The Railway Touring Company - UK Day Trips and Tours 2015

The Railway Touring Co.UK Day Trips and Tours 2015

Welcome

We are pleased to present our UK Day Trips and Tours brochure covering 2015. Whilst popular trips and tours are repeated we have some innovative new outings by steam train including those celebrating anniversaries. Browse what is on offer, make bookings of your choice, and invite your family and friends to share in the steam train experience. Nigel Dobbing.

Travelling by Steam TrainOur Day Trips and Tours almost exclusively make use of specially chartered trains hauled by steam locomotives. The trains offer a choice of types of seating to suit your particular requirements. Each passenger is allocated their own reserved seat ensuring that travel on these special trains is a relaxing experience providing the perfect escape from all the hustle and bustle of modern day life. All of the seats on our trains line up with the carriage windows, unlike many modern trains, and thus provide the maximum viewing area to add to the enjoyment of your journey. In addition to our UK Day Trips and Tours, the Railway Touring Company has a programme of tours using steam hauled charter trains in many other countries of the world. These tours can be for a few days duration or last for up to two weeks, with overnight accommodation provided in good quality hotels. Please visit our website www.railwaytouring.net for further details and to request an overseas brochure; or contact us by telephone if you prefer.

Premier Dining ClassPremier Dining Class on our trains is a luxury experience providing a full meals service at tables with spacious comfortable seating. This service usually includes a traditional full English breakfast soon after you board the train, and a four course meal on the return journey. A light lunch may also be included on some trips. Onboard chefs prepare fresh food for all of the meals and it is professionally silver served to your table. Any special dietary requirements can be accommodated providing we are notified in advance. A fully licensed bar service is always available. The dress code is smart casual, as we like our passengers to be relaxed and travel in comfort. Tables are available for two or four people 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 £22.00 per person, subject to availability. Premier Dining Class is available up to and including any pick up station before 10:30.

First ClassFirst Class accommodation on our trains is provided at tables for two or four people in deep cushioned armchair seats with plenty of room. Tables for two, where both passengers have window seats, can be guaranteed for an additional charge of £22.00 per person, subject to availability. First class usually includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.

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

Front cover image: Bob Green

Booking ArrangementsPassengers can book their tickets online by visiting our website www.railwaytouring.net or by downloading a booking form which can be printed and sent by post to:- The Railway Touring Company, 14A Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JN. A completed booking form can also be sent to us by fax on 01553 661 800. Passengers can also book by telephone during office hours on 01553 661 500. Office hours are Monday to Friday: 09:00 to 17:00 and Saturday: 09:00 to 16:00. We accept most major credit and debit cards, payments by credit card will be subject to a 2.1% charge. When posting a booking form please enclose the full payment by cheque or postal order made payable to The Railway Touring Company, and, quoting your name, address, telephone number, choice of train, the number of seats you require, class and joining station. We regret that seats cannot be reserved unless full payment is received. 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 TicketsBookings 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 VouchersWe are pleased to offer gift vouchers which can be used against any future trip with us. Please contact the office to purchase these.

Junior ticketsJunior 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 tickets2 adults and 2 Juniors (aged 15 and under).

Standard Conditions of Booking and TravelEvery effort will be made to ensure that the locomotive, rolling stock, route and timings which are hired in from third parties, will run as advertised. However, the organisers reserve the right to alter these details at any time and shall not incur any liability to any person who has bought, or contracted to buy a ticket or tickets, as a result of any such changes.All reasonable efforts, within the control of the organisers, will be made to ensure that on the day of the trip, the train runs as planned. However, we cannot accept any responsibility for delays, mishaps, alterations or curtailment of the tour from situations outside of our control.There may be occasional re-scheduling or re-routing of a train. 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.The organisers cannot accept responsibility for the options under the control of third parties and are only responsible for returning passengers to their joining stations.Your booking is taken as constituting acceptance of these conditions. No refund or substitutions are available, other than due to cancellation by the organisers. We will not be liable for any consequential loss you may suffer or pay any compensation to you.Folding wheelchairs can be carried on all services. Motorised wheelchairs generally cannot be carried due to the small opening doors. Special arrangements must be made to carry these.We endeavour to accommodate special dietary requirements to the best of our ability but we cannot guarantee to meet all dietary needs.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.

ONLINE BOOKING AVAILABLE

www.railwaytouring.net

Please note: All timings shown in this brochure are approximate and subject to change.

UK Day Trips and Tours 2015

ToursGreat Britain VIII 4 – 7

Cock O’the North 8 – 9

Far North and Orkney 10 – 11

Summer Highlander 12 – 13

Western Isles 14 – 15

Day TripsWinter Cumbrian Mountain Express 26

Hadrian 27

Easterling 28

Cumbrian Coast Express 29

Wensleydale and Durham Coast 30

Wansbeck 31

Hadrian 32

Dartmouth Express 33

Buxton Spa Express 34

Heart of Wales 35

East Yorkshireman 36

Peak Forester 37

Hadrian 38

Swanage Belle 39

Cumbrian Coast Express 40

Cumbrian Mountain Express 41

Hadrian 42

Cotswold Venturer 43

Royal Duchy 44

Welshman 45

Royal Wessex 46

Yorkshireman 47

End of Southern Steam 48


Dorset Coast Express 50


Weymouth Seaside Express 52

North Wales Coast Express 53

Reservation and Booking FormsTour Reservation Form 82

English Lake District 16 – 17

Snowdonia and the Northern Fells 18 – 19

Heart of Scotland 20 – 21

West Country Explorer 22 – 23

West Highlander Steam Express 24 – 25

Waverley 54

Welsh Mountaineer 55

West Somerset Steam Express 56


Pembroke Coast Express 58

Cheshireman 59

Valleys Explorer 60

Cotswold Venturer 61

Tynesider 62


Hadrian 64



White Rose 67

Tin Bath 68

Robin Hood 69

Christmas Cheshireman 70

Bath Christmas Market 71

Capital Christmas Express 72

Worcester Christmas Market 73

Lindum Fayre 74

Bath Christmas Market 75

Christmas Sussex Belle 76

York Yuletide Express 77

Christmas White Rose 78

Sherborne Christmas Carol 79

Christmas White Rose 80

York Yuletide Express 81

Day Trip Booking Form 83

THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY, 14A TUESDAY MARKET PLACE, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK, PE30 1JNPhone: 01553 661 500 • Fax: 01553 661 800 • E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.railwaytouring.net

The holiday tours in this brochure are covered by the terms and conditions in our Great Railway Adventures 2015 brochure and are available on request.

Tuesday 28th AprilLondon to Exeter with a ‘Battle of Britain’ – Exeter to Par with a ‘Battle of Britain’ & ‘Britannia’Our grand tour of Great Britain begins when our special train steams out of London Victoria Station at around 09.00, hauled by Battle of Britain ‘Pacific’ class steam locomotive No. 34067 “Tangmere”. We follow the West London Line through Kensington Olympia and join the Great Western Main Line (GWML) at Acton. At Reading we take the Berks & Hants Line and head westwards through Newbury and then run through picturesque scenery beside the Kennet & Avon Canal to Westbury in Wiltshire. We cross the Somerset Levels en route to Taunton and then climb to Whiteball Summit before descending through the picturesque Culm Valley to Exeter. At Exeter St. David’s Station a second steam locomotive, Britannia class ‘Pacific’ class No. 70000 ”Britannia” is attached to our train for the onward journey. We continue westwards ‘doubleheaded’ by our two steam locomotives following the Exe Estuary to the seaside. We travel along the famous sea wall between Dawlish and Teignmouth, and after Newton Abbot climb the legendary South Devon Banks of Dainton and Rattery. We descend to Plymouth and then cross

Brunel’s famous Saltash Bridge to enter Cornwall. We travel along the Cornish Main Line through beautiful countryside and crossing numerous viaducts en route to Par. The final section between Par and Penzance, the most westerly coastal town in England, will be diesel hauled. Here we transfer to our hotels for our overnight accommodation.

Wednesday 29th AprilPenzance to Bristol with double-headed ‘Pacifics’This morning our train leaves Penzance doubleheaded by ex-Southern Railway ‘Pacific’ steam locomotives ‘Battle of Britain’ class No. 34067 “Tangmere” and Britannia class No. 70000 “Britannia”. We return through Cornwall with its wild moorland landscapes littered with remnants of a once thriving tin mining industry. We pass through Truro, the County’s only city which is dominated by its cathedral, and St. Austell which was the centre of the china clay industry. We cross the River Tamar at Saltash and enter Devon. Our train leaves Plymouth and climbs Hemerdon Bank to Wrangaton Summit, crossing the southern edge of Dartmoor. We descend to Totnes and then climb Dainton Bank from the west, before the descent to Newton Abbot. We run beside the River Teign Estuary before the scenic stretch along the

sea wall to Dawlish. We leave Exeter and climb to Whiteball Summit, then race down Wellington Bank to Taunton. We continue to Bristol Temple Meads, the first railway station designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. We transfer to our hotels for our overnight accommodation.

Thursday 30th AprilDouble-headed steam through Central Wales to the Lake DistrictWe climb out of Bristol and join the South Wales Main Line before passing through the Severn Tunnel en route to Newport. Today our train will be hauled by ex-LMSR ‘Black 5’ steam locomotives No. 44871 and No. 45407 for the journey northwards through Wales and on to the English Lake District. We pass through Newport before joining the scenic Welsh Marches route along the Welsh/English border. Our steam locomotive will be working hard as we climb through Pontypool and Abergavenny to Llanvihangel Summit. We stop at Hereford for our locomotives to take on water before continuing to Leominster, Ludlow and Shrewsbury. We follow the Shrewsbury to Chester Line through Gogowen, Ruabon and Wrexham. Soon we cross the River Dee and the city walls of Chester come into view. We leave Chester and travel north-eastwards towards Manchester

Bob Green

4

The Great Britain VIII

The eighth edition of the popular grand tour of Great Britain takes new routes in England, Wales and Scotland.It promises be the best yet! We travel by rail between the furthest extremities of the country, namely from Penzance to Wick. We commence our journey at London Victoria Station and take a picturesque route to Penzance, travelling along the famous sea wall at Dawlish and the Cornish Main Line. Other particularly scenic highlights include crossing mountainous Central Wales, the beautiful Cumbrian Coast, the Forth and Tay bridges, the Far North Line to Wick, and the Highland Main Line from Inverness. There is an optional trip by steam train from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, possibly the most scenic route in Britain. This is an opportunity to travel in the comfort of our own exclusively chartered train and view some of the best scenery in Great Britain. A variety of steam locomotives, representing each of the ‘big four’ companies, will operate over routes in their former areas. Some trains will be ‘double-headed’ whilst others will be hauled by the most powerful express passenger locomotives in the country.

Tuesday 28th April to Wednesday 6th May 2015

UK Tours - The Great Britain VIII

stopping at Frodsham for our steam locomotive to take on water. We join the West Coast Main Line (WCML) at Acton Grange Junction just before Warrington and can expect to speed along through Wigan to Preston. We continue north to Lancaster and Carnforth, where we take the former Furness Railway Line along the north shore of Morecambe Bay. Our destination is the picturesque seaside resort of Grange-over-Sands in the South Lakeland District of Cumbria. We transfer to a selection of hotels, many close to Windermere.

Friday 1st MayCumbrian Coast Line to Carlisle and EdinburghWe rejoin our train for the journey to Scotland hauled by ‘Royal Scot’ class steam locomotive No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman”. Our route is via the picturesque Cumbrian Coast Line to Carlisle. The line winds its way around river estuaries and runs along the coast, providing expansive views across the Irish Sea to the west and inland to the Cumbrian Fells. We pass through Ravenglass, Sellafield, St. Bees, Whitehaven, Workington and Maryport before arriving in the ‘Border City’ of Carlisle. We follow the WCML from Carlisle crossing the border at Gretna and passing through Lockerbie before we begin the 10 mile ascent of Beattock Bank. We descend to Carstairs where we leave the Glasgow line, then tackle the shorter gradient to Cobbinshaw en route to Edinburgh Waverley. We transfer to hotels in Edinburgh for our overnight accommodation.

Saturday 2nd MayOver the Forth and Tay bridges to Aberdeen & InvernessOur special train will leave Edinburgh Waverley hauled by ex-LNER class A4 ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa” or ex-LMSR ‘Princess Coronation’ class ‘Pacific’ No. 46233 “Duchess of Sutherland”. We cross the magnificent Forth Bridge, where there are superb views of the Firth of Forth, and enter Fife.

There are views of the Lomond Hills to the west as we pass through Ladybank and Cupar. We cross the wide expanse of the Firth of Tay, on the famous Tay Bridge, to enter Dundee. The line skirts the seashore on its way to Montrose before continuing through Stonehaven to the Granite City, Aberdeen. We follow the Great North of Scotland Railway route, a very scenic line with fine views, through Huntley, Keith, Elgin and Nairn to Inverness. We transfer to our hotels in Inverness for our overnight accommodation.

Sunday 3rd MayOptional steam trip to Kyle of Lochalsh or free day in InvernessThose who choose the day trip by train will depart from Inverness steam-hauled by ‘Black 5’ 45407 or K4 61994 “The Great Marquess”. We leave Inverness on the Far North Line and pass over the Caledonian Canal on the Clachnaharry Swing Bridge. At Dingwall we take the largely single track Kyle line, passing through beautiful scenery that can be quite dramatic. The line has been likened to a symphony in three parts: pastoral, mountain and seas. The route takes us up to Raven Rock Summit and Luib Summit before we stop at Achnashellach for the locomotive to take on water. We descend to the shores of Loch Carron and run close to the seashore to Kyle of Lochalsh. The village is located at the entrance to Loch Alsh and there are fine views across the loch to the mountainous centre of the Isle of Skye which is dominated by the Cuillins. The island is linked to the mainland by the nearby Skye Bridge. We return to Inverness, hauled by our steam locomotive, and can appreciate the wonderful scenery from a different aspect. We return to our hotels in Inverness for our overnight accommodation.

Continued overleaf

Bob Green

5

Tour Summary

Premier Class £2895Single supplement £395

First Class £1995Single supplement £350

Kyle of Lochalsh tour £135

All prices shown are per person.

Premier Class includes:

• Eight nights accommodation and breakfast (when not served on the train) in 3 and 4-star hotels

• Four breakfasts, seven lunches and five dinners silver served at your seat

• Seats will be in first class open coaches, with comfortable deep cushioned Pullman style seats

First Class includes:

• Eight nights accommodation and breakfast in 3-star hotels

• Morning coffee or tea, and Danish pastries

• Afternoon tea and biscuits served at your seat

• Apart from breakfast, other meals at the hotels will be at your own expense

• Seating is in first class open coaches

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Class and First Class for a supplement of £165 per person (subject to availability). The Kyle of Lochalsh tour is optional.

April / May 2015

M T W T F S S

27 28 29 30 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31


Monday 4th MayThe Far North Line to WickToday we will be hauled by K4 61994 or B1 61264 as we travel the Far North Line which is located entirely within the Highland area of Scotland. This rural line, largely single track, is the northernmost railway in the UK. The route runs westwards from Inverness, beside the Beauly Firth, to Beauly where it turns north passing through Dingwall and Invergordon. The line loops inland from Tain to Lairg and then returns to the coast at Golspie. We pass through Dunrobin Castle Station which was originally a private station for the castle, the seat of the Duke of Sutherland. The line continues along the coast as far as Helmsdale and it is not uncommon to see seals basking on the shore on this section of the route.

The line turns inland up the Strath of Kildonan and crosses isolated moorland through the Flow Country to Halkirk. At Georgemas Junction there is a branch to Thurso, whilst the main route returns to the east coast at Wick, the terminus of the Far North Line. Wick is an estuary town which straddles the River Wick and extends along both sides of Wick Bay. The town is the gateway to John o’ Groats which is at the extremity of the longest distance between two inhabited points on the island of Great Britain, Land’s End being the other. The Guinness Book of Records confirms that Wick has the world’s shortest street, Ebenezer Place measuring 2.06 metres! We return to Inverness hauled by a class 47 diesel following the same route as outward. We return to our hotels for dinner and our overnight accommodation.

Tuesday 5th MayInverness to Edinburgh via the Highland Main LineThis morning our train leaves Inverness, hauled by ex-LMSR ‘Princess Coronation’ class ‘Pacific’ No. 46233 “Duchess of Sutherland”, to travel south over the highly scenic Highland Main Line. We begin by making the arduous climb of over 20 miles to Slochd Summit (1,315ft), probably the most gruelling climb on the whole railway network. We descend through Aviemore before commencing the climb to Drumochter Summit (1,484ft), the highest in the UK. We continue our descent through the Highlands, passing Blair Athol and Pitlochry, and follow the valley of the River Tay to Perth.

Bob Green

Bob Green

6UK Tours - The Great Britain VIII

We head south from Perth and pass through Gleneagles, Stirling and Larbert before by-passing Glasgow to join the WCML. After Carstairs we begin climbing up the Clyde Valley through the Southern Uplands, culminating in a steep gradient to Beattock Summit. We then descend through Lockerbie to Carlisle. On leaving Carlisle the route follows the valley of the River Petteril to Penrith and then climbs up to Shap Summit. The descent from Shap is through Tebay and along the beautiful Lune Gorge before arrival at Oxenholme Lake Distrct Station. Here we leave our train and transfer by road coach to hotels in South Lakeland for our overnight accommodation.

Wednesday 6th MayMain line routes to return to London double-headed with “Leander” and “Mayflower”We transfer by road coach to Grange-over-Sands Station to join our train hauled by Jubilee class No. 45690 “Leander” and B1 class No. 61306 “Mayflower”. We travel eastwards to Carnforth where we join the WCML and head south through Lancaster and Preston. We then leave the WCML and take the route to Manchester passing round the north-east of the Greater Manchester conurbation and climbing into the Pennine Mountains in the Peak District. We take the Hope Valley Line travelling down the beautiful Vale of

Edale and then pass through Totley Tunnel to join the Midland Main Line (MML). South of Chesterfield we take the Erewash Valley Line through Langley Mill to the city of Nottingham. We travel eastwards from Nottingham, cross the River Trent and pass through the beautiful Vale of Belvoir en route to Grantham. Here we join the East Coast Main Line (ECML) and climb to the summit at Stoke Tunnel. We race down Stoke Bank and pass the sign indicating where “Mallard” broke the world speed record for steam. We can expect some fast running as we head south up the ECML from Peterborough and pass through Huntingdon and Stevenage to journey’s end at London King’s Cross.

Luggage

All luggage transfers from Penzance to Oxenholme Lake District will be taken care of by RTC. Passengers are responsible for taking their own luggage to the train at the beginning of the tour and to the first hotel in Penzance, and then to the train at Grange-over-Sands from the last hotel in South Lakeland. All other transfers between hotels and the train are made by RTC.

Bob Green

77

Tour Summary



Kyle of Lochalsh tour £135


Premier Class includes:

• Eight nights accommodation and breakfast (when not served on the train) in 3 and 4-star hotels

• Four breakfasts, seven lunches and five dinners silver served at your seat

• Seats will be in first class open coaches, with comfortable deep cushioned Pullman style seats

First Class includes:

• Eight nights accommodation and breakfast in 3-star hotels

• Morning coffee or tea, and Danish pastries

• Afternoon tea and biscuits served at your seat

• Apart from breakfast, other meals at the hotels will be at your own expense

• Seating is in first class open coaches

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Class and First Class for a supplement of £165 per person (subject to availability). The Kyle of Lochalsh tour is optional.

