UK Steam Rail Day Trips 2022 - Second Edition

The Railway Touring Company UK Steam Rail Day Trips 2022 – Second Edition

Liam Barnes

Welcome Dear Customer, As we are rapidly heading through the summer and with the recent launch of our Autumn and festive daytrips we have decided to produce a second edition of our UK Daytrips 2022 to update you all with what we have available. Why not join us for a late Summer day out or plan ahead now for your festive daytrip experience.

We continue to have many old favourites among our 2022 steam hauled daytrips, including the Waverleys, Dorset Coast Expresses and the Cumbrian Mountain Expresses. We have also a couple of interesting additions to our programme for the Autumn including The Blackpool Illuminations and The Kentish Belle Armistice Day. You can travel in premier dining and enjoy the luxury of being silver served at your seat, first class with morning and afternoon refreshments served or in the standard class where you can bring a picnic hamper along or grab a cup of tea from the buffet car. However you decide to travel with us you will be able to sit back and relax, take in the views and embrace the atmosphere on board.

If you need more information or have questions relating to any of our Daytrips, my team and I are here to help so please give us a call.

From all of us here in King’s Lynn, as always, we thank you for your continued support and look forward to hearing from you and to welcoming you on board.

Kelly Osborne Managing Director.

The Railway Touring Company.

25 EST. 1997

Front cover image: Andrew Jackson Photography

UK Steam Rail Day Trips 2022 – Second Edition

Day Trips The Waverley

4

The Kentish Belle Armistice Day

18

The Dorset Coast Express

5

The Christmas Cheshireman

19

The Royal Duchy

6

The Cardiff Christmas Express

20

The Cumbrian Mountain Express

7

The Christmas Sussex Belle

21

The Cotswold Venturer

8

The York Yuletide Express

22

The Cheshireman

9

The Worcester Christmas Fayre

23

The Swanage Belle

10

The Lindum Fayre

24

The Coast to Coast Express

11

The York Yuletide Express

25

The Plymouth Flyer

12

The Sherborne Christmas Carol

26

The Cumbrian Coast Express

13

The Bath & Bristol Christmas Market

27

The Peaks Express

14

The Edinburgh Christmas Market

28

The Cumbrian Mountain Express

15

The Worcester Christmas Express

29

The Yorkshireman

16

The York Yuletide Express

30

The Blackpool Illuminations

17

The Edinburgh Christmas Market

31

Terms and Conditions UK Day Trip Information

Booking Form 32

UK Day Trip Booking Form

Visit our website, railwaytouring.net for online booking or to download printable booking forms.

THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY, THE OLD STABLES, ESTUARY ROAD, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK, PE30 2HL Phone: 01553 661 500 • E-mail: enquiries@railwaytouring.co.uk • Website: www.railwaytouring.net

33

Bob Green

The Waverley Sunday 14th, 21st August and 4th September 2022 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 Railway, probably the most famous railway route in Britain. There will be time to visit the border city of Carlisle. These day trips revive the nostalgic former days of steam when travel by train through magnificent scenery was an experience to savour.

Our train leaves York, diesel hauled at 09:30 and heads for Church Fenton where we take the direct route to Leeds. We stop to pick up more passengers at Leeds, Shipley, Keighley, and Skipton. There will be a stop at Hellifield where we change traction to our steam locomotive for the day, taken from the Carnforth pool of locomotives, before we join the famous Settle & Carlisle Railway at Settle Junction. Here begins one of the most arduous climbs on Britain’s railway network, a total of 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100.

Once through Settle station, there are magnificent views across the Fells to the Pennine Three Peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We cross the breathtaking Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel. We pass through Dent Dale and the highest open station in England at Dent, travelling through tunnels and crossing valleys on numerous lofty viaducts, as we make the final ascent to Ais Gill Summit (1,169 feet).

We travel high above the valley at Mallerstang and then drop down through Kirkby Stephen to Lazenby, where our locomotive takes on water.

We continue to Carlisle where passengers will have over one and a half hours to explore the Border City, possibly visiting the castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum or the Lanes Shopping Centre.

Our train leaves Carlisle for the return journey at around 17:30 and climbs almost continuously for just under 50 miles back up to Ais Gill summit. We stop, en route, at Appleby for our steam locomotive to take on water. We continue to Hellifield where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive for the day and continue diesel hauled with stops at Skipton, Keighley, Shipley, Leeds, and York, to set down passengers.

4

Approximate Timings Outward Return York Leeds Shipley Keighley Skipton Carlisle

09:40 10:30 11:00 11:15 11:30 14:45

21:25 20:50 20:25 20:15 20:00 17:30

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358

Bob Green

The Dorset Coast Express Thursday 18th August and 1st September 2022 We are offering a number of attractive summer day trips from London to Weymouth by steam train. These trains provide plenty of opportunity to visit the beautiful Dorset coast and relive the ‘golden age’ of steam. Passengers have the option of spending time at the celebrated seaside resorts of either Bournemouth or Weymouth, where both have fine sandy beaches. Each train will be hauled by a steam locomotive that was built for express passenger train work.

Our train leaves London Victoria station at around 08:45 steam hauled by Jubilee class steam locomotive No.45596 Bahamas, and travels westwards, crossing the river Thames at Barnes Bridge, through Kew and Feltham. We stop at Staines and Woking to pick up further passengers. At Winchfield, we pause 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.

We stop at Bournemouth to set down those passengers wishing to visit this coastal resort, a spa town famous for its parks and pine trees. After leaving Bournemouth, there are spectacular views of Poole Harbour. We continue to Wareham and Dorchester travelling through classic Dorset countryside and delightful scenery. We arrive at Weymouth around 13:45 and have almost 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 hauled by U Class steam locomotive No.31806 at around 16:40 as far as Southampton* with our main steam locomotive banking on the rear, from here the main steam locomotive will take over for the remainder of the return journey. We continue through Andover to Basingstoke, where we stop to set down passengers and for our steam locomotive to take on water. We then continue to Woking and Staines, where we stop to set down passengers, and on to our final destination at London Victoria.

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria Staines Woking Basingstoke Bournemouth Weymouth

08:45 09:35 10:05 10:55 12:50 13:45

22:00 21:15 20:40 19:50 17:45 16:40

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

*In the event of a high fire risk the section from Weymouth to Southampton on the return leg would be diesel hauled.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 5

Bob Green

The Royal Duchy Sunday 21st August and 11th September 2022 These ever-popular summer day trips by steam train run from Bristol Temple Meads, Yatton and Taunton to Devon & Cornwall. The route includes travelling along the internationally famous sea wall at Dawlish, crossing Brunel’s famous Saltash Bridge into Cornwall, and some of the most varied and exciting scenery in the country. Passengers can choose to spend time in Plymouth or travel on to Par, where buses are provided for visits to Fowey or Charlestown.

Our train leaves Bristol Temple Meads steam hauled by locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland at around 08:45 and stops to pick up further passengers at Yatton and Taunton.

Almost immediately on departure from Taunton, our steam locomotive will 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 for more passengers to join the train. We leave Exeter and follow the Exe Estuary to the seaside. We then travel along the famous sea wall between Dawlish and Teignmouth, an experience not to be missed.

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. Passengers have the option to alight at Plymouth or remain on the train to Par. There will be over five hours free time to explore the historic maritime city of Plymouth which includes the Hoe, the ancient Barbican and seafront areas, and the National Marine Aquarium.

We leave Plymouth, diesel hauled, and cross the river Tamar on Brunel’s masterpiece, the Royal Albert Bridge, to enter Cornwall. Our train continues through the magnificent Cornish countryside to Par, where there will be a break of more than three hours. Buses will take passengers from Par, 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 steam hauled by Duchess of Sutherland at around 17:45 and stop at Plymouth to pick up those passengers who chose to alight there.

