the Pennines and passing through Todmorden and Sowerby Bridge before dropping down to Brighouse, where there is another stop to pick up passengers. The train follows the route of the old Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway to Wakefield Kirkgate, the last stop for passengers.

Our train continues to York where those passengers who choose this destination will have almost six hours to explore the city which has a rich heritage and a wealth of historic attractions.

The unquestioned appeal of the city includes such sights as the Minster, The Shambles, the Jorvik Viking Centre, the medieval city walls, Castle Museum and, of course, the superb National Railway Museum.

On leaving York, we take the Scarborough line and immediately cross the River Ouse, with lovely views of the Minster. We should have a fast run through the Vale of York before slowing for the curves that follow the River Derwent past Kirkham Abbey. We continue through Malton and Seamer to our final destination at Scarborough, the most popular seaside resort in Yorkshire and perhaps the whole of the East Coast.

It has everything you would expect from an established seaside resort, with two stunning sandy bays and a host of things to do and see. Our train leaves Scarborough for the return journey at 16:55 and retraces the route to York. Departure from York is at 18:00 and our train stops at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

The steam locomotives to be used on this day trip come from the following pool: No. 46233 “Duchess of Sutherland” Princess Coronation Class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2 built by the LMSR at Crewe in 1938, for use on express passenger trains, and now in B.R. Green livery.

No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” Britannia class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Crewe in 1951 to British Railways ‘standard’ design, and used on express passenger trains in East Anglia.

Fares from Huddersfield and Wakefield

Fares from York

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£155

£121

£431

First

£84

£50

£218

First

£69

£40

£178

First

£95

£59

£249

Standard

£51

£31

£133

Standard

£39

£24

£102

Standard

£66

£41

£173

UK Day Trips - The Scarborough Flyer

10

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Crewe 06:55 22:45 Wilmslow 07:25 22:10 Stockport 07:45 22:00 Huddersfield 09:00 20:00 Wakefield Kirkgate 10:20 19:30 York 12:00 18:00 Scarborough 13:05 16:55

Bob Green

The Waverley Sunday 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th August 2013 This summer series of steam hauled trains provides an opportunity for passengers from York, Leeds and the Aire Valley to travel over the spectacular Settle–Carlisle Line, probably the most famous railway route in Britain.

There is also the option of visiting the Cumbrian market town of Appleby or the border city of Carlisle. We have three steam locomotives available for these trains, types that were regularly seen on this route in the ‘days of steam’.

Our train will set out from York at 09:15 and immediately reach high speeds along the long, flat, straight stretch of line to Church Fenton. Here we take the route to Leeds, where we stop to pick up passengers.

Our train follows the Aire Valley and calls to pick up more passengers at Shipley, Keighley, and Skipton, in the beautiful countryside of the Yorkshire Dales.

From Leeds to Carlisle there’s scarcely a level mile; 113 miles of ups and downs! We stop for our steam locomotive to take on water and then arrive at Settle Junction, the beginning of one of Britain’s most arduous climbs, a total of 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100. This will be a tough test for our locomotive which we will see – and hear – working very hard!

We cross the breathtaking Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel.

The route runs high above valleys, over bridges and through more dramatic tunnels to the highest station in England at Dent. There are magnificent views of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. Then, the dramatic peak of our journey, we make the final climb to Ais Gill Summit, all 1,169 feet of it! We travel high above the valley at Mallerstang and then drop down through Kirkby Stephen to Appleby, where our locomotive takes on water. Passengers have the option of spending the afternoon in this historic and picturesque town, or continuing to Carlisle.

Passengers who choose to continue to Carlisle will enjoy a swift downhill run through the Eden Valley and arrive in the ‘Border City’ at around 14:00. There will be over one and a half hours in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient city. On departure we climb almost continually for just under 50 miles back up to Ais Gill, tackling gradients as steep as 1 in 100. We stop, en route, at Appleby for our locomotive to take on water and to pick up the passengers who spent the afternoon there. From Ais Gill our locomotive can ‘take a breather’ as it rushes back down the hill. We stop again for our locomotive to take on water before continuing on our return journey to York, where we arrive at around 20:30.

One of the three following steam locomotives will be used on this day trip: No. 44932 class 5 (‘Black 5’) 4-6-0, built at Horwich in 1945 by the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMSR), a ‘mixed traffic’ locomotive for use on passenger and freight trains.

No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” rebuilt Royal Scot class 4-6-0, built in 1927 by the North British Locomotive Company for the LMSR, for use on express passenger trains.

No. 45699 “Galatea” Jubilee class 4-6-0, built at Crewe in 1936 by the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMSR), for use on express passenger trains.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return York 09:15 20:30 Leeds 09:50 19:45 Shipley 10:10 19:25 Keighley 10:25 19:10 Skipton 10:45 18:55 Appleby 12:50 16:55 Carlisle 14:00 15:45 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£179

£139

£497

First

£115

£69

£299

Standard

£69

£45

£183

UK Day Trips - The Waverley

11

Bob Green

The Dorset Coast Express Wednesday 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th August, 4th and 11th September 2013 We are offering a number of lovely summer day trips from London to Weymouth and back by steam train, providing plenty of opportunity to visit the beautiful Dorset coast. Each train will be hauled by a steam locomotive that was built for express passenger train work. An added attraction, on leaving Weymouth, will be the steam locomotive at the rear of the train to ‘bank’ it on the steep climb of Upwey Bank as far as Dorchester South.

Our train leaves London Victoria Station at around 08:45 and travels westwards, crossing the Thames at Barnes Bridge, through Kew and Feltham. We stop at Staines and Woking to pick up further passengers.

At Winchfield, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water before continuing to our final pick up point at Basingstoke. We leave the South Western Main Line at Worting Junction and take the Bournemouth Line, heading south through Winchester and Southampton.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Victoria 08:45 20:50 # Staines 09:35 -------* Woking 10:05 20:10 Basingstoke 10:55 19:30 Bournemouth 12:50 17:45 Weymouth 13:45 16:35 # Returns

We stop at Bournemouth to set down those passengers wishing to visit this coastal resort.

After leaving Bournemouth look out for spectacular views of Poole Harbour. We continue to Wareham and Dorchester travelling through classic Dorset countryside and delightful scenery.

We arrive at Weymouth at around 13:45 and have over three hours there to discover much of what this seaside town has to offer. The railway station is close to the beach and shops.

We return from Weymouth at around 16:35 and our train will be hauled by one steam locomotive and ‘banked’ at the rear by another. We climb Upwey Bank which is a very steep climb and our steam locomotives will be working flat out. We stop at Dorchester South to detach our ‘banker’.

We stop at Bournemouth to collect passengers who left the train there on the outward journey. Our next stop is at Basingstoke, where we set down passengers and our steam locomotive takes on water.

We expect a fast run along the main line from Basingstoke to Woking, where we stop to set down passengers, and on to our final destination at London Waterloo.

The steam locomotives to be used on this day trip come from the following pool: No. 30777 “Sir Lamiel” N15 ‘King Arthur’ class 4-6-0, built by the North British Locomotive Company in 1925, for use on express passenger trains on the Southern Railway.

No. 34067 “Tangmere” unrebuilt ‘Battle of Britain’ class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Brighton in 1947 by the Southern Railway, for use on express passenger trains.

No. 34046 “Braunton” West Country class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Brighton Works in 1946 for Southern Railway (sr) and rebuilt in 1959, for use on express passenger trains.

No. 70000 “Britannia” ‘Britannia’ class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Crewe in 1951 to British Railways ‘standard’ design, the first ‘standard’ to be built, and used on express passenger trains in East Anglia.

UK Day Trips - The Dorset Coast Express

12

to London Waterloo Station. *Passengers for Staines change at Waterloo on return journey.

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£179

£134

£492

First

£115

£71

£301

Standard

£72

£42

£186

Bob Green

The Welsh Mountaineer Tuesday 20th August and 3rd September 2013 These special steam trains travel from Preston to Blaenau Ffestiniog, in the heart of the spectacular Snowdonia National Park. The trains will be hauled by a powerful steam locomotive typical of the type seen along the route in the ‘days of steam’. The route is via Chester and along the scenic North Wales Coast Line to Llandudno Junction then up the beautiful Conwy Valley to the mountains at Blaenau Ffestiniog. A most memorable journey!

Our steam train leaves Preston at 07:40 and heads up the West Coast Main Line to Warrington Bank Quay where we stop to pick up more passengers. We continue to Frodsham where further passengers may join the train and our steam locomotive takes on water. Chester is our final pick up point for passengers and as we leave, we pass through the ancient city walls and cross the River Dee into Wales.

We steam along beside the lovely Dee Estuary and then pass through Prestatyn and Rhyl, along the delightful Irish Sea coastline known for its beaches. After Colwyn Bay, we enjoy wonderful views of the Great Orme until we arrive at Llandudno Junction Station. We change direction of travel here, so our steam locomotive will ‘run round’ our train.

We set off for Blaenau Ffestiniog behind our steam locomotive, following the pretty Conwy Valley through Llanrwst, and entering the Snowdonia National Park before Betws-y-Coed. The next part of our journey is extra special; we enter the very heart of the Welsh mountains as our train climbs up to Blaenau Ffestiniog Tunnel. At over two miles long, this impressive piece of engineering is the longest single track tunnel in the country. We pass through the substantial waste heaps of an old slate quarry before arriving at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway Station is the terminus of the Conwy Valley Line and also the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway. We stay for almost three hours in Blaenau Ffestiniog, a town known as the Victorian slate capital of the world. The industry declined so that only the Llechwedd Slate Caverns, a former slate mine, remain and as a tourist attraction open to visitors.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Preston 07:40 21:10 Warrington 08:30 20:25 Frodsham 09:10 19:30 Chester 10:05 19:10 Llandudno Junction 11:55 17:30 Blaenau Ffestiniog 13:15 16:00 There are two classes available: First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Our train leaves Blaenau Ffestiniog, steam hauled, at around 16:00 and returns to Llandudno Junction.

After changing direction of travel we continue, still steam hauled, stopping at Chester, Frodsham and Warrington Bank Quay to set down passengers. Our final calling point is Preston where we bid farewell to our steam locomotive.

One of the two following steam locomotives will be used on this day trip: No. 45305 Black ‘5’ 4-6-0, built for the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMSR) by Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936, a ‘mixed traffic’ locomotive for use on passenger and freight trains.

No. 61994 “The Great Marquess”, K4 class 2-6-0, built at Darlington Works in 1937 by the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER), a ‘mixed traffic’ locomotive for use on passenger and freight trains on the West Highland line in Scotland.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

First

£125

£72

£322

Standard

£85

£50

£220

UK Day Trips - The Welsh Mountaineer

13

Bob Green

The Cumbrian Mountain Express Saturday 31st August, 7th and 14th September 2013 A wonderful opportunity for those from the Crewe and Manchester areas to travel with us by steam train over two of England’s most scenic railway routes.

We travel north to Carlisle via the spectacular Settle-Carlisle Line and return by the West Coast Main Line over Shap. We have a pool of four magnificent steam locomotives for hauling these trains. Whichever one of this fine and venerable quartet is on our train, it promises to provide a memorable day out.

Our steam train leaves Crewe at around 06:00 and calls at Wilmslow, Stockport and Manchester Victoria, to pick up passengers. It then takes the route over Chat Moss to join the West Coast Main Line (WCML) at Golborne Junction before stopping at Bolton, and Blackburn, where passengers from Preston join the train.

We pass through Clitheroe before joining the Settle and Carlisle Railway at Hellifield, where we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. We continue to Settle Junction and the beginning of one of Britain’s most arduous climbs, a total of 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100. This will be a tough test for our locomotive which we shall see – and hear – working very hard!

We cross the spectacular Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel.

The line crosses over bridges and passes through tunnels before reaching the highest railway station in England at Dent. There are magnificent views of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough as we make the final climb to Ais Gill Summit, all 1,169 feet of it! We travel above the valley at Mallerstang and descend to Kirkby Stephen and Appleby, where we stop for our locomotive to take on water. We pass through the Eden Valley and arrive in the Border City of Carlisle shortly before 13:00. There will be more than three hours in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient city.

Our steam locomotive will return our train to Crewe via the steeply graded route over Shap summit on the West Coast Main Line. We set down at Preston, Bolton, Manchester Victoria, Stockport, Wilmslow and Crewe.