April / May 2015

M T W T F S S

27 28 29 30 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31


Thursday“Highland Chieftain” to InvernessWe join the “Highland Chieftain” train at London’s King’s Cross Station for our journey to Scotland. Our train follows the route of the East Coast Main Line (ECML) with its historic connections and magnificent scenery. During the journey a light lunch will be served at our seats as we travel in First Class comfort. We stop at York where more passengers may join the train, including those who have travelled by service train from Peterborough. The train continues its journey via Newcastle, Edinburgh and Perth, where we join the Highland Main Line and then travel through the beautiful Scottish Highlands to Inverness. At Inverness we check in to a 3-star hotel for two nights. Dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant. (L D)

FridayStrathspey Railway and Keith & Dufftown RailwayToday we travel by road coach to Aviemore where we join a steam train on the Strathspey Railway. This heritage railway line shares the main line railway station at Aviemore and runs to Boat of

Garten and Broomhill, ‘Glenbogle’ in the BBC series “Monarch of the Glen”. We have a return trip on the railway which provides us with wonderful views of the Cairngorm Mountains. We rejoin our road coach to travel from Aviemore to Dufftown, where we have lunch in the “Buffer Stop”, a railway restaurant car. We then take a return trip by vintage diesel rail car on the 11 mile long Keith and Dufftown Railway, the most northerly heritage railway in the UK. The ‘whisky line’ passes through some spectacular scenery which includes dense pine forests, the tranquil waters of Loch Park, and the winding valley of the River Isla. To end the day, we visit a traditional Highland whisky distillery before returning to our hotel in Inverness. (B L D)

SaturdayInverness to Kyle of Lochalsh by TrainToday, our luggage is collected from our hotel and transported by privately chartered road coach to our next hotel. This procedure will be followed for the next three days. After a traditional Scottish breakfast in our hotel, we leave Inverness and travel by train to Kyle of Lochalsh. This line has been voted one of the most scenic in Britain.

It passes through forests; alongside lakes overlooked by mountains; and along the shores of Loch Carron, a sea inlet. Kyle of Lochalsh is in an idyllic location on the north-west coast of Scotland at the entrance to the sea inlet Loch Alsh. We take a coach journey over the Skye Bridge to the Isle of Skye and on to Portree. We shall have fine views as we travel, inland of mountains and seaward of the islands in the Sound of Raasay. Portree is the island’s main town and known for its picturesque harbour. We check in at ‘The Royal Hotel’ which will be our base for the next two nights. (B D)

SundayTour of SkyeWe have a tour guide for the day as we explore the fascinating Isle of Skye by road coach. The island’s peninsulas radiate from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin Mountains, the rocky slopes of which provide some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the country. We shall see the Black Cuillins, mountains of jagged bare rock with twelve summits above 3,000 feet. We return to Portree where there will be time to have a look around

Bob Green

8

The Cock O’the North

A Scottish nobleman, soldier and clan chief, General George Gordon, was nicknamed “The Cock O’ the North” in the 18th century and subsequently the name has been used for a steam locomotive, a traditional Scottish bagpipe tune, a whisky-based liqueur, and more. We shall be in good company when we visit the north of Scotland on “The Cock O’ the North” rail tour. We explore this area of outstanding natural beauty travelling by train, road coach and ferry. Our two night stay on the famous Isle of Skye includes a scenic tour, and to get there we travel by train from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, one of the most scenic in Britain. We travel on “The Jacobite” steam train from Mallaig to Fort William, and visit Heritage Railways, travelling by steam and diesel trains.We travel to and from Scotland on fast trains in comfortable First Class seats and take advantage of the contemporary First Class Lounge at London’s King’s Cross Station prior to our journey. A special road coach handles our luggage, accompanying us throughout the Scottish part of our tour.

Thursday 14th May to Tuesday 19th May 2015Thursday 25th June to Tuesday 30th June 2015

Thursday 3rd September to Tuesday 8th September 2015

UK Tours - The Cock O’the North

and enjoy a picnic lunch. We shall also visit the north of the island, including the Flora MacDonald Memorial Cross and the romantic and historic Dunvegan Castle, ancient home of the MacLeods. Skye is renowned for its spectacular scenery, vibrant culture and heritage, as well as its abundant wildlife, which includes the golden eagle, sea eagle, red deer and otter. Our coach will stop to provide us with opportunities for filming and photography when appropriate. We return to our hotel in Portree (B L D)

MondayFerry to Mallaig and “The Jacobite” Steam TrainAfter breakfast, we say farewell to Portree and head south by road coach to Armadale where we catch the ferry to Mallaig, a boat journey of around thirty minutes. On arrival at Mallaig there will be time to explore the village and find lunch before joining “The Jacobite” steam train to Fort William. This unforgettable 42 mile journey has been described as one of the great railway journeys of the world. “The Jacobite” takes us through some of the most magnificent scenery that Scotland has to offer, beginning with sea views to the well known islands of Eigg and Rum. It also crosses the world famous twenty-one arch Glenfinnan Viaduct which is built entirely of concrete, and offers spectacular views down Lochaber’s Loch Shiel. On arrival at Fort William we rejoin our road coach for the journey to Inverness. En route we pass through the Great Glen with its many lochs, and travel the whole length of the famous Loch Ness. At Inverness we check in to a hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

TuesdayThe “Highland Chieftain” to LondonWe have an early breakfast at our hotel before we transfer to Inverness Railway Station to join the “Highland Chieftain” express train for our return journey. We can relax in our First Class seats as we travel through the scenic Highlands. We climb to Drumochter summit, the highest in the UK, and then follow the valley of the River Tay to Perth. We continue to Edinburgh where we join the ECML onwards to Newcastle, York and London King’s Cross. A light lunch will be served on the journey south. (B L)

Approx. timings Outward Return London King’s Cross 12:00 15:51 Peterborough 11:58* 15:26* York 13:54 13:53 Inverness 20:06 07:55 *Passengers from Peterborough change trains at York on both outward and return journeys.

9

Tour Summary

Tour price from:London £1305Peterborough £1270York £1235Single supplement £165


Price includes:

• First Class rail travel to Inverness and return, from London, Peterborough or York, with at-seat dining

• 5 nights bed and breakfast at good quality 3-star hotels

• 5 dinners and 4 lunches

• Our own road coach to transport luggage for the duration in Scotland leaving you free to enjoy the train rides and other journeys

• First Class rail travel on “The Jacobite” from Mallaig to Fort William

• Standard Class rail travel between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh (First Class not provided on this train)

• All visits, train travel, transfers and tours, as mentioned in the itinerary

• Reserved seats

• The services of a tour manager

Meals included each day are shown as: B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner

May 2015

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4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

June 2015

M T W T F S S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 1 2 3 4 5

September 2015

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7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

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Perth

Stirling

Boat of GartenKyle

Ft. William

Skye

Mallaig

InvernessBroomhill

KeithDufftown

Edinburgh

To the South

Bob Green

UK Tours - The Cock O’the North

Thursday 21st MayLondon to AberdeenOur tour begins in the 1st class lounge at London King’s Cross Railway Station. We have a mid morning departure to Aberdeen via the East Coast Main Line (ECML) travelling 1st class aboard a High Speed Train (HST). Complimentary drinks and a light lunch will be served as we travel north via York, Newcastle and Edinburgh. We cross the famous bridges over the Firth of Forth and River Tay, arriving in Aberdeen in the late afternoon. We check in to a conveniently located city centre hotel for overnight accommodation. The remainder of the evening will be free time to explore the “Granite City”. (L)

Friday 22nd MaySteam at the Royal Deeside Railway and Crathes CastleThere are just two Heritage Railways in north-eastern Scotland that feature steam traction and we visit both of them during the next two days! We travel by road coach to the Royal Deeside Railway where we have chartered a steam train for a return journey on this standard gauge railway.

The line passes through beautiful rural scenery and gentle rolling hills, running in close proximity to its namesake river. After our visit to the railway, our road coach takes us to the 16th century Crathes Castle where there will be ample time to visit the castle and view the gardens. We have a late lunch at the nearby Milton Crathes Brasserie. In the afternoon we return to Aberdeen where there will be free time to discover more of the sights and find a restaurant of choice for dinner. (B L)

Saturday 23rd MaySteam at the Caledonian Railway and a ferry crossing to OrkneyAfter breakfast, we travel by road coach to Brechin and visit the ‘Heritage’ Caledonian Railway. We have a privately chartered steam train to make the 8 mile round trip from Brechin to Bridge of Dun and return. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided at the railway. In the afternoon we return by road coach to Aberdeen and board the modern ferry for the 6-hour crossing to Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands. On board the spacious ship we benefit from access to the exclusive “Magnus’ Lounge” which provides

comfortable amenities and complimentary drinks and snacks. We reach Kirkwall at 23:00, but because these are the longest days of the year, the sun is only just setting, providing an amazing natural spectacle that can only be experienced in the Far North during the summer solstice. We disembark from the ship and transfer the short distance to our centrally located hotel in the town centre. (B L)

Sunday 24th MayAt leisure in Kirkwall and a visit to the Highland Park DistilleryAfter a leisurely breakfast at our hotel there will be time to explore the quaint town of Kirkwall. Orkney’s capital boasts many historical buildings, including St. Magnus Cathedral, the northernmost cathedral in the British Isles. The town has two museums, many 17th-18th century houses, art galleries and craft shops. In the afternoon we visit the Highland Park Whisky Distillery, where the world famous ‘Scotch’ has been produced since 1798. To end the day, we dine together at the hotel this evening. (B D)

Deeside Railway

10

The Far North and Orkney

We are delighted to introduce a new Scottish tour that visits some of the most extraordinary destinations in Northern Europe during the wonderful “White Nights” when it never gets completely dark. We spend time in Scotland’s idyllic north-east and travel steam-hauled “off the beaten track” in Aberdeenshire and Angus, before embarking on an exciting sea journey to the enchanting Orkney Islands. We spend three days on the Orkney mainland and explore the pristine beaches, the stunning coastline and the mystical rock formations which form part of the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney” UNESCO World Heritage Site. We cross the Pentland Firth and have spectacular views of the “Old Man of Hoy” and “St. John’s Head”, rated by National Geographic as amongst the top ten ocean views in the world.Back on the Scottish mainland we travel over the fascinating Far North Line from Wick to Inverness, noted for its variety of coastal and mountain scenery. We complete our tour of Northern Scotland by spending two nights in Inverness and travel on the Strathspey Steam and Cairngorm Mountain railways, in the heart of the Highlands. Experience a fascinating holiday to locations that are much closer than they might seem, but at the same time are far from the ordinary!

Thursday 21st May to Friday 29th May 2015

UK Tours - The Far North and Orkney

Monday 25th MayExploration of Neolithic OrkneyToday we explore mainland Orkney by road coach. We visit the fascinating landmarks that together form the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney” UNESCO World Heritage Site. These include Maeshowe, Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, and the Standing Stones of Stenness. Each site has a remarkable natural beauty and the cultural value of these sites is inspirational. At lunchtime we visit the delightful fishing port of Stromness, where there will be free time to explore the town and find a café or inn of your choice for lunch. In the late afternoon, we return to Kirkwall and experience another enchanting evening with the “white nights”. (B)

Tuesday 26th MayOrkney beaches and South Ronaldsay IslandWe visit the pristine beaches on the eastern shores of the Orkney mainland and the so-called “Churchill Barrier” causeway roads today. These roads were built during World War II and provide a land connection to the Orkney island of South Ronaldsay. Here we visit the small fishing town of St. Margaret’s Hope, where we have lunch. We also pause at the Italian Chapel, which is one of the most visited attractions on the Islands. In the evening we dine together at the hotel in Kirkwall. (B D)

Wednesday 27th MayFerry crossing the Pentland Firth and a train journey to InvernessToday we return to the Scottish mainland. Our road coach takes us from Kirkwall to Stromness where we board the ferry for the spectacular 90-minute crossing of the Pentland Firth to Scrabster, near Thurso. En route we pass the “Old Man of Hoy” and “St. John’s Head” natural landmarks, the former is a tall sea stack of red sandstone while the latter is the highest vertical sea cliff in Great Britain. From Scrabster we continue by road coach to John O’ Groats, famous as one end of the longest distance between two inhabited points on the island of Great Britain, Land’s End being the other. There will be time to find a cafe or restaurant of choice for lunch. Later we continue to Wick and board a ScotRail service train to travel the length of the Far North Line to Inverness via Thurso.

Initially the line crosses lonely moorland, passing through isolated mountain landscapes, before hugging the coast where seals bask on the rocky shores. Numerous firths are navigated the long way round before arrival in Inverness, the hub of the Scottish Highlands. We spend two nights in Inverness staying at a hotel near the station and in the heart of the city. There will be free time to explore the city this evening. (B)

Thursday 28th MayStrathspey Steam Railway and the Cairngorm Mountain RailwayThis morning we travel by road coach to Aviemore where we join a steam train on the Strathspey Railway. This Heritage Railway runs to Boat of Garten and Broomhill, ‘Glenbogle’ in the BBC series “Monarch of the Glen”. We have a return trip on the railway which provides us with wonderful views of the Cairngorm Mountains. We rejoin our road coach to travel into the heart of the nearby Cairngorms National Park. We pause for a scenic break and short stroll along the banks of Loch Pityoulish, one of the prettiest mountain lakes in Scotland. We ride the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, a funicular railway built in 2001 and the highest railway in Britain. There are magnificent views of the surrounding Scottish mountains as we make the ascent of Cairn Gorm, and spectacular panoramic views from the top. We return to Inverness by road coach and dine together in our hotel this evening. (B D)

Friday 29th MayThe “Highland Chieftain” to LondonWe have an early breakfast at our hotel before we transfer to Inverness Railway Station to join the “Highland Chieftain” High Speed Train (HST) for our return journey to London. We can relax in the comfort of our First Class seats as we travel through the scenic Highlands. We climb to Drumochter summit, the highest in the UK, and then follow the valley of the River Tay to Perth. We continue to Edinburgh where we join the ECML and pass through Newcastle and York en route to London King’s Cross. A light lunch will be served on the journey south. (B L)

11

Tour Summary

Tour price £1395Single supplement £270


Price includes:

• 8 nights accommodation with breakfast at hotels

• 4 lunches and 3 dinners

• All specially chartered steam trains as mentioned in the itinerary

• All rail, bus and boat journeys as mentioned in the itinerary

• All visits as detailed in the itinerary

• Rail travel from London to Aberdeen and from Inverness to London

• All seat reservations and transfers



May 2015

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27 28 29 30 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

UK Tours - The Far North and Orkney

MondayThe “Highland Chieftain” to ScotlandWe join the “Highland Chieftain” train at London’s King’s Cross Station, departing at midday. For our journey to Scotland, our train follows the route of the East Coast Main Line (ECML) with its historic connections and magnificent scenery. We travel in First Class comfort and during the journey a light lunch will be served at our seats. We stop at York where more passengers may join the train, including those who have travelled by service train from Peterborough. We speed along the ECML to Darlington and on to Newcastle and Edinburgh. At Perth we join the Highland Main Line and travel through the beautiful Scottish Highlands. We leave the train at Kingussie and travel by road coach to Fort William where we check in to a hotel. Dinner will be served in the hotel restaurant this evening. (L D)

Tuesday“The Jacobite” to Mallaig, ferry to the Isle of Skye and train to InvernessA highlight of our tour is the journey on “The Jacobite” steam train, which has been described as one of the great railway journeys of the world.

The train runs from Fort William to Mallaig through some of the most magnificent scenery that Scotland has to offer. Mountains, glens, streams, lochs, and the sea combine to provide and un-ending collage of outstanding views. En route we cross the world famous twenty-one arch Glenfinnan Viaduct which has featured in a number of films and TV series. There will be around one hour in Mallaig to explore this attractive fishing port and find lunch before we board the ferry for Armadale on the Isle of Skye. We then travel by our road coach through Kyleakin and Broadford on the picturesque Isle of Skye. We cross the famous Skye Bridge and return to the mainland at Kyle of Lochalsh. Here we board the late afternoon service train to Inverness and travel along one of Europe’s most scenic railway lines. We run alongside Loch Carron, then enjoy superb views of lochs and mountains, and pass through forests, en route to Inverness. We transfer to a hotel in Inverness, which will be our base for 4 nights. (B)

WednesdayDunrobin CastleBreakfast is served in the hotel restaurant this morning before we depart by road coach for

Dunrobin Castle. We travel north, crossing Kessock Bridge on to the Black Isle; alongside Cromarty Firth; and over Dornoch Firth to the village of Golspie on the North Sea coast. We shall be greeted by a piper on arrival at Dunrobin Castle, the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland. This impressive castle stands on high terraces from where there are wonderful views across its formal gardens to the North Sea beyond. We shall have a tour of the castle and its grounds, including a falconry display, before having lunch. There will be further time to explore the castle gardens and museum before we return by road coach to our hotel in Inverness. (B L)

ThursdayThe Far NorthToday we travel by road coach to the iconic village of John O’Groats. Our route from Inverness follows the A9 trunk road which hugs the North Sea coast for much of the way from Golspie to Wick. There are some spectacular views along the way. John O’Groats is well known as the starting point for charity events travelling the greatest length of Britain to Land’s End. It has a tiny harbour and, if the weather is good, there are views across the Pentland Firth to the Orkney

Bob Green

12

The Summer Highlander

The Highlands of Scotland in summer beckon the discerning traveller interested in exploring this wonderful area that is ‘right on our doorstep’. This tour offers an interesting variety in travel, culture, and cuisine. We travel by train, road coach and ferry; visit scenic and historic sites; and sample Scottish culinary delights at a number of different venues. Highlights include “The Jacobite” steam train, rail journeys from both Kyle of Lochalsh and the ‘Far North’ to Inverness, and visits to two Heritage Railways. We visit the beautiful Isle of Skye and the iconic John O’ Groats, and learn something about Scottish heritage at Dunrobin Castle and the Castle of Mey. We travel to and from Scotland on fast trains in comfortable First Class seats and take advantage of the contemporary First Class Lounge at King’s Cross Station prior to our departure from London. A road coach handling our luggage will accompany us throughout Scotland.

Monday 25th May to Saturday 30th May 2015Monday 13th July to Saturday 18th July 2015

UK Tours - The Summer Highlander

Islands. We continue our journey a few miles west to the Castle of Mey, where we shall have a light lunch. The castle was restored from a near ruin by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, for use as a holiday home. We then go to Thurso Railway Station where we join a ScotRail service train for Inverness. The railway takes a different route to the road, initially crossing isolated moorland, thus providing a fresh perspective on the region’s wonderful scenery. The railway line meets the North Sea coast at Helmsdale and then follows the coastline, often running between the road and the sea. It is not uncommon to see seals basking on the shore on this section of the route. On arrival at Inverness we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

FridayThe Strathspey Railway and the Keith & Dufftown RailwayThis morning we travel by road coach to Aviemore where we join a steam train on the Strathspey Railway. This heritage railway line shares the main line railway station at Aviemore and runs to Boat of Garten and Broomhill, ‘Glenbogle’ in the BBC series “Monarch of the Glen”. We have a return trip on the railway which provides us with wonderful views of the Cairngorm Mountains. We rejoin our road coach to travel from Aviemore to Dufftown, where we have lunch in the “Buffer Stop”, a railway restaurant car. We then take a return trip by vintage diesel rail car on the 11 mile long Keith & Dufftown Railway, the most northerly heritage railway in the UK. The ‘whisky line’ passes through some spectacular scenery which includes dense pine forests, the tranquil waters of Loch Park, and the winding valley of the River Isla. To end the day, we visit a traditional Highland whisky distillery before returning to our hotel in Inverness. (B L D)

SaturdayThe “Highland Chieftain” to LondonWe have an early breakfast at our hotel before we transfer to Inverness Railway Station to join the “Highland Chieftain” express train for our return journey. We can relax in our First Class seats as we travel through the scenic Highlands. We climb to Drumochter summit, the highest in the UK, and then follow the valley of the River Tay to Perth. We continue to Edinburgh where we join the ECML onwards to Newcastle, York and London King’s Cross. Light refreshments are available to purchase on board. (B)

Approx. timings Outward Return London King’s Cross 12:00 15:51 Peterborough 11:58* 15:26* York 13:54 13:53 Kingussie 19:15 ------- Inverness ------- 07:55 *Passengers from Peterborough change trains at York on both outward and return journeys.