Our train then returns to Bristol, stopping to set down passengers at Exeter, Taunton and Yatton enroute.

6

Approximate Timings Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads Yatton Taunton Exeter St Davids Plymouth Par

08:45 09:05 09:40 11:30 12:45 14:00

22:45 22:25 21:15 20:15 19:00 17:45

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£299

£225

£936

First

£199

£155

£631

Standard

£129

£105

£416

Bob Green

The Cumbrian Mountain Express Saturday 27th August 2022 This is a wonderful opportunity for those from the Crewe and Manchester areas to travel by steam train over two of England’s most scenic railway routes.

We travel north to Carlisle by the West Coast Main Line over Shap and return via the famous Settle & Carlisle Railway Line. Both routes pass through spectacular mountain scenery. A magnificent steam locomotive will haul these trains, which recall the glorious days of steam travel.

Our train leaves Crewe diesel hauled at around 07:00 and calls at Wilmslow, Stockport, Manchester Victoria and Bolton to pick up passengers. We join the West Coast Main Line (WCML) and travel north to Preston, our final stop to pick up passengers. We continue through Lancaster to Carnforth, where we change motive power to our steam locomotive for the day taken from the Carnforth Pool. From Carnforth our steam locomotive will be working hard when we climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg. We then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge to Tebay, 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 used to assist trains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle. There will be around two hours in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient ‘Border’ city with its castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum, and shopping centre.

Our return train, hauled by our steam locomotive, leaves Carlisle and joins 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, 1,169 feet above sea level. We pass over high viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through numerous 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 at Hellifield for our locomotive to take on water.

Approximate Timings Outward Return Crewe Wilmslow Stockport Manchester Victoria Bolton Preston Carlisle

07:00 07:25 07:55 09:00 09:30 10:15 12:40

20:30 20:05 19:45 19:20 19:00 18:05 14:25

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Our journey continues from Hellifield to Clitheroe and Preston where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive. We leave Preston diesel hauled stopping at Bolton and Manchester Victoria to set down passengers. We continue our journey to Crewe stopping at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 7

Bob Green

The Cotswold Venturer Saturday 27th August 2022 Join us on this scenic rail tour by steam train through the beautiful Cotswold Hills.

Our destination is the cathedral city of Worcester, located on the banks of the river Severn and internationally famous as the home of Worcestershire Sauce.

We travel outward via Slough and then from Reading via the Great Western Main Line to Didcot and Swindon. We then run via the Golden Valley line through Kemble and Stroud, which will include the steep climb up to Sapperton tunnel.

Our steam train leaves London Paddington at around 07:15 hauled by steam locomotive No.35028 Clan Line and and heads down the ex-Great Western Railway (GWR) main line.

We stop at Slough, Reading and Didcot to pick up more passengers.

We follow the GWR main line through the Vale of White Horse to Swindon where we branch off to take the Golden Valley route towards Cheltenham. After Kemble, the line starts to climb steeply towards the summit at Sapperton Tunnel. The pleasant Golden Valley scenery, with its steep sided leafy valley walls, runs down the gradient through to Stroud. At Standish Junction we join the Midland Railway’s Bristol to Birmingham line and head for Cheltenham Spa. Here, we will call to set down passengers who may wish to visit this attractive Regency spa town, noted for its Pump Rooms, many museums and the nearby famous racecourse.

The Cotswold Venturer continues northwards through to Worcester Shrub Hill station, were we will spend the afternoon here whilst Clan Line is turned and serviced. There will be plenty of time to explore this fine city. The river Severn runs through the city and is overlooked by the 12th century Worcester Cathedral. The site of the final battle of the Civil War between Oliver Cromwell and King Charles II was here. It is also the home of Royal Worcester Porcelain, and has long associations with the composer Sir Edward Elgar.

Our steam train leaves Worcester Shrub Hill in the late afternoon and returns by the same route to Cheltenham Spa where we will pause to pick up passengers who chose to leave their earlier. We head southwards away from Cheltenham, by-pass Gloucester, and then join the Golden Valley route at Standish Junction. We pass through Stroud and climb up through the picturesque Stroud Valley to Sapperton Tunnel where the gradients increase dramatically to 1 in 74 at Chalford. We continue through Kemble and on to Swindon where we join the ex-Great Western Main Line. We call at Didcot, Reading and Slough to set down passengers, before arriving in London Paddington.

8

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Paddington Slough Reading Didcot Parkway Cheltenham Spa Worcester Shrub Hill

07:15 07:45 08:15 08:45 12:20 13:10

21:01 20:20 19:45 19:10 17:05 16:30

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£295

£210

£905

First

£195

£140

£600

Standard

£130

£95

£403

Bob Green

The Cheshireman Saturday 3rd September 2022 Join us on this tour that provides an excellent opportunity to travel across the country from east to west, visiting the historic city of Chester. Apart from its cultural attractions, including the Cathedral, Castle and the Medieval Rows, Chester is a well-established shopping mecca. Our steam hauled train will be pulled by 46233 Duchess of Sutherland from Norwich to Chester and as far at Peterborough on the return.

Our journey commences at Norwich around 07:00 where we take the line heading towards Ely, which we bypass to call at March and Peterborough to collect further passengers.

We now follow the cross country line through Stamford, a town of outstanding architectural and historic interest that is of national importance. The town has over 600 listed buildings, more than half of the total for the County of Lincolnshire We continue westwards and pass Rutland Water towards Oakham, in the small county of Rutland. Entering Leicestershire, we run through Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies, and head for Leicester, our final pick up station. We follow the main line to London St Pancras for a while as far as Wigston Junction, where we branch off on the Nuneaton and Birmingham line.

Our route now takes us westwards through Hinkley to Nuneaton, where we join the West Coast main line. Heading northwards, our steam locomotive can now get up to top speed as we head for Tamworth and Lichfield. Lines split at Colwich Junction and here we follow the WCML through Shugborough Park to round Queensville Curve at Stafford. The four tracks continue northwards through rural Staffordshire, with our steam locomotive working hard as it tackles the long climb to Whitmore Summit. After a few more miles, we slow down and approach the major railway junction of Crewe.

Our final part of the journey takes us across the Cheshire Plain through Beeston Castle, with its lofty 13th Century castle overlooking the railway and the Shropshire Union Canal.

In no time at all, we arrive at Chester, where there will be a break of around four hours for passengers to visit the city with all its attractions. We then return from Chester at around 17:20 for the steam hauled run back as far as Peterborough, where our steam locomotive leaves the train and from where we return to Norwich, diesel hauled, retracing our outward route and stopping at March, Brandon, Thetford, Attleborough and Wymondham to drop off passengers enroute.

Approximate Timings Outward Return Norwich Wymondham Attleborough Thetford Brandon March Peterborough Leicester Chester

07:00 ------------------------09:00 09:20 10:20 14:30

23:55 23:35 23:25 23:05 22:50 22:10 21:40 20:05 17:20

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£299

£215

£921

First

£199

£145

£616

Standard

£129

£99

£407 9

Bob Green

The Swanage Belle Thursday 8th September 2022 A unique experience awaits those who join this day trip by steam train to Swanage. It uses the re-opened rail link from Wareham to the ‘Heritage’ Swanage Railway, which is available only to specially chartered trains. Swanage is a superb seaside destination where the railway station is situated close to the town centre.

The train will be hauled by Jubilee class locomotive No.45596 Bahamas.

We leave London Victoria station at around 08:45, hauled by our steam locomotive, and cross the river Thames at Battersea and at Barnes. We pass through Feltham and stop at Staines to pick up more passengers and then re-cross the river Thames. We join the South Western Main Line at Byfleet Junction and stop at Woking to pick up further passengers. At Winchfield, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. Our final stop to pick up passengers is at Basingstoke.

We leave the West of England Main Line at Worting Junction and head through Winchester and Southampton to Bournemouth. We pass through Poole, where there are spectacular views of Poole Harbour, and continue to Wareham.