The steam locomotives to be used on this day trip come from the following pool: No. 45305 Black ‘5’ 4-6-0, built for the LMSR by Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936, a ‘mixed traffic’ locomotive for use on passenger and freight trains.

No. 46233 “Duchess of Sutherland” Princess Coronation Class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2 built by the LMSR at Crewe in 1938, for use on express passenger trains, now in B.R. Green livery.

No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” Britannia class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Crewe in 1951 to British Railways ‘standard’ design, and used on express passenger trains in East Anglia.

UK Day Trips - The Cumbrian Mountain Express

14

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Crewe 06:05 22:10 Wilmslow 06:35 21:40 Stockport 06:50 21:25 Manchester Victoria 07:50 20:15 Bolton 08:10 19:50 Blackburn 09:30 ------Preston* ------- 19:15 Carlisle 12:55 16:10 *Passengers from Preston travel by service train to Blackburn to join the train.

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£189

£138

£516

First

£125

£70

£320

Standard

£83

£48

£214

Bob Green

The Royal Duchy Sunday 25th August, 1st, 8th and 29th September 2013 These exciting steam train excursions take us from Bristol Temple Meads, Yatton and Taunton to Devon & Cornwall. The Royal Duchy was a train of yesteryear, and our trains follow the same route to Cornwall, one of two royal duchies in England. The spectacular journey includes running beside the sea at Dawlish, a series of steep inclines known as the South Devon Banks, and crossing the famous Brunel Saltash Bridge into Cornwall.

Our train departs Bristol Temple Meads at around 08:30 and calls to pick up further passengers at Yatton and Taunton. Our steam locomotive will then be working hard as it tackles the climb to Whiteball Summit. We stop at Exeter St. David’s Station for our locomotive to take on water and this will provide an opportunity to take photos. On leaving Exeter we follow the Exe Estuary to the sea at Dawlish we continue along the sea wall to Teignmouth, one of Britain’s most famous stretches of railway line.

After Newton Abbot, our steam locomotive will demonstrate her real strength as she powers up some of the steepest main line gradients in the country. First there is the difficult climb to the summit at Dainton Tunnel, followed by a dramatic drop down to Totnes; then an equally difficult climb up Rattery Bank before descending to Plymouth. There will be around four hours free time to explore this historic maritime city which includes the Hoe, the ancient Barbican and seafront areas, and the National Marine Aquarium, or to take a boat trip around Plymouth Sound. After leaving Plymouth, we cross the River Tamar on Brunel’s masterpiece, the Royal Albert Bridge, and enter Cornwall. Our train continues through the magnificent Cornish countryside before arriving at Liskeard where we stop for passengers who may wish to travel by branch line service train to the picturesque harbour town of Looe.

At Par there will be a break of more than three hours while our steam locomotive is turned and serviced.

For those who choose this option, a road coach will take passengers, at no extra charge, to visit either the picturesque seaside town of Fowey or the harbour village of Charlestown. The latter is a working port and home to the Shipwreck, Rescue & Heritage Centre. We leave Par at around 17:45 and stop to pick up our passengers at the set down stations. We then steam back to Bristol, stopping at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

The steam locomotives to be used on this day trip were all built for use on express passenger trains and come from the following pool: No. 5029 “Nunney Castle”, Castle class 4-6-0, built at Swindon in 1934 by the Great Western Railway (GWR).

No. 34067 “Tangmere” unrebuilt ‘Battle of Britain’ class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Brighton in 1947 by the SR. No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” Britannia class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Crewe in 1951 to British Railways ‘standard’ design, and used on express passenger trains in East Anglia.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads 08:30 22:30 Yatton 09:10 22:05 Taunton 09:50 21:20 Exeter 11:25 20:25 Plymouth 13:10 19:00 Liskeard 13:40 18:30 Par 14:05 17:45 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a three course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£169

£129

£467

First

£122

£76

£320

Standard

£79

£49

£207

UK Day Trips - The Royal Duchy

15

Bob Green

The Devonian Saturday 14th September 2013 Join us on this marvellous excursion from Birmingham and the West Midlands to glorious Devon. It features two steam locomotives double heading the train from Bristol to Plymouth and back over the formidable gradients of the South Devon Banks. The ex-Great Western Railway duo of Castle class No. 5029 “Nunney Castle” and Hall class No. 4936 “Kinlet Hall” will recreate the former days when locomotives of this type regularly worked this route.

Our train leaves Birmingham International at around 06:00, diesel hauled, and calls to pick up passengers at Birmingham New Street, Barnt Green, Worcester Shrub Hill and Cheltenham Spa. At Stoke Gifford, near to Bristol Parkway, we exchange our modern diesel locomotive for steam locomotives “Nunney Castle” and “Kinlet Hall”. They will haul our train into Bristol Temple Meads, our final pick up point. From there we can expect a fast run across the scenic Somerset Levels and through Taunton, before our steam locomotives are fully extended as we tackle the climb up to Whiteball Summit.

We stop at Exeter St. David’s Station for our locomotives to take on water and this will provide an opportunity to photograph our steam locomotives. On leaving Exeter we follow the Exe Estuary to the sea wall near Dawlish, and then travel along one of Britain’s most famous stretches of railway line. It is a truly dramatic experience as the train races along through tunnels and rock cuttings right on the edge of the sea, all the way to Teignmouth. After Newton Abbot, our steam duo will demonstrate their real strength as they power up some of the steepest main line gradients in the country. First there is the difficult climb to the summit at Dainton Tunnel, followed by a dramatic drop down to Totnes, then an equally difficult climb up Rattery Bank before descending to Plymouth.

There will be around three hours free time to explore historic Plymouth. The pannier market is well worth a visit as it has more than a hundred stalls in a light, airy and cool market hall with an impressive shell shaped concrete roof. Francis Drake, the final sailing of the Mayflower, magnificent views from the Hoe, the ancient Barbican and seafront areas, all bear witness to Plymouth’s exciting maritime past.

Leaving Plymouth, our steam locomotives tackle the long, steep climbs up Hemerdon and Dainton Banks.

We stop at Exeter for the locomotives to take on water and then continue to Bristol Temple Meads.

We return diesel-hauled from there to Birmingham, calling at the same stations as on our outward journey, to set down passengers.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Birmingham Int. 06:10 23:10 Birmingham New St. 06:30 22:55 Barnt Green 06:50 22:30 Worcester Shrub Hill 08:00 21:55 Cheltenham Spa 08:30 21:25 Bristol Temple Meads 09:20 19:50 Plymouth 13:00 16:10 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Devonian

16

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£199

£129

£527

First

£129

£79

£337

Standard

£89

£55

£233

Bob Green

The Royal Wessex Saturday 21st September 2013 Join us on this delightful rail tour to the coast, with either Bournemouth or Weymouth as a choice of destinations. Bournemouth is famous for its pier, its seven miles of golden sandy beaches and clean seas. Weymouth is a traditional English seaside resort that has managed to preserve much of its charm. Our train will be hauled by West Country ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 34046 “Braunton” and No. 34067 “Tangmere” for the return journey.

‘The Royal Wessex’ will leave Three Bridges at around 07:00 hauled by West Country class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 34046 “Braunton”. It stops at Haywards Heath to pick up more passengers, and at Preston Park, where passengers from the Brighton area can join the train. Our train by-passes Brighton taking the south coastal line, with stops at Hove and Worthing for further passengers. There are views of the attractive Lancing College as the train heads westwards towards Chichester and Havant, with the historic naval port of Portsmouth away to the south.

Running via Southampton and through the New Forest, our train stops at Bournemouth for those passengers wishing to visit the town. Bournemouth overlooks Poole Bay and has 7 miles of sandy beaches. The shopping streets are mostly pedestrianised and from the Square, footpaths lead down from the Central Gardens, through pine forests, to the sea front and pier.

After leaving Bournemouth we pass through Poole and there are spectacular views across Poole Harbour.

We pass through Wareham and travel through classic Dorset countryside and delightful scenery to Dorchester. We arrive at Weymouth at around 13:00 and have over three hours there to discover much of what this seaside town has to offer. The railway station is close to the beach and shops.

We return from Weymouth at around 16:40 and our train will be hauled by steam locomotive No. 34067 “Tangmere”. We climb Upwey Bank which is very steep and our steam locomotive will be working flat out. We stop at Bournemouth to collect those passengers who left the train there on the outward journey. We continue to Three Bridges, via Worthing and Hove stopping at the same stations as the outward journey to set down passengers.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Three Bridges 07:00 21:00 Haywards Heath 07:20 20:40 Preston Park 08:11 20:20 Hove 08:16 20:00 Worthing 08:35 19:30 Bournemouth 11:00 17:20 Weymouth 12:00 16:40 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£199

£149

£547

First

£131

£78

£340

Standard

£86

£51

£223

UK Day Trips - The Royal Wessex

17

Bob Green

The Bluebell Explorer Saturday 28th September 2013 Join us on the first steam hauled train to run from the West Midlands and Birmingham to the world famous Bluebell Railway. We travel over the newly opened main line connection between Network Rail and the 11 mile long Heritage Railway. Our train will be hauled by ‘Britannia’ Pacific No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” and we can expect some fast running along the West Coast Main Line. We pass through the scenic North and South Downs of the Sussex Weald.

Our train will leave Worcester Shrub Hill at around 07:30 hauled by ‘Britannia’ Pacific No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”. We stop to pick up further passengers at Kidderminster and Stourbridge Junction. We then climb through Old Hill and enter Birmingham stopping at New Street Station for more passengers. We continue to Birmingham International, our final stop for passengers.

We pass through Coventry and stop at Rugby for our steam locomotive to take on water. We shall be routed via the Northampton Loop and rejoin the West Coast Main Line at Hanslope Junction. We can expect some fast running as we continue through Wolverton, Bletchley and Tring. We stop at Hemel Hempstead where once again our steam locomotive takes on water.

We pass through Watford Junction and Wembley before crossing West London and heading for East Croydon. At South Croydon Junction we leave the line to Brighton and join the Oxted Line. We are now travelling through the picturesque chalk hills of the North and South Downs and at Hurst Green Junction we take the branch line to East Grinstead. Here we join the Bluebell Railway using the link with Network Rail that was opened in March 2013. We pass through the former landfill site at Imberhorne Cutting en route to Kingscote. We continue through Horsted Keynes to the terminus at Sheffield Park.

We have a visit of around 3 hours at the Bluebell Railway which, on the day, is using a timetable running two steam-hauled trains. Our train will be stabled at Horsted Keynes until departure at around 16:45, diesel-hauled, for the return journey to Worcester Shrub Hill. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Worcester Shrub Hill 07:30 22:10 Kidderminster 07:45 21:55 Stourbridge Junction 08:00 21:45 Birmingham New St. 08:25 21:30 Birmingham Int. 08:45 21:15 Horsted Keynes 12:40 16:45 Sheffield Park 13:00 ------There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability) Fares include Bluebell Railway tickets from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes.

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Bluebell Explorer

18

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£199

£129

£527

First

£129

£75

£333

Standard

£79

£45

£203

Bob Green

The Wandering 1500 Tour Saturday 5th October 2013 This fascinating trip by steam train recalls one of the legendary rail tours of the early 1960’s when the train was hauled by B12 class steam locomotive No. 61572.

Our “Wandering 1500” tour features the very same locomotive on the North Norfolk Railway Heritage line between Sheringham and Holt. Our train starts at London Liverpool Street steam-hauled by B1 class 4-6-0 No. 61306. The route to Sheringham is via Finsbury Park, Cambridge and Norwich.

It was in 1963, two years after it had been withdrawn from service on British Railways, that B12 class steam locomotive No. 61572 embarked on the famous “Wandering 1500” rail tour. The B12’s were often referred to as the “fifteen-hundreds” because that was their number series when built by the Great Eastern Railway and also in the latter years of the London & North Eastern Railway. The name chosen for the tour indicated that the locomotive was ‘wandering away’ from its usual area of operation. The 260 mile tour started from London’s Broad Street Station and ran to Bedford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Rugby and return, travelling over a number of railway lines that had been closed to regular traffic.

London Broad Street Station closed in 1986 so our tour begins at the adjacent Liverpool Street Station.

We depart at around 09:00 and head north-eastwards down the Great Eastern Main Line passing through Bethnal Green. Just before Stratford we turn westwards on to the North London Line and pass though Hackney Central and Canonbury. We join the East Coast Main Line at Finsbury Park and head north through Potters Bar, Welwyn and Stevenage to Hitchin, where we take the Cambridge Line. We continue northwards to Ely where we branch off for Norwich passing through Thetford and Wymondhan en route.