Bob Green

13

Tour Summary



Price includes:

• First Class rail travel on the “Highland Chieftain” and on “The Jacobite” steam train

• Standard Class rail travel between Kyle of Lochalsh and Inverness and between Thurso and Inverness (First Class not provided on these trains)

• 5 nights accommodation in hotels

• 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners

• All visits, train travel, ferry travel and coach transfers as mentioned in the itinerary



May 2015

M T W T F S S

27 28 29 30 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

July 2015

M T W T F S S

29 30 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31 1 2

UK Tours - The Summer Highlander

Tuesday“Highland Chieftain” to ScotlandOur adventure begins when we join the “Highland Chieftain” train at London’s King’s Cross Station for our journey to Scotland. Our train follows the route of the East Coast Main Line (ECML) with its historic connections and magnificent scenery. We travel in First Class comfort and during the journey a light lunch will be served at our seats. We stop at York where more passengers may join the train, including those who have travelled by service train from Peterborough. The train continues its journey along the ECML via Newcastle and Edinburgh and on to Stirling. From there, a coach takes us to The Inn at Inverbeg for dinner and overnight accommodation. The Inn is located in beautiful countryside on the banks of Loch Lomond and enjoys stunning views of both the Loch and Ben Lomond. It also prides itself on its excellent customer service. (L D)

WednesdayLake Cruise on Loch LomondAfter a leisurely breakfast, and perhaps a stroll by the Loch, our road coach takes us the short

distance to Tarbet. From here we have a private cruise on Loch Lomond, with a light lunch provided. We rejoin our coach to travel the short distance to Arrochar and Tarbet Station to catch a train to Fort William. The route passes through spectacular scenery, crossing the remote Rannoch Moor, to Fort William. The town is located in an enviable position on Loch Linnhe with the majestic Ben Nevis, at 4,406 feet Britain’s highest mountain, as its backdrop. Our train is due to arrive at shortly after 16:00 and we check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Thursday“The Jacobite” and ferry to the Isle of SkyeA highlight of our tour is the journey on “The Jacobite” steam train, which has been described as one of the great railway journeys of the world. The train runs from Fort William to Mallaig through some of the most magnificent scenery that Scotland has to offer. Mountains, glens, streams, lochs, and the sea combine to provide and un-ending collage of outstanding views. En route we cross the world famous twenty-one arch Glenfinnan Viaduct which has

featured in a number of films and TV series. There will be around two hours in Mallaig to explore the village and fishing port, and find lunch, before we board the ferry for Armadale on the Isle of Skye. We then travel by our road coach which, as always, has followed us with our luggage, to our hotel in Portree. (B D)

FridayHarris & Lewis in the Outer HebridesThe Isle of Skye is the largest island in the Inner Hebrides and famous for its mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin Hills. They provide some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in the country. We shall pause a few times to take in the scenery as our coach takes us across Trotternish, the northern peninsula of Skye, to Uig. Here we join a ferry for the one and half hour crossing to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Although not an island itself, Harris is the southern and more mountainous part of Lewis and Harris. We travel through the bleak countryside of both to the island’s capital, Stornoway, where we stay at a hotel for two nights. (B D)

Bob Green

14

The Western Isles

Here is an opportunity to visit the far north-west of Scotland and witness scenes of unsurpassed beauty right on our doorstep! We travel to the Isle of Skye, the Outer Hebrides, and the Northwest Highlands, visiting areas where other tours rarely go. En route we cruise on Loch Lomond and travel on “The Jacobite” steam train, one of the great railway journeys of the world. We make sea crossings by ferry to and from the islands, including Harris & Lewis where we discover a culture unique to the British Isles. The remote and tranquil Northwest Highlands beyond Ullapool are a world apart from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Join us on an adventure of a lifetime and experience the splendour of the mountains, glens, and lochs of ‘The Western Isles’.We travel to and from Scotland on fast trains in comfortable First Class seats and take advantage of the contemporary First Class Lounge at London’s King’s Cross Station prior to our journey. A road coach handling our luggage will accompany us throughout Scotland.

Tuesday 9th June to Wednesday 17th June 2015Tuesday 11th August to Wednesday 19th August 2015

Tuesday 22nd September to Wednesday 30th September 2015

UK Tours - The Western Isles

SaturdayThe Isle of LewisToday we have a guided coach tour of the Isle of Lewis which has a rich cultural heritage. We visit various places of particular interest including the Butt of Lewis cliffs and lighthouse; a restored thatched black house, the main housing on the island around 100 years ago; Carloway Broch, a pre-historic round castle; Lewis Bridge; and the Callinish Standing Stones, an impressive stone circle which is said to be comparable to Stonehenge. We stop for lunch during our tour. We return to our hotel in Stornoway. (B L D)

SundayLochinverThis morning we have free time to explore Stornoway and discover Lews Castle and grounds, the impressive war memorial, or the harbour area. Observance of the Christian Sabbath, Sunday, had long been a unique aspect of the island’s culture and until July 2009 there were no Sunday ferry services to or from Stornoway. We join a ferry to cross ‘The Minch’, maybe sighting dolphins en route, and return to the mainland at Ullapool. We travel by road coach from Ullapool north to Lochinver, a pleasant village with a beautiful harbour and a magnificent mountain backdrop. We stay here for two nights at the luxurious Inverlodge Hotel, set on a hillside overlooking the bay. All rooms have splendid views and deer often appear on the lawns outside. (B D)

MondayNorth West Scottish HighlandsWe have a day trip by road coach today, to discover the remote and impressive landscape of the North West Highlands. We pass through magnificent mountain scenery with striking lochs and glens, and the possibility of viewing uncommon wildlife. We also catch glimpses of the sea and travel near to the coast at Scourie.

Our destination is Durness on the far north coast of Scotland, in an area of unspoilt beaches backed by cliffs. The surrounding coastline is some of Europe’s most isolated and spectacular, where sea birds, seals, porpoises and minke whales may be seen. We stop in the village and there will be time for lunch. In the afternoon we return by coach to our hotel at Lochinver. (B D)

TuesdayDunrobin Castle and InvernessWe travel by road coach the breadth of Scotland today, mostly along isolated mountain roads.Approaching the east coast we pass through Lairg and Golspie before we arrive at Dunrobin Castle. This impressive castle stands on high terraces from where there are wonderful views across its formal gardens to the North Sea beyond. A highlight of the visit will be the falconry display. We have lunch in the Castle before transferring to Golspie Station where we board a train to Inverness. We transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

WednesdayThe “Highland Chieftain” to LondonWe enjoy an early breakfast at our hotel before transferring to the railway station to join the “Highland Chieftain” for our return journey to London. We can relax in our First Class seats as we leave Inverness and pass through the Highlands, a wonderful experience, en route to Perth, Edinburgh, Newcastle, York and London King’s Cross. A light lunch will be served on the journey south. (B L)

Approx. timings Outward Return London King’s Cross 12:00 15:51 Peterborough 11:58* 15:26* York 13:54 13:53 Stirling 17:19 ------- Inverness ------- 07:55 *Passengers from Peterborough change trains at York on both outward and return journeys.

Bob Green

15

Tour Summary



Price includes:

• First Class rail travel from London to Stirling and Inverness to London with at-seat dining

• 8 nights half board accommodation in 3-star hotels

• 5 Lunches

• All visits, train, boat, ferry travel and coach transfers as mentioned in the itinerary

• First Class rail travel on “The Jacobite” from Fort William to Mallaig

• Standard Class rail travel between Arrochar and Fort William and Golspie and Inverness (First Class not provided on these trains)



June 2015

M T W T F S S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 1 2 3 4 5

August 2015

M T W T F S S

27 28 29 30 31 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

September 2015

M T W T F S S

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 1 2 3 4

UK Tours - The Western Isles

ThursdayFirst Class rail travel to WindermereThe tour party will be greeted by their tour manager in the First Class lounge at London Euston Station before boarding the 10:30 Virgin Trains Pendolino service. We shall be seated in the spacious comfort of First Class as we travel down the West Coast Main Line (WCML) to Oxenholme Lake District. Here we change trains and take a First TransPennine Express service for the short onward journey to Windermere. Tour participants from other parts of the country, especially Northern England or Scotland, may travel independently and join the group at Windermere Station. From the railway station, we have a short coach transfer to nearby Bowness-on-Windermere, a delightful village located on the banks of Lake Windermere. Our hotel for the duration of the tour is at the lakeside, adjacent to the boat pier. There will be leisure time to explore Bowness before a group dinner at our hotel in the evening. (D)

FridayLake Windermere cruise and a steam train on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite RailwayAfter breakfast at our hotel we board the stylish vintage motor vessel “Swan”. This triple-deck ship was originally built by Vickers in 1938 and since then has become an iconic fixture on England’s largest lake. We shall cruise through outstanding Cumbrian lake scenery for 40 minutes, to the southern extremity of Lake Windermere at Lakeside. The lake pier is adjacent to Lakeside Railway Station and here we join a connectiong steam train on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. We travel the entire length of the line to Haverthwaite. Here there will be ample time to visit the impressive engine shed which contains a collection of historic steam and diesel locomotives; cross the footbridge to the woodland viewing and picnic area; seek out a souvneir in the gift shop; and sample the delights of the licensed ‘Station Restaurant’. The latter features locally sourced produce and homemade speciality dishes. In the afternoon we return by steam train to Lakeside and from there by connecting ship to Bowness. We dine together at the hotel this evening. (B D)

SaturdaySteam boat cruise on Coniston Water and a visit to Wray CastleOur exploration of Lakeland by land and water continues today when we visit Coniston Water. It is the third largest lake in the Lake District and is located to the west of Lake Windermere. It is the only lake to feature a steam powered boat and we shall have a 1 hour 45 minute full lake themed cruise on the superbly restored Victorian steam yacht “Gondola”. It was originally launched in 1859 to carry railway passengers and The Illustrated London News reported: “The vessel is a perfected combination of the Venetian gondola and the English steam yacht. It may be said to be the most elegant little steam vessel yet designed”. The preserved steamer is now cared for and operated by the National Trust. Following the cruise, we shall have lunch at “The Sun” in Coniston. This 400 year old pub is full of character with exposed beams, stone walls, flagstone floors and a local Brathay slate bar top. It is situated beneath the Cumbrian Fells and has an elevated view over the village of Coniston. Later we transfer by road coach to nearby Wray Castle, a Victorian neo-gothic building with

16

English Lake District

Since the Victorian Era, the Lake District of Cumbria has been one of the most beloved holiday destinations in Great Britain. Why not join us on a holiday that celebrates the outstanding natural beauty and rural serenity of this area? For the entire duration of this new tour we will be based at an elegant waterfront hotel in the famed resort town of Bowness-on-Windermere. We explore the many different natural highlights of Cumbria by vintage motor vessel, steam train and steam yacht. This includes cruises on Lake Windermere, Coniston Water and Ullswater, as well as journeys behind steam locomotives at the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway and the legendary “Ratty”. The unique charm of the latter, a 15 inch narrow gauge railway running from Ravenglass to Dalegarth in Eskdale, may be considered as one of the highlights of the tour. Point-to-point transfers through exceptionally scenic countryside are provided by our own private road coach. The natural tranquility of the Lake District and the short travel distances between the different attractions means that this holiday benefits from a particularly relaxed pace.

Thursday 25th June to Tuesday 30th June 2015Thursday 8th October to Tuesday 13th October 2015

UK Tours - English Lake District

grounds that include part of the shoreline of Lake Windermere. We shall have a guided tour of the castle and then there will be an opportunity to visit the adjacent gardens at leisure. We return to our hotel in Bowness and have dinner together in the evening. (B L D)

SundayScenic cruises on Lake Windermere and UllswaterThis morning we board one of the classic motor vessels to explore the northern half of Lake Windermere. We sail from Bowness to Ambleside at the northernmost extremity of the lake. Normally this cruise is operated by M.V. “Tern” which was built in 1891 as a steam powered yacht and was converted to diesel power in 1956. After the 30 minute voyage to Ambleside Pier we shall join our private road coach for the onward journey to Glenridding on Ullswater. Here we pause for lunch at the Inn on the Lake, an award winning hotel with one of the most spectacular settings in the Lake District. The grounds have lawns sweeping down to the shores of Ullswater with breathtaking views of the lake and towards the magnificent Helvellyn mountain range. After lunch we board one of the celebrated Ullswater ‘Steamers’ for an afternoon cruise over the entire extent of the second largest lake in the Lake District. Many regard Ullswater as the most beautiful of the English lakes; it has been compared to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland because of its mountainous surroundings. One of Ullswater’s attractions is the spectacular waterfall of Aira Force midway along the lake on the western side. We cruise the length of the lake from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge and return. We rejoin our road coach for the return journey via scenic country roads to Bowness. We have a group dinner at our hotel this evening. (B L D)

MondaySteam train on the Ravenglass and Eskdale RailwayAn exciting highlight awaits us today as we travel by road coach to Ravenglass, a small coastal village with Roman connections located at the estuary of the rivers Esk, Mite and Irt. The famous 15 inch gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (La’al Ratty) has its terminus adjacent to the Cumbrian Coast railway line station. The line runs for 7 miles (11.3 km) from Ravenglass to Dalegarth Station near Boot in the Eskdale Valley. Tour members will receive a day rover ticket for use on the line which operates an intensive timetable of both steam and diesel trains. This allows maximum freedom to travel on the trains and explore the line at your own pace. Options include alighting at intermediate stations to film or photograph the passing trains, and a short walk from the terminus at Dalegarth to the village of Boot where there are two pubs. The railway is popular for its open carriages that provide superb sightlines of the surrounding scenery, but there are also enclosed carriages should the climatic conditions require this. After a day out on the railway, we return to Windermere by road coach in the late afternoon. We dine together at our hotel this evening – a fitting climax to the tour. (B D)

TuesdayHomeward boundAfter breakfast at the hotel, we transfer by road coach to Windermere Railway Station. Those passengers who opted to join the tour at Windermere will then be able to travel home independently. The remainder of the group will join a train to Oxenholme Lake District from where they return to London Euston in the First Class comfort of a Virgin Trains Pendolino. (B)

Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway

Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway

17

Tour Summary

Tour price £1165 Join/Depart Windermere £1045Single supplement £165


Price includes:

• First class rail travel from London, Peterborough & York outward to Stirling and return from Inverness, with at seat dining

• Standard Class rail travel from Oxenholme Lake District to Windermere (20 minutes)* 5 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast


• All rail and boat trips as mentioned in the itinerary

• A one day rover ticket for use on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway




*The First Transpennine Express trains running the short distance between Oxenholme Lake District and Windermere have insufficient First Class seats to accommodate our party.

June 2015

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 1 2 3 4 5

October 2015

M T W T F S S

28 29 30 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

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UK Tours - English Lake District

FridayExplore LiverpoolWe meet at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Liverpool, located opposite Lime Street Station, which will be our base for two nights. Arrive at your leisure giving you time, if you wish, to explore this fine city. Dinner and overnight accommodation is at the Holiday Inn Hotel. (D)

SaturdayThe Settle to Carlisle RailwayToday we join the “Cumbrian Mountain Express” steam train at Liverpool Lime Street Station. Our journey begins with an impressive exit from the station hauled by a magnificent Pacific steam locomotive, either “Duchess of Sutherland” or “Oliver Cromwell”. Breakfast will be served at our seats soon after departure. We head north to Preston and Carnforth then skirt the Lake District before entering the Lune Valley. Our steam locomotive will be fully extended as we begin the ascent to the summit of Shap Fell. Descending through Penrith North Lakes, we halt at Carlisle for a two hour break and time to explore the Border City. Leaving Carlisle we join the Settle and Carlisle Railway, climbing up through Langwathby and Culgaith and pausing for water at the market town of Appleby. Spectacular scenery follows as we climb the steep

gradient to Ais Gill summit and pass through Dent Dale, with the Peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent dominating the landscape. Twenty major viaducts and fourteen tunnels culminate in the magnificent 24 arch Ribblehead Viaduct. As we continue back to Liverpool Lime Street, we enjoy a four course dinner, silver-served at our seats. We stay overnight at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool. (B D)

SundaySteam along the North Wales CoastAfter breakfast we join the “North Wales Coast Express” special steam train at Liverpool Lime Street Station and take our reserved 1st class seats. Hauled by steam locomotive No. 6201 “Princess Elizabeth”, we take the Liverpool to Manchester Railway route of 1830 before joining the West Coast Main Line to Warrington. On leaving Chester we cross the River Dee and enter Wales, running along the Dee Estuary and then beside the Irish Sea as we pass Prestatyn and Rhyl. This coastline is known for its stunning beaches and, at Colwyn Bay, we have fantastic views of the Great Orme. We pass through several small seaside resorts on the Irish Sea coast before arriving at Bangor. Here we transfer by road coach to Penrhyn Castle for a short visit. This dramatic neo-Norman fantasy, with extensive

grounds, was built in the early 19th century for a wealthy Welsh family. It is crammed with fascinating objects and has a stable block which contains an industrial railway, dolls, and model railway museums. Afterwards our coach takes us across Anglesey to Holyhead where we rejoin our steam train for the return journey to Llandudno. We walk to the Imperial Hotel and check in for dinner.

MondaySteam on the Snowdon Mountain and Welsh Highland RailwaysThis morning we transfer to Llanberis Station for a steam-hauled trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, with its superb summit views, weather permitting! Back in Llanberis there will be some free time to explore this delightful Snowdonian town and have lunch. In the afternoon we take a trip on the Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, through the magnificent Snowdonia National Park. This fantastic 25 mile journey, steam hauled by a two foot narrow gauge Garratt locomotive, begins close to Caernarfon Castle. It takes us through spectacular mountain scenery, Beddgelert, and the famous Aberglaslyn Pass.

Derek Phillips

18

Snowdonia and the Northern Fells

This popular tour to Cumbria and around North Wales features main line steam trips and steam trains on ‘Great Little Trains of Wales’.Main line trips include travel over the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway, along the picturesque North Wales coast line, and up the dramatic Conway Valley to Blaenau Ffestiniog. We travel on an interesting variety of ‘Great Little Trains’ including the Snowdon Mountain, Ffestiniog, Fairbourne, Talyllyn, Welshpool and Llanfair, and Vale of Rheidol Railways. One highlight of the tour is to travel over the railway wonder of the 21st century, the rebuilt Welsh Highland Railway.These journeys by steam train present a very special way of seeing some of the best scenery in the British Isles. All in all a steam epic! With limited spaces available, we recommend early booking to secure a place.