We leave the Weymouth Line at Worgret Junction and take the re-opened link to Norden and the Swanage Railway. There are magnificent views of Corfe Castle as we head towards Swanage along this attractive Heritage Railway. There will be more than three hours for passengers to explore the pleasant seaside resort of Swanage, with its sandy beach and Victorian pier. Durlston Castle is in Durlston Country Park & Nature Reserve from where there are stupendous views along the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Park contains Anvil Point Lighthouse, the 40-ton stone Great Globe, fascinating artefacts from London, and an amazing diversity of wildlife. The Park is one mile from the town and can be reached by bus from the railway station or by walking via public footpaths.

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria Staines Woking Basingstoke Swanage

08:45 09:35 10:10 10:50 13:45

22:15 21:20 20:45 19:50 16:40

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Our train leaves Swanage for the return journey at around 16:40 and is diesel hauled to Southampton where steam locomotive No.45596 Bahamas takes over. We then take a different route from the outward journey, via Romsey to the outskirts of Salisbury where we join the West of England Main Line at Laverstock North Junction. We travel up the main line through Andover and then stop at Basingstoke, Woking, and Staines, to set down passengers.

The train is due to arrive in London Victoria soon after 22:15.

10

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358

Bob Green

The Coast to Coast Express Saturday 10th September 2022 The Coast to Coast Express is a day trip by special train travelling from Liverpool to Scarborough and back, thus linking the Irish Sea with the North Sea. The journey includes some spectacular scenery crossing the Pennines and the option of visiting either York or Scarborough. The train will be hauled by a steam locomotive from the Carnforth pool.

At around 06:20 the Coast to Coast Express will leave Liverpool Lime Street, hauled by a powerful steam locomotive. We travel via Edge Hill and Rainhill. Heading eastwards, we run via Chat Moss to Manchester Victoria, where we stop to pick up further passengers.

From Manchester we now run via Guide Bridge and Woodley, where we will pause to take on water. We stop at Romiley to pick up further passengers before running via New Mills, we now head for Chinley and join the former Midland Railway’s ‘Hope Valley’ line to Sheffield, our final pick up station. We pass through Hathersage, a charming village associated with Robin Hood and the Eyre family of Bronte fame. This route is spectacularly scenic and encompasses a number of long tunnels, including the passage through the 3½ mile-long Totley Tunnel, first opened in 1892, before arrival at Sheffield.

On leaving Sheffield we head northwards through Meadowhall, adjacent to the famous Meadowhall Shopping Centre, and onwards, avoiding Rotherham, towards Swinton. We make our way northwards through Church Fenton and follow the East Coast Main Line towards York. Passengers may leave the train at York or continue to Scarborough.

York is a fascinating city to visit at any time of the year, with a huge variety of interesting places to see. It has some of the best preserved historical buildings in Europe, the city walls, Minster, Shambles, Jorvik Centre and the superb National Railway Museum. Open-topped buses leave from York Railway Station for tours around the city.

For those passengers who choose to travel to Scarborough, we leave York and take the Scarborough line, immediately crossing the River Ouse, with 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 pass through Malton and Seamer before arriving in Scarborough.

Scarborough is a Victorian spa town and the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast.

It has been named as the most enterprising town in Britain and provides all the facilities you would expect at an established seaside resort. It has two beautiful bays, the North Bay and South Bay, providing safe sandy beaches, and a busy harbour with an active fish quay.

Our train leaves Scarborough, steam hauled, at around 15:50 and stops at York to pick up those passengers who chose to visit the city. We change motive power at Milford Loop and return to Liverpool, diesel hauled. We travel via Wakefield on the return from where passengers for Sheffield will return by service train.

Approximate Timings Outward Return Liverpool Lime Street Manchester Victoria Romiley * Sheffield** York Scarborough

06:20 07:20 08:50 09:50 11:50 13:10

20:50 20:00 21:05 19:40 16:50 15:50

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments. *Romiley passengers will return from Manchester by service train from Manchester Piccadilly to Romiley. ** Sheffield passengers will return from Wakefield

Kirkgate by service train

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 11

Bob Green

The Plymouth Flyer Sunday 18th September 2022 Join us on this special steam hauled train from Bristol Temple Meads to Plymouth.

We pick up at Bath, Bradford-upon-Avon, Westbury and Taunton and our route includes travelling along the internationally famous sea wall at Dawlish and along the edge of Dartmoor to Plymouth.

Our train leaves Bristol Temple Meads steam hauled by Princess Coronation Class locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland in the morning and stops to pick up further passengers at Bath Spa, Bradford on Avon, Westbury and Taunton. Almost immediately on departure from Taunton, our steam locomotive will be working hard as it tackles the climb to Whiteball Summit. We stop at Tiverton Parkway for our locomotive to take on water and then travel on to Exeter. We leave Exeter and follow the attractive Exe Estuary through Starcross towards Dawlish. We then travel along the famous sea wall between Dawlish and Teignmouth, an experience not to be missed.

After following the scenic river Teign estuary inland towards 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, where the steam operated Dart Valley Railway connects with the main line. After hurrying through the station, we then commence an equally difficult climb up Rattery Bank before descending along the edge of the Dartmoor National Park to Plymouth, our destination for the afternoon.

There will be ample time free time to explore the historic maritime city of Plymouth, which includes the Hoe, the ancient Barbican and seafront areas, and the National Marine Aquarium.

There are also many shops and restaurants that cater for all needs.

We leave Plymouth late afternoon and return to Bristol steam hauled over the Devon banks via our outward route, setting down at our earlier pick up stations.

12

Approximate Timings Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads Bath Bradford-upon-Avon Westbury Taunton Plymouth

08:15 08:37 09:00 09:20 11:09 13:35

21:32 21:08 20:49 20:30 18:40 16:51

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£299

£225

£936

First

£199

£155

£631

Standard

£129

£105

£416

Bob Green

The Cumbrian Coast Express Saturday 24th September 2022 Our journey will combine the scenic grandeur of the Cumbrian Fells with the exposed Cumbrian coastline that skirts the western edge of the Lake District.

We have a high-speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Carlisle, hauled by a blue Class 86 electric locomotive. We then enjoy a steam tour from Carlisle back to Carnforth via the Cumbria Coast. We return from Carnforth to London behind our blue electric locomotive.

We leave London Euston at around 07:00 with electric traction, and speed north along the West Coast Main Line (WCML). We stop to pick up passengers at Milton Keynes (where passengers from Watford Junction join by service train), Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton and Crewe. We continue north along the WCML to Preston, our final stop to pick up passengers.

We pass through Lancaster and along the edge of Morecambe Bay before we arrive at Carnforth. Leaving Carnforth, we pass the Brief Encounter café and commence the climb up to Grayrigg. We then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge to Tebay, before the ascent to Shap. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle.

There will be time available in Carlisle to explore this ancient city with its cathedral and castle, plus an assortment of shops and cafes.

We leave Carlisle steam hauled and our return journey to Carnforth takes the scenic coastal route around the Cumbrian Coast. After Maryport, we run along the shoreline through to the industrialised district of Workington, once a centre for the production of iron and steel.

There are spectacular cliff edge views as we journey southwards from Workington through to Whitehaven, with the Isle of Man visible on a clear day across the Irish Sea. We run very close to the shoreline for several miles prior to St Bees, famous for its priory and school. We pass Sellafield, where the British Nuclear Fuels plant dominates the landscape. At Ravenglass, we might catch a glimpse of the narrow gauge Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway which is normally steam operated.

At Millom, we head inland and follow the sweeping estuary through Foxfield and Kirkby in Furness. After Ulverston, we cross Leven Viaduct and curve along the edge of the bay through to Grange-over-Sands. There are more views across Morecambe Bay as we cross the lengthy Kent Viaduct at Arnside and approach Carnforth. Here, we shall say farewell to our gallant steam locomotive and our blue Class 86 electric locomotive will take over for a fast run to London Euston. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down our passengers.