At Norwich we change direction of travel and an ex-Great Western Railway (GWR) pannier tank steam locomotive will haul our train along the Bittern Line to Cromer. This line is one of the most scenic in the East of England traversing the Norfolk Broads. B1 class No. 61306 will then take our train from Cromer to Sheringham using the Sheringham link to access the North Norfolk Railway. B12 class No. 61572 will haul our train along the Heritage Railway to Holt.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Liverpool St. 08:30 21:40 Norwich 11:55 19:00 Sheringham 13:30 16:30 Holt 13:50 16:00 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Our train returns from Holt hauled by No. 61572 and at Sheringham the ex-GWR pannier tank takes over for the journey to Cromer. We change direction of travel and No. 61306 will haul the train from Cromer to Norwich. We return to London Liverpool Street along the Great Eastern Main Line via Ipswich and Colchester hauled by No. 61306.

Please note: We are only able to use a short train between Norwich and Holt. For this section of the tour, passengers will have the option to travel by train either on the outward journey or on the return journey, but not in both directions. A road coach will transport passengers between Norwich and Holt or vice versa for their other journey.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£199

£149

£547

First

£129

£69

£327

Standard

£89

£49

£227

UK Day Trips - The Wandering 1500 Tour

19

Antony Guppy

The Cumbrian Mountain Express Wednesday 16th October 2013 With these trains we expect to recreate the early days of steam rail tours in the 1980’s when travelling over the Settle & Carlisle Railway was the icing on the cake in the main line ‘steam’ calendar. We have a high speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth hauled by a blue class 86 electric locomotive. We then enjoy a circular steam tour outwards via Shap to Carlisle and back to Preston via the Settle and Carlisle line. We return to London behind our blue electric locomotive.

We leave London Euston at around 06:30 with electric traction, and speed north along the West Coast Main Line (WCML). We stop to pick up passengers at Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton, Crewe and Preston. We continue north along the WCML to Carnforth where we change locomotives and either Jubilee class No. 45699 “Galatea” or No. 5690 “Leander” will take over our train.

On leaving Carnforth we climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg, and then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge, gaining speed for the ascent to Shap. This well-known section of the WCML has a gradient of 1 in 75 and in the former days of steam locomotives banking engines from Tebay were often being used to assist trains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle. There will be around an hour and a half in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient city.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Euston 06:30 22:30 Watford Junction 06:50 22:00 Milton Keynes 07:15 21:25 Northampton* 07:40 21.15 Rugby 07:50 21:00 Nuneaton 08:10 20:40 Crewe 09:30 19:40 Preston 10:30 18:20 Carlisle 12:40 14:30 *Northampton

passengers travel to and from Rugby by

service train.

There are three classes available:

We leave Carlisle and join the Settle & Carlisle Railway, one of the most well known and best loved stretches of railway line in Britain. We soon begin climbing, and then at Appleby, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. The climbing continues through scenic Kirkby Stephen towards the highest railway summit in England at Ais Gill, 1169 feet above sea level. We pass over high viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through tunnels. There are magnificent views across the Fells and to the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We should have a fast run out of the hills, through Settle, until we stop again for our locomotive to take on water.

Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

Our journey continues through Hellifield, Clitheroe and Blackburn to Preston, where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive. Our blue class 86 electric locomotive takes over the train for a fast run to London.

We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability) Fares

UK Day Trips - The Cumbrian Mountain Express

20

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£189

£129

£507

First

£119

£75

£313

Standard

£69

£39

£177

Bob Green

The Dartmouth Express Saturday 19th October 2013 The Dartmouth Express provides an opportunity for a very special day out travelling by train from stations in Dorset and Hampshire to Dartmouth in beautiful South Devon. The special train will be hauled from Bristol to Kingswear and back to Bristol by ex-British Railways Britannia class ‘Pacific’ No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”. We have an optional 90 minute cruise available from Kingswear aboard the magnificent Paddle Steamer “Kingswear Castle”.

Our train leaves Poole at around 07:00 and will be diesel hauled from there to Bristol. We stop to pick up more passengers at Bournemouth, Southampton, Eastleigh, Salisbury, and Westbury.

Our steam locomotive “Oliver Cromwell” will join our train at Westbury for the rest of the journey to Kingswear. We shall soon be speeding along through the Somerset countryside to Taunton, where we make a brief stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. Our steam locomotive will be working hard as we climb to Whiteball Summit on the Somerset and Devon border. We continue through Exeter and follow the Exe Estuary, passing the picturesque Cockwood Harbour. We come to one of Britain’s most scenic stretches of railway when we run along the famous sea wall from Dawlish to Teignmouth.

We race through tunnels and rock cuttings right on the edge of the sea, a truly wonderful experience.

After Newton Abbot we leave the Plymouth main line and take the Kingswear Branch line to Torbay.

We pass through the famous holiday resorts of Torquay and Paignton and then join the Dartmouth Steam Railway. Our steam locomotive faces a stiff challenge as it climbs the steep gradient of 1 in 60 up to the summit of this line at Churston. The line then drops down to the River Dart and the terminus at Kingswear.

The Dartmouth Express fare includes a return journey on the ferry across the River Dart to the picture-postcard town of Dartmouth. There will be ample time to explore this historic port town, set on the banks of the tidal River Dart. It has a castle; a railway station where no railway has ever run, now a restaurant; and winding narrow streets with good bistros and specialist shops.

We return from Kingswear with our steam locomotive which takes our train back to Westbury Station.

From there the train will be diesel hauled back to Poole. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Poole 07:00 23:43 Bournemouth 07:19 23:25 Southampton 08:03 22:47 Eastleigh 08:19 22:35 Salisbury 08:55 21:51 Westbury 09:27 21:19 Kingswear 13:30 17:20 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability) Supplement for River Dart Cruise on “Kingswear Castle” £7 per person.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£209

£129

£547

First

£122

£65

£309

Standard

£89

£45

£223

UK Day Trips - The Dartmouth Express

21

Bob Green

The Cheshireman Saturday 19th October 2013 Join us on a special steam hauled train and indulge in a nostalgic experience in the comfort of vintage 1950’s carriages. Our train will run from North Lincolnshire to the magnificent city of Chester via the picturesque Derbyshire Peak District The train will be hauled by LNER B1 4-6-0 61306 “Mayflower”. Reserve your seat now for this special journey that will transport you back in time!

Our train leaves Cleethorpes at 06:30 hauled by steam locomotive No. 61306 “Mayflower”. We stop to pick up passengers at Grimsby Town, Barnetby, Scunthorpe, and Crowle. From here we head for Doncaster and Sheffield, then through the Dore and Totley Tunnel into the scenic Hope Valley, with mountains to the north and hills to the south. We skirt round Manchester by way of Guide Bridge to Stockport and Altrincham.

We then take the former Cheshire Lines Committee route to Chester, passing through Delamere Forest on the way.

We shall have nearly four hours to explore the city of Chester, one of the most visited places in the UK. Situated on the River Dee, it is famous particularly for its walls which date back as far as AD79. An elevated walk around the walls is recommended, taking in other attractions on the way such as the popular River Dee area, the Castle, the Cathedral, historic houses and the Rows. The Rows are first floor level galleried walkways, connecting shops and cafes, which date back to 14th Century.

Our train leaves Chester at around 16:20 for the return journey. We shall be steam hauled by 61306 “Mayflower” as far as Doncaster where a diesel locomotive takes over for the remainder of the return journey to Cleethorpes. We stop to set down passengers at the same stations as on the outward journey.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Cleethorpes 06:30 21:40 Grimsby 06:40 22:45 Barnetby 07:20 22:00 Scunthorpe 07:50 21:35 Crowle 08:05 21:25 Doncaster 08:30 20:20 Chester 12:30 16:20 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Cheshireman

22

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£179

£135

£493

First

£115

£70

£300

Standard

£78

£44

£200

Bob Green

The Cumbrian Mountain Express Wednesday 23rd October 2013 With these trains we expect to recreate the early days of steam rail tours in the 1980’s when travelling over the Settle & Carlisle Railway was the icing on the cake in the main line ‘steam’ calendar. We have a high speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth hauled by a blue class 86 electric locomotive. We then enjoy a circular steam tour outwards via Shap to Carlisle and back to Preston via the Settle and Carlisle line. We return to London behind our blue electric locomotive.

We leave London Euston at around 06:30 with electric traction, and speed north along the West Coast Main Line (WCML). We stop to pick up passengers at Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton, Crewe and Preston. We continue north along the WCML to Carnforth where we change locomotives and either Jubilee class No. 45699 “Galatea” or No. 5690 “Leander” will take over our train.

On leaving Carnforth we climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg, and then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge, gaining speed for the ascent to Shap. This well-known section of the WCML has a gradient of 1 in 75 and in the former days of steam locomotives banking engines from Tebay were often being used to assist trains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle. There will be around an hour and a half in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient city.

We leave Carlisle and join the Settle & Carlisle Railway, one of the most well known and best loved stretches of railway line in Britain. We soon begin climbing, and then at Appleby, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. The climbing continues through scenic Kirkby Stephen towards the highest railway summit in England at Ais Gill, 1169 feet above sea level. We pass over high viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through tunnels. There are magnificent views across the Fells and to the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We should have a fast run out of the hills, through Settle, until we stop again for our locomotive to take on water.

Our journey continues through Hellifield, Clitheroe and Blackburn to Preston, where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive. Our blue class 86 electric locomotive takes over the train for a fast run to London.

We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Euston 06:30 22:30 Watford Junction 06:50 22:00 Milton Keynes 07:15 21:25 Northampton* 07:40 21:15 Rugby 07:50 21:00 Nuneaton 08:10 20:40 Crewe 09:30 19:40 Preston 10:30 18:20 Carlisle 12:40 14:30 *Northampton

passengers travel to and from Rugby by service train.

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability) Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£189

£129

£507

First

£119

£75

£313

Standard

£69

£39

£117

UK Day Trips - The Cumbrian Mountain Express

23

Bob Green

The Dartmouth Express Saturday 26th October 2013 The Dartmouth Express provides an opportunity for a very special day out travelling by train from Staines, Basingstoke and Salisbury to Dartmouth in beautiful South Devon. This special train will be hauled by ex-British Railways Britannia class ‘Pacific’ No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”.

We depart Staines at around 07:00 and calls at Woking and Basingstoke to collect further customers.

Our next pick up point is Salisbury where we continue on to Westbury where we welcome our magnificent steam locomotive, Britannia ‘Pacific’ No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”.

We leave Westbury and rejoin the West of England main line, climb Brewham Bank, and continue through Somerset’s green and undulating countryside to Taunton where we stop for our locomotive to take on water.

We then climb to Whiteball Summit on the border of Somerset and Devon before descending to Exeter.

We follow the Exe Estuary, with its picturesque fishing boat views, and run on to the famous sea wall near Dawlish – one of the most famous and scenic stretches of railway line in Britain.

After Newton Abbot we leave the main line to Plymouth and head for Torquay and Paignton, two of the UK’s premier seaside resorts. At Paignton we join the Dartmouth Steam Railway and our train traverses this Heritage Railway hauled by “Oliver Cromwell”. There is a steep climb at 1 in 60 to Churston and from there the line runs downhill to Kingswear.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Staines 07:38 22:25 Woking 07:55 22:05 Basingstoke 08:15 21:50 Salisbury 08:50 21:10 Westbury 09:35 20:15 Paignton 12:00 17:30 Kingswear 13:00 16:45 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

The train fare includes a return journey on the ferry across the River Dart to the picture-postcard town of Dartmouth. Here the railway station, where no railway has ever run, is now a restaurant. Dartmouth is set in a beautiful location with steep wooded hillsides either side of the River Dart. Its main embankment runs along the length of the town. The town, with its narrow streets and old buildings, has retained a historic atmosphere offering visitors a superb array of bistros, restaurants, boutiques and specialist shops.