Friday 17th July to Thursday 23rd July 2015Friday 31st July to Thursday 6th August 2015

UK Tours - Snowdonia and the Northern Fells

On arrival at Porthmadog, we return by road coach to the Imperial Hotel in Llandudno, for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

TuesdayA steam spectacular to Blaneau Ffestiniog and the Ffestiniog Railway to PorthmadogAfter breakfast we take a ride on the 3’6” gauge Great Orme Tramway from Llandudno Victoria Station to Great Orme Summit Station. Afterwards we go to Llandudno Junction Station to join “The Welsh Mountaineer” special steam train to Blaenau Ffestiniog. It will be hauled by a former LMS ‘Black 5’ or ‘8F’ steam locomotive along this incredibly steep branch line, climbing uphill into Snowdonia through Betws-y-Coed and Pont-y-Pant to Blaeneau Ffestiniog. There will be around two hours to explore Blaeneau Ffestiniog and find lunch before we travel on the Ffestiniog Railway to Porthmadog. We transfer to Portmeirion where we have dinner and overnight accommodation at The Hotel Portmeirion. (B D)

WednesdaySteam on the Fairbourne and Talyllyn Railways After breakfast we transfer by road coach to Fairbourne for a return journey on the Fairbourne Railway. This 12¼” gauge railway runs for 3.2 km (2 miles) alongside the beach to the end of a peninsula at the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, one of the most spectacular locations along the Cambrian Coast. We continue by coach to nearby Tywyn where we travel on the narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway (TR).

The TR is notable for being the first preserved railway in the United Kingdom. This 2’ 3” gauge railway runs for 11.7 km (7.25 miles) to Nant Gwernol and we shall make a return trip. On return to Tywyn, there will be time to purchase lunch and visit the narrow gauge railway museum. We then transfer by coach from Tywyn to Aberystwyth where we have dinner and overnight accommodation at the Marine Hotel. (B D)

ThursdaySteam on the Vale of Rheidol Railway and Welshpool & Llanfair RailwayToday we travel steam-hauled on the Vale of Rheidol Railway from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge. From Devil’s Bridge we transfer by road coach to Welshpool. There will be time to find some lunch in the town before we begin our journey on the picturesque 2’6” gauge Welshpool & Llanfair Railway. We take an enjoyable steam hauled ride through the delightful Banwy Valley to Llanfair Caereinion, and return to Welshpool. From here we return to Liverpool by road coach, calling at Chester Station on the way for the convenience of customers who may wish to catch a train there for their homeward journey. (B)

Allan Sutton

Bob Green

19

Tour Summary

Tour price £1295 Single supplement £190


Price includes:

• 6 nights accommodation with breakfast in 3 or 4-star hotels

• 5 breakfasts in hotels and one on the train

• 6 dinners

• All train and tramway travel as shown in the itinerary

• All seat reservations and coach transfers



July 2015

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August 2015

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UK Tours - Snowdonia and the Northern Fells

Monday 20th July London to Edinburgh by express trainOur tour begins at London King’s Cross Station where we board an express train to Edinburgh, following the route of the famous ‘Flying Scotsman’. After arrival at Edinburgh Waverley Station we transfer to our centrally located hotel and then the remainder of the day will be free to explore the city at leisure. Each tour member will receive an all-day travel card valid on Edinburgh trams and Lothian buses allowing complete mobility throughout the city. The city’s 14 km (8.7 miles) long tram line opened in May 2014 and links the city centre with the airport. The Royal Yacht “Britannia” is permanently moored in the Port of Leith and rates as one of the most popular visitor attractions in Scotland. It can be reached by bus from the city centre. Alternatively, a stroll down Princes Street or a walk up the famous Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle provides opportunities to explore the historic heart of the city. The choice is yours!

Tuesday 21st JulySteam train on the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway and a cruise on the Firth of ForthAfter breakfast at the hotel we travel by private coach to Boroughstoughness for a round trip by steam train on the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway. This Heritage Railway runs for over five miles along the shores of the River Forth and into pleasant countryside between Bo'ness and Manuel

Junction, via Kinneil and Birkhill. Adjacent to Bo'ness Station is the Museum of Scottish Railways with three large halls displaying historic locomotives, carriages, wagons and a plethora of other railway items. We return by our private coach to South Queensferry for an afternoon boat trip on the Firth of Forth. This is the finest way to view the Forth Road Bridge; the world-famous Forth Railway Bridge; the striking panoramas of the Edinburgh skyline to the south and the Kingdom of Fife to the north; and the beautiful island of Inchcolm, with its medieval abbey. This evening we have dinner together at our hotel. (B D)

Wednesday 22nd July Steam train on the Caledonian Railway and a visit to historic MontroseToday we travel by rail from Edinburgh to Montrose crossing the Forth and the Tay railway bridges, passing through the scenic Kingdom of Fife and along the Angus coastline. We transfer by road coach from Montrose to the ‘Victorian’ terminus railway station at Brechin. Here we board a steam train on the Caledonian Railway (Brechin) for a round trip through the Angus countryside to the former mainline station at Bridge of Dun. We shall have a light lunch together at the Railway Buffet. We return to Montrose by road coach and there will be free time to explore the town and visit the three mile long sandy beach. The town has a wealth of interesting architecture and

plaques indicate the historical heritage of the town's buildings. Nearby Montrose Basin is the largest inland salt water basin in the UK and a nature reserve of international importance. We return to Edinburgh by rail and have dinner in our hotel this evening. (B L D)

Thursday 23rd July The Kingdom of Fife to St. Andrews This morning we travel by road coach north from Edinburgh across the Forth Road Bridge and into Fife. We shall see different scenery compared to the previous day as we make our way along coastal roads through the Kingdom of Fife to St. Andrews. We spend time in this ancient town which is home to the University of St. Andrews, the third oldest university in the English-speaking world and the oldest in Scotland. The famous cathedral, the largest in Scotland, now lies in ruins, as does St. Andrews Castle, situated on a cliff-top to the north of the town. St. Andrews is also known as the “home of golf” because the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754, exercises legislative authority over the game worldwide. We return by our road coach and visit the Eust Nuek, the picturesque area of Fife which includes the fishing villages of the most northerly part of the Firth of Forth. Late in the afternoon we return to our hotel in Edinburgh where we have dinner this evening. (B D)

Peter Backhouse

20

Heart of Scotland

We are pleased to present an all new tour to appealing areas in the geographical centre of Scotland. We shall be based in the magnificent capital city of Edinburgh and Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow. We shall visit different attractions around the Firth of Forth, the Kingdom of Fife, the Trossachs, the Clyde and the Isle of Bute, travelling in fine style by steam train, steam launch and paddle steamer. Point to point transfers will be made on ScotRail service trains or by private road coach. Among the cultural attractions in the programme are the UNESCO World Heritage site of Edinburgh, ancient St. Andrews, and Stirling Castle. The natural highlights include all the hallmarks of the inspiring Scottish landscape, such as sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, lonely inland lochs and impressive mountain ranges.

Monday 20th July to Sunday 26th July 2015

UK Tours - Heart of Scotland

Friday 24th July Steam cruise on Loch Katrine and a visit to Stirling CastleAfter breakfast at our hotel, we travel by road coach to Trossachs Pier on Loch Katrine, a 13 km (8 miles) long freshwater loch in an idyllic setting. We have a 2-hour lake cruise aboard the steam ship “Sir Walter Scott”, the only surviving screw driven steamer in regular passenger service in Scotland. En route to Stronachlachar Pier and back we shall experience the tranquil beauty and scenic splendour of an ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’. After our cruise we shall have a light lunch in the restaurant at Trossachs Pier. We continue by road coach to Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s grandest castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture. There are some superb views from the wall-walks around the Douglas Gardens and the Nether Bailey. We continue by road coach to Glasgow where we check in to a centrally located hotel. We have dinner at our hotel this evening. (B L D)

Saturday 25th July Cruising the River Clyde to the Isle of Bute by paddle steamer “Waverley” Today we cruise aboard the iconic, double-funnel steamer PS “Waverley”, the last ocean-going paddle steamer in the world. We sail from Glasgow down the Clyde to Rothesay and Tighnabruaich on the Isle of Bute.

There is the opportunity to land at Rothesay, Scotland’s Madeira, for a visit to the town. Here there are options to visit Rothesay Castle, Bute Museum, the restored Winter Gardens housing the Discovery Centre, or climb the Serpentine walk to Canada Hill for magnificent views. Those who choose to stay on board the steamer cruise through the world famous Kyles of Bute to Tighnabruaich, a beautifully situated Highland village. From here the steamer returns to Glasgow arriving in the evening. The PS “Waverley” features multiple bars, galleys and a restaurant where drinks and meals may be purchased. (B)

Sunday 26th July At leisure in Glasgow and return to LondonThis morning is free to explore the historic city centre of Glasgow. It has major shopping streets which are pedestrianised and a circular underground railway. We have an early afternoon departure on a Virgin Trains Pendolino service for the return journey to London Euston Station. We shall travel First Class with light refreshments provided. (B)

Neil Cave

21

Tour Summary



Price includes:

• First Class rail travel from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh by East Coast express train and from Glasgow Central to London Euston by Virgin Pendolino service

• Standard Class rail on Scotrail services

• 6 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast


• All rail and boat trips as mentioned in the itinerary

• All road coach transfers as mentioned in the itinerary

• An all-day travel card for use on Edinburgh trams and Lothian buses




July 2015

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UK Tours - Heart of Scotland

Saturday 8th AugustLondon Paddington to ExeterOur adventure begins when we join a steam train at London Paddington Station. Our train will be hauled by ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” for the journey to the ‘West Country’. We can expect some fast running as we head for Reading where we take the Berks and Hants Line and continue through the ‘Vale of the White Horse’ to Westbury. We cross the Somerset Levels before reaching Taunton and at Norton Fitzwarren join the ‘Heritage’ West Somerset Railway. We stop at Bishops Lydeard Station for a second steam locomotive, a ‘Manor’ class 4-6-0, to be attached to the front of our train. We continue ‘double-headed’ on this scenic railway line to Minehead. Here a road coach will be waiting to transfer us to the Lynton and Barnstable Railway at Woody Bay in Devon. We have a specially chartered steam train for a ride along this narrow gauge railway line. We continue by road coach to Barnstable where we board a service train to Exeter. We have dinner and overnight accommodation at a hotel in Exeter. (D)

Sunday 9th AugustSt Michael’s Mount and Lands EndThis morning we travel by service train from Exeter to Penzance. En route we pass along the famous sea wall at Dawlish and cross the Royal Albert Bridge over the River Tamar to enter Cornwall at Saltash. We pass through the beautiful Cornish countryside and see evidence of its mining heritage. At Penzance, a road coach will be waiting to take us to St. Michael’s Mount, a small tidal island in Mount’s Bay. Depending on the tide, we shall either be able to walk across the causeway to the island from Marazion or take the boat. There will be time for lunch on the island. After the visit our coach takes us to Lands End, the most westerly point of mainland England and iconic location for charitable events to and from John o’ Groats in northeast Scotland. Later we return to Penzance and there will be time to look around the town with its Regency and Georgian architecture, harbour and terminus railway station. We transfer to St. Ives and to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Monday 10th AugustSteam at the Lappa Valley Railway and the Bodmin & Wenford RailwayToday we travel by road coach to the Lappa Valley

Railway, a 15 inch gauge railway using part of the former Newquay to Chacewater branch line. We board a steam train for a journey over the full length of the line to East Wheal Rose where there will be time to obtain refreshments and explore the old Cornish mining site. We continue by road coach to Bodmin Parkway Station where we have a steam-hauled return trip to Boscarne Junction on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway. This includes a break at the beautifully restored Bodmin General Station, the headquarters of the railway where trains reverse direction of travel. In the late afternoon we travel by road coach to Torquay in Devon crossing the road bridge over the River Tamar at Saltash with great views from a different vantage point of Brunel’s famous railway bridge. We check in to a hotel in Torquay for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Tuesday 11th AugustSteam on the Dartmouth Steam Railway and paddle steamer cruiseAfter breakfast we travel to Paignton Railway Station to join a steam train for a scenic journey along the English Riviera on the Dartmouth Steam Railway. This standard gauge heritage railway runs from Paignton to Kingswear, where it connects with ferries crossing the River Dart to Dartmouth.

Bob Green

22

West Country Explorer

Here is an all-new tour to the beautiful West Country counties of Somerset, Devon & Cornwall which are located between the Bristol Channel to the north and the English Channel to the south. The area is mostly rural with tourism and agriculture, especially dairy farming, playing a significant role in the economy. It contains some outstanding coastal and moorland scenery which we shall explore by train and road coach. The region is traditionally famous for its production of cider, clotted cream, and pasties.We begin and end this fascinating tour travelling to and from the West Country on special steam trains. We visit iconic locations such as St. Michaels Mount and Land’s End, have a paddle steamer cruise on the River Dart, and ride on steam trains at an interesting variety of heritage railways. A highlight will be the opportunity to travel by train over, and also to walk along, the legendary sea wall at Dawlish. We stay in St. Ives, notable for achieving the title of Best UK Seaside Town; and Torquay, on the beautiful English Riviera.

Saturday 8th August to Wednesday 12th August 2015

UK Tours - West Country Explorer

There are expansive views over Torbay as the line climbs to Churston before it descends, passing Agatha Christie’s Estate at Greenway Halt, to the River Dart. This is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We take the ferry to Dartmouth where we board the coal-fired paddle steamer “Kingswear Castle” for an estuary cruise. On the return there will be time to explore the narrow lanes and stone stairways of Dartmouth and discover something of its history. We return to Paignton by steam train and to our hotel in Torquay. (B D)

Wednesday 12th AugustA visit to Dawlish, the Seaton Tramway and return to London WaterlooThis morning we travel by road coach to Dawlish where we have two hours free time. This will provide wonderful opportunities to walk on the sandy beaches and along the famous sea wall right beside Brunel’s railway line.

There will be time to watch and photograph trains or simply enjoy the beaches and maybe have some traditional refreshments. We continue by coach to Seaton, on the South Devon coast, where we visit the Seaton Tramway. We have a return trip on this narrow gauge electric tramway which operates open top double-deck trams over part of the former railway branch line to Seaton. In the afternoon our road coach takes us to Weymouth. Here we board the “Dorset Coast Express” steam train for the journey to London Waterloo. We travel in the comfort of ‘premier dining’ and have a four-course meal silver served at our seats; an appropriate finale to our glorious ‘West Country’ tour. (B D)

Bob Green

23

Tour Summary



Price includes:

• Rail travel from and to London by special steam trains

• 4 nights hotel accommodation with breakfasts

• 5 dinners

• All train, boat and tram trips as mentioned in the itinerary

• All rail and road coach journeys as mentioned in the itinerary

• All visits as detailed in the itinerary




August 2015

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31 1 2 3 4 5 6

UK Tours - West Country Explorer

Friday 18th SeptemberK4 from Preston to GlasgowWe leave Preston hauled by K4 class steam locomotive No. 61994 “The Great Marquess” and head north, passing through Lancaster. After Oxenholme Lake District, the gradient begins to increase and our steam locomotive will be working hard as we climb up to Grayrigg Summit. We pass through the scenic Lune Gorge and Tebay before commencing our assault on the dramatic Shap Fell, a major obstacle in the days of steam. On arrival at Carlisle there will be a break while our steam locomotive is serviced. We cross the border into Scotland at Gretna and, after Lockerbie, face a formidable climb up to Beattock Summit. The route then drops down through undulating countryside to Carstairs and Glasgow Central Station. We transfer to Glasgow hotels for overnight accommodation.

Saturday 19th SeptemberThe spectacular West Highland Line to MallaigThis morning we transfer to Glasgow Queen Street Station for an early departure, at around 06:30. Our special train will be hauled by steam locomotive No. 61994 “The Great Marquess” for

the journey to Fort William. We travel around the outskirts of Glasgow towards the West Highland Line. We shall soon be passing within sight of the famous River Clyde between Dalmuir, Dumbarton and Craigendoran. After a brief stop at Arrochar & Tarbet Station we witness the tranquil beauty of Loch Lomond. We leave Crainlarich, where the Oban line branches off, and head for the wild and desolate Rannoch Moor. We pass by Loch Treig and through the amazing Monessie Gorge. The highest mountain in Scotland at 4,418ft, Ben Nevis, comes into view as we approach Fort William around lunchtime. Here we have a short break and a different steam locomotive, K1 class No. 62005, comes on to our train for the journey to Mallaig and back. We cross the impressive Caledonian Canal at Banavie and run beside Loch Linnhe. The splendid curved Glenfinnan Viaduct is a masterpiece of engineering famous in its own right but given greater prominence recently through the Harry Potter films. Take the opportunity to photograph it, it’s a fabulous sight. We are travelling through some of the most breathtaking scenery that Scotland has to offer. The beautiful colours of the glens and lochs stand out in contrast against the sombre tones of the mountains. There are views of the Atlantic Ocean

and distant islands before we arrive at Mallaig. Here we have a break and an opportunity to explore this fishing and ferry port, to take a leisurely stroll to sample the bracing sea air, to spend some time shopping, or enjoying the excellent traditional fish and chips! We return to Fort William, make our way to our hotels for overnight accommodation and maybe ‘a wee dram or two’!

Sunday 20th SeptemberFort William, Oban and GlasgowToday our train leaves Fort William, steam hauled by No. 61994 “The Great Marquess”. We climb through the spectacular scenery of the Monessie Gorge, pass Roy Bridge, and then tackle the steepest part of the climb up to Corrour, the second highest summit on British railways. We cross Rannoch Moor and continue through Tyndrum Upper to Crainlarich where “The Great Marquess” takes on water. We change direction of travel and set off for Oban double headed by two ‘Black 5’ locomotives No. 44871 and No. 45407. We pass through Tyndrum Lower and continue through the magnificent scenery of Loch Awe and the Falls of Cruachan. Soon after passing Taynuilt we arrive at the terminus of the

Derek Phillips

24

The West Highlander Steam Express

Join us for an exhilarating four day tour around the Western Highlands of Scotland on our own exclusive steam hauled chartered train, featuring five different steam locomotives. The tour begins in Preston, where there are good connections from London, Birmingham, the Midlands and the North of England.There is no better way to enjoy the superb scenery of the Western Highlands than to travel through it by train. Highlights of the tour include visits to Fort William, Mallaig and Oban plus views of the majestic Ben Nevis, the tranquil Loch Lomond, the barren beauty of Rannoch Moor, and much, much more. Mountains and moorland, lochs, glens and seascapes abound as we travel the West Highland Line, the world famous Fort William to Mallaig Line, plus the Oban Line.Our train will be hauled by LNER K4 and K1 class, 2 x LMS ‘Black 5’ class, and an LMS Royal Scot or Jubilee class, steam locomotives. It offers the option of travel in Premier Class, with a full meal service served at your seat, First Class or Standard Class. A buffet car will be included in the train.

Friday 18th September to Monday 21st September 2015

UK Tours - The West Highlander Steam Express

line, Oban, where there will be a break for lunch. As soon as we leave Oban we begin an awesome climb where the locomotives will be working flat out to reach the summit. We begin our descent to Connel Ferry and Taynuilt, retracing our route to Crainlarich. Here “The Great Marquess” will take over the train for the return journey to Glasgow. We face another stiff climb up to Glen Douglas before descending to Helensburgh and the Clyde valley. We pass through Dumbarton and Springburn before arriving at Glasgow Queen Street.

Monday 21st SeptemberJourney homeWe depart from Glasgow Central Station at 09:30 hauled by No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” or No. 45699 “Galatea” travelling by the Glasgow and South Western route through Paisley and Dalry to Newton-on-Ayr. Here we take the freight only line to Mauchline Junction where we join the Glasgow and South Western Main Line to Kirkconnel, Dumfries, Gretna and Carlisle. We continue steam hauled climbing up to Shap summit, and then descend to pass through Carnforth and Lancaster en route to Preston.