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Euston Watford Junction* Milton Keynes Northampton** Rugby Nuneaton Crewe Preston Carlisle

07:10 06:40 08:00 07:40 08:25 08:45 09:45 10:30 11:50

22:40 22:15 21:30 21:30 21:00 20:35 19:35 18:30 13:25

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

*Passengers from Watford Junction will travel to Milton Keynes by service train to join our train. **Passengers from Northampton will travel to and from Rugby by service train to join our train.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 13

Bob Green

The Peaks Express Sunday 25th September 2022 Join this special steam hauled train for a grand circular tour through the spectacular scenery of the Peak District and the Hope Valley line. We also traverse some sections of track that do not see regular steam hauled passenger trains around Sheffield and the East Midlands. There will also be the option to alight at Chesterfield for an afternoon break.

Our train leaves Preston steam hauled by a locomotive from the Carnforth Pool. We head south up the West Coast Main Line to Wigan North Western, where we stop for more passengers. We then travel onwards via Bolton to Manchester Piccadilly and a further stop is made to pick up passengers. We now head for Stockport and run through Hazel Grove and head for Chinley via Disley Tunnel. At Chinley, we will be climbing hard as we join the former Midland Railway’s ‘Hope Valley’ line to Sheffield.

We pass through Hathersage, a charming village associated with Robin Hood and the Eyre family of Bronte fame. This route is spectacularly scenic and encompasses a number of long tunnels, including the passage through the 3½ mile-long Totley Tunnel, first opened in 1892, before arrival at Sheffield, where there is a brief stop.

On leaving Sheffield we head northwards to Nunnery Main Line Junction, where we then join the former Great Central line through to Beighton Junction. We now head south along the freight line past Barrow Hill and join the main line from Sheffield at Tapton Junction. We pause to set down at Chesterfield for those passengers who may wish to visit this interesting market town, particularly noted for its crooked spire church.

Our journey continues along the former Midland Railway’s main line to London St. Pancras as we pass through Alfreton and Ilkeston within the Erewash Valley. Train spotters will be delighted as we pass through Toton Yards with its locomotive depot and extensive sidings.

At Trent Junction, we leave the London line and head westwards through Long Eaton and head for Derby. Again, there is a large railway presence on both sides of the line on the approach to Derby, a major railway town with a works and research facilities.

Our circuitous route now takes us northwards away from Derby as we follow the Derwent Valley through Belper to Chesterfield where we pause to pick up passengers who alighted here earlier. After the steep climb at 1 in 100 up to Dronfield, we leave the Sheffield line at Dore and take the scenic Hope Valley route once again back to Manchester Piccadilly via Stockport.

We call to set down at Bolton, Wigan North Western and finally at our journeys end at Preston. A wonderful way to spend an autumn Sunday on this varied and unusual tour from the north west.

14

Approximate Timings Outward Return Preston Wigan North Western Manchester Piccadilly Chesterfield Derby

10:45 11:10 11:50 14:50 15:45

20:45 20:15 19:15 17:00 15:55

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358

Bob Green

The Cumbrian Mountain Express Saturday 8th October 2022 The Cumbrian Mountain Express provides a wonderful opportunity to get out and about with the added bonus of steam haulage over the Northern Fells, including the spectacular Settle & Carlisle Railway. 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 via the Settle and Carlisle line.

We leave London Euston at around 07:10 with electric traction, and speed north along the West Coast Main Line (WCML).

We stop to pick up passengers at Milton Keynes (where passengers from Watford Junction join by service train), Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton and Crewe. We continue north along the WCML to Preston, our final stop to pick up passengers.

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Euston Watford Junction* Milton Keynes Northampton Rugby Nuneaton Crewe Preston Carlisle

07:10 06:40 08:00 07:40 08:25 08:45 09:45 10:30 12:40

22:05 21:50 21:15 21:30 20:38 20:20 19:15 18:00 14:40

There are three classes available:

We continue through Lancaster to Carnforth, where we change motive power to a steam locomotive from the Carnforth pool. Leaving Carnforth, our steam locomotive will be working hard when we climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg. We then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge to Tebay, 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 used to assist trains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle. There will be around two hours in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient ‘Border’ city with its castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum, and shopping centre.

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

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 tall 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.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

Our journey continues through Hellifield and Clitheroe to Preston where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive. We pass though Wigan and Warrington en route to Crewe hauled by our blue class 86 electric locomotive with a fast run to London expected. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments. *Passengers from Watford Junction will travel to Milton Keynes by service train to join our train **Passengers from Northampton will travel to and from Rugby by service train to join our train.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 15

Bob Green

The Yorkshireman Saturday 15th October 2022 Join us for a main line steam run from west London’s Ealing Broadway station to York. 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 to pick up further passengers. Our train will be dieselhauled between London and Leicester where Jubilee class steam locomotive No.45596 Bahamas will be attached for the run to York.

Our train leaves London Ealing Broadway at around 06:25 hauled by a diesel locomotive, and travels around West London through Acton Wells and Neasden South Junction.

At Dudding Hill Junction we take the Brent curve and join the Midland Main Line (MML) near Cricklewood. We head north and stop at St. Albans, Luton, Bedford and Kettering, to pick up further passengers. We make our way towards Leicester where we will pick up passengers from Melton Mowbray. We will then pause to attached Bahamas in Humberstone Road sidings.

With Bahamas now attached, we are steam hauled away from Leicester along the MML and head through Loughborough and join the Erewash Valley Line at Trent Junction. Our final boarding point for passengers is at Alfreton. 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 magnificent 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 17:15 and returns to London Ealing Broadway steam hauled

by Bahamas. At Syston Junction north of Leicester, we leave the MML and head for Melton Mowbray. Our journey now takes us through Oakham in Rutland and onwards to the spectacular Harringworth Viaduct. Running via Corby, we rejoin the MML at Kettering and head for Ealing Broadway. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

16

Approximate Timings Outward Return Ealing Broadway St. Albans Luton Bedford Kettering Leicester Melton Mowbray Alfreton York

06:30 08:01 08:17 08:48 09:30 10:00 ------11:30 13:51

22:45 21:50 21:39 21:10 20:37 ------19:50 18:40 17:15

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358

Bob Green

The Blackpool Illuminations Saturday 5th November 2022 Why not join our special charter train on its day out to the Flyde Coast , with the added bonus of arriving in Blackpool behind a magnificently restored steam locomotive. With a late afternoon arrival at the resort, there will be ample time to see the spectacular Blackpool Illuminations before we return to Manchester.

Our journey begins at Manchester Victoria on Saturday morning as we are diesel hauled away from the metropolis, heading towards Bolton and Wigan where we will call to pick up further passengers. Our final pick will be at Preston before we continue northwards through Lancaster and past Morecambe Bay, to arrive at Carnforth where we will change our diesel locomotive for our iconic steam locomotive.

Approximate Timings Outward Return Manchester Victoria Bolton Wigan North Western Preston Blackpool North

10:00 10:30 11:00 11:20 15:20

22:00 21:25 20:55 20:30 20:00

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes a four-course lunch and evening snack served at your seat.

With our steam locomotive from the Carnforth pool attached, we head away from Carnforth and take the scenic Bentham line, with its testing, undulating gradients, through Wennington to Hellifield. Here, we will take on water for our next stage of the journey through the luscious Ribble Valley, once the haunt of the Pendle Witches, towards Clitheroe. Our steam locomotive will next have to face the long seven mile climb up Whalley Bank through to Whilpshire Tunnel before we reach Blackburn.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

At Preston, we will take the Blackpool line and make our way across the Fylde to Blackpool North for our afternoon and early evening break. Apart from its Iconic Tower, Blackpool offers many attractions to visitors, including three piers, the Pleasure Beach, and an extensive promenade served by its tramway system. The illuminations will be your final spectacle before we depart from Blackpool and make our way back to Preston, Wigan, Bolton and Manchester Victoria diesel hauled.

usually at a table for four.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 17

Bob Green

The Kentish Belle Armistice Day Friday 11th November 2022 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 Jubilee class steam locomotive No.45596 Bahamas is put through its paces hauling our train.