Passengers also have the option of a scenic cruise along the River Dart from Kingswear aboard the Paddle Steamer “Kingswear Castle”.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

All too soon, it is time to return to our train for the journey home. “Oliver Cromwell” takes our train back to Westbury where a diesel locomotive takes over for the rest of the journey to Guildford. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

Supplement for River Dart Cruise on “Kingswear Castle” £7 per person.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Dartmouth Express

24

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£209

£129

£547

First

£129

£75

£333

Standard

£89

£55

£233

Bob Green

The Bluebell Explorer Saturday 9th November 2013 This day trip by steam train provides a rare opportunity to travel from London Cannon Street to the Uckfield Branch and along the famous Bluebell Railway.

We use the recently re-opened link between Network Rail tracks and the 11 miles of the Heritage Railway line. Our train will be “topped and tailed” with a steam locomotive at each end; No. 34067 “Tangmere” will be accompanied throughout by either an ex-LNER B1 class 4-6-0 or an ex-LMSR ‘Black 5’ 4-6-0.

Our train departs from London Cannon Street Station at around 09:00. We cross the River Thames and stop to pick up more passengers at London Bridge Station. We follow the route through Peckham Rye, East Dulwich, Streatham Common and East Croydon. At South Croydon Junction we leave the line to Brighton and join the Oxted Line, a line originally operated jointly by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and the South Eastern Railway.

After Oxted, the line splits at Hurst Green Junction, one branch terminating at East Grinstead, the other at Uckfield. We continue to Eridge, where there is a junction with the Heritage Spa Valley Railway.

Here we join a part of the Wealden Railway and continue through Crowborough to Uckfield. This line takes its name from its route through the picturesque chalk hills of the North and South Downs of the Weald, and has not seen steam trains for many years.

Our train returns to Hurst Green where we change direction of travel and head down the East Grinstead branch from Hurst Green Junction. At East Grinstead we join the Bluebell Railway, the first preserved standard gauge steam-operated passenger railway in the world to operate a public service. The link with Network Rail was re-opened in March 2013 after ten years work. A major civil engineering problem involved the clearance of the former landfill site in the 30-foot (9.1 metre) deep cutting just south of Imberhorne Viaduct. Our train passes through this cutting en route to Kingscote, and then continues to Horsted Keynes and Sheffield Park. The train will be stabled at Horsted Keynes and train tickets are valid for use on a Bluebell Railway train between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes.

Our return train leaves Horsted Keynes at around 16:00, steam hauled for the journey back to London.

We travel via East Grinstead and East Croydon to London Bridge and Cannon Street.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Cannon St. 09:00 18:10 London Bridge 09:10 17:50 Uckfield 10:30 ------Horsted Keynes 11:55 15:50 Sheffield Park 12:15 ------There are two classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and High Tea. First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability) Fares include Bluebell Railway tickets from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£162

£120

£444

First

£112

£62

£286

Standard

£74

£39

£187

UK Day Trips - The Bluebell Explorer

25

Bob Green

The Kentish Belle Armistice Day Monday 11th November 2013 Can you imagine a more lovely way to take luncheon than aboard a special steam train travelling through the Garden of England between London and Margate?

Sit back, relax and watch the Kent countryside go past your window as Bulleid’s great Battle of Britain class steam locomotive No. 34067 Tangmere is put through its paces hauling our train.

“Tangmere” was named after the wartime RAF fighter station near Chichester and was mainly used on trains between London and Kent right up until the 1960’s. So why not relive those golden days with this special day out – and have lunch on board as well?

Our train, hauled by “Tangmere”, leaves London Victoria at 11:00 and travels through Dartford, Gravesend, Chatham and Gillingham. At Faversham, we take the Whitstable line which runs close to the Thames Estuary to Margate. Margate’s history is closely linked with the sea and it is described as a ‘limb’ of Dover in the ancient grouping of Cinque Ports.

The town itself was first recorded as Meregate as far back as 1264, and as Margate in 1299.

Its proud maritime tradition continues today, perhaps more for its attractiveness as a seaside resort for Londoners. It has been a traditional holiday destination for more than 250 years.

We take the coastal route from Margate which passes through Ramsgate, Deal and Dover Priory.

We pass beneath the White Cliffs of Dover, and Shakespeare Cliff marks the point where Great Britain is closest to continental Europe.

After Folkestone, we head inland to Ashford and then travel westwards through Paddock Wood and Edenbridge to Redhill. Here we join the Brighton Main Line, and head northwards to London Victoria.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Victoria 11:00 17:00 Margate 13:50 13:20 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes Buck’s Fizz, morning tea or coffee and Danish pastries and a four course lunch silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Kentish Belle Armistice Day

26

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£139

£90

£368

First

£65

£35

£165

Standard

£40

£20

£100

Bob Green

The Capital Christmas Express Saturday 23rd November 2013 Is there a better way to travel from Dorset to London than in comfortable 50-year old railway carriages hauled by a steam locomotive? This outing by special train revisits the former ‘glory days’ of rail travel and takes you to the capital to enjoy the myriad attractions on offer – and do some Christmas shopping too!

The train will be hauled throughout by the remarkable ‘Battle of Britain’ class steam locomotive No. 34067 “Tangmere”.

Our day out begins with an early departure from Weymouth at around 08:25. We stop at Poole and Bournemouth to pick up more passengers. We should enjoy a fast run with our steam locomotive through the New Forest to Southampton, where we stop to pick up further passengers. We make a final stop to pick up passengers at Eastleigh.

We travel northwards through Winchester and join the West of England Main Line from Exeter at Worting Junction. We continue to Basingstoke and can expect a fast run along the South West Main Line to Fleet, Farnborough and Woking. Weybridge and Wimbledon follow before Clapham Junction, where more trains pass through in one day than any other station in Europe. Familiar London landmarks will be visible as we approach the terminus station at London Waterloo.

There will be well over four hours in London and with just a few weeks to go before Christmas the capital will be in true festive mood. High on the list of places to visit may be Trafalgar Square to see the highly decorated Christmas tree, or perhaps Hamley’s famous toy shop, Madame Tussauds, the Tower of London, Covent Garden, the London Eye, or the Oxford Street stores for Christmas shopping. There will be something of interest for everyone that will make the Capital Christmas visit a very enjoyable experience and a memorable occasion.

Our train leaves Waterloo Station at around 18:30, steam hauled by “Tangmere”, for the journey to Weymouth.

We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

During the journey, we expect to meet up with Santa and his Elves, so presents will be handed out to all children on board our train! Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Weymouth 08:25 22:55 Poole 09:15 22:00 Bournemouth 09:30 21:50 Southampton 10:15 21:00 Eastleigh 10:45 20:20 London Waterloo 12:45 18:30 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£179

£112

£470

First

£115

£55

£285

Standard

£79

£39

£197

UK Day Trips - The Capital Christmas Express

27

Bob Green

The Tynesider Saturday 23rd November 2013 Why not relive the glory days of steam travel on the East Coast Main Line by joining us for a nostalgic day out by special train from Newcastle to London in the company of a former London & North Eastern Railway class A4 ‘Pacific’ No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”? This class of steam locomotive was built at Doncaster in the 1930’s and designed to haul express trains between London, Newcastle and Edinburgh. The Tynesider brings back all of the nostalgia of those ‘golden years’.

Our train leaves Newcastle and crosses the 107-year old King Edward VII Bridge with its fine views over the River Tyne and the city. We travel south to Durham, where we stop to pick up passengers, before crossing Durham Viaduct, a good vantage point for beautiful views of the city and its magnificent Cathedral. Our next stop is at Darlington where we pick up more passengers.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Newcastle 07:00 22:50 Durham 07:30 22:40 Darlington 08:20 22:00 York 09:30 21:20 London King’s Cross 14:00 18:20 There are three classes available:

Soon after leaving Darlington we shall be speeding along the famous ‘racing stretch’ of straight 4-track railway line between Northallerton and Thirsk. We make our final stop to pick up passengers at York where the magnificent station is complete with its superb ‘overall’ roof. York is home to the National Railway Museum, one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

We continue southwards to Doncaster, passing the birthplace of our steam locomotive. Just before Newark we pass over the east-west Lincoln to Nottingham railway line on the well known Newark flat crossing, the fastest flat crossing in Britain. Trains travelling north-south, on our route, are allowed to cross the junction at 100mph. We cross the border into Lincolnshire and after Grantham begin the climb to Stoke Tunnel, the summit of our journey. As we race down Stoke Bank, take a moment to recall that this is where “Union of South Africa’s” class mate “Mallard” broke the world speed record for steam when it achieved 126mph near Essendine. Extraordinarily, the record set by “Mallard” remains unbroken to this day.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

We stop near Peterborough for our locomotive to take on water and then continue southwards passing through Huntingdon, Hitchin and Welwyn. During this part of the journey Santa’s Elves will distribute mulled wine and mince pies to passengers to help them get into the Christmas spirit. Once we arrive at London King’s Cross there will be more than four hours to enjoy the sights of the capital and indulge in some Christmas shopping.

Our train returns from King’s Cross just after 18:00 and is hauled by No. 60009 “Union of South Africa” as far as York. The journey from York to Newcastle will be diesel hauled stopping at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

To round off the day, we expect Santa to join the train with presents for all the children on board.

Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

UK Day Trips - The Tynesider

28

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£199

£125

£523

First

£129

£75

£333

Standard

£82

£40

£204

Bob Green

The Bath & Bristol Christmas Markets Thursday 28th November 2013 What better way to launch the Christmas season than with a trip by steam train on the Bath and Bristol Christmas Express? There will be ample time to sample Bath’s award winning Christmas Market, set in the beautiful area between the stunning Bath Abbey and the internationally famous Roman Baths, or to visit Bristol for the ‘best Christmas shopping in the South West’. Join us as we travel by vintage steam train through some superb countryside en route.

We leave Poole at around 09:30 hauled by the former Southern Railway ‘Battle of Britain’ class locomotive No. 34067 “Tangmere”. Our steam locomotive will be working hard, in a truly characteristic manner, as our train climbs up Parkstone Bank. We stop at Branksome, Bournemouth and Christchurch to collect more passengers. We then skirt the picturesque New Forest at Brockenhurst before further stops for passengers at Southampton and Eastleigh.

We take the single-track line to Romsey, where we join the Southampton to Salisbury direct line and then travel up the valley of the River Test. We stop at Salisbury, for the loco to take on water, and then continue along the ‘South West’ main line to Wilton. Here we turn northwards and cross the edge of Salisbury Plain en route to Warminster. We descend steeply to Westbury, with its famous hillside white horse, and then follow the scenic Avon Valley.

We shall soon catch sight of the Georgian city of Bath as we approach the well-kept Bath Spa Station which is close to the city centre. The afternoon is free to explore the city which has gained a reputation not only for its famous Christmas Market but also for its quality independents and favourite high street stores. The Market is centrally located and has over 140 traditional wooden chalets offering everything you will need for the perfect Christmas celebration.

Meanwhile our train continues to Bristol, another fascinating destination for those who wish to explore this fine city instead. It has several world class attractions including Britain’s most acclaimed historic ship, the S.S. Great Britain; Brunel’s iconic Clifton suspension bridge; the world’s fifth oldest zoo; and an historic harbour-side, the location of the M Shed, an exciting new innovative museum. The city is a Christmas shopper’s haven with the ever-popular German Christmas Market and all the major retail outlets in the Broadmead and the new Cabot Circus Shopping Centres.

“Tangmere” is turned and serviced at Bristol prior to departing with our train at around 16:00 for the return journey. We stop to pick up those parcel laden passengers who stayed for the Christmas Market in Bath!

During the journey, we expect to meet up with Santa and his Elves, so presents will be handed out to all children on board! Please let us know your child’s age when booking. We return by the route of our outward journey, stopping at the same stations for passengers to alight.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Poole 09:30 19:30 Branksome 09:40 19:20 Bournemouth 09:50 19:10 Christchurch 10:00 19:00 Southampton 10:30 18:25 Eastleigh 10:40 18:15 Salisbury 11:30 17:30 Bath 12:15 16:15 Bristol 12:35 16:00 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£179

£129

£487

First

£106

£58

£270

Standard

£74

£41

£189

UK Day Trips - The Bath & Bristol Christmas Markets

29

Bob Green

The Christmas White Rose Saturday 30th November 2013 Why not join us for a classic day out by steam train, combining exciting main line running, varied landscape and the special atmosphere of York at Christmas time?

We will be steam hauled from Cambridge to York by former LNER A4 class ‘Pacific’ No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”. This locomotive was one of a class of 35 ‘Pacifics’ built by the London and North Eastern Railway between 1935 and 1938.