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

LNER K4 class 2-6-0 No. 61994 “The Great Marquess” Preston – Shap – Beattock – Glasgow CentralGlasgow Queen Street – Fort WilliamFort William – Crainlarich – Glasgow Queen Street

LNER K1 Class 2-6-0 No. 62005 Fort William – Mallaig – Fort William

2 x LMS ‘Black 5’ Class Nos. 44871 & 45407 Crainlarich – Oban – Crainlarich

LMS Royal Scot class 4-6-0 No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” or LMS Jubilee class No. 45699 “Galatea” Glasgow – Dumfries – Carlisle – Preston

Approximate Timings

Friday 19th SeptemberPreston 09:15 Glasgow Central 17:00

Saturday 20th SeptemberGlasgow Queen Street 06:30 Crainlarich 10:35 Fort William 12:50 – 13:15 Mallaig 15:00 – 17:00 Fort William 18:50

Sunday 21st SeptemberFort William 09:00 Crainlarich 12:00 – 12:30 Oban 14:00 – 15:00 Crainlarich 16:30 Glasgow Queen Street 19:30

Monday 22nd SeptemberGlasgow Central 09:30 Preston 16:00

Bob Green

25

Tour Summary



Standard Class £590Single supplement £99


Premier Class price includes:

• 3 nights hotel accommodation in Glasgow and Fort William

• 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners silver served at your seat on the train

• First class accommodation on the train

Table for two supplement £50 per person

First Class price includes:

• 3 nights hotel accommodation and breakfast in Glasgow and Fort William

• Dinner in Fort William

• First class accommodation on the train

Table for two supplement £50 per person

Standard Class price includes:

• 3 nights hotel accommodation and breakfast in Glasgow and Fort William

• Dinner in Fort William

• Standard class accommodation on the train


September 2015

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14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 1 2 3 4

UK Tours - The West Highlander Steam Express

26UK Day Trips - The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express

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 Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, 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 Carnforth before beginning to climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg. We change motive power to a steam locomotive; either 46233 “Duchess of Sutherland” or 46115 “Scots Guardsman” at Carnforth. 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 an hour and a half in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient city.

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

Our journey continues through Hellifield, Clitheroe and Blackburn, where passengers for Preston leave the train. We join the WCML at Farington Junction, having said 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. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

*Passengers from Northampton will travel to and from Rugby by service train to join our train. †Passengers boarding at Preston will return to Preston by service train from Blackburn.

• On 31st January, 7th February and 28th February 2014, 46233 “Duchess of Sutherland” will be hauling our train. • On 11th, 21st and 28th March, 46115 “Scots Guardsman” will be hauling our train.

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

Saturdays 31st January, 7th, 28th February, 21st, 28th March, 11th April 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Euston 07:10 22:05Watford Junction 07:30 21:50Milton Keynes 08:00 21:15Northampton* 07:40 21:30Rugby 08:25 20:38Nuneaton 08:45 20:20Crewe 09:45 19:15Preston† 10:30 -------Blackburn ------- 18:20Carlisle 12:40 14:30*Northampton passengers travel to and from Rugby by service train. †Passengers for Preston return by service train from Blackburn on the return journey.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £22 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express

Fares Adult Junior Family

Premier £189 £129 £507

First £135 £75 £345

Standard £79 £39 £197

27UK Day Trips - The Hadrian

Our special train will leave Manchester Victoria at around 07:00 and stop at Bolton, Wigan and Preston to collect more passengers. We can expect some fast running as we travel along the West Coast Main Line (WCML) to Lancaster and Carnforth, where we stop for our locomotives to take on water. We pass through Oxenholme Lake District and climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg and into the Cumbrian Fells. 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. We stay in the Border City for more than two hours, providing ample time to visit the castle, cathedral, museum and shops, or just to relax in one of the many fine coffee shops, restaurants or bars.

We leave Carlisle soon after 14:00 and take the scenic Tyne Valley Line towards Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Newcastle & Carlisle Railway opened this line in 1838 and it runs eastwards following the River Tyne just a few miles south of Hadrian’s Wall. Its historic importance is recognised by the five stations and two viaducts that are ‘listed’ structures. The first Station Master at Brampton Station was Thomas Edmondson who introduced cardboard tickets and dating machines for train tickets. We pass through Haltwhistle, Hexham, and Wylam, the birthplace of railway engineer George Stephenson. Approaching Newcastle-upon-Tyne, we take a ‘freight only’ line to join the East Coast Main Line (ECML) at Low Fell.

We can expect some fast running as we head south up the ECML through Durham and Darlington. We then traverse the ‘racing straight’ section of line between Northallerton and Thirsk before arriving in York. We cross the Pennines en route to stops at Manchester Victoria, Bolton, Wigan and Preston, to set down passengers. So ends a memorable day’s excursion by steam train which is not to be missed.

This is a special winter trip by train taking a circular route northbound over Shap to Carlisle and returning via the scenic Tyne Valley and the East Coast Main Line. The train will be hauled by two steam locomotives, the former London Midland & Scottish Railway Jubilee class No. 45690 “Leander” and No. 45699 “Galatea”. They make a classic pairing for the journey over a spectacular route through the Cumbrian Fells and Border country.

Saturday 7th March 2015

Derek Phillips

Approximate Timings Outward Return Manchester Victoria 07:15 20:45Bolton 07:35 21:05Wigan 07:50 21:20Preston 08:15 21:40Carlisle 11:30 14:15


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

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

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

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £22 per person (subject to availability).

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

The Hadrian


Premier £179 £112 £475

First £109 £55 £295

Standard £74 £39 £195

28UK Day Trips - The Easterling

Our steam train will depart from London King’s Cross Station at around 09:00 and immediately begin climbing through tunnels and cuttings as it makes its way down the East Coast Main Line (ECML). There are stops at Potters Bar and Stevenage for more passengers to join the train. At Hitchin we leave the ECML and head for Cambridge, our final stop for passengers. We continue north to Ely and then take the Breckland Line through Thetford to Norwich. The Breckland area is of considerable interest for its unusual flora and fauna, and is characterised by gorse-covered sandy heath land and Scots Pine trees.

We arrive at Norwich around mid-day and our steam locomotive ‘runs round’ our train as we change direction of travel here. We continue our steam hauled journey taking one of the ‘Wherry Lines’ from Norwich to Lowestoft. The Norfolk Wherry is a type of boat that was widely used in the area. Lowestoft is the most easterly town in the UK and terminus for the East Suffolk Line (ESL). Our train stops here for well over an hour giving passengers time to explore the town and harbour, once a bustling fishing port.

Our return journey is along the 49 mile-long scenic ESL through Beccles, Saxmundham and Woodbridge, famous for having the only working Tide Mill in the UK, dating from 1793. Westerfield Junction is where the branch line from Felixstowe joins the ESL; the branch is heavily used by freight trains to and from Felixstowe Docks. Approaching Ipswich, we take the newly built “Bacon Factory Curve” to join the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) going northwards from London Liverpool Street to Norwich.

We continue northwards to Stowmarket and leave the GEML at Haughley Junction. We pass through Bury St. Edmunds Station, with its distinctive pair of towers. At Snailwell Junction we take the line for Newmarket and Cambridge, where we stop to set down passengers. We make further stops to set down passengers at Stevenage and Potters Bar before journeys end at London King’s Cross.

Join us on a journey by steam train to rural Norfolk and Suffolk, a scenic area of undulating farmland, market towns, picturesque villages and waterways.The Easterling recalls the days of an express train that ran from London to Yarmouth and Lowestoft taking Londoners to the Norfolk Broads and the famous East Anglian seaside resorts. The train will be hauled by the ex-LNER B1 class 4-6-0 No. 61306 “Mayflower”.

Sunday 8th March 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London King’s Cross 09:00 21:00Potters Bar 09:20 20:40Stevenage 09:45 20:20Cambridge 10:30 19:30Norwich 12:00 12:30Lowestoft 13:00 14:45


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





The Easterling


Premier £199 £145 £543

First £139 £75 £353

Standard £95 £65 £255

29UK Day Trips - The Cumbrian Coast Express

Our train leaves London Euston at around 07:10 hauled by class 86 electric locomotive No. 86259 “Les Ross”. This locomotive is named after its owner, a well known radio disc jockey, and is in its original ‘electric blue’ livery. We speed north along the West Coast Main Line (WCML) stopping to pick up more passengers at Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton, Crewe and Preston. At Carnforth, we change locomotives and a steam locomotive, either Britannia class No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” or Royal Scot class No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman”, takes over our train for the onward journey.

We pass through Silverdale and over the Kent Viaduct where there are excellent views across Morecambe Bay. We continue through Grange-over-Sands, then cross the Leven Viaduct en route to Ulverston, and enter the Furness District which is dominated by the town of Barrow-in-Furness. Between Askam, Foxfield and Millom the line goes through 180° around the picturesque River Duddon estuary, an area well known for its wildlife. We now head north along the Cumbrian Coast, through Ravenglass and Sellafield. We then hug the coastline as far as St. Bees, travelling beside the seashore with fine views over the Irish Sea and to the Isle of Man on a clear day. We pass through Whitehaven, then beside the cliffs at Parton, before arriving at Workington where our steam locomotive takes on water.

The line between Maryport and Carlisle has limited clearance and formerly carriages had bars across window openings to prevent passengers leaning out and being injured when passing bridges. The restrictions still exist and on no account should any passenger attempt to open windows and lean out during this part of the journey. Soon we arrive in the ‘Border City’ of Carlisle where there will be a short break and time to discover the sights.

Later in the afternoon our train leaves Carlisle, hauled by our steam locomotive, and heads south up the WCML. We climb almost continuously through the Eastern Lake District to Penrith, before tackling the final ascent to Shap Summit. We descend from the summit to Tebay then pass through the beautiful Lune Gorge before continuing to descend through Oxenholme Lake District to Carnforth. Here we say ‘goodbye’ to our steam locomotive and the blue electric locomotive No. 86259 “Les Ross” takes over for the remainder of the journey to London Euston. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

Here is a rare opportunity to travel by steam train along the spectacular Cumbrian Coast Line, with its rugged cliffs and fine views over the Irish Sea.Our train will be hauled from London Euston to Carnforth and back by a preserved electric locomotive. A powerful steam locomotive will haul the train from Carnforth to Carlisle via the Cumbrian Coast Line and return to Carnforth via the West Coast Main Line. Our destination is Carlisle where there will be time to explore the city.

Saturday 14th March 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Euston 07:10 23:15Watford Junction 07:30 22:50Milton Keynes 08:00 22:00Northampton* 07:40 22:30Rugby 08:25 21:35Nuneaton 08:45 21:20Crewe 09:45 20:30Preston 10:30 19:50Carlisle 15:00 16:30*Northampton passengers travel to and from Rugby by service train.


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





The Cumbrian Coast Express


Premier £199 £139 £537

First £139 £85 £363

Standard £85 £49 £219

30UK Day Trips - The Wensleydale and Durham Coast

Our train originates in Lancashire, leaving Carnforth in the morning hauled by a diesel locomotive. We stop to pick up more passengers at Bentham, Hellifield, Skipton, Leeds and York. At York two ex-London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) steam locomotives, B1 class 4-6-0 No. 61264 and K4 class 4-6-0 No. 61994, take over our train for the onward journey. We head north from York down the East Coast Main Line (ECML) through Thirsk to Northallerton. Here we leave the ECML at Castle Hills Junction and join the Wensleydale Railway, a heritage railway passing through Wensleydale and Lower Swaledale in North Yorkshire.

Our train will be ‘topped and tailed’ by our two steam locomotives as we travel along the 35 km (22 miles) of the Wensleydale Railway between Northallerton and Redmire. The line formerly ran from Northallerton to Garsdale on the Settle & Carlisle Railway but the track between Redmire and Garsdale was lifted in 1965. Freight trains continued to serve the quarry at Redmire until 1992 and the Wensleydale Railway began operations between Leyburn and Leeming Bar in 2003. We shall pause at Leyburn where passengers will have an opportunity to visit the picturesque market town. The line climbs almost continuously from Leyburn to Redmire where our train reverses direction of travel and returns to Leyburn. Our steam locomotives take on water here before continuing to Northallerton.

We rejoin the ECML at Castle Hills Junction and head north for Darlington and Ferryhill. Here we reverse direction of travel and take the ‘freight only’ Stillington branch line to Norton Junction where we join the Durham coast line. We pass through Hartlepool and then follow the coast line to Seaham and Sunderland. At Sunderland we reverse direction of travel and return south along the Durham coast line, with fine views over the North Sea.

We return south through Hartlepool and at Norton Junction take the east to south line to Eaglescliffe, Yarm and Northallerton. We rejoin the ECML and can expect a fast run to York, our first stop to set down passengers. Our steam locomotives are replaced by a diesel locomotive for the return journey from York to Carnforth. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

This trip provides an unusual opportunity to travel by special train from stations in Lancashire and Yorkshire to the scenic Wensleydale Railway in North Yorkshire. Our train will be steam hauled from York and over the full length of the ‘Heritage’ line to Redmire. The steam train then continues north for a return trip along the Durham coast line to Sunderland. Ex-L.N.E.R B1 and K4 class steam locomotives on the train will combine to make this both an authentic and nostalgic trip.

Saturday 21st March 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Carnforth 06:15 23:00Bentham 06:35 22:35Hellifield 07:20 22:10Skipton 07:40 21:50Leeds 08:30 21:00 York 09:45 19:50Leyburn 11:45 12:45







The Wensleydale and Durham Coast


Premier £179 £141 £499

First £135 £72 £342

Standard £79 £48 £206

31UK Day Trips - The Wansbeck

Our train leaves York, diesel hauled, early in the morning, and travels north down the East Coast Main Line (ECML). We stop at Darlington, Durham and Newcastle to pick up further passengers. At Heaton Sidings we detach our diesel locomotive and from here our train will be ‘topped and tailed’ by two ex-LNER steam locomotives, Thompson designed B1 class 4-6-0 No. 61264 and Gresley designed K4 class 2-6-0 No. 61994 “The Great Marquess”.

We continue, now steam hauled, northwards along the East Coast Main Line to Morpeth. Here we reverse to travel south-eastwards along the Blyth and Tyne Railway, a line that was built chiefly to link the collieries of the area to the River Tyne at Percy Main. Although subsequently opened for passenger service, the railway is now only used by freight trains. We take the ‘freight only’ line to Bedlington, which was once an industrial town with an iron works and several coal mines. At Newsham we reverse direction of travel and head through Marches House Junction to Ashington Junction. From here we take the line to Lynemouth Colliery, here we reverse to Marches House Junction and take the line to North Blyth, a small settlement on the north eastern side of the River Blyth Harbour. We reverse once again and return on the ‘freight only’ line to Winning Junction, West Sleekburn Junction and Bedlington. We continue southwards through Newsham to the ECML at Benton North Junction. We pause briefly at Newcastle Central Station.

We leave Newcastle and cross the River Tyne on the famous King Edward VII Bridge as we head up the ECML to Durham. We take the ‘freight only’ line from Tursdale Junction to Norton Junction and then continue through Stockton to Middlesborough. We pass through Redcar and at Saltburn West Junction take the ‘freight only’ Boulby Branch. This line runs along the top of the cliffs, overlooking the North Sea, to the Potash Mine at Boulby, Europe’s second deepest mine. We return to Middlesborough and at Tees Yard No. 61264 is detached from the train. We continue steam hauled through Eaglescliffe and Dinsdale to Darlington. We then head north along the ECML to Newcastle where “The Great Marquess” leaves the train. We return to York, diesel hauled, stopping at Durham and Darlington to set down passengers.

This unusual rail tour by steam train covers parts of Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland. It passes through rural and coastal scenic areas including Wansbeck, named after the river in Northumberland. It travels along routes with an interesting history, some of which, like the Boulby Branch, are open for ‘freight only’ trains. The train will feature two steam locomotives; ex-London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) class K4 No. 61994 “The Great Marquess” and class B1 No. 61264.

Saturday 4th April 2015

James Shuttleworth

Approximate Timings Outward Return York 06:40 22:10Darlington 07:25 21:20Durham 07:50 21:00Newcastle 08:15 20:20







The Wansbeck


Premier £199 £141 £539

First £139 £72 £350

Standard £92 £48 £232


Our train leaves Leicester, diesel hauled, at around 06:20 and heads north along the Midland Main Line (MML). We stop to pick up more passengers at Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway, Langley Mill and Alfreton. We continue through Leeds and Skipton to Hellifield where steam locomotive No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” replaces the diesel locomotive on our train. Between Hellifield and Carlisle there is scarcely a level mile but our powerful steam locomotive will negotiate the 78 miles of “ups and downs” in truly classic style. At Settle Junction we join the famous Settle & Carlisle Railway and begin one of Britain’s most arduous climbs, a total of 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100. This will be a tough test for our locomotive which we will see – and hear – working very hard!

We cross the breathtaking Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel. The route runs high above valleys, over bridges and through more tunnels to Dent, the highest station in England. We make the final climb to Ais Gill Summit, all 1,169 feet of it, the dramatic peak of our journey! We travel high above the valley at Mallerstang and then drop down through Kirkby Stephen to Appleby, where our steam locomotive takes on water. We enjoy a fast run downhill from Appleby along the Eden Valley to Carlisle, where we arrive at around 13:00. There will be plenty of time to explore the ‘Border’ city with its many attractions which include the castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum, the pedestrianised English Street, and Lanes Shopping Centre.

We leave Carlisle at around 16:00 and take the scenic Tyne Valley Line towards Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Newcastle & Carlisle Railway opened this line in 1838 and it runs eastwards following the River Tyne just a few miles south of Hadrian’s Wall. We pass through Wylam, the birthplace of railway engineer George Stephenson, before we join the East Coast Main Line at Low Fell. We can expect some fast running as we head south through Durham and Darlington to York. A diesel locomotive replaces our steam locomotive at York for the remainder of the journey. We stop to set down passengers at Alfreton, Langley Mill, East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough and Leicester.

Breathtaking landscape and nostalgic steam locomotive haulage combine in one of our most exciting and varied tours by special train. Our train will be hauled from Hellifield to York via Carlisle by Royal Scot class locomotive No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman”.Passengers will experience the magnificent and world famous Settle to Carlisle Railway, travel on the 175-year old Tyne Valley Line, and speed along the East Coast Main Line. It is all here for a thrilling day’s excursion.

Monday 6th April 2015

Derek Phillips

Approximate Timings Outward Return Leicester 06:20 23:20Loughborough 06:40 23:05East Midlands Parkway 06:50 22:55Langley Mill 07:10 22:40Alfreton 07:20 22:30Carlisle 13:10 16:00







The Hadrian


Premier £199 £142 £540

First £129 £72 £330

Standard £89 £51 £229

33UK Day Trips - The Dartmouth Express

Our train leaves Woking, diesel hauled, at around 07:20. We stop for more passengers at Guildford and Reading, from where we take the Berks and Hants Line. The route follows the River Kennet through the Berkshire countryside to Newbury where we stop for more passengers. The line then runs beside the Kennet and Avon Canal for some distance before we make our final stop for passengers at Westbury, our steam locomotive ex-British Railways Britannia class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 70000 “Britannia” or No. 34067 “ Tangmere” takes over here. We cross from Wiltshire into Somerset and continue through Castle Cary and Somerton Tunnel before crossing the Somerset Levels en route to Taunton.

We shall soon be climbing to Whiteball Summit on the Somerset and Devon border before descending through the Culm Valley to Exeter. We follow the Exe Estuary, with its picturesque fishing boat views, and run along the famous sea wall from Dawlish to Teignmouth. This is one of the most famous and scenic stretches of railway line in Britain which gained international prominence when part of it was washed away in the 2014 storms. After Newton Abbot we leave the main line to Plymouth and head for Torquay and Paignton, two of the UK’s premier seaside resorts. At Paignton we join the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway and our train traverses this Heritage Railway hauled by “Britannia” or “Tangmere”. There are expansive views of Torbay as our train climbs at 1 in 60 up to the summit of this line at Churston. The line then descends to the River Dart and the terminus at Kingswear.