Our train, hauled by Bahamas, leaves London Victoria at 10:50 and travels through Dartford, Gravesend, Chatham and Gillingham. At Faversham, we take the Whitstable line which runs close to the Thames Estuary to Margate. Whitstable is famous for its native Oysters, still popular since Roman times. 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. Margate was also frequented

by Charles Dickens when he had numerous holidays in nearby Broadstairs.

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. Deep below the line is the route of the Channel Tunnel, 50km in length and opened in 1994. Dover was also the scene of the arriving troops in 1940 during Operation Dynamo, when 338,226 were evacuated from Dunkirk.

After Folkestone, where the surrounding area is dominated by the Channel Tunnel Shuttle Terminal, 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 through East Croydon to London Victoria.

18

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria Margate

10:50 13:00

16:20 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 tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£259

£169

£771

First

£165

£105

£488

Standard

£99

£70

£303

Bob Green

The Christmas Cheshireman Saturday 19th November 2022 Join us on this interesting trip by vintage steam train to the historic city of Chester, an unusual destination from Bristol. We travel via the Severn Tunnel, the South Wales Main Line, the scenic Welsh Marches route, and the Shrewsbury to Chester line. Our train will be steam hauled from Bristol to Chester by steam locomotive No.45596 Bahamas and from Chester to Bristol by steam locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland.

We leave Bristol Temple Meads at around 07:00 hauled by 45596 Bahamas. Our steam locomotive will be working hard as we climb to Filton Abbey Wood, where we stop to pick up more passengers. We then head westwards along the South Wales Main Line, passing through the Severn Tunnel into Wales, and continuing to the outskirts of Newport. Here we turn northwards, crossing the river Usk, and join the Welsh Marches route.

We stop at Cwmbran and Abergavenny for more passengers to join the train before we begin the challenging climb of the Llanvihangel bank. Our steam locomotive will be in full cry all the way to the summit! We pass many sites where there were once railway stations along this route and the longest section without a station today is between Abergavenny and Hereford, where we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. There is some truly beautiful scenery as we travel through Herefordshire and into Shropshire, passing towns such as Leominster, Ludlow, Craven Arms and Church Stretton.

We continue to Shrewsbury, where the ‘listed’ Severn Bridge Junction Signal Box is the largest remaining mechanical signal box in the world. We take the Chester Line from Shrewsbury and stop at Chirk for our steam locomotive to take on water. We pass through Ruabon and Wrexham before arriving at our destination, the beautiful Roman City of Chester. There will be over three hours to explore the walled city that contains a number of medieval buildings and is famous for its 14th Century ‘Rows’, the first floor level galleried walkways connecting shops and cafes. Other places of interest include the Castle, the Cathedral, and the picturesque racecourse, located between the city walls and the river Dee.

Approximate Timings Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads Filton Abbey Wood Cwmbran Abergavenny Chester

07:00 07:15 08:30 09:00 13:00

22:20 22:00 20:50 20:30 16:25

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Whilst we have been exploring the city, our second steam locomotive for the day will arrive at Chester ready for the return journey. Our train leaves Chester at around 16:25, steam hauled by 46233 Duchess of Sutherland returning by the same route and stopping 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.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£309

£235

£971

First

£209

£165

£666

Standard

£119

£100

£388 19

Bob Green

The Cardiff Christmas Express Tuesday 22nd November 2022 Join us on this scenic rail tour by steam train through the Thames Valley, the beautiful Cotswold Hills and along the river Severn, hauled by Princess Coronation class steam locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland.

Our destinations will be the cathedral city of Gloucester, and Cardiff, the vibrant Capital of Wales. We should experience some fast running along the ex-GWR main line and some challenging climbs through the Cotswolds.

Our steam hauled train leaves London Victoria in the morning and we make our way via Clapham Junction to Staines, our first call for more passengers. We take the Reading line and make further calls at Ascot and Reading. Following the Thames Valley, we head for Didcot, our final pick up station. Our journey continues through the Vale of White Horse to Swindon, where we take the Golden Valley line through Kemble and Duchess of Sutherland then tackles the steep climb to Sapperton Tunnel.

On arrival at Gloucester, passengers have the choice of alighting here to visit the city with its centrepiece the 14th century cathedral, alongside the many shops and other attractions that the city has to offer. Our steam hauled train will call at Gloucester on the return to pick up passengers who choose to spend the afternoon here.

Our journey will continue from Gloucester towards Cardiff along the banks of the river Severn through Lydney and Chepstow as we head for Wales via Newport. The Cardiff Christmas Market is located in the heart of the city along the pedestrianised streets of the main shopping area. Enjoy the atmosphere of the market with its craft stalls, food and drink outlets and fairy lights to add to the festive feel.

We will return from Cardiff steam hauled by Duchess of Sutherland, and will pick up at Gloucester before returning via the Golden Valley route once again to Didcot, Reading, Ascot, Staines and terminating in London Victoria, ending what promises to be a varied and enjoyable day out.

20

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria Staines Ascot Reading Didcot Parkway Gloucester Cardiff

07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 09:30 12:00 13:20

22:45 21:50 21:15 20:45 20:10 18:40 16:40

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358

Bob Green

The Christmas Sussex Belle Thursday 24th November 2022 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. It will be steam hauled by a Black 5 steam locomotive. This is a wonderful way to enjoy a leisurely lunch whilst appreciating the scenic views from your carriage window.

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria Eastbourne Hastings

10:50 13:00 15:00

17:40 14:30 15:10

There are three classes available: Our day out begins when our train leaves London Victoria station at around 10:50, hauled by a Black 5 steam locomotive. 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 southeastwards 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 will be serviced and there will be time to visit this popular South Coast seaside 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.

Our train reverses direction of travel at Hastings and leaves with the steam locomotive 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 17:40.

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 tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£259

£169

£771

First

£165

£105

£488

Standard

£105

£75

£323 21

Bob Green

The York Yuletide Express Saturday 26th November 2022 Join us for a trip from London’s Ealing Broadway to York and an opportunity to experience the Festive Season’s activities. We travel north via the Midland Main Line stopping at stations to pick up further passengers. Our train will be dieselhauled between London and Leicester where Princess Coronation class steam locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland will be attached for the run to York.

Our train leaves London Ealing Broadway at around 06:25 hauled by a diesel locomotive, and travels around West London through Acton Wells and Neasden South Junction.

At Dudding Hill Junction we take the Brent curve and join the Midland Main Line (MML) near Cricklewood. We head north and stop at St. Albans, Luton, Bedford and Kettering, to pick up further passengers. We make our way towards Leicester where we pick up passengers further passengers. We will then pause to attached Duchess of Sutherland in Humberstone Road sidings.

With Bahamas now attached, we are steam hauled away from Leicester along the MML and head through Loughborough and join the Erewash Valley Line at Trent Junction. Our final boarding point for passengers is at Alfreton. 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 magnificent Minster 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 15:40 and returns to London Ealing Broadway steam hauled by Duchess of Sutherland. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down our 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.

22

Approximate Timings Outward Return Ealing Broadway St. Albans Luton Bedford Kettering Leicester Alfreton York

06:35 07:32 07:51 08:15 08:56 09:25 10:56 12:58

23:45 22:45 22:25 22:00 21:00 20:00 18:20 15:40

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358

Steve Precious

The Worcester Christmas Fayre Thursday 1st December 2022 Join us on this scenic rail tour by steam train through the beautiful Cotswold Hills.

