Railtours
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Big Pacifics dominate RTC autumn/winter tours
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THE Railway Touring Company’s regular summer operations are over for another year, but there is a tempting selection of railtours for the autumn and winter months. October 12 sees one of its regular ‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’ trips from Euston to Carlisle, utilising electric No. 86259 Les Ross as far as Carnforth, where one of the West…
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Tornado set for ‘Great Britain’ debut
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CONTINUING co-operation between West Coast Railways and The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust means Peppercorn ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado will make its debut on the ‘Great Britain’ landcruise train in 2020. The 13th edition of the Railway Touring Company’s grand tour of England, Scotland and Wales will roll out of London King’s Cross behind the ‘A1’ on…
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Good craic on Steam Dreams’ ‘Emerald Isle’ luxury charter
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BRITISH railtour operator Steam Dreams returned to Ireland during September with its multi-day ‘Emerald Isle Craic Express’. The charter was operated in conjunction with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI). The RPSI’s Dublin-based Cravens set was given the luxury treatment to bring it up to Pullman standards, including carpets, curtains, table lamps and antimacassars.…
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From the archive: A meeting of minds
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The renaming of Flying Scotsman twice, the recreation of a complete early 1950s KESR mixed train and the clearing and operation of the ‘Last Severn & Wye byway’ back to Parkend, amongst others.
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‘Duchess’ demolishes Devon banks record
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STANIER Pacific No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland put in a storming performance on August 4’s ‘Royal Duchy’, using its immense power to set a new record time for steam on the Plymouth to Exeter leg. The 50 miles, including steep climbs to Hemerdon and Dainton and numerous curves and speed restrictions, were reeled off in just…
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Branch Line Society and Vintage Trains team up for West Midlands ‘Balti bash’
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VINTAGE Trains and the Branch Line Society are offering an opportunity to enjoy the tasty combination of rare track, Class 20s and a curry – all on the same train! Starting from Solihull, the September 22 tour will run to Shrewsbury via Warwick, Sutton Park and the Ironbridge branch. After a break in Shrewsbury, the…
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Three Type 3s – to the sea!
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THREE Class 37s at the head of a heavy freight train used to be a regular sight in South Wales and around Glasgow in BR days, but such a trio has always been a rare event on passenger trains. On August 11, the Branch Line Society completed its two-day ‘Type 3 to the Sea’ trip…
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Stanier pair celebrate Conwy Valley reopening
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NETWORK Rail and Transport for Wales Rail Services hosted a special main line steam trip on August 3 to celebrate the reopening of the Conwy Valley line in North Wales. ‘The Conwy Quest’, double-headed by West Coast Railways’ Stanier ‘8F’ No. 48151 and ‘Jubilee’ No. 45690 Leander, ran from Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog. At Llandudno Junction there…
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UK Railtours unveils Christmas charter line up
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Although summer is currently in full swing, charter operators have already turned their thoughts to the end of the year. UK Railtours is no exception and has announced a trio of days out by train visiting Christmas markets in Manchester, Lincoln and Beverley during December. On December 7, UKR will run a train from London…
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Yorkshire BLS tour raises £15k for charity
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THE Branch Line Society and West Coast Railways operated the ‘Luca Pezzulo Express’ on July 20, visiting rare freight lines around Yorkshire. Highlights included a rare trip over the remnants of the Woodhead Route, running beyond the Network Rail boundary into Liberty Steel’s Stocksbridge Steelworks, near Sheffield, and the former Tinsley Yard. The train also…