It looks just as wonderful today as it did when it was built!

Our day out begins at around 07:30 when we leave Cambridge Station and head northwards, stopping at Ely, March and Peterborough to pick up more passengers. “Union of South Africa” should soon feel at home on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) as we leave Peterborough and commence the climb to Stoke Summit. It was descending from here that fellow class member “Mallard” made its famous run on the 3rd July 1938, reaching a staggering 126 mph. Remarkably, this world speed record for steam traction still stands unbeaten today.

We pass through Grantham, Newark and Retford with “Union of South Africa” cruising along at speeds only a little less than Mallard’s! We stop at Doncaster for our locomotive to take on water.

The Great Northern Railway opened its railway workshops in Doncaster in 1853 and, as we pass through the station, the birthplace of Sir Nigel Gresley, who designed the A4 class, can be seen to the left.

After a fast run along the ECML, we arrive at York where there will be plenty of time for passengers to enjoy the city and all it has to offer for the festive season. York has a number of major tourist attractions including the National Railway Museum, the largest museum of its type in Britain.

There are a number of other interesting museums, many shops, quaint alleyways, the Castle, and the splendid Gothic York Minster, one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Cambridge 07:30 22:00 Ely 08:20 21:30 March 08:45 21:00 Peterborough 09:10 20:45 York 12:00 17:30 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Our train will be steam hauled by “Union of South Africa” for the journey back to Cambridge.

We shall stop en route at Peterborough, March and Ely, to set down passengers, and expect to arrive at Cambridge just before 22:00.

Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board.

Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

UK Day Trips - The Christmas White Rose

30

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£189

£122

£500

First

£119

£65

£303

Standard

£79

£39

£197

Bob Green

The Christmas Cheshireman Saturday 30th November 2013 Join us on this Christmas shopping voyage to the Historic Roman walled City of Chester, which is an unusual destination from Bristol, where festivities should be in full swing. Our train will be steam hauled throughout by Britannia Pacific 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”.

We depart Bristol Temple Meads at around 08:00 hauled by 70013. We call at Filton Abbey Woods before heading westwards and under the River Severn. We skirt Newport and join the scenic Welsh Marches route.

We call to collect further passengers at Cwmbran and Abergavenny. After Abergavenny we begin the challenging climb of the Llavinangel bank and our locomotive will be in full cry all the way to the summit.

We pass through the beautiful Towns of Leominster and Ludlow before our next stop for customers at Hereford here we also take on water for our steam locomotive.

We continue through the rural Welsh Marsh Countryside to the County Town of Shrewsbury, from here we take the Chester Line which runs along the Welsh Borders through Ruabon. At Chirk we take on water for our steam locomotive.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads 08:00 22:15 Filton Abbey Woods 08:10 22:05 Cwmbran 08:55 21:20 Abergavenny 09:15 21:00 Hereford 10:00 20:15 Chester 13:15 17:00 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

We pass through Wrexham and on to our destination, the beautiful walled City of Chester. Here you will have time for Christmas shopping or to simply explore all this Town has to offer.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

We depart Chester at around 17:00 and retrace our steps back to Bristol steam hauled by 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£205

£150

£560

First

£125

£70

£320

Standard

£79

£45

£203

UK Day Trips - The Christmas Cheshireman

31

Bob Green

The Lindum Fayre Saturday 7th December 2013 The Lincoln Christmas Market, otherwise known as the Lindum Fayre, is one of the largest events of its kind in Europe. To visit the Fayre is a truly unforgettable experience and we will take you there in style, in the comfort of a special train hauled by A4 class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”.

What a day you will have! With Christmas only a few weeks away this really is a very special trip, and not to be missed.

Our day out begins when we steam out of London King’s Cross Station at around 09:00 and head north down the East Coast Main Line (ECML). This route was the former stamping ground of the A4 class ‘Pacifics’ in the days of steam, and we shall hope for some fast running along the main line. We stop at Potters Bar, Stevenage and Peterborough to pick up more passengers.

Leaving Peterborough and its famous cathedral behind, we take the former Great Northern Railway (GNR) line towards Grimsby at Werrington Junction and head across the fertile flatlands to Spalding. Here we join the Great Northern & Great Eastern Joint Railway line to Sleaford. We continue through a part of rural Lincolnshire famous for its potato farms. On this line the former Nocton and Dunston Railway Station was the centre of the Nocton Estates Light Railway, a narrow gauge railway system which conveyed the potato crop from the fields to the standard gauge railhead.

Approaching Lincoln we notice that the city is dominated by its spectacular Cathedral. The Lindum Fayre is spread across the enthralling Cathedral quarter of Lincoln, within the courtyard of the 12th Century castle and along the medieval cobbled streets of the city. There are around 350 stalls selling everything from crafts and books to locally produced cheeses, meats and festive foods – delicious delicacies to tempt you.

The traders dress in period costume, there is traditional fairground entertainment, a fantastic festive atmosphere, and all that is needed for those special Christmas gifts. It is easy to see why the Lindum Fayre is so special, and popular.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London’s King’s Cross 09:00 21:30 Potters Bar 09:30 21:00 Stevenage 10:00 20:50 Peterborough 11:20 19:00 Lincoln 12:45 17:45 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

All too soon it will be time to return to the station for our train back to London. We shall be steam hauled by “Union of South Africa” and stop to set down passengers at the same stations as on the outward journey. We return from Lincoln by way of Newark and the East Coast Main Line. After a stiff climb up through Grantham to Stoke Tunnel we descend Stoke Bank, where “Union of South Africa’s” classmate “Mallard” achieved 126 miles per hour which still stands as the world record for steam. We are steam hauled back into King’s Cross Station at around 21:30.

Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

UK Day Trips - The Lindum Fayre

32

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£199

£112

£510

First

£122

£65

£309

Standard

£80

£40

£200

Bob Green

The Bath Christmas Market Saturday 7th December 2013 It has been more than 400 years since the historic city of Bath was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth the First. Today, this beautiful West Country destination continues to offer a unique combination of history, architecture and more contemporary attractions, especially festive at this particular time of the year.

The Railway Touring Company has planned a grand day out in the company of the powerful Bulleid-designed ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 34067 “Tangmere”.

Our special Christmas excursion from the south coast to the magnificent city of Bath follows a particularly scenic route through lovely countryside. Passengers will have almost five hours to explore the city, and visit the famous Bath Christmas Market. The Christmas lights will be on, the market will be in full swing, the city will be alive with the sound of Christmas music, and in a truly festive mood.

Our train leaves Three Bridges, steam hauled by “Tangmere”, and heads south along the Brighton main line. It stops at Haywards Heath to pick up more passengers before continuing to Preston Park, where passengers from the Brighton area can join the train. We stop to pick up passengers at Hove and Worthing. At Salisbury, we stop for our locomotive to take on water and for passengers to stretch their legs and perhaps have a chat with our driver.

We take the South Western main line to Wilton, famous for its carpets, and then turn north through the rambling Wiltshire countryside. We cross the edge of Salisbury Plain to Warminster, noted for its army presence, before descending to Westbury. The route follows the beautiful Avon Valley through Bradfordon-Avon to Bathampton Junction, and then it is only a short distance to Bath and the well-kept Bath Spa Station, close to the city centre.

The afternoon is free to explore the Georgian city and visit the Bath Christmas Market which has 150 traditional wooden chalets selling seasonal products and gifts. The Abbey, Roman Baths, and Pump Room with its restaurant, all surround the Market site and are central to the main shopping area.

However, don’t miss Milsom Street, voted ‘Britain’s Best Fashion Street’, and if you wish to see the sights at leisure, hop on a ‘City Sightseeing Tours’ bus.

All too soon our visit to this remarkable city will have to end as it will be time to go back to our train. We return to Three Bridges, steam hauled, following the route of our outward journey and stopping at the same stations for passengers to alight. During the day, Father Christmas and his Elves will be visiting the train handing out presents to all the children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Three Bridges 08:00 21:30 Haywards Heath 08:20 21:15 Preston Park 09:00 20:45 Hove 09:15 20:30 Worthing 09:30 20:15 Bath 13:40 17:00 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£199

£129

£527

First

£124

£65

£313

Standard

£76

£39

£191

UK Day Trips - The Bath Christmas Market

33

Bob Green

The Christmas Sussex Belle Wednesday 11th December 2013 Join us on a special train to celebrate the Festive Season in style. Our train travels from London Victoria to the Sussex coast crossing the North and South Downs and passing through the beautiful countryside of the Weald. Our train will be hauled by former Southern Railway ‘Battle of Britain’ class steam locomotive No. 34067 “Tangmere”. This is a wonderful way to enjoy a leisurely lunch whilst appreciating the scenic views from your carriage window.

Our day out begins when we leave London Victoria Station at around 10:30. We journey south along the main line towards Brighton passing through East Croydon, Redhill, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges and Haywards Heath. The route crosses the Weald, an ancient area of woodland scattered with farms and villages. We leave the Brighton line at Keymer Junction, just after Wivesfield, and head south-eastwards through Cooksbridge to Lewes. Here we join the East Coastway Line that runs from Brighton to Eastbourne, Hastings, and Ashford. We pass through the South Downs, an area characterised by rolling chalk downland and recognised as one of the most important chalk landscapes in England.

We head to Eastbourne where our steam locomotive “Tangmere” will be serviced and there will be time to visit this South Coast town. The seafront consists almost entirely of Victorian hotels, which along with its pier and bandstand, give it a timeless appeal. The town is situated immediately east of Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Great Britain and an area of outstanding natural beauty. This sheltered position contributes to Eastbourne’s title of the sunniest place in Great Britain.

We leave Eastbourne diesel-hauled and head along the Sussex Coast through Normans Bay, Cooden Beach, and Bexhill to Hastings. Hastings can claim fame through its connection with the Norman Conquest of England; and also because it became one of the medieval Cinque Ports. The town is sometimes referred to as the birthplace of television since the pioneer of television, John Logie Baird, lived there.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Victoria 10:30 17:20 Eastbourne 13:00 14:30 Hastings 15:00 15:10 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes Buck’s Fizz, morning tea or coffee and Danish pastries and a four course lunch silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Our train reverses direction of travel at Hastings and leaves with No. 34067 “Tangmere” in charge.

We continue our journey heading north through Crowhurst and Battle, and then passing through Mountfield Tunnel. Robertsbridge Station was formerly a junction station with the Colonel Stephens’ famous old Kent and East Sussex Light Railway. We pass through Royal Tunbridge Wells, a spa town situated on the northern edge of the High Weald.

At Sevenoaks, we take the line through Bat and Ball Station which was named after a local inn that no longer exists. We join the line from Ashford at Otford, and the Chatham Main Line at Swanley.

Our tour ends when we arrive back at London Victoria at around 17:20.

UK Day Trips - The Christmas Sussex Belle

34

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£144

£90

£378

First

£69

£35

£173

Standard

£49

£25

£123

Bob Green

The York Yuletide Express Thursday 12th December 2013 Why not join us for a classic day out by steam train that combines exciting main line running, varied landscape and the special atmosphere of York at Christmas time? The York Yuletide Express will be steam hauled from Norwich to York and back to Ely by A4 class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”.

Our day out begins at around 08:00 when we leave Norwich Station and cross the Trowse swing bridge over the River Wensum. We stop to pick up passengers at Wymondham, a beautifully kept rural Norfolk station, Attleborough, Thetford and Brandon. Approaching Ely we take the avoiding line which curves very sharply round onto the Peterborough line. We stop at March for further passengers, before continuing to Peterborough, our final pick up point.

“Union of South Africa” should feel at home on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) as we head northwards from Peterborough and commence the climb to Stoke Summit. This was the location of “Mallard’s” famous record breaking run when it achieved a staggering 126 mph on the 3rd July 1938 travelling in the opposite direction. We pass through Grantham, Newark and Retford with “Union of South Africa” cruising along at speeds just a little less than “Mallard’s”! We stop at Doncaster for our steam locomotive to take on water and then make a fast run along the ECML to York.

Passengers will have plenty of time in York to enjoy the city and all it has to offer. It has a number of major tourist attractions including the National Railway Museum, claimed to be one of the largest railway museums in the world. It also boasts many shops, quaint alleyways, a Castle, and the splendid Gothic cathedral York Minster, one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.

We leave York at around 17:00 for the return journey, steam hauled by “Union of South Africa” as far as Ely. Our train will be diesel hauled from Ely to Norwich. We stop at Peterborough, March, Ely, Brandon, Thetford, Attleborough, Wymondham and Norwich, to set down passengers.