Our destination is the cathedral city of Worcester, located on the banks of the river Severn and internationally famous as the home of Worcestershire Sauce.

We travel outward via Staines and then from Reading via the Great Western Main Line to Didcot and Swindon. We then run via the Golden Valley line through Kemble and Stroud, which will include the steep climb up to Sapperton tunnel.

Our steam train leaves London Victoria at around 07.15 hauled by a Black 5 steam locomotive and head through the west London suburbs via Hounslow towards Staines, where we pause to pick up passengers. We make our way via Ascot to Reading and via the Great Western Main Line towards Didcot to pick up more passengers.

We follow the GWR main line through the Vale of White House to Swindon where we branch off to take the Golden Valley route towards Cheltenham. After Kemble, the line starts to climb steeply towards the summit at Sapperton Tunnel. The pleasant Golden Valley scenery, with its steep sided leafy valley walls, runs down the gradient through to Stroud. At Standish Junction we join the Midland Railway’s Bristol to Birmingham line and head for Cheltenham Spa. Here, we will call to set down passengers who may wish to visit this attractive Regency spa town, noted for its Pump Rooms, many museums and the nearby famous racecourse.

We continue northwards through to Worcester Shrub Hill station, where there will be time to visit the Christmas Fayre in the city centre. With over 200 stalls, the Fayre will have a Victorian theme, with traders in period costume. Apart from the locally made produce and craft, there will be the traditional food markets where you can sample home made cooking, along with the many bars and food stalls. Street entertainment will also feature throughout the day, which will complement the historic nature of the city of Worcester, with the Cathedral as its centre point.

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria Staines Reading Didcot Worcester Shrub Hill

07:45 08:40 10:00 10:20 13:15

21:35 20:45 19:26 19:00 16:30

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Our steam train leaves Worcester Shrub Hill in the late afternoon and returns by the same route through Cheltenham, by-pass Gloucester, and then join the Golden Valley route at Standish Junction. We pass through Stroud and climb up through the picturesque Stroud Valley to Sapperton Tunnel where the gradients increase dramatically to 1 in 74 at Chalford. We continue through Kemble and on to Swindon where we join the ex-Great Western Main Line.

We call at Didcot, Reading and Staines to set down passengers, before arriving at London Victoria station.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 23

Bob Green

The Lindum Fayre Saturday 3rd December 2022 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 shall take you there in style, in the comfort of a special steam hauled train. 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), hauled by 46233 Duchess of Sutherland.

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.

Approaching Lincoln, we notice that its spectacular Cathedral dominates the city. 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 280 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.

All too soon it will be time to return to the station for our train back to London. We shall again be steam hauled by Duchess of Sutherland and 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 ‘Mallard’ achieved 126 miles per hour that still stands as the world speed record for steam. We stop to set down passengers at the same stations as on the outward journey and arrive in King’s Cross Station at around 20:40.

Approximate Timings Outward Return London King’s Cross Potters Bar Stevenage Peterborough Lincoln

09:00 09:30 10:00 11:20 12:45

20:40 20:15 19:50 18:30 17:10

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

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 making your booking.

24

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358

Bob Green

The York Yuletide Express Saturday 3rd December 2022 This exciting seasonal trip by steam train offers an opportunity for passengers from the Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Sheffield areas to visit the popular city of York at Christmas time. The route cuts across the rugged Pennine terrain of the scenic Hope Valley line to York, and will be steam hauled throughout by a lovingly restored steam locomotive.

Our train leaves Liverpool Lime Street, hauled by our allocated steam locomotive from the Carnforth based pool. We follow the route of the historic 1830 Liverpool and Manchester Railway across Chat Moss to Manchester Victoria, where we pause to pick up passengers.

Leaving Manchester, we climb the formidable 1 in 47 gradient of Miles Platting Bank and make our way towards Denton, where we will pause to water our steam locomotive. We next stop will be at Stockport to pick up passengers before heading towards Chinley and the Hope Valley line to Sheffield.

We join the former Midland Railway line across the Peak District and pass through Cowburn Tunnel into the beautiful Vale of Edale. After Hathersage, we pass through the 3½-mile long Totley Tunnel and arrive at Sheffield, our final pick up station for passengers. We then travel northwards through Swinton and Moorthorpe to York, our destination for the afternoon.

There will be plenty of time for passengers to enjoy the city and all it has to offer. York has some major tourist attractions including the National Railway Museum, the largest museum of its type in Britain; the Castle; the Shambles; the splendid Gothic York Minster, one of the largest of its kind in northern Europe; and the city walls. There are a number of other interesting museums, quaint alleyways, and a good variety of shops.

Our late afternoon departure from York will be steam hauled back to Liverpool Lime Street.

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

Approximate Timings Outward Return Liverpool Lime Street Manchester Victoria Stockport Sheffield York

06:45 08:00 08:45 10:00 12:40

21:50 19:45 19:00 18:00 16:00

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner silver served at your seat. (not available from Sheffield) First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

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 making your booking.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 25

Bob Green

The Sherborne Christmas Carol Tuesday 6th December 2022 This day trip by steam train provides a unique opportunity to visit either the picturesque market town of Sherborne in Dorset at Christmas time, or the Yeovil Railway Centre. The special train will be hauled by a Black 5 steam locomotive.

It starts from London Victoria Station and picks up more passengers at Staines, Woking and Basingstoke. Take a break prior to Christmas and treat yourself to a memorable day out with a difference.

Our train leaves London Victoria Station at around 08:45 behind our splendidly restored steam locomotive. We pass through Clapham Junction, cross the Thames at Barnes Bridge, and continue to a stop at Staines to pick up more passengers. We join the South Western Main Line (SWML) at Byfleet Junction, and then stop for further passengers at Woking and Basingstoke. We leave the SWML at Worting Junction and take the West of England Main Line to Andover and Salisbury.

At Wilton Junction the line becomes single track. We cross the edge of Salisbury Plain and pass through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Tisbury and Gillingham in Dorset.

We cross Gillingham Viaduct and pass through Buckhorn Weston Tunnel before Templecombe, where once the iconic Somerset & Dorset Railway passed beneath our line.

The main destination for our train is Sherborne, one of the most beautiful towns in England.

The historic market town, where King Alfred was educated, will be decorated for Christmas.

It has much to offer visitors with its abundance of medieval buildings, superb ancient Abbey, picturesque Alms house, the ruins of a 12th-century fortified palace, and the 16th-century mansion known as Sherborne Castle. It has a delightful shopping centre with a large choice of handcrafted goods and elegant fashions and has become an important town in the region for Art and Antique Dealers. Whilst at Sherborne, why not join in the traditional Christmas Carol Service specially arranged for our tour and held in the splendid surroundings of the Abbey.

Passengers have the choice of alighting at Sherborne or continuing with the train to Yeovil Junction where the steam locomotive will be turned and serviced at Yeovil Railway Centre.

Here there is excellent viewing of these operations, which use one of the few remaining turntables in the country. There is also a variety of rolling stock and an exhibition of railway artefacts and pictures in the Engine Shed. A shop on the platform provides a large range of railway related goods and souvenirs.

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria Staines Woking Basingstoke Sherborne Yeovil Junction

08:45 09:35 10:05 10:55 13:15 13:25

22:30 21:10 20:15 19:30 16:50 16:30

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Our train leaves Yeovil Junction, hauled by our steam locomotive, and stops at Sherborne to pick up those passengers who chose to alight there. It stops at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

26

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358

Bob Green

The Bath & Bristol Christmas Market Saturday 10th December 2022 What better way to begin the Christmas season than with a trip by steam train on the ‘Bath & Bristol Christmas Market’? 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 London Victoria early in the morning, steam hauled by Princess Coronation Class locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland. Running via Clapham Junction, we call at Staines and Woking, before our final pick up is made at Basingstoke. From Basingstoke, we can expect a fast run along the former London & South Western Railway’s route via Andover to the cathedral city of Salisbury.