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

All too soon, it is time to return to our train for the journey home hauled by our steam locomotive “Britannia” or “Tangmere” as far as Westbury, where diesel power takes over again. We follow the same route as the outward journey, stopping at the same stations to set down passengers.

This trip provides an opportunity for a very special day out travelling by steam train from Woking, Guildford, Reading, Newbury and Westbury to Kingswear in South Devon. The special train will be hauled by either ex-British Railways Britannia class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 70000 “Britannia” or Battle of Britain class ‘Pacific’ locomotive No. 34067 “Tangmere”. We travel over the ‘Heritage’ Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway and the train fare includes a return journey on the ferry across the River Dart to the picture-postcard town of Dartmouth.


Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Woking 07:20 23:30Guildford 07:50 23:00Reading 09:10 22:00Newbury 09:25 21:45Westbury 10:25 20:30Paignton 13:30 17:35Kingswear 14:00 16:45







The Dartmouth Express


Premier £215 £129 £559

First £139 £75 £353

Standard £89 £55 £233

34UK Day Trips - The Buxton Spa Express

The “Buxton Spa Express” starts from Preston and will be hauled by a diesel locomotive as far as Manchester. The train heads south up the West Coast Main Line (WCML) and stops for more passengers at Wigan North Western, Bolton and Manchester Victoria. Here steam locomotives No. 61994 “The Great Marquess” and No. 61264 or No. 62005 takes over the train for the onward journey to Buxton. The train climbs the steep gradient to Miles Platting and passes through urban areas of Greater Manchester en route to the Pennine Mountains in the Peak District. The route includes some stiff climbs where our steam locomotive will be working hard and should prove to be ideal for the job. We shall pass through some rugged and wild moorland scenery in the Peak District National Park.

Our destination is Buxton, the highest market town in England. Here there will be time to explore this Spa town which is well known for its thermal springs and bottled water. It has many notable features including The Crescent, Pump Room, Pavilion Gardens, and St. Anns Well. The Natural Baths have an unusual barrel vaulted stained glass canopy, the largest stained glass window in Britain.

Our train, hauled by steam locomotives No. 61994 “The Great Marquess” and No. 61264 or No. 62005, takes a different route for the return journey. We join the ex-Midland Railway route at Chinley and travel through the beautiful Vale of Edale. We pass through Hathersage, a charming village associated with Robin Hood and the Eyre family of Brontë fame. We continue along the Hope Valley Line through the 3.5 mile long Totley Tunnel en route to Sheffield. We then travel northwards to Moorthorpe and Wakefield Kirkgate before turning westwards through Mirfield and Brighouse to Hall Royd Junction. Here we take the steeply graded line to Copy Pit before descending through Burnley to Blackburn. We pass through Darwen on the climb to Sough Tunnel and then descend to Bolton. We continue to Manchester Victoria where we stop to set down passengers. We change direction of travel and return to Preston hauled by a diesel locomotive, stopping en route at Bolton and Wigan North Western to set down passengers.

Join us on an exciting outing by special train from North West England to Buxton, a Spa town in the beautiful Peak District.This day trip includes different outward and return routes through picturesque Pennine scenery with some steep gradients. Our train will be hauled double-headed from Manchester to Buxton and return by ex-LNER K4 class 2-6-0 steam locomotive No. 61994 “The Great Marquess” and class B1 No.61264 or class K1 No. 62005.


Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Preston 08:30 19:55Wigan 08:50 19:30Bolton 09:15 19:15Manchester Victoria 09:40 18:55Buxton 11:40 15:15







The Buxton Spa Express


Premier £189 £112 £490

First £125 £55 £305

Standard £85 £42 £212

35UK Day Trips - The Heart of Wales

Our train starts from Chesterfield and will be diesel hauled to South Wales. It will travel up the Midland Main Line (MML) stopping to pick up more passengers at Alfreton, Langley Mill, East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough and Leicester. The route will then be via Nuneaton to Birmingham and south-westwards through attractive Worcestershire and Gloucestershire countryside to South Wales. We travel along the South Wales Main Line passing through Newport and just before Cardiff stop to change locomotives. Our two ‘Black 5’ steam locomotives will take over the train and we can expect some fast running along the South Wales Main Line to Port Talbot. At Briton Ferry we join the Swansea District Line and bypass Swansea.

We shall soon be on the single track ‘Heart of Wales Line’ and our first stop will be at Pantyffynnon where the steam locomotives take on water. We continue northwards through the superb Welsh countryside to Llandeilo, and then follow the River Towy to Llandovery. We commence the long and tortuous climb up to Sugar Loaf Summit, which is approached by gradients as steep as 1 in 60, and pass beneath the hills via the 1,000 yard (910 metres) long Sugar Loaf Tunnel. We descend to Llandrindod Wells where we stop while our locomotives are serviced. This provides time to visit this ‘spa’ town which has many ornate style buildings from the Victorian and Edwardian eras and is also home to the National Cycle Collection.

We continue our journey along the sinuous single track, passing through splendid scenery amongst the hills and forests. We cross the magnificent turreted Knucklas Viaduct, with its 13 arches, just before Knucklas Station. We stop at Knighton Station in Shropshire, 100 yards from the Welsh border, for our locomotives to take on water. We join the Welsh Marches line at Craven Arms and head north through Church Stretton to Shrewsbury. We change direction of travel here and our steam locomotives will be replaced by a diesel locomotive.

Our return route from Shrewsbury is via Wolverhampton, Walsall and Water Orton. This takes us along the Sutton Park Line, which is normally used only by freight trains, to bypass Birmingham. We join the main line from Birmingham at Water Orton West Junction and continue through Nuneaton to Leicester. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

This day trip by special train provides a rare opportunity for those in the East Midlands to enjoy a very scenic journey over the remote Central Wales line through Llandrindod Wells.Our train will be hauled from Cardiff along the South Wales Main Line and over the ‘Heart of Wales Line’ to Shrewsbury by two former LMSR steam locomotives, ‘Black 5’s’ No. 44871 and No. 45407. There is no better way to experience the wonderful Welsh mountain scenery.


Derek Phillips

Approximate Timings Outward Return Chesterfield 07:10 21:30Alfreton 07:30 21:10Langley Mill 07:45 20:55East Midlands Parkway 08:10 20:30Loughborough 08:20 20:15Leicester 08:35 19:55Llandrindod Wells 13:30 16:40







The Heart of Wales


Premier £209 £151 £569

First £139 £88 £366

Standard £95 £56 £246

36UK Day Trips - The East Yorkshireman

Our train leaves Manchester Piccadilly, hauled by either rebuilt Royal Scot class steam locomotive No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” or Jubilee class steam locomotive No. 45690 “Leander” and heads for Romiley where we stop to pick up more passengers. We join the former Midland Railway line across the Peak District and pass through Cowburn Tunnel into the beautiful Vale of Edale. We stop again at Hathersage, for more passengers, before passing through the 3.5 mile long Totley Tunnel and arrival at Sheffield, our final stop for passengers. We then travel north-eastwards to Doncaster and on to Goole where we cross the River Ouse on a railway swing bridge. We head east along the north bank of the River Humber, with fine views over the Estuary, before passing under the Humber Bridge and approaching Hull. At Anlaby Junction we diverge from the line into Hull Station and join the Yorkshire Coast Line.

We pass through the interesting town of Beverley and into the Yorkshire Wolds, an area of low chalk hills. We continue through Driffield and to Bridlington where the station buffet is one of only three original station buffets left in the UK. The line is single track north from Bridlington and we face a 5.5 mile climb at 1 in 92 through Bempton. We join the line from York at Seamer and continue to our destination at Scarborough, where the railway station features the longest station seat in the world! Scarborough is a Victorian spa town and the largest holiday resort on the East Yorkshire coast. It provides all the facilities that you would expect at an established seaside resort. It has two beautiful bays providing safe sandy beaches, and a busy harbour with an active fish quay.

Our train leaves Scarborough, hauled by our steam locomotive, for the return journey to Manchester. We travel westwards through Malton and Castle Howard to York, and then southwards along the East Coast Main Line to Doncaster. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

This brand new trip by steam train offers an opportunity for passengers from the Greater Manchester and Sheffield areas to visit the seaside town of Scarborough. The circular route followed in East Yorkshire crosses the Yorkshire Wolds, takes the Yorkshire Coast Line through Beverley and Bridlington to Scarborough, and then returns via York.

Saturdays 9th and 30th May 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Manchester Piccadilly 08:00 20:50Romiley 08:10 20:30Hathersage 08:30 20:00Sheffield 09:10 19:25Scarborough 12:50 15:50







The East Yorkshireman


Premier £189 £142 £520

First £130 £75 £335

Standard £77 £48 £202

37UK Day Trips - The Peak Forester

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

We join the MML at Syston Junction and head northwards through Loughborough and Trent Junction to Derby. We then take the Derwent Valley Line to Ambergate Junction and along the Matlock Branch. This was formerly the Midland Main Line to Manchester Central which closed as a through route in 1968. We are now in the Peak District and we travel up the picturesque valley of the River Derwent, passing through Cromford and Matlock Bath to Matlock.

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

Our train, steam hauled by “Mayflower”, leaves Rowsley late in the afternoon and stops at Matlock to pick up those passengers who have been visiting the town. We return via Derby, Trent Junction and Melton Mowbray to Peterborough where we stop to set down passengers. At Conington our steam locomotive takes on water. We call at Stevenage and Potters Bar to set down passengers, before journeys end at London King’s Cross.

Join us on this very special train from London to Matlock in the beautiful Peak District of Derbyshire. There we shall travel over ‘Peak Rail’ the Heritage Railway line between Matlock and Rowsley.Our train will be steam hauled throughout by ex-LNER B1 class locomotive No. 61306 “Mayflower”. The journey includes fast running stretches of high profile main lines as well as highly scenic secondary routes.

Sunday 10th May 2015

David Buck

Approximate Timings Outward Return London King’s Cross 09:30 22:15Potters Bar 09:50 21:55Stevenage 10:15 21:25Peterborough 11:30 19:55Matlock 14:10 17:05Rowsley 14:35 16:40







The Peak Forester


Premier £209 £149 £567

First £135 £72 £342

Standard £94 £54 £242


Our train leaves York at around 08:30 hauled by ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa” and heads north down the East Coast Main Line (ECML). We can expect some fast running as we continue through Thirsk and Northallerton along the famous ‘racing stretch’. We stop at Darlington for more passengers to join the train. We cross the spectacular King Edward Bridge over the River Tyne and enter Newcastle, our final stop for passengers. We then head west along the beautiful Tyne Valley Line, passing the Gateshead MetroCentre, the largest shopping and leisure centre in the UK. We pass through places with Roman connections including Corbridge, Hexham and Haltwhistle, shadowing the route of Hadrian’s Wall, which is to the north. We pass through Brampton, where the inventor of the ‘printed card with date stamped’ railway ticket, Thomas Edmondson, was once station master. We arrive in the ‘Border City’ of Carlisle where there will be almost two hours to explore this ancient city.

Our steam hauled train leaves Carlisle for the return journey at around 16:55. We join the Settle & Carlisle Railway, one of the most well known and best loved stretches of railway line in Britain. We soon begin climbing, and then at Appleby, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. The climbing continues through scenic Kirkby Stephen towards the highest railway summit in England at Ais Gill, 1169 feet above sea level. We pass over high viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through tunnels. There are magnificent views across the Fells and to the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We should have a fast run out of the hills, through Settle, until we stop again for our locomotive to take on water.

We continue through Skipton and Keighley, along the Aire Valley to Leeds. We then head north and at Colton Junction join the ECML. We shall soon arrive at York, our first stop to set down passengers. There should be some fast running before we stop at Darlington for passengers to leave the train, and our journeys end at Newcastle.

This day trip provides a rare opportunity for those in the north-east of England to travel by steam train along the scenic Tyne Valley Line and over the famous Settle & Carlisle Railway Line. The destination is Carlisle where there will be time to explore the ‘Border’ city. The train will be hauled by former LNER class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”. Don’t miss out; take advantage of this unusual journey by special train through some of Britain’s most spectacular scenery.

Saturday 16th May 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return York 08:30 18:35Darlington 09:00 19:30Newcastle 09:30 20:00Carlisle 14:55 16:55







The Hadrian


Premier £209 £150 £568

First £139 £90 £368

Standard £87 £69 £243

39UK Day Trips - The Swanage Belle

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 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.

Our train leaves Swanage for the return journey at around 17:15 and is diesel hauled to Southampton where steam locomotive No. 61306 “Mayflower” 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 22:00.

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 ex LNER B1 class 4-6-0 61306 “Mayflower”.

Thursdays 21st May and 16th July 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria 08:45 22:05Staines 09:35 21:10Woking 10:10 20:35Basingstoke 10:40 20:05Swanage 14:15 17:15







The Swanage Belle


Premier £209 £150 £568

First £145 £79 £369

Standard £92 £51 £235

40UK Day Trips - The Cumbrian Coast Express

Our train leaves London Euston at around 07:10 with electric traction, and speeds north along the West Coast Main Line. We stop to pick up more passengers at Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton, Crewe and Preston. At Carnforth, we change locomotives and steam locomotive No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” takes over our train for the onward journey around the Cumbrian coast.

We pass through Silverdale and over the Kent Viaduct where there are excellent views across Morecambe Bay. We continue through Grange-over-Sands, then cross the Leven Viaduct en route to Ulverston. We have requested to travel the loop line through Barrow-in-Furness but if this route is refused we shall use the direct link between Dalton and Park South Junction. We now head north along the Cumbrian Coast, through Foxfield, Millom, Ravenglass and Sellafield. We then hug the coastline as far as St. Bees, travelling beside the seashore with fine views over the Irish Sea. We pass through Whitehaven, then beside the cliffs at Parton, before arriving at Workington where our steam locomotive takes on water.

The line between Maryport and Carlisle has limited clearance and formerly carriages had bars across window openings to prevent passengers leaning out and being injured when passing bridges. The restrictions still exist and on no account should any passenger attempt to open windows and lean out during this part of the journey. Soon we arrive in the ‘Border City’ of Carlisle where there will be a short break and time to discover the sights.

Later in the afternoon, steam locomotive No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” hauls our train south from Carlisle. We climb almost continuously through the Eastern Lake District to Penrith, before tackling the final ascent to Shap Summit. We descend from the summit to Tebay then pass through the beautiful Lune Gorge before continuing to descend through Oxenholme Lake District to Carnforth. Here we say ‘goodbye’ to our steam locomotive and the blue electric locomotive No. 86259 takes over the train for a fast run to London. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

Here is a rare opportunity to travel by steam train along the spectacular Cumbrian Coast line, with fine views of rugged cliffs and the Irish Sea.Our train will be hauled from London Euston to Carnforth by class 86 electric locomotive No. 86259 “Les Ross” in its original ‘electric blue’ livery.At Carnforth a powerful steam locomotive takes over the train for the journey to Carlisle via the coast line and back to Carnforth via the main line over Shap.

Saturdays 23rd and 30th May 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Euston 07:10 23:15Watford Junction 07:30 22:50Milton Keynes 08:00 22:00Northampton* 07:40 22:30Rugby 08:25 21:35Nuneaton 08:45 21:20Crewe 09:45 20:30Preston 10:30 19:50Carlisle 15:00 16:50*Northampton passengers travel to and from Rugby by service train.







The Cumbrian Coast Express


Premier £209 £139 £557

First £138 £85 £361

Standard £85 £49 £219

41UK Day Trips - The Cumbrian Mountain Express

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 Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, 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. At Carnforth we change motive power and Royal Scot class steam locomotive No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” takes over the train.

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 an hour and a half in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient city.


Our journey continues from Hellifield to Clitheroe and Blackburn, where passengers for Preston leave the train. At Farrington Junction we say goodbye to our steam locomotive and the blue class 86 electric locomotive joins our train. We shall have a fast run up the WCML to London Euston with stops at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

*Northampton passengers travel to and from Rugby by service trains†Passengers for Preston return by service train from Blackburn on the return journey

This train will recreate the early days of steam rail tours in the 1980’s when travelling over the Settle & Carlisle Railway was “the icing on the cake” in the main line ‘steam’ calendar. We begin with a high speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth hauled by a blue electric locomotive. Our train will then be steam hauled on a circular route via Shap to Carlisle and over the Settle and Carlisle line. We return from Farrington Junction to London behind our electric locomotive.

Saturday 6th June 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Euston 07:10 22:05Watford Junction 07:30 21:50Milton Keynes 08:00 21:15Northampton* 07:40 21:30Rugby 08:25 20:38Nuneaton 08:45 20:20Crewe 09:45 19:15Preston† 10:30 -------Blackburn ------- 18:20Carlisle 12:40 14:30







The Cumbrian Mountain Express


Premier £189 £129 £507

First £135 £75 £345

Standard £79 £39 £197


Our train leaves Leicester, diesel hauled, at around 06:30 and stops to pick up more passengers at Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway, Alfreton, and Sheffield. We continue through Leeds and Skipton to Hellifield where we change locomotives. A steam locomotive replaces the diesel locomotive on our train for the journey over the spectacular Settle to Carlisle Railway.

Between Hellifield and Carlisle there is scarcely a level mile but our powerful steam locomotive will negotiate the 78 miles of “ups and downs” in truly classic style. Settle Junction marks the beginning of one of Britain’s most arduous climbs, a total of 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100. This will be a tough test for our locomotive which we will see – and hear – working very hard! We cross the breathtaking Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel. The route runs high above valleys, over bridges and through more tunnels to Dent, the highest station in England. We make the final climb to Ais Gill Summit, all 1,169 feet of it, the dramatic peak of our journey! We travel high above the valley at Mallerstang and then drop down through Kirkby Stephen to Appleby, where our steam locomotive takes on water.

We can expect a fast run downhill from Appleby along the Eden Valley to Carlisle, where we arrive at around 13:00. There will be time to explore the ‘Border’ city with its many attractions which include the castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum, the pedestrianised English Street, and Lanes Shopping Centre.

We leave Carlisle at around 14:40 and take the scenic Tyne Valley Line towards Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Newcastle & Carlisle Railway opened this line in 1838 and it runs eastwards following the River Tyne just a few miles south of Hadrian’s Wall. We pass through Wylam, the birthplace of railway engineer George Stephenson, before we join the East Coast Main Line at Low Fell. We can expect some fast running as we head south through Durham and Darlington to York. Here a diesel locomotive replaces our steam locomotive for the remainder of the return journey. We stop at Sheffield, Alfreton, East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough and Leicester to set down passengers.

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


Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Leicester 06:30 22:30Loughborough 07:00 22:15East Midlands Parkway 07:15 22:00Alfreton 07:40 21:20Sheffield 08:30 20:30Carlisle 13:00 14:40







The Hadrian


Premier £215 £142 £572

First £144 £72 £360

Standard £95 £51 £241

43UK Day Trips - The Cotswold Venturer

Our steam train leaves London Paddington at around 08:30 hauled by King Class 4-6-0 No. 6023 King Edward II and heads down the ex-Great Western Railway (GWR) main line. We stop at Slough, Reading and Didcot to pick up more passengers. Our journey continues through Oxford and at Wolvercote Junction we join the Cotswold Line. Parts of this line had double track reinstated which reopened in 2011. We pass through Finstock, Charlbury and Ascott-under-Wychwood. The Cotswold Area of outstanding Natural Beauty is characterised by attractive small towns and villages built of Cotswold stone, a yellow oolitic limestone. Rare limestone grassland habitats as well as the old growth beech woodlands typify the area, which is a delight to behold.