We expect to meet up with Santa and his Elves during the journey, so presents will be handed out to all the children on our train! Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

The York Yuletide Express promises to provide a memorable day out behind classic traction over a classic route.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Norwich 08:00 22:15 Wymondham 08:20 22:00 Attleborough 08:30 21:50 Thetford 08:45 21:35 Brandon 08:55 21:25 Ely ------- 20:50 March 10:15 20:30 Peterborough 10:40 20:10 York 13:20 17:00 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £18 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£189

£122

£500

First

£119

£65

£303

Standard

£79

£39

£197

UK Day Trips - The York Yuletide Express

35

Bob Green

The Christmas White Rose Saturday 14th December 2013 Why not join us for a classic day out by steam train, combining exciting main line running, varied landscape and the special atmosphere of York at Christmas time?

We will be steam hauled from London to York by former LNER A4 class ‘Pacific’ No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”. This locomotive was one of a class of 35 ‘Pacifics’ built by the London and North Eastern Railway between 1935 and 1938.

It looks just as wonderful today as it did when it was built!

We leave King’s Cross at around 08:20 and follow the route of famous old trains like the Flying Scotsman.

Our steam locomotive “Union of South Africa” will run with two tenders which will provide an increased supply of water and reduce the number of water stops, thus speeding up the journey considerably.

We storm up the gradient through Finsbury Park and northwards, calling at Potters Bar, Stevenage and Peterborough to pick up more passengers.

Our steam locomotive tackles the 15 mile climb up the famous Stoke Bank where “Mallard” achieved a record 126mph travelling in the opposite direction. Once over the summit we should have a good, fast run down the 20 mile descent to the Trent Valley and on through Grantham, Newark and Retford. We steam through Doncaster, where “Union of South Africa” was built, and continue to our stop in York.

We stay in there will be plenty of time for passengers to enjoy the city and all it has to offer for the festive season. York has a number of major tourist attractions including the National Railway Museum, the largest museum of its type in Britain.

There are a number of other interesting museums, many shops, quaint alleyways, the Castle, and the splendid Gothic York Minster, one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.

Our train leaves York at around 17:10, retracing the route along the East Coast Main Line. It stops to set down passengers at the same stations as on the northbound journey, arriving at King’s Cross at around 20:45. “Union of South Africa” will make a fine sight at the buffer stops at King’s Cross, recalling the glorious days of steam in the 1950’s.

Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board.

Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

UK Day Trips - The Christmas White Rose

36

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London King’s Cross 08:20 20:45 Potters Bar 08:45 20:20 Stevenage 09:05 19:55 Peterborough 10:30 19:05 York 13:10 17:10 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£206

£132

£544

First

£128

£68

£324

Standard

£85

£49

£219

Bob Green

The Christmas Yorkshireman Saturday 21st December 2013 Join us for a main line steam run from London’s Victoria Station to York and an opportunity to experience the Festive Seasons activities. The city of York is world famous for its variety of visitor attractions and home to the National Railway Museum. We travel north via the Midland Main Line stopping at stations along the route to pick up further passengers. Our train will be hauled between London and York by A4 class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”.

Our train leaves London Victoria at around 06:30 hauled by “Union of South Africa” and travels around West London through Kensington Olympia and Neasden. At Dudding Hill Junction we take the Brent curve and join the Midland Main Line (MML) at Cricklewood. We head north and stop at St. Albans, Luton, Bedford and Kettering, to pick up further passengers.

We leave the MML after Kettering and take the former Midland Railway Nottingham direct line. We pass through Corby Station, opened in 2009 to replace the original which was closed in 1966. We climb to the famous Harringworth Viaduct, the longest masonry viaduct in Britain. From the end of the viaduct there is a long, stiff climb up to Wing Tunnel and then it is downhill to Manton Junction, and through Rutland’s county town of Oakham.

Our last stop to pick up passengers is at Melton Mowbray. We continue to Syston Junction and take the sharp right curve to join the MML from Leicester. We pass through Loughborough and join the Erewash Valley Line at Trent Junction. After Chesterfield we take the ‘old road’ to Rotherham and continue through Conisbrough to Doncaster. Here we join the East Coast Main Line and can expect a fast run to York, where we arrive in the early afternoon.

York is well known for its Minster, Castle and city walls. The snickelways, famous medieval alleys and narrow streets, and The Shambles, are well worth exploring. The National Railway Museum, the many shops and museums, ensure that there is something on offer for everybody.

Our train leaves York at around 17:20 and returns to London Victoria diesel hauled. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

Santa and his Elves will be handing out presents to all the children during the journey so please let us know your child’s age when booking.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Victoria 06:30 22:45 St. Albans 08:00 21:50 Luton 08:20 21:40 Bedford 08:45 21:10 Kettering 09:45 20:30 Melton Mowbray 10:50 19:50 York 14:00 17:20 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £18 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£189

£141

£519

First

£119

£72

£310

Standard

£79

£48

£206

UK Day Trips - The Christmas Yorkshireman

37

Bob Green

The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express Saturday 25th January 2014 This is a special winter trip by train over two of England’s most scenic railway routes, the main line via Shap summit and the Settle and Carlisle Railway. The train will be hauled by two steam locomotives, the former London Midland & Scottish Railway Black 5’s No. 44871 and No. 45407. They make a classic pairing for the journey over a spectacular route through the North Pennines and bordering the Lake District. The destination is Carlisle where you can explore the Border City.

Our special train will depart from Manchester Victoria at about 07:00 stopping to collect passengers at Bolton and Preston. We enjoy a fast run along the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth where we stop for our locomotives to take on water. We climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg and then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge, gaining speed for the ascent to Shap. This well-known section of the WCML has a gradient of 1 in 75 and in the former days of steam locomotives banking engines from Tebay were often being used to assist trains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle.

We stay in the Border City for nearly three hours, providing ample time to visit the castle, cathedral, museum and shops, or just to relax in one of the many fine coffee shops, restaurants or bars.

We leave Carlisle and begin to climb as soon as we join the Settle-Carlisle Line, one of the best known and best loved stretches of railway line in Britain. We stop at Appleby, for our steam locomotives to take on water, before continuing to climb through scenic Kirkby Stephen towards the highest railway summit in England at Ais Gill, 1,169 feet above sea level. We pass over high viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through tunnels. There are magnificent views across the Fells and to the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

We should have a fast run out of the hills through to Settle, where we stop for our steam locomotives to take on water. We continue through Hellifield and Clitheroe to Blackburn, where we stop to set down passengers. We then take the direct line, climbing up the steep gradient to Sough Tunnel and then descending to Bolton, where we stop to set down passengers. Shortly after 19:00, we arrive at our final destination – Manchester Victoria – and the end of a truly marvellous day.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Manchester Victoria 07:00 19:08 Bolton 07:45 18:42 Preston 08:15 18:40* Blackburn ------- 17:54 Carlisle 11:30 14:15 *Passengers

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express

38

for Preston change trains at Blackburn.

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£179

£112

£470

First

£109

£55

£273

Standard

£74

£39

£187

Bob Green

The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express Saturdays 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd February and 1st and 8th March 2014 With these trains we expect to recreate the early days of steam rail tours in the 1980’s when the Settle and Carlisle Railway in winter was the icing on the cake in the main line ‘steam’ calendar. We have a high speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth hauled by a blue class 86 electric locomotive. We then enjoy a circular steam tour outwards via Shap to Carlisle and back to Preston via the Settle and Carlisle line. We return to London behind our blue electric locomotive.

We leave London Euston at around 07:10 with electric traction, and speed north along the West Coast Main Line. We stop to pick up passengers at Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton, Crewe and Preston. At Carnforth, we change locomotives and steam locomotive A4 Class ‘Pacific’ No. 60009 “Union of South Africa” or Black ‘5’ No. 45305 takes over the train.

On leaving Carnforth we climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg, and then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge, gaining speed for the ascent to Shap. This well-known section of the WCML has a gradient of 1 in 75 and in the former days of steam locomotives banking engines from Tebay were often being used to assist trains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle.

There will be around an hour and a half in Carlisle, time to explore this ancient ‘Border’ city.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Euston 07:10 22:20 Watford Junction 07:30 21:50 Milton Keynes 08:00 21:15 Northampton* 07:40 21:15 Rugby 08:25 20:38 Nuneaton 08:45 20:20 Crewe 09:45 19:15 Preston 10:30 18:20 Carlisle 12:40 14:30 *Northampton

passengers travel to and from Rugby by

service train.

There are three classes available:

We leave Carlisle and join the Settle–Carlisle line, one of the most well known and best loved stretches of railway line in Britain. We soon begin climbing, and then at Appleby, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. The climbing continues through scenic Kirby Stephen towards the highest railway summit in England at Ais Gill, 1169 feet above sea level. We pass over high viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through tunnels. There are magnificent views across the Fells and to the peaks of Pen-yghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We should have a fast run out of the hills, through Settle, until we stop again for our locomotive to take on water.

Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

Our journey continues through Hellifield, Clitheroe and Blackburn to Preston, where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive. Our blue class 86 electric locomotive takes over the train for a fast run to London.

We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability) Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£189

£129

£507

First

£119

£75

£313

Standard

£69

£39

£177

UK Day Trips - The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express

39

Bob Green

The Buxton Spa Express Saturday 15th March 2014 This day trip by special train offers a rare opportunity to travel from London, Watford Junction, Bletchley, Bedford, Kettering and Melton Mowbray to Buxton in the Peak District. The journey includes an interesting mix of high profile main lines and picturesque rural routes. Our train will be hauled by Britannia class 4-6-2 ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” between London, Buxton and Stockport.

The “Buxton Spa Express” leaves London Euston at around 08:00 hauled by our steam locomotive No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”. We head north up Camden Bank and through Willesden to Watford Junction where we stop for more passengers. We continue along the West Coast Main Line stopping at Bletchley and Bedford for more passengers. We join the truncated Cambridge to Oxford line and travel crosscountry to Bedford where we stop to pick up further passengers. We then travel down the Midland Main Line to Kettering where we stop for passengers and for our locomotive to take on water.

We take the former Midland Railway Main Line for Nottingham, passing through Corby and climbing up to the magnificent Harringworth Viaduct, the longest masonry viaduct in Britain. We then face a stiff climb up to Wing Tunnel, run downhill to Manton Junction, and pass through Oakham, the county town of Rutland, England’s smallest county. We make our final stop for passengers at Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies, before continuing along the Wreake Valley to the Midland Main Line at Syston North Junction.

We pass through Loughborough and take the Erewash Valley line at Trent Junction on our way to Chesterfield and Dronfield. We take the Hope Valley Line at Dore South Junction and pass through Totley Tunnel into the Peak District. This picturesque hilly area of wild moorland is popular with hikers and walkers. We pass through Edale en route to Buxton where there will be well over two hours to explore the highest market town in England. The Spa town of Buxton is well known for its thermal springs and bottled water.

Our train leaves Buxton at around 17:00 for the return journey. “Oliver Cromwell” will haul our train through Whaley Bridge to Stockport where a class 47 diesel locomotive takes over for the remainder of the journey back to London Euston.

We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Euston 08:00 22:55 Watford Junction 08:25 22:35 Bletchley 09:00 22:10 Bedford 09:30 21:40 Kettering 10:30 21:10 Melton Mowbray 11:20 20:30 Buxton 14:15 17:00 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Buxton Spa Express

40

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£205

£147

£557

First

£134

£82

£350

Standard

£87

£51

£225

Bob Green

The Tin Bath Saturday 16th March 2014 Who can forget Compo, Clegg and Foggy rolling down a Yorkshire hillside in a tin bath for the long-running TV series Last of the Summer Wine? In honour of this immortal moment in one of the great TV comedies we have named this tour “The Tin Bath”. Our train takes in the railways of the South Pennines and the Peak District encompassing Derbyshire, Lancashire and South Yorkshire and visiting some routes rarely used by steam trains along the way.

Our train leaves Preston ‘double-headed’ by two former London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) ‘Black 5’s’ No. 45407 and No. 44871. We head south up the West Coast Main Line (WCML) to Wigan (where we stop for more passengers). We then travel eastwards to Manchester Victoria and (a further) stop for passengers. We climb Miles Platting Bank and pass through Denton, once famed for its hat making, en route to Stockport. We then take the Hazel Grove Chord, built by British Rail in 1986 to link two routes and shorten journey times between Manchester and Sheffield.