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 through Bradford on Avon.

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 essentially ‘British’ Christmas Market is centrally located and has over 170 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 all the major retail outlets in the Broadmead and Cabot Circus shopping centres.

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria Staines Woking Basingstoke Bath Bristol

08:45 09:35 10:05 10:55 12:55 13:15

22:15 21:15 20:30 19:20 16:55 16:35

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Our steam locomotive, Duchess of Sutherland, will be serviced at Bristol before we return to Bath and London Victoria steam hauled. We stop to pick up those parcel-laden passengers who opted to visit the Christmas Market in Bath! We return by the route of our outward journey, stopping at the same stations for passengers to alight.

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 making your booking.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 27

Bob Green

The Edinburgh Christmas Market Saturday 10th December 2022 This special steam hauled train using a Carnforth pool locomotive will run at speed both ways from York to Edinburgh and return. There will be time in Edinburgh to visit the sights, including the extensive Christmas Market located in Princes Street Gardens, before we return south.

Our steam hauled journey will commence at the historic city of York, with its long association with railways, including the location of the National Railway Museum. Heading north away from York, we will travel down the East Coast main line through to Northallerton, where our steam locomotive will build up speed to its maximum on the straight alignment of the tracks.

We will pause at Durham momentarily to pick up further passengers, before heading towards Tyneside and over the river Tyne to Newcastle, our final pick up point.

Leaving Newcastle, we head northwards and pass through Morpeth, with our speed running at the maximum along this former LNER racetrack, the preserve of the A4 Pacifics up to their withdrawal in the mid 1960s. With coastal views and quaint villages along the way, we make our way through Northumberland, with views of Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne Island simmering in the distance. Continuing towards Berwick on Tweed, we cross the spectacular 28-arch Royal Border Bridge, designed by Robert Stephenson. Just after Berwick, we cross the border and enter Scotland. Our locomotive will now be getting steam up ready for the long climb up to Grantshouse, a stiff climb at gradients of 1 in 190/200 and a test of the stamina of locomotives heading towards Edinburgh.

We pass through the Scottish Borders, with more costal views along the way before we reach Edinburgh, the Capital of Scotland. Time will be available here for passengers to visit the city and its Christmas market, located in Princes Street Gardens, whilst our locomotive is serviced for the return journey back to York. Apart from its many shops and restaurants along Princes Street, there are many sights to see and visit, including the Palace of Holyrood, the Castle on the Royal Mile, Galleries and Museums and Princes Street Gardens.

Approximate Timings Outward Return York Durham Newcastle Edinburgh

06:00 07:35 08:00 12:30

21:30 20:00 19:30 15:40

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

We will return south with our steam locomotive and follow our outward route. Highlight of the journey back to Newcastle will be the southbound climb to Grantshouse, graded at 1 in 96 for over four miles. In no time at all, we will be back at Newcastle to set down passengers, followed by Durham and finally York.

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 making your booking.

28

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358

Bob Green

The Worcester Christmas Express Wednesday 14th December 2022 Why not join us for a classic day out by steam train that combines exciting main line running, varied landscapes, and the special atmosphere of Worcester at Christmas time? The Worcester Christmas Express will be steam hauled from Cambridge to Worcester and from Worcester as far as Leicester on the return by Princess Coronation Class locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland.

Our day out begins in the morning when we leave Cambridge Station, steam hauled. We stop to pick up more passengers at Ely and March, before continuing to Peterborough, our final pick up point.

We now follow the scenic cross country line through Stamford, a town of outstanding architectural and historic interest that is of national importance. The town has over 600 listed buildings, more than half of the total for the County of Lincolnshire. We continue westwards and pass Rutland Water towards Oakham, the small county town of Rutland. Entering Leicestershire, we run through Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies, and head for Leicester. We follow the main line to London St Pancras for a while as far as Wigston Junction, where we branch off on the Nuneaton and Birmingham line.

Crossing the West Coast main line, we now head towards Birmingham, although we will bypass the city by means of the Grand Junction line from Stetchford Junction to Perry Barr. We will follow the Handsworth Loop line through to Soho East Junction, where we will join the Stour Valley line briefly to Galton Junction. Here we join the ‘Jewellery Line’ and head through the heart of the Black Country for Stourbridge Junction and Kidderminster, where there are glimpses of the Severn Valley Railway. We soon pass through the spa town of Droitwich as we approach Worcester, where there will be time to visit the attractions in the city centre.

After servicing and turning our steam locomotive, we will make our way back to our earlier calling points to set down passengers. We will be diesel hauled from Leicester on the return leg back to Cambridge.

Approximate Timings Outward Return Cambridge Ely March Peterborough Worcester

08:00 08:30 09:00 09:25 13:15

22:00 21:35 21:10 20:45 16:30

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 29

Bob Green

The York Yuletide Express Saturday 17th December 2022 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 by Princess Coronation class steam locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland.

York is the second most visited city in England with varied attractions to suit all tastes.

Our day out begins at around 08:00 when we leave Norwich Station, hauled by 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, and cross the Trowse swing bridge over the River Wensum. We stop to pick up more passengers at Thetford. 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.

We head northwards on the East Coast Main Line from Peterborough and commence the climb to Stoke Summit. This was the location of the famous record breaking run by Mallard, an A4 class Pacific, when it achieved a staggering 126 mph on the 3rd July 1938 when travelling in the opposite direction. We pass through Grantham, Newark and Retford with our steam locomotive cruising along at speeds just a little less than Mallard’s!

We stop at Babworth Loop 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.

Approximate Timings Outward Return Norwich Thetford March Peterborough York

08:00 08:45 10:15 10:40 13:20

23:10 22:20 21:20 21:00 16:35

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

We leave York at around 16:35 for the return journey, diesel hauled this time stopping at Peterborough, March, Thetford 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 and popular route.

30

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£299

£215

£921

First

£199

£145

£616

Standard

£129

£99

£407

Bob Green

The Edinburgh Christmas Market Wednesday 21st December 2022 This special steam hauled train using Princess Coronation Class locomotive No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland will run at speed both ways from York to Edinburgh and return. There will be time in Edinbugh to visit the sights, including the extensive Christmas Market located in Princes Street Gardens, before we return south.

Our steam hauled journey will commence at the historic city of York, with its long association with railways, including the location of the National Railway Museum. Heading north away from York, we will travel down the East Coast main line through to Northallerton, where Duchess of Sutherland will build up speed to its maximum on the straight alignment of the tracks. We will pause at Durham momentarily to pick up further passengers, before heading towards Tyneside and over the river Tyne to Newcastle, our final pick up point.

Leaving Newcastle, we head northwards and pass through Morpeth, with our speed running at the maximum along this former LNER racetrack, the preserve of the A4 Pacifics up to their withdrawal in the mid 1960s. With coastal views and quaint villages along the way, we make our way through Northumberland, with views of Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne Island simmering in the distance. Continuing towards Berwick on Tweed, we cross the spectacular 28-arch Royal Border Bridge, designed by Robert Stephenson. Just after Berwick, we cross the border and enter Scotland. Our locomotive will now be getting steam up ready for the long climb up to Grantshouse, a stiff climb at gradients of 1 in 190/200 and a test of the stamina of locomotives heading towards Edinburgh.

We pass through the Scottish Borders, with more costal views along the way before we reach Edinburgh, the Capital of Scotland. Time will be available here for passengers to visit the city and its Christmas market, located in Princes Street Gardens, whilst our locomotive is serviced for the return journey back to York. Apart from its many shops and restaurants along Princes Street, there are many sights to see and visit, including the Palace of Holyrood, the Castle on the Royal Mile, Galleries and Museums and Princes Street Gardens.