We pass through Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh, then through Campden Tunnel, and speed down Honeybourne Bank to Evesham. We arrive at Worcester Shrub Hill where there will be more than three hours 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 the birthplace of the composer Sir Edward Elgar.

Our steam train leaves Worcester Shrub Hill in the late afternoon and returns by a different route. At Abbots Wood Junction we join the ex-Midland Railway route to Bristol and there are distant views of the Malvern Hills to the west. We head south to Cheltenham, by-pass Gloucester, and then join the Golden Valley route at Standish Junction. We pass through Stroud and climb up the picturesque Stroud Valley to Sapperton Tunnel. 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.

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 the Cotswold Line through Moreton-in-Marsh and Evesham and return via the Golden Valley line through Stroud and Kemble.We should experience some fast running along the ex-GWR main line.

Saturdays 13th June and 18th July 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Paddington 08:30 20:40Slough 09:40 20:15Reading 10:15 19:15Didcot 10:40 18:45Worcester 12:55 16:10







The Cotswold Venturer


Premier £209 £149 £567

First £139 £85 £363

Standard £89 £52 £230

44UK Day Trips - The Royal Duchy

Our train leaves Bristol Temple Meads at around 08:15 and stops to pick up further passengers at Yatton and 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 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 at around 17:45 and stop at Plymouth to pick up those passengers who chose to alight there. Our train returns to Bristol, stopping to set down passengers at Exeter, Taunton and Yatton.

The steam locomotives to be used on this day trip were all built for use on express passenger trains and come from the following pool: No. 5029 “Nunney Castle”, Castle class 4-6-0, built at Swindon in 1934 by the Great Western Railway (GWR). No. 34046 “Braunton”, rebuilt West Country class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Brighton in 1946 by the Southern Railway (SR) and rebuilt in 1959. No. 34067 “Tangmere” ‘Battle of Britain’ class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Brighton in 1947 by the Southern Railway (SR). No. 6023 “King Edward II”, King class 4-6-0, built at Swindon Works in 1930 by the Great Western Railway (GWR).

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.

Sun 14th, 21st, 28th June; 5th, 12th July; 2nd, 16th, 30th Aug; 6th Sep 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads 08:15 22:30Yatton 08:34 22:05Taunton 09:22 21:15Exeter St. Davids 10:50 20:15Plymouth 13:00 19:00Par 14:00 17:45


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





The Royal Duchy


Premier £185 £139 £509

First £135 £76 £346

Standard £79 £49 £207

45UK Day Trips - The Welshman

We leave Poole at around 08:30 and stop at Bournemouth and Christchurch to pick up more passengers. Our route follows the main line towards London Waterloo, skirting the picturesque New Forest. We stop at Brockenhurst and Southampton to pick up further passengers. We take the scenic route through Romsey to Salisbury, where we make our final stop for passengers and for our steam locomotive to take on water.

We head west from Salisbury to Wilton where we leave the main line to the West of England. We cross the edge of Salisbury Plain en route to Warminster and then descend steeply to Westbury. We follow the scenic Avon Valley through Bradford-on-Avon and join the main line from London Paddington at Bathampton Junction. Soon afterwards we shall catch our first glimpse of the Georgian city of Bath.

Bath Spa Station is close to the city centre and passengers choosing to leave our train here will have ample time to visit the sights. These include the famous Roman Baths and nearby Pump Room, the beautiful Abbey, the Royal Crescent, Sally Lunn’s Refreshment House & Museum, Pulteney Bridge Shops and Pulteney Weir, and the Parade Gardens beside the River Avon.

For those who choose to remain on the train, it continues through Bristol to the Severn Tunnel, Newport and Cardiff. The Welsh capital has been transformed over recent years and is now a wonderful city to explore. There will be over three hours here for passengers to visit such places as The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Castle, Cardiff Bay, Bute Park, and the Shopping Arcades.

Our train leaves Cardiff, steam hauled, at around 16:10 and returns to Bath where we pick up passengers who chose to leave the train there. We return to Poole, stopping to set down passengers at the same stations as on the outward journey.

Join us as we travel by special steam train to the magnificent cities of Bath and Cardiff. Passengers have the option of spending time in either one of these cities. This excursion from the Dorset coast passes through the varied and scenic Wiltshire countryside en route to Bath and then through the famous Severn Tunnel into Wales. Our train will be hauled by Battle of Britain class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 34067 “Tangmere”. Relax in the comfort of our train and enjoy a memorable day out.


Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Poole 08:30 20:40Bournemouth 08:50 20:20Christchurch 09:00 20:10Brockenhurst 09:10 20:00Southampton 09:30 19:40Salisbury 10:30 18:45Bath 11:15 17:30Cardiff 12:40 16:10







The Welshman


Premier £209 £145 £563

First £145 £84 £374

Standard £95 £52 £242

46UK Day Trips - The Royal Wessex

The “Royal Wessex” leaves Three Bridges early on Saturday morning hauled by ‘Battle of Britain’ class No. 34067 “Tangmere”. The train stops at Haywards Heath to pick up more passengers, and at Preston Park, where passengers from the Brighton area can join the train. Our train by-passes Brighton, taking the West Coastway Line, with stops at Hove and Worthing for further passengers. The route follows the south coast of England with brief glimpses of the sea at Shoreham and between Chichester and Havant.

We pass through Fareham and Southampton before entering the New Forest, the picturesque area of heathland and forest, famous for its ponies. We stop at Bournemouth to set down those passengers who have chosen to visit this famous seaside resort, with its beautiful gardens, ‘pine’ walks and sandy beaches. We continue westwards to Poole where there are spectacular views across the harbour. We stop at Wareham where passengers can choose to alight to visit the town, or maybe Corfe Castle and the Swanage Railway. We travel through classic Dorset countryside and delightful scenery between Wareham and Dorchester, and then descend steeply to the coast at Weymouth. There will be over three hours in Weymouth for those who choose this option. This provides ample time to visit the beach and shops, which are close to the railway station, or to venture further afield to the Old Harbour or Nothe Fort.

Our train leaves Weymouth for the return journey at around 16:30 hauled by No. 34067 “Tangmere”. Our steam locomotive will be working flat out as we climb Upwey Bank which has a gradient of 1 in 50. We call at Wareham and Bournemouth to collect those passengers who left the train at these stations on the outward journey. We continue to stops for setting down passengers at Worthing, Hove, Preston Park, Haywards Heath and Three Bridges.

Join us on this delightful day trip by steam train to Dorset with the option of spending time at Bournemouth, Wareham or Weymouth.The “Royal Wessex” recalls the days of named steam trains from the 1950’s on the former Southern Region of British Railways.We recreate this train which ran from London Waterloo to the same three destinations and was sometimes hauled by the same types of ‘pacific’ steam locomotives as our train.


Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Three Bridges 07:00 21:55Haywards Heath 07:20 21:42Preston Park 08:11 21:04Hove 08:16 20:59Worthing 08:33 20:42Bournemouth 12:00 17:45Wareham 12:30 17:15Weymouth 13:10 16:35







The Royal Wessex


Premier £215 £149 £579

First £145 £75 £365

Standard £85 £55 £225

47UK Day Trips - The Yorkshireman

Our train leaves London Ealing Broadway Railway Station at around 06:35 hauled by A4 Class ‘Pacific’ No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”. We head up the main line to Acton Wells Junction where we branch off to Neasden and Dudding Hill Junction. Here we take the Brent curve to join the Midland Main Line (MML) at Cricklewood. We head north and stop at St. Albans, Luton, Bedford and Kettering, to pick up further passengers.

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

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

York is a fascinating city to visit as it has a huge variety of attractions including the world famous National Railway Museum, the Minster, the Shambles, the Castle and its museum, and the Viking Jorvik Centre. Open top buses leave from the station forecourt on tours around the city.

Our train leaves York at around 17:10 and returns to London Ealing Broadway hauled by a diesel locomotive. We shall stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

This day trip by train provides an opportunity for those in the London area, the Home Counties and the East Midlands, to visit the historic city of York.The train takes an interesting route which includes the Midland Main Line but also unusual lines rarely used by passenger trains.The train will be hauled by an express steam locomotive for the journey to York. This fitting reminder of the great days of steam train travel is an experience not to be missed.

Saturday 4th July 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Ealing B’way 06:35 22:45St. Albans 08:05 21:30Luton 08:20 21:20Bedford 08:45 21:00Kettering 09:35 20:30Melton Mowbray 10:45 19:50York 13:45 17:10







The Yorkshireman


Premier £215 £141 £571

First £145 £76 £366

Standard £95 £52 £242

48UK Day Trips - The End of Southern Steam

Our train leaves London Victoria Station at around 08:45, hauled by Battle of Britain class steam locomotive 34067 “Tangmere” and travels westwards, crossing the River Thames at Barnes Bridge, through Kew and Feltham. We stop at Woking to pick up further passengers. At Winchfield, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water before continuing to our final pick up point at Basingstoke. We leave the South Western Main Line at Worting Junction and take the Bournemouth Line, heading south through Winchester and Southampton.

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 at around 16:35 and our train will be hauled by a steam locomotive and ‘banked’ at the rear by a diesel locomotive to assist with the steep climb ahead. It may be that the diesel will be at the front with the steam locomotive working from the rear of the train for the section between Weymouth and Southampton on the return journey. Our locomotive will be working flat out as we climb Upwey Bank soon after leaving Weymouth. We return through the Dorset countryside to Bournemouth where we stop to collect those passengers who left the train there on the outward journey. We continue through Southampton and Winchester to Basingstoke, where we stop to set down passengers and our steam locomotive takes on water. We can expect a fast run along the main line from Basingstoke to Woking, where we stop to set down passengers, and on to our final destination at London Waterloo.

Join us on a daytrip 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.

Thursday 9th July 2015

Derek Phillips

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria† 08:45 21:15Woking 09:25 20:35Basingstoke 10:05 19:50Bournemouth 11:50 17:45Weymouth 12:45 16:35

†Returns to London Waterloo







The End of Southern Steam


Premier £219 £150 £588

First £149 £84 £382

Standard £99 £51 £249


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 Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, 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. At Carnforth we change motive power and Royal Scot class steam locomotive No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” takes over the train.

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 an hour and a half in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient city.


Our journey continues from Hellifield to Clitheroe and Blackburn, where passengers for Preston leave the train. At Farrington Junction we say goodbye to our steam locomotive and the blue class 86 electric locomotive joins our train. We shall have a fast run up the WCML to London Euston with stops at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.


This train will recreate the early days of steam rail tours in the 1980’s when travelling over the Settle & Carlisle Railway was “the icing on the cake” in the main line ‘steam’ calendar. We begin with a high speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth hauled by a blue electric locomotive. Our train will then be steam hauled on a circular route via Shap to Carlisle and over the Settle and Carlisle line. We return from Farrington Junction to London behind our electric locomotive.

Saturday 11th July 2015

Bob Green










Premier £189 £129 £507

First £135 £75 £345

Standard £79 £39 £197

50UK Day Trips - The Dorset Coast Express

Our train leaves London Victoria Station at around 08:45 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 stop for our steam locomotive to take on water before continuing to our final pick up point at Basingstoke. We leave the South Western Main Line at Worting Junction and take the Bournemouth Line, heading south through Winchester and Southampton.

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 at around 16:35 and our train will be hauled by a steam locomotive and ‘banked’ at the rear by a diesel locomotive to assist with the steep climb ahead. Our steam locomotive will be working flat out as we climb Upwey Bank soon after leaving Weymouth. We return through the Dorset countryside to Bournemouth where we stop to collect those passengers who left the train there on the outward journey. We continue through Southampton and Winchester to Basingstoke, where we stop to set down passengers and our steam locomotive takes on water. We can expect a fast run along the main line from Basingstoke to Woking, where we stop to set down passengers, and on to our final destination at London Waterloo.

There may be occasions when these trains are diesel-hauled between Weymouth and Southampton for operational reasons.

One of the following steam locomotives will be used on this day trip: No. 34067 “Tangmere” ‘Battle of Britain’ class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Brighton in 1947 by the Southern Railway, for use on express passenger trains. No. 35018 “British India Line” rebuilt ‘Merhant Navy’ class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Eastleigh in 1945, rebuilt in 1956, and used on express passenger trains. No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”, Britannia class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built by British Railways at Crewe Works in 1951 to a ‘standard’ design, and used on express passenger trains in East Anglia.

We are offering a number of attractive summer day trips from London to Weymouth by steam train. These trains provide plenty of opportunitiy 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.

Wed 15th, 22nd, 29th July; 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th Aug; 2nd, 9th Sep 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria† 08:45 21:51Staines* 09:35 -------Woking† 10:05 20:35Basingstoke 10:55 19:50Bournemouth 12:50 17:45Weymouth 13:45 16:35*Passengers for Staines travel by service train from London Waterloo on the return journey. †Returns to London Waterloo







The Dorset Coast Express


Premier £195 £134 £524

First £125 £71 £321

Standard £79 £42 £200


Our train will be diesel hauled from Crewe to Liverpool via Runcorn, where we stop to pick up further passengers. We leave Liverpool Lime Street, steam hauled, just after 07:00 and stop to pick up passengers at Broad Green and St. Helens Central. We join the West Coast Main Line (WCML) before stopping for more passengers at Wigan. We head north, leaving the WCML at Farington Junction, and stop at Blackburn, where passengers who have travelled by service train from Preston join our train.

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

We cross the spectacular Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel. We pass the highest railway station in England at Dent, crossing over bridges and passing through tunnels amongst the Yorkshire Dales. There are magnificent views of the Pennine ‘Three Peaks’ of Pen-yghent, Whernside and Ingleborough as we make the final climb to Ais Gill Summit. We travel above the valley at Mallerstand and descend to Kirkby Stephen and Appleby, where we stop for our locomotive to take on water. We pass through the Eden Valley and arrive in the Border City of Carlisle shortly before 13:00. There will be more than three hours in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient city.

Our train returns to Liverpool, steam hauled, via the steeply graded route over Shap summit on the WCML. We stop to set down passengers at Preston, Wigan, St. Helens, Broad Green and Liverpool Lime Street where we arrive around 20:25. Our train continues to Runcorn and Crewe diesel hauled.

The steam locomotives to be used on this day trip come from the following pool: No. 45305 ‘Black 5’ 4-6-0, built for the LMSR by Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936, a ‘mixed traffic’ locomotive for use on passenger and freight trains. No. 46233 “Duchess of Sutherland” Princess Coronation Class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2 built by the LMSR at Crewe in 1938, for use on express passenger trains, now in B.R. green livery. No. 60009 “Union of South Africa” A4 class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Doncaster in 1937 by the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER), for use on express passenger trains.

*Passengers from Preston travel by service train to Blackburn on the outward journey

†Passengers for Blackburn travel by service train from Preston on the return journey

This is a wonderful opportunity for passengers from Merseyside and Lancashire to travel by steam train over two of England’s most scenic railway routes.Our train travels north to Carlisle by the spectacular Settle & Carlisle Railway Line and returns via the West Coast Main Line over Shap.We have a magnificent steam locomotive to haul these trains which recall the glorious days of steam train travel. It promises to provide a memorable day out.

Saturdays 18th July and 1st August 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Crewe 05:50 21:45Runcorn 06:25 21:05Liverpool Lime Street 07:05 20:25Broad Green 07:15 20:10St Helens Central 07:40 19:55Wigan North Western 08:00 19:40Preston* ------- 19:10Blackburn† 09:05 -------Carlisle 12:55 16:10









Premier £189 £135 £513

First £125 £79 £329

Standard £79 £48 £206

52UK Day Trips - The Weymouth Seaside Express

Our special train leaves Bristol Temple Meads at around 08:20, hauled by our steam locomotive, and heads eastwards. We stop to pick up passengers at Keynsham and Bath. We then take the route up the picturesque Avon Valley, travelling southwards to Trowbridge and Westbury, where we make stops to pick up more passengers.

We head westwards from Westbury along the West of England main line to Bruton. At Castle Cary, we leave the main line and head south on the single track Weymouth Branch. We stop at Yeovil Pen Mill for our steam locomotive to take on water, and then there follows a long steep climb through the Dorset Hills up to the summit at Evershot Tunnel. Our steam locomotive will be working flat out on this exhilarating climb. It is mainly downhill from Evershot Summit through Maiden Newton, and the picturesque town of Dorchester, to Weymouth.

There will be around five hours in Weymouth to explore this much loved south coast seaside resort. It is located on the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has a beautifully wide sandy beach near to the railway station. Other attractions include the Old Harbour; Brewers Quay, shopping village; and Nothe Fort, where there are spectacular views over both Weymouth and Portland harbours. Open top buses operate to the Isle of Portland, where there is a castle and lighthouse, and there are boat trips from Weymouth Harbour around Portland Harbour.

We leave Weymouth for our return journey at around 16:30 and head north up the steep Bincombe Bank (1 in 50) to Dorchester. Later we climb up to Evershot Summit from the south side before the descent to Yeovil Pen Mill. We stop at Westbury, Trowbridge, Bath and Keynsham to set down passengers. Finally we arrive at Bristol Temple Meads where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive.

The steam locomotive used on this day trip will be one of the following: No. 5029 “Nunney Castle”, Castle class 4-6-0, built at Swindon in 1934 by the Great Western Railway (GWR), for use on express passenger trains. No. 34046 “Braunton”, West Country class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Brighton in 1946 for the Southern Railway and rebuilt in 1959, for use on express passenger trains. No. 35018 “British India Line” rebuilt ‘Merhant Navy’ class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Eastleigh in 1945, rebuilt in 1956, and used on express passenger trains.

A trip down memory lane awaits those who join this special train which recreates the days of seaside excursions run by British Railways in the 1950’s.The train will be hauled by a steam locomotive that will evoke the past and complete this nostalgic experience.Our destination is the attractive seaside town of Weymouth – a traditional English seaside resort that has managed to preserve much of its charm. This is a lovely outing for a summer day.

Sundays 19th and 26th July 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads 08:20 20:15Keynsham 08:30 20:05Bath 08:45 19:50Trowbridge 09:10 19:15Westbury 09:25 18:50Weymouth 11:25 16:30

There are two classes available:

First Class includes a first class seat in a first class carriage usually at a table for four.


Tables for two can be guaranteed in First Class for a supplement of £22 per person (subject to availability).


Please note that because there is no kitchen car on these trains we are unable to provide ‘at seat’ refreshments to First Class passengers.

The Weymouth Seaside Express


First £89 £56 £234

Standard £65 £39 £169

53UK Day Trips - The North Wales Coast Express

Our train leaves Liverpool Lime Street Station at around 10:00, hauled by a magnificent steam locomotive, and makes a highly atmospheric departure as it climbs up through the deep cutting to Edge Hill. We stop to pick up more passengers at Broad Green Station, where there is a large car park, Warrington Bank Quay, Frodsham and Chester.

On leaving Chester, we pass through the ancient city walls and cross the River Dee into Wales. We steam along beside the Dee Estuary with views across to the Wirral Peninsula. We pass through Prestatyn, Rhyl, and Colwyn Bay along the delightful Irish Sea coastline which is well known for its fine beaches. We stop at Llandudno Junction before taking the branch line to Llandudno. Here we stop to set down passengers wishing to spend time at this seaside resort.