We follow the former Midland Railway route across the Peak District and pass through the beautiful Vale of Edale. We pass through Hathersage, a charming village associated with Robin Hood and the Eyre family of Brontë fame. We continue through the 3.5 mile long Totley Tunnel, first opened in 1892, before arrival at Sheffield where we have an hour’s break.

On leaving Sheffield we head northwards to Wincobank Junction, adjacent to the famous Meadowhall Shopping Centre, where we join the Barnsley Line. It is a long climb from here up to Chapeltown, Wombwell and Barnsley. But it doesn’t end there! From Barnsley we take a single track line that climbs steeply at gradients of 1 in 50 and 1 in 57 up to Dodworth, where the gradient eases to 1 in 100.

Soon afterwards we approach the former junction at Penistone where we steam over the magnificent 29-arch viaduct (bigger than Ribblehead!) before entering Penistone Station.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Preston 09:20 19:30 Manchester Victoria 10:30 18:20 Sheffield 12:30 13:30 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes Buck’s Fizz, morning tea or coffee and Danish pastries and a four course lunch silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

We continue past Denby Dale (famous for its huge meat pies!) and the junction for the Kirklees Railway.

We shall probably stop at Stocksmoor whilst a service train passes in the opposite direction.

We descend to Huddersfield crossing many fine bridges and viaducts on the way, including the listed 32-arch Lockwood Viaduct. We continue to Brighouse where we pause for our steam locomotives to take on water. We then head for Hall Royd Junction where we take the steeply graded line to Copy Pit before descending through Burnley to Blackburn. We pass through Darwen on the climb up to Sough Tunnel, drop down to Bolton, and head back to Manchester Victoria. A diesel locomotive will then take the train back to Wigan and Preston, where we expect to arrive at around 19:30.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£139

£99

£377

First

£90

£60

£240

Standard

£60

£40

£160

UK Day Trips - The Tin Bath

41

Bob Green

The Peak Forester Sunday 23rd March 2014 Join us on this very special train from London to Matlock in the beautiful Peak District of Derbyshire. There we shall travel over the ‘Peak Rail’ Heritage Railway line between Matlock and Rowsley. Our train will be steam hauled throughout by ex-Southern Railway West Country class 4-6-2 ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 34046 “Braunton”. The journey includes fast running stretches of high profile main lines as well as highly scenic secondary routes.

We leave London King’s Cross at around 09:30, hauled by “Braunton”, and we can expect some fast running as we head north along the East Coast Main Line (ECML). We stop at Stevenage and Peterborough for further passengers and then take the former Syston and Peterborough Railway line that links the ECML to the Midland Main Line (MML). We pass through Stamford and Manton Tunnel then stop at Oakham for more passengers. When this line was built, between Oakham and Melton Mowbray, it had to make a significant detour because of opposition from the then owner of nearby Stapleford Park.

We join the MML at Syston Junction and head northwards through Loughborough and Trent Junction to Derby. We then take the Derwent Valley Line to Ambergate Junction and along the Matlock Branch.

This was formerly the Midland Main Line to Manchester Central which closed as a through route in 1968.

We are now in the Peak District and we travel up the picturesque valley of the River Derwent, passing through Cromford and Matlock Bath to Matlock.

At Matlock passengers have the option of alighting from the train or continuing on our train along the Heritage Railway ‘Peak Rail’ through Darley Dale to Rowsley. Peak Rail services were extended into Matlock Station (Network Rail) in July 2011 and our train tickets are valid for travel on Peak Rail trains.

Our train, steam hauled by “Braunton”, leaves Rowsley late in the afternoon and stops at Matlock to pick up those passengers who have been visiting the town. We return via Derby, Trent Junction and Melton Mowbray to Oakham, Stamford, and Peterborough where we have stops to set down passengers.

At Conington our steam locomotive takes on water. We call at Stevenage to set down passengers before journeys end at London King’s Cross.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London King’s Cross 09:35 21:40 Stevenage 10:05 20:55 Peterborough 11:25 19:40 Oakham 12:00 19:10 Matlock 13:55 17:30 Rowsley 14:25 17:00 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Peak Forester

42

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£199

£149

£547

First

£119

£72

£310

Standard

£89

£54

£232

Bob Green

The Hadrian Saturday 29th March 2014 Breathtaking landscape and nostalgic steam locomotive haulage combine in one of our most exciting and varied tours by special train. Our train will be hauled from Hellifield to York via Carlisle by A4 class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”. Passengers will experience the magnificent and world famous Settle to Carlisle Railway, travel on the 175-year old Tyne Valley Line, and speed along the East Coast Main Line. It is all here for a thrilling day’s excursion.

Our train leaves Leicester, diesel hauled, at around 06:30 and stops to pick up more passengers at Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway, Alfreton, Chesterfield and Sheffield. We continue through Leeds and Skipton to Hellifield where “Union of South Africa” replaces the diesel locomotive on our train.

Between Hellifield and Carlisle there is scarcely a level mile but our powerful steam locomotive will negotiate the 78 miles of “ups and downs” in truly classic style. Settle Junction marks the beginning of one of Britain’s most arduous climbs, a total of 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100. This will be a tough test for our locomotive which we will see – and hear – working very hard!

We cross the breathtaking Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel.

The route runs high above valleys, over bridges and through more tunnels to Dent, the highest station in England. We make the final climb to Ais Gill Summit, all 1,169 feet of it, the dramatic peak of our journey!

We travel high above the valley at Mallerstang and then drop down through Kirkby Stephen to Appleby, where our steam locomotive takes on water. We enjoy a fast run downhill from Appleby along the Eden Valley to Carlisle, where we arrive at around 13:00. There will be plenty of time to explore the ‘Border’ city with its many attractions which include the castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum, the pedestrianised English Street, and Lanes Shopping Centre.

We leave Carlisle at around 16:00 and take the scenic Tyne Valley Line towards Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

The Newcastle & Carlisle Railway opened this line in 1838 and it runs eastwards following the River Tyne just a few miles south of Hadrian’s Wall. We pass through Wylam, the birthplace of railway engineer George Stephenson, before we join the East Coast Main Line at Low Fell. We can expect some fast running as we head south through Durham and Darlington to York. A diesel locomotive replaces our steam locomotive at York for the remainder of the journey to Sheffield, Chesterfield, Alfreton, East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough and Leicester.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Leicester 06:30 22:30 Loughborough 07:00 22:15 East Midlands Parkway 07:15 22:00 Alfreton 07:40 21:20 Chesterfield 08:10 21:00 Sheffield 08:30 20:30 Carlisle 13:00 16:00 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£189

£142

£520

First

£119

£72

£310

Standard

£84

£51

£219

UK Day Trips - The Hadrian

43

Bob Green

The Wansbeck Saturday 29th March 2014 This unusual rail tour by steam train covers parts of Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland. It passes through rural and coastal scenic areas including Wansbeck, named after the river in Northumberland. It travels along routes with an interesting history, some of which are open for ‘freight only’. For most of the journey, the train will be ‘topped and tailed’ by steam locomotives class K4 No. 61994 “The Great Marquess” and class K1 No. 62005, one at each end.

Our train leaves Newcastle Central Station at around 08:30 and heads north along the East Coast Main Line (ECML) to Morpeth, the county town of Northumberland. Just north of Morpeth we branch off to the east and travel along the ‘freight only’ Blyth and Tyne Line. We reverse our direction of travel at Bedlington Junction and then head north to Ashington, crossing the River Wansbeck at West Sleekburn.

On arrival at Ashington we reverse again and return to Marchey’s House Junction. Here we branch off eastwards passing Winning Junction and continuing to the North Sea Coast at Cambois.

We then travel southwards along the coast to North Blyth, a small settlement on the north eastern side of the River Blyth harbour.

We reverse direction of travel at North Blyth and return on the ‘freight only’ line to Winning Junction and West Sleekburn Junction. We then travel southwards on the Blyth and Tyne route to Benton Junction, where we rejoin the ECML and continue southwards to Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

After leaving Newcastle Central Station, we cross the famous King Edward VII Bridge en route to Tyne Yard, where our locomotives take on water.

We continue southwards along the ECML, passing through Durham with its spectacular Victorian viaduct high above the city. We leave the ECML at Ferryhill and head for Stockton, Middlesborough and Redcar. At Saltburn West Junction we join the scenic ‘freight only’ line to Boulby, running along the cliff tops with spectacular sea views. The Boulby Potash Mine was opened in the 1970’s and is Europe’s second deepest mine. We return to Saltburn West Junction and reverse to Saltburn Station where we enjoy a visit to this seaside town.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Newcastle 08:30 21:15 Newcastle 12:30 ------Middlesborough 14:30 19:00 Saltburn 15:00 18:40 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Our train returns to Newcastle, steam hauled, via Middlesborough, Darlington and the ECML.

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Wansbeck

44

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£189

£141

£519

First

£125

£72

£322

Standard

£79

£48

£206

Bob Green

The Atlantic Coast Express Sunday 6th April 2014 Here is a great opportunity to relive the days of famous steam trains. The ‘Atlantic Coast Express’ re-creates the former Southern Railway’s express passenger train of that name. It followed the West of England main line between London Waterloo and Exeter, which we shall travel, to various seaside destinations in Devon and Cornwall. Our train features haulage by two Bulleid ‘Pacific’ steam locomotives, types regularly used on this named train in the ‘days of steam’.

We leave London Waterloo at around 09:30 hauled by ‘Battle of Britain’ class steam locomotive No. 34067 “Tangmere”, an ex-Southern Railway type regularly used to haul portions of the Atlantic Coast Express. We take the fast route through Wimbledon, Surbiton, and Weybridge, and then stop at Woking and Basingstoke to pick up more passengers. At Worting Junction we leave the Bournemouth line and take the West of England Main Line to the cathedral city of Salisbury in Wiltshire.

We continue west from Salisbury and at Wilton Junction the ex-Southern Railway route to Exeter becomes single track to Templecombe. We stop at Yeovil Junction for our steam locomotive to take on water.

There is more single track as we continue through Crewkerne and Axminster and then climb the famous Honiton Bank. We pass through Exeter Central and descend sharply to Exeter St. David’s where there will be almost 2 hours to explore this fine city.

The historic city of Exeter is the county town of Devon and retains part of the original Roman walls.

The gothic Cathedral is the city’s top attraction and the Cathedral Green opposite is a favourite meeting and picnic place. The historic quayside includes the 17th Century Custom House. The city centre has three significant shopping areas that connect to the High Street.

We leave Exeter St. David’s for the return journey at around 17:30 hauled by ‘West Country’ class rebuilt ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 34046 “Braunton”. We shall be treated to another experience of ‘steam days’ as we are ‘banked’ up the steep incline to Exeter Central Station by No. 34067 “Tangmere” at the rear of our train. “Braunton” will haul our train back to London Waterloo and we shall stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return London Waterloo 09:30 23:30 Woking 10:20 22:40 Basingstoke 11:10 22:15 Exeter 15:30 17:30 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£189

£142

£520

First

£119

£72

£310

Standard

£84

£51

£219

UK Day Trips - The Atlantic Coast Express

45

Bob Green

The Heart of Wales Saturday 12th April 2014 Here is an opportunity to enjoy a very scenic journey by special train travelling over the remote Central Wales line through Llandrindod Wells. Our train will be hauled from Shrewsbury through the ‘Heart of Wales’ and along the South Wales Main Line to Cardiff by two former LMS steam locomotives, ‘Black 5’ No. 44871 and No. 45407. There is no better way to experience this wonderful Welsh mountain scenery than from the comfort of our steam train.

Our train leaves Cardiff at around 06:00 diesel hauled, and calls to pick up passengers at Newport.

We pass through the Severn Tunnel under the River Severn and continue eastwards to Bristol Parkway, Swindon and Oxford, where stops are made to pick up more passengers. We travel northwards through Banbury and Leamington Spa to Coventry, where we join the Euston to Birmingham main line.