Approximate Timings Outward Return York Durham Newcastle Edinburgh

06:00 07:35 08:00 12:30

21:30 20:00 19:30 15:40

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

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat

usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

We will return south with Duchess of Sutherland and follow our outward route. Highlight of the jorney back to Newcastle will be the southbound climb to Grantshouse, graded at 1 in 96 for over four miles. In no time at all, we will be back at Newcastle to set down passengers, followed by Durham and finally York.

Santa and his Elves will be joining us 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 making your booking.

Fares

Adult

Junior

Family

Premier

£285

£200

£870

First

£185

£130

£565

Standard

£115

£85

£358 31

UK Day Trip Information Travelling by Steam Train Our UK Day Trips 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 UK Day Trips, 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.

Covid-19 With regards to Covid-19 we will always adhere to Government requirements specific at the time of travel, currently at the time of going to print social distancing is not required on board so this means that you can currently expect to share your table with other passengers if your booking is for 3 or less passengers per table. Should the situation change we will observe any requirements issued by the UK Government. We request, for the safety of all, that passengers keep movement around the train to a minimum and we currently require you to wear a face covering throughout your time on board, unless exempt, except for when eating or drinking. Any passenger who is feeling unwell or has Covid-19 symptoms immediately prior to travel with ourselves is requested NOT to travel. If you have been contacted by Track and Trace and told to self- isolate then please contact us with regards to your booking. Whilst hand sanitiser will be available on board we strongly recommend that passengers also bring their own supply with them to use regularly whilst on board. As has always been the case regular hand washing/sanitising is advised throughout the journey.

Covid-19 cancellations – if any tour is cancelled by ourselves due to Covid-19 restrictions being in place at the time of travel then all passengers would be offered to transfer their bookings to an alternative date, or if they prefer, would be entitled to a refund of monies paid to us. If a passenger needs to cancel their participation on a tour which is scheduled to go ahead then provided they are able to give a minimum of one week’s notice we would hold their funds in credit for 6 months to enable them to place a new booking. No refund will be offered against cancellations on tours which are scheduled to proceed.

Premier Dining Class Premier Dining Class on our trains is a silver served dining experience providing you with a full meals service at your table, whilst you relax in spacious comfortable seating.

The coaches used are British Rail Mark 1 First Open coaches.* The Premier Dining service usually includes a traditional full English breakfast soon after you board the train, and a four course meal on the return journey. Onboard chefs prepare fresh food for all of the meals. We are able to offer vegetarian options but cannot meet other dietary requests.

A fully licensed bar service is always available, we kindly ask passengers to not consume their own alcoholic drinks. A corkage fee of £10 per person will apply for alcohol not purchased on board. 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 £30.00† per person, subject to availability. Premier Dining Class is available up to and including any pick up station before 10:30. *On some occasions a Pullman coach may be used. †Prices shown as per individual day trip page.

First Class First Class seats accommodation on our trains is provided in British Rail Mark 1 First Open coaches* and offers tables for four or for two in spacious comfortable seating.

Tables for two, where both passengers have window seats, can be guaranteed for an additional charge of £30.00† per person, subject to availability. First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by scone with butter and jam. A fully licensed bar service is always available, we kindly ask passengers to not consume their own alcoholic drinks. A corkage fee of £10 per person will apply for alcohol not purchased on board. *On some occasions a Pullman coach may be used. †Prices shown as per individual day trip page.

Standard Class Standard Class seats are accommodated in a mid 1960’s tourist standard open coach.

These are usually arranged in groups of four around a table. In some cases you may be seated in second corridor coach which is a compartment coach seating six passengers per compartment without 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.

32

Passengers can also book by telephone during office hours on 01553 661 500.

Office hours are Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00. We accept most major credit and debit cards. There are no charges for paying with a credit card. When posting a booking form please enclose the full payment by cheque 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. Organisers arranging group travel for ten or more persons on a UK Day Trip are invited to contact the office, details above, regarding discounts where a single booking is to be made.

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 future trip with us.

Please visit our online shop or contact the office to purchase these.

Junior tickets Junior children includes ages 15 and under (children 3yrs and under may travel on your lap but if they do require a seat then a junior ticket price applies).

Family tickets 2 adults and 2 Juniors (aged 15 and under).

Standard conditions of booking and travel Your booking is taken as constituting acceptance of these conditions. No refund or substitutions are available, other than due to cancellation by the organisers, which can happen on occasions. We will not be liable for any consequential loss you may suffer or pay any compensation to you.

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. There may be occasional re-scheduling or re-routing of a train.

Whilst every effort will be made to ensure the use of the advertised steam locomotive the organisers reserve the right to substitute a different steam locomotive on occasions should it be required, for operational reasons, which would have to be accepted, no refunds will be offered for changes to advertised locomotives. 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.

All timings shown in the brochure are approximate and subject to change.

In adverse conditions the train operating company, West Coast Railways, may feel the need to run with a diesel locomotive attached to the rear as a precaution.

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. In the event of a failure of the scheduled steam locomotive prior to departure of the trip, every best effort will be made to find a suitable steam locomotive as a replacement. However, if this is not possible and if there is insufficient time available to cancel or postpone the trip, then a diesel may be used as substitute. In such circumstances, outside of our control, acceptance of these terms signifies your acceptance of such a change and no refund will be due.

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.

Due to the age and construction of our trains it is not possible to board whilst seated in a wheelchair, however we will be pleased to convey passengers of limited mobility whenever possible, provided they can step onto the train from the platform and move to their reserved seats with the help of an able-bodied carer, the wheelchair then being folded by you and stored at the end of the carriage. We are unable to convey mobility scooters or non-folding wheelchairs due to the age and design of the trains used.

We are limited to only being able to provide a vegetarian dietary alternative, all other diet request are not available.

We recommend that during the winter months you travel wearing suitable layered clothing as the carriages on occasion can be cold. Although they are heated, unforeseen complications along with the nature of travelling by steam in vintage carriages can result in cooler conditions for passengers than modern trains.

UK Day Trip Booking Form Day Trip:.............................................................................................................................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

£

£

First Class Adult

£

£

First Class Junior

£

£

First Class Family

£

£

Table for two supplement*

£30 per person

£

Standard Class Adult

£

£

Standard Class Junior

£

£

Standard Class Family

£

£

*Table for two supplement 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 ■ Please charge my Visa debit card/Maestro/Electron card for the full balance Card Number:.............................................................................................................................. Security Number (CVC):.............................

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 opposite and on our website.

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

Visit our website for online booking – railwaytouring.net THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY, THE OLD STABLES, ESTUARY ROAD, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK, PE30 2HL Phone: 01553 661 500 • Fax: 01553 661 800 • E-mail: enquiries@railwaytouring.co.uk • Website: www.railwaytouring.net 33

Meet the Team

Hollie Kimber

Operations Manager

Rachel Jackson

Allison Sanders

Operations Manager

Operations Manager

Kelly Osborne

Managing Director

Julia Barrett

Annabelle Benjamin

Office Assistant

Operations Assistant

Jade Mott

Office Assistant

Our friendly team are available to answer any questions and to help you make a booking – please feel free to contact us on 01553 661 500 Monday to Friday 9am–5pm or by email to enquiries@railwaytouring.co.uk

Online Shopping Visit our online shop to purchase themed Railway Touring Company merchandise.

Currently Bookmarks, Greeting Cards and Postcards. We will be adding to our range as new products become available. www.railwaytouring.net/shop/

34

Online Brochures

Please visit our website www.railwaytouring.co.uk to view and download our latest UK Day Trips, UK and European Holiday Brochures for 2022.

25 EST. 1997

35

The Railway Touring Company The Old Stables, Estuary Road, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 2HL Phone: 01553 661 500 E-mail: enquiries@railwaytouring.co.uk – Web: www.railwaytouring.net Design and Artwork - LucidSynergy Ltd - www.lucidsynergy.com