After Birmingham International, we by-pass central Birmingham, en route to Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Cardiff 06:00 19:40 Newport 06:20 20:45 Bristol Parkway 06:50 21:25 Swindon 07:20 22:00 Oxford 08:00 22:45 Llandrindod Wells 14:00 15:30 There are three classes available:

We leave Shrewsbury hauled by our two steam locomotives and travel southwards to Craven Arms where we join the single track Central Wales Line. We cross the border into Wales and stop at Knighton for our locomotives to take on water. Just after Knucklas Station we pass over the magnificent turreted Knucklas Viaduct, with its 13 arches. The scenery is magnificent as we pass through Llangynllo and Pen-y-bont, with superb views of the Welsh mountains. We stop at Llandrindod Wells where there will be well over an hour’s break while our locomotives are serviced. This ‘spa’ town has many ornate Victorian and Edwardian style buildings and is also home to the National Cycle Collection.

Soon after leaving Llandrindod Wells our two steam locomotives will be working hard as we tackle the climb to Sugar Loaf Summit and pass beneath the hills via the 1,000 yard (910 metres) long Sugar Loaf Tunnel. We descend to Llandovery, then follow the River Towy to Llandeilo, passing through glorious Welsh countryside. We stop at Pantyffynnon, where the locomotives take on water, before continuing to the Swansea District Line. We skirt around Swansea before joining the South Wales main line at Briton Ferry. We should enjoy a fast run to Cardiff where we stop to set down passengers. Our two steam locomotives will be replaced by diesel power at Pengam Sidings, just to the east of Cardiff. We make further stops at Newport, Bristol Parkway, Swindon and Oxford, to set down passengers.

Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Heart of Wales

46

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£204

£151

£559

First

£137

£88

£362

Standard

£89

£56

£234

Bob Green

The Dartmouth Express Saturday 19th April 2013 The Dartmouth Express provides an opportunity for a very special day out travelling by train from Guilford, Wokingham and stations in the Kennet Valley to Dartmouth in beautiful South Devon. The special train will be hauled by ex-British Railways Britannia class ‘Pacific’ No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”. We have an optional 90 minute cruise available from Kingswear aboard the magnificent Paddle Steamer “Kingswear Castle”.

Our train leaves Guilford, diesel hauled, at around 07:15. We stop for more passengers at Wokingham, Theale, Newbury, Hungerford and Pewsey. Our final stop for passengers is at Westbury where we welcome our magnificent steam locomotive, Britannia ‘Pacific’ No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”.

We leave Westbury and rejoin the West of England main line, climb Brewham Bank, and continue through Somerset’s green and undulating countryside to Taunton where we stop for our locomotive to take on water. We then climb to Whiteball Summit on the border of Somerset and Devon before descending to Exeter. We follow the Exe Estuary, with its picturesque fishing boat views, and run on to the famous sea wall near Dawlish – one of the most famous and scenic stretches of railway line in Britain.

After Newton Abbot we leave the main line to Plymouth and head for Torquay and Paignton, two of the UK’s premier seaside resorts. At Paignton we join the Dartmouth Steam Railway and our train traverses this Heritage Railway hauled by “Oliver Cromwell”. There is a steep climb at 1 in 60 to Churston and from there the line runs downhill to Kingswear.

The train fare includes a return journey on the ferry across the River Dart to the picture-postcard town of Dartmouth. Here the railway station, where no railway has ever run, is now a restaurant. Dartmouth is set in a beautiful location with steep wooded hillsides either side of the River Dart. Its main embankment runs along the length of the town. The town, with its narrow streets and old buildings, has retained a historic atmosphere offering visitors a superb array of bistros, restaurants, boutiques and specialist shops.

Passengers also have the option of a scenic cruise along the River Dart from Kingswear aboard the Paddle Steamer “Kingswear Castle”.

All too soon, it is time to return to our train for the journey home. “Oliver Cromwell” takes our train back to Westbury where a diesel locomotive takes over for the rest of the journey to Guildford. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Guilford 07:15 22:30 Wokingham 07:25 22:15 Theale 07:55 22:05 Newbury 08:15 21:45 Hungerford 08:23 21:35 Pewsey 08:35 21:20 Westbury 09:35 20:15 Paignton 12:00 17:30 Kingswear 13:00 16:45 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£209

£129

£547

First

£129

£75

£333

Standard

£89

£55

£233

UK Day Trips - The Dartmouth Express

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Bob Green

The Welsh Borders Saturday 3rd May 2014 Join us on this scenic circular tour by steam train through the beautiful Cotswold Hills and the Welsh Borders. Our destination is the cathedral city of Worcester, internationally famous as the home of Worcestershire Sauce. We travel outwards via the Golden Valley Line and the Cotswold Line to Worcester. We return by the Welsh Marches Line via Abergavenny. Our train will be hauled by West Country class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 34046 “Braunton”.

We leave Bristol Temple Meads at around 07:10, steam hauled by “Braunton”, and call to pick up further passengers at Bristol Parkway. We head north to Gloucester, where our steam locomotive is turned and further passengers join the train. We now head south to Standish Junction where we join the Golden Valley Line, pass through Stroud, and climb steeply through the Cotswold Hills. The summit of the route is at Sapperton Tunnel and then it is downhill to Swindon, where we join the Great Western Main Line.

There should be some fast running along the main line to Didcot where at Foxhall Junction we take the line to Oxford, the university city of ‘dreaming spires’.

At Wolvercot Junction we join the scenic Cotswold Line and pass through Finstock, Charlbury and Ascottunder-Wychwood. The Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is characterised by attractive small towns and villages built of Cotswold stone, a yellow oolitic limestone. We pass through Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh, then through Campden Tunnel, down Honeybourne Bank to Evesham, and on to Worcester Shrub Hill.

There will be around three hours to explore this fine city where the 12th Century Worcester Cathedral overlooks the River Severn. It is also the home of Royal Worcester Porcelain, and the birthplace of the composer Sir Edward Elgar.

We leave Worcester Shrub Hill at around 17:30 and stop to pick up passengers at Worcester Foregate Street, near to the city centre. We continue through Malvern, Ledbury and Hereford, where we join the Welsh Marches Line. We cross the border into Wales and pass through Abergavenny and Pontypool.

At Maindee Junction we avoid Newport and join the South Wales Main Line. There are views of the Bristol Channel as we approach Severn Tunnel Junction where we take line through Chepstow and alongside the River Severn to Gloucester, our first stop to set down passengers. We stop at Bristol Parkway and our journeys end is at Bristol Temple Meads.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads 07:10 22:30 Bristol Parkway 07:40 22:20 Gloucester 09:30 21:10 Worcester Shrub Hill 13:50 16:30 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)

Fares

UK Day Trips - The Welsh Borders

48

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£179

£120

£478

First

£125

£80

£330

Standard

£79

£55

£213

Bob Green

The Southern Irishman Saturday 10th May 2014 This train to South West Wales offers a marvellous day out passing through some wonderful scenery just waiting to be discovered. It provides a rare opportunity for passengers from Birmingham and the West Midlands to travel by steam train in the Principality. The train will be hauled by ‘Castle’ class steam locomotive No. 5029 “Nunney Castle” from Newport to Carmarthen and from Fishguard Harbour to Newport. Why not join us for a memorable outing?

Our train leaves Birmingham International, diesel hauled, at around 06:10 and stops to pick up further passengers at Birmingham New Street, Barnt Green, Worcester Shrub Hill, Cheltenham Spa and Gloucester.

It then heads southwards skirting the picturesque Severn Estuary, passing through Lydney and over the border into Wales at Chepstow. There is a stop at Newport to pick up more passengers and for our steam locomotive to replace the diesel locomotive on our train.

We can expect some fast running to Cardiff where our train makes its final stop to pick up passengers.

We continue westwards along the South Wales Main Line. At Briton Ferry we take the Swansea District Line to Llangennech, thus by-passing Swansea. We stop at Carmarthen for our steam locomotive to be serviced and passengers will have an opportunity to visit the town, perhaps including the famous castle. A class 47 diesel locomotive will haul our train onwards to Fishguard Harbour where there will be time to explore the harbour area.

Our steam locomotive “Nunney Castle” will be hauling our train when we leave Fishguard Harbour and travel up the steep and twisting gradients to Clarbeston Road. We continue to Whitland, the junction for the line to Pembroke Dock, and then bypass Carmarthen by taking the south curve for Llanelli. We follow the main line through the outskirts of Swansea where our steam locomotive will be tested on the steep ascent of Cockett Bank. Later we should make rapid progress along the South Wales Main Line and all too soon we reach our first set down stop at Cardiff.

At Newport we say goodbye to “Nunney Castle” and a class 47 diesel locomotive will take our train back to Birmingham International. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

Approximate Timings

Outward Return Birmingham Int. 06:10 22:40 Birmingham New St. 06:30 22:25 Barnt Green 06:50 22:05 Worcester Shrub Hill 07:15 21:40 Cheltenham Spa 07:35 21:00 Gloucester 07:50 20:45 Newport 08:55 19:55 Cardiff 09:35 18:55 Carmarthen (arr.)

12:00 ------Carmarthen (dep.)

13:30 ------Fishguard Harbour 14:30 15:45 There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes full English breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability) Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£199

£119

£517

First

£129

£58

£316

Standard

£82

£41

£205

UK Day Trips - The Southern Irishman

49

Tour Reservation Form Title..................... Forename..................................................................Surname................................................................DOB*.................

Title..................... Forename..................................................................Surname................................................................DOB*................. *DOB = Date of Birth

Please ensure your names are as they appear in your passport Address of first named............................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone Numbers.......................................................................................................................................................................................

Please reserve the (tour title)..................................................................................................................................................................

Indicate your requirements/preferences: Twin bedded room

Double bedded room

Single room(s)

(Tick)

Where options are available for the tour (ie choice of travel) please clearly state your choice(s) ........................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Please also specify any dietary or health related requirements................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The deposit is £350 per person outside Europe, £150 per person within Europe and £100 per person for UK tours, plus insurance, if required. The balance/full fare is due 10 weeks before travel; dates will be advised on your confirmation. As stated in our Booking Agreement a Fidelity Policy will be added at the time of booking.

I enclose a cheque for the deposit (made payable to THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY) Please charge my Visa credit card/Mastercard for the deposit Please charge my Visa debit card/Maestro/Electron card for the deposit Card Number:...............................................................................................................................................................................................

Start Date:........................................................Expiry Date:........................................................Issue Number(Maestro):..........................

Please sign and date to confirm that you have read and accepted the terms and conditions of booking as stated in the Great Railway Adventures brochure 2012 and on our website.

Signed:...............................................................................................................................Date:...................................................................

Visit our website for online booking – railwaytouring.net THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY, 14A TUESDAY MARKET PLACE, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK, PE30 1JN Phone: 01553 661500 • Fax: 01553 661800 • E-mail: enquiries@railwaytouring.co.uk • Website: www.railwaytouring.net

50

Day Trips Booking Form Tour:..................................................................................................................................Date:...................................................................

Joining Station:.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Name:................................................................................................................................Phone No:..........................................................

Address:........................................................................................................................................................................................................ ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................Postcode:............................................................

E-mail:..........................................................................................................................................................................................................

Price Each

Number Required

Total Price

Premier Dining Adult

£

£

Premier Dining Junior

£

£

Premier Dining Family

£

£

1st Class Adult

£

£

1st Class Junior

£

£

1st Class Family

£

£

Supplement for table for two*

£20 per person

£

Standard Class Adult

£

£

Standard Class Junior

£

£

Standard Class Family

£

£

*Supplement for table for two is available in Premier Dining and First Class. (subject to availability)

Total Price: £

I enclose a cheque for the full balance (made payable to THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY) Please charge my Visa credit card/Mastercard for the full balance (payments by credit card are subject to a 2.1% charge) Please charge my Visa debit card/Maestro/Electron card for the full balance Card Number:...............................................................................................................................................................................................

Start Date:........................................................Expiry Date:........................................................Issue Number(Maestro):..........................

Please sign and date to confirm that you have read and accepted the terms and conditions as stated on the inside cover of this brochure and on our website.

Signed:...............................................................................................................................Date:...................................................................

Visit our website for online booking – railwaytouring.net THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY, 14A TUESDAY MARKET PLACE, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK, PE30 1JN Phone: 01553 661500 • Fax: 01553 661800 • E-mail: enquiries@railwaytouring.co.uk • Website: www.railwaytouring.net

51

The Railway Touring Company 14a Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1JN Phone: 01553 661500 – Fax: 01553 661800 Web: www.railwaytouring.net – E-mail: enquiries@railwaytouring.co.uk Design and Artwork - LucidSynergy Ltd - www.lucidsynergy.com