We return to Llandudno Junction and continue along the North Wales Coast Line, crossing the unusual Conway railway bridge over the Conway Estuary. The railway line is very close to the Irish Sea as we pass through Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan, with magnificent sea views across to the Island of Anglesey. We stop at Bangor Station to set down those passengers who may wish to spend time visiting this historic city. Our train crosses the Britannia Bridge, over the Menai Strait, into Anglesey, and steams on to Holyhead.

Our train leaves Holyhead, steam hauled for the return journey, at around 17:45. It stops at Bangor, Llandudno and Llandudno Junction to pick up passengers who opted for these destinations. It continues to Liverpool Lime Street stopping at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

The steam locomotives to be used on this day trip come from the following pool: No. 45305 ‘Black 5’ 4-6-0, built for the LMSR by Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936, a ‘mixed traffic’ locomotive for use on passenger and freight trains. No. 60009 “Union of South Africa” A4 class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Doncaster in 1937 by the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER), for use on express passenger trains. No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” Britannia class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Crewe in 1951 to British Railways ‘standard’ design, and used on express passenger trains in East Anglia.

Please check our website for further fare options.

The North Wales Coast Express is a special train that runs from Liverpool and Chester to Holyhead on two summer Sundays.It provides an excellent opportunity for passengers from Merseyside and Cheshire to experience the excitement of travelling by steam train along the picturesque North Wales Coast railway line.Passengers have a choice of three destinations: the seaside town of Llandudno, the historic city of Bangor, or the port of Holyhead.

Sundays 19th July and 2nd August 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Liverpool Lime Street 10:05 22:40Broad Green 10:23 22:00Warrington Bank Quay 10:50 21:40Frodsham 11:30 21:10Chester 12:00 20:40Llandudno Junction 13:15 19:20Llandudno 13:30 19:05Bangor 14:15 18:25Holyhead 14:30 17:45







The North Wales Coast Express


Premier £189 £131 £509

First £115 £60 £290

Standard £74 £41 £189

54UK Day Trips - The Waverley

Our steam hauled train leaves York at 09:30 and heads for Church Fenton where we take the route to Leeds. We stop to pick up more passengers at Leeds, Shipley, Keighley, and Skipton. There will be a stop for our steam locomotive to take on water 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.

We cross the breathtaking Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel. We pass through the highest station in England at Dent, travelling through tunnels and crossing valleys on bridges. There are magnificent views across the Fells to the Pennine ‘Three Peaks’ of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough 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 Appleby, where our locomotive takes on water.

Passengers who choose to alight at Appleby will have around four hours to visit this historic market town which lies in a loop of the picturesque River Eden. Passengers choosing to continue to Carlisle 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 16:15 and climbs almost continually 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 and to pick up those passengers who spent the afternoon there. We continue to stops at Skipton, Keighley, Shipley, Leeds, and York, to set down passengers.

One of the three following steam locomotives will be used on this day trip: No. 45690 “Leander”, Jubilee class 4-6-0, built at Crewe Works in 1936 by the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMSR), for use on express passenger trains. No. 45699 “Galatea” Jubilee class 4-6-0, built at Crewe in 1936 by the LMSR, for use on express passenger trains. No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” rebuilt Royal Scot class 4-6-0, built in 1927 by the North British Locomotive Company for the LMSR and rebuilt in 1947, for use on express passenger trains.

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 Line, probably the most famous railway route in Britain.There is also the option of visiting the Cumbrian market town of Appleby or the border city of Carlisle.These day trips revive the nostalgic former ‘days of steam’ when travel by train through magnificent scenery was an experience to savour.

Sundays 19th, 26th July; 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th August; 6th Sep 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return York 09:30 21:20Leeds 10:20 20:30Shipley 10:45 20:15Keighley 10:55 20:05Skipton 11:10 19:50Appleby 13:35 17:20Carlisle 14:20 16:15







The Waverley


Premier £179 £139 £497

First £115 £69 £299

Standard £69 £45 £183

55UK Day Trips - The Welsh Mountaineer

Our steam train leaves Preston at around 06:50 and heads up the West Coast Main Line to Warrington Bank Quay where we stop to pick up more passengers. We continue to Frodsham where further passengers may join the train and our steam locomotive takes on water. Chester is our final pick up point for passengers and as we leave, we pass through the ancient city walls and cross the River Dee into Wales. We steam along beside the Dee Estuary and then travel along the delightful Irish Sea coastline which is well known for its beaches. We pass through Prestatyn and Rhyl, and after Colwyn Bay, we enjoy wonderful views of the Great Orme. At Llandudno Junction Station, we change direction of travel so our steam locomotive needs to ‘run round’ our train.

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

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

Our train leaves Blaenau Ffestiniog, steam hauled, at around 16:00 and returns to Llandudno Junction. After changing direction of travel we continue, still steam hauled, stopping at Chester, Frodsham, and Warrington Bank Quay to set down passengers. Our final calling point is Preston and so ends a memorable day out.

One of the two following steam locomotives will be used on this day trip: No. 45305 Black ‘5’ 4-6-0, built for the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMSR) by Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936, a ‘mixed traffic’ locomotive for use on passenger and freight trains. No. 61994 “The Great Marquess”, K4 class 2-6-0, built at Darlington Works in 1937 by the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER), a ‘mixed traffic’ locomotive for use on passenger and freight trains on the West Highland Line in Scotland.

These day trips provide a rare opportunity for passengers from Lancashire and Cheshire to travel by steam train to Blaenau Ffestiniog, in the heart of the spectacular Snowdonia National Park. The route is via Chester, providing connections from other parts of the country, and along the scenic North Wales Coast Line. From Llandudno Junction, our steam train heads up the beautiful Conwy Valley to the mountains at Blaenau Ffestiniog. This is a journey that you will remember for a long time!

Tuesdays 21st July; 4th and 25th August 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Preston 06:50 21:00Warrington 07:30 20:05Frodsham 08:20 19:30Chester 09:30 19:10Llandudno Junction 11:50 17:30Blaenau Ffestiniog 13:15 16:00

There are two classes available:



Tables for two can be guaranteed in First Class for a supplement of £22 per person (subject to availability).


The Welsh Mountaineer


First £135 £72 £342

Standard £89 £50 £228

56UK Day Trips - The West Somerset Steam Express

We leave London Paddington at around 08:30, steam hauled, and stop at Slough and Reading to pick up more passengers. At Reading we join the Berks and Hants line which runs through picturesque rural countryside. We pass the celebrated Newbury Racecourse before making our final stop for passengers at Newbury Station. We continue westwards, travelling beside the scenic Kennet & Avon Canal, and climbing steadily to Savernake Summit. We pass through the Vale of Pewsey, view one of the famous Wiltshire White Horses as we approach Westbury, and continue through undulating agricultural countryside to Taunton.

Soon after leaving Taunton we arrive at Norton Fitzwarren where we transfer to the West Somerset Railway (WSR), the longest Heritage Railway in the country. We continue to Bishops Lydeard where a WSR steam locomotive will take over our train for the remainder of the journey to Minehead. The WSR runs along the edge of the Quantock Hills between Bishops Lydeard and Watchet where it meets the coast. The line then turns inland to Washford and returns to the coast at Blue Anchor, Dunster, with its magnificent castle, and Minehead.

On arrival at Minehead there will be more than two hours to explore this delightful Bristol Channel seaside resort where the railway station is close to the beach. A WSR steam locomotive will haul our train from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard where our main line steam locomotive will take over for the return journey to London Paddington. The train will stop at Newbury, Reading and Slough to set down passengers.

The steam locomotives to be used on this day trip come from the following pool: No. 34067 “Tangmere” ‘Battle of Britain’ class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Brighton in 1947 by the Southern Railway, for use on express passenger trains. No. 70000 “Britannia” ‘Britannia’ class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Crewe in 1951 to British Railways ‘standard’ design, the first ‘standard’ to be built, and used on express passenger trains in East Anglia. No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”, Britannia class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built by British Railways at Crewe Works in 1951 to a ‘standard’ design, and used on express passenger trains in East Anglia. No. 34046 “Braunton”, West Country class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Brighton Works in 1946 for the Southern Railway (SR) and rebuilt in 1959, for use on express passenger trains.

This series of trains from London Paddington to Minehead features haulage by two steam locomotives in one day.An express steam locomotive will haul our train from London Paddington to the West Somerset Railway at Bishops Lydeard.The Heritage Railway will then provide a steam locomotive to haul our train to Minehead and back. This provides a truly fascinating day out travelling through beautiful scenery to the Bristol Channel coast.

Saturdays 25th July; 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th August; and 19th Sep 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Paddington 08:30 22:15Slough 08:55 21:45Reading 09:25 21:15Newbury 10:30 20:45Bishops Lydeard 13:00 18:15Minehead 14:30 16:55







The West Somerset Steam Express


Premier £209 £152 £570

First £139 £84 £362

Standard £89 £52 £230


Our steam train leaves Crewe at around 06:00 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 and Carnforth and 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 three hours in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient ‘Border’ city with its castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum, and shopping centre.

Our 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, 1169 feet above sea level. We pass over high viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through tunnels. There are magnificent views across the Fells and to the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We should have a fast run out of the hills, through Settle, until we stop again for our locomotive to take on water.

Our journey continues from Hellifield to Clitheroe and Blackburn, where passengers for Preston leave the train. We join the WCML at Farington Junction and shortly afterwards take the Manchester line, 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.

The steam locomotives to be used on this day trip come from the following pool: No. 45305 ‘Black 5’ 4-6-0, built for the LMSR by Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1936, a ‘mixed traffic’ locomotive for use on passenger and freight trains. No. 46233 “Duchess of Sutherland” Princess Coronation Class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2 built by the LMSR at Crewe in 1938, for use on express passenger trains, now in B.R. green livery. No. 60009 “Union of South Africa” A4 class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Doncaster in 1937 by the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER), for use on express passenger trains.

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.

Saturdays 15th, 29th August and 12th September 2015

Bob Green

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









Premier £189 £139 £517

First £129 £75 £333

Standard £79 £49 £207

58UK Day Trips - The Pembroke Coast Express

The “Pembroke Coast Express”, hauled by ‘King’ class steam locomotive No. 6023 “King Edward II”, leaves Bristol Temple Meads soon after 08:00. It heads for West Wales, passing through the Severn Tunnel, and stops at Newport and Cardiff to pick up further passengers. We pass through Bridgend and stop at Port Talbot for the steam locomotive to take on water. At Briton Ferry, we take the Swansea District Line to Llangennech. From Llanelli we run by the sea wall most of the way to Carmarthen where our steam locomotive will be serviced. There will be around one hour to visit the oldest town in Wales which is linked to the railway station on the other side of the River Towy by a cable stay bridge.

Our train will be diesel-hauled when we leave Carmarthen for Whitland, where we join the scenic branch line to Pembroke Dock. We pass through Kilgetty and Saundersfoot before stopping at Tenby to set down passengers who may wish to spend time at this attractive seaside resort. There will be almost two and a half hours to visit the walled town which is famous for its sandy beaches and its nearby offshore monastic Caldey Island. Our train continues through Penally, with fine views over the Irish Sea, to Pembroke Dock.

We leave Pembroke Dock hauled by our steam locomotive No. 6023 “King Edward II” and return to Tenby to pick up passengers who left the train there. We continue to Whitland where we join the main line from Fishguard Harbour. We avoid the terminus station at Carmarthen by taking the south curve. We pass through Kidwelly and Llanelli before the steep ascent of Cockett Bank – a 1 in 50 gradient. Our train avoids the terminus station at Swansea High Street and passes through Neath to join the main line at Briton Ferry. There should be some fast running en route to Cardiff, our first set down stop. We stop at Newport to set down further passengers before continuing through the Severn Tunnel and onwards to Bristol, our journey’s end.

This is a rare opportunity to travel by steam train over the scenic branch line from Whitland through Tenby to Pembroke Dock.The “Pembroke Coast Express” recalls the 1950’s days of named steam trains on the former Western Region of British Railways.The train ran from London Paddington through South Wales to the Pembroke Coast. We recreate this train hauled by King class 4-6-0 steam locomotive No. 6023 “King Edward II”.

Sunday 23rd August 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads 08:05 21:20Newport 09:10 20:09Cardiff 09:30 19:40Carmarthen (Arrive) 12:10 -------Carmarthen (Depart) 13:20 -------Tenby 14:20 15:50Pembroke Dock 14:55 15:10







The Pembroke Coast Express


Premier £199 £129 £527

First £139 £72 £350

Standard £95 £45 £235

59UK Day Trips - The Cheshireman

Our train leaves Bristol Temple Meads at around 07:30 hauled by a ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive, either No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” or No. 70000 “Britannia”. 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 under the River Severn and stopping at Severn Tunnel Junction for further passengers. We continue to the outskirts of Newport where we turn northwards, crossing the River Usk and joining 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 Llavihangel 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 passengers to join the train and 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 which 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.

Whilst we have been exploring the city, our steam locomotive will have been serviced and turned ready for the return journey. Our train leaves Chester at around 17:00 returning by the same route and stopping at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

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.There will be over three hours to explore the fascinating city of Chester. Our train will be hauled throughout by a Britannia class steam locomotive, either No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” or No. 70000 “Britannia”.

Saturday 12th September 2015

Approximate Timings Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads 07:30 22:15Filton Abbey Wood 07:40 22:00Severn Tunnel Junction 07:55 21:40Cwmbran 08:45 20:35Abergavenny 09:05 20:10Hereford 09:40 19:15Chester 13:45 17:00







The Cheshireman


Premier £205 £150 £560

First £135 £70 £340

Standard £85 £45 £215

Bob Green

60UK Day Trips - The Valleys Explorer

Our train leaves Bristol Temple Meads at around 09:15 hauled by a Britannia class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive, either No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” or No. 70000 “Britannia”. We stop at Filton Abbey Wood to pick up more passengers before passing through the Severn Tunnel under the River Severn. We stop at Severn Tunnel Junction for further passengers and can then expect some fast running as we travel along the South Wales Main Line to Newport, our final stop for passengers.

We leave Newport and pass through Hillfield Tunnel branching off the main line at Gaer Junction on to the Ebbw Vale Branch. This historic route can trace its origins to late 18th/early 19th century tramways and waggonways. More recently it closed to passenger traffic in 1962 and final freight traffic to the steel works at Ebbw Vale was in 2002. The rebuilt and upgraded line with new stations, known as the Ebbw Valley Railway, opened for passenger traffic in 2008. The 18 mile long line is predominantly single track following the deep-sided Ebbw River valley. It is heavily curved and has gradients of up to 1 in 65. Between Newbridge and Llanhilleth is the site of Crumlin Low Level Station where a railway line once crossed 200 feet above the valley on the famous Crumlin Viaduct, then the highest railway viaduct in the UK. The terminus of the line is at Ebbw Vale Parkway.

We return to the outskirts of Newport, diesel hauled, and at Park Junction take the curve to Ebbw Junction where we rejoin the South Wales Main Line. We follow the main line to Cardiff Central Station where we change direction of travel. We are then steam hauled as we set off through Cardiff Queen Street on the Rhymney Line. The line runs north up the Rhymney Valley passing through Heath and Llanishen. Caerphilly Tunnel (1.1 miles) is the longest on the Welsh Valleys network. Bargoed was once an important junction for long closed branches to surrounding valleys and from here the route is now single track. The terminus of the line is at Rhymney 23 miles north of Cardiff Central.

We return to Cardiff Central, diesel hauled, and after a short break depart for Bristol Temple Meads hauled by either No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” or No. 70000 “Britannia”. We stop at Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction and Filton Abbey Wood, to set down passengers, before arriving at Bristol Temple Meads at around 18:00.

This special train from Bristol provides a very rare opportunity to explore scenic Welsh Valley Lines from Newport and Cardiff by steam train.The train will be hauled by a Britannia class steam locomotive, either No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” or No. 70000 “Britannia”. We visit the branch lines to Ebbw Vale and Rhymney; both have a long and fascinating railway history.Our train will be ‘topped & tailed’ with a diesel locomotive to facilitate reversals, but steam hauled up both branches.

Sunday 20th September 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads 09:15 18:00Filton Abbey Wood 09:30 17:40Severn Tunnel Junction 09:45 17:20Newport 10:15 16:45Ebbw Vale 11:30 -------Rhymney 13:30 14:30







The Valleys Explorer


Premier £179 £129 £487

First £139 £75 £353

Standard £89 £55 £233

61UK Day Trips - The Cotswold Venturer

Our steam train leaves London Paddington at around 08:30 hauled by King Class 4-6-0 No. 6023 King Edward II and heads down the ex-Great Western Railway (GWR) main line. We stop at Slough, Reading and Didcot to pick up more passengers. Our journey continues through Oxford and at Wolvercote Junction we join the Cotswold Line. Parts of this line had double track reinstated which reopened in 2011. We pass through Finstock, Charlbury and Ascott-under-Wychwood. The Cotswold Area of outstanding Natural Beauty is characterised by attractive small towns and villages built of Cotswold stone, a yellow oolitic limestone. Rare limestone grassland habitats as well as the old growth beech woodlands typify the area, which is a delight to behold.

We pass through Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh, then through Campden Tunnel, and speed down Honeybourne Bank to Evesham. We arrive at Worcester Shrub Hill where there will be more than three hours 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 the birthplace of the composer Sir Edward Elgar.

Our steam train leaves Worcester Shrub Hill in the late afternoon and returns by a different route. At Abbots Wood Junction we join the ex-Midland Railway route to Bristol and there are distant views of the Malvern Hills to the west. We head south to Cheltenham, by-pass Gloucester, and then join the Golden Valley route at Standish Junction. We pass through Stroud and climb up the picturesque Stroud Valley to Sapperton Tunnel. 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.

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 the Cotswold Line through Moreton-in-Marsh and Evesham and return via the Golden Valley line through Stroud and Kemble.We should experience some fast running along the ex-GWR main line.

Saturday 26th September 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Paddington 08:30 20:40Slough 09:40 20:15Reading 10:15 19:15Didcot 10:40 18:45Worcester 12:55 16:10







The Cotswold Venturer


Premier £209 £149 £567

First £139 £85 £363

Standard £89 £52 £230

62UK Day Trips - The Tynesider

Our train leaves Cleethorpes at around 07:30 hauled by ex-LMSR Jubilee class No. 5690 “Leander”. It stops at Grimsby, Barnetby and Scunthorpe, to pick up more passengers. At Stainforth Junction we take the direct Wakefield line avoiding Doncaster, normally used only by freight trains, to Applehurst Junction. Here our train branches off to the right to join the East Coast Main Line (ECML) at Joan Croft Junction. Soon we shall arrive in York where more passengers can join the train. There will be a half hour break for our steam locomotive to take on water.

We continue steam-hauled northwards from York across the Plain of York where we can expect some fast running, especially through Thirsk and Northallerton. We pass through Darlington and Durham, famous for its Norman Cathedral, en route to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Here passengers may choose to alight and spend time visiting the city. It is famous for a series of dramatic bridges over the River Tyne and its Quayside along the banks of the river. Other well known attractions include the Tyne & Wear Metro, Eldon Square Shopping Centre, Grainger Market, and the largest indoor shopping centre in Europe, the Metro Centre, located nearby in Gateshead.

Our train continues, steam hauled, travelling north from Newcastle Central to Benton Junction. Here we leave the ECML and take the Blyth and Tyne Railway route which was chiefly constructed to link collieries in the area to the River Tyne. This is now a ‘freight only’ railway line which parallels the Tyne & Wear Metro route to Northumberland Park and then runs northwards through Newsham to Bedlington. At Bedlington North Junction we branch left and head for Morpeth where we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. We return to Newcastle-upon-Tyne via the ECML.

We stop at Newcastle Central Station, to pick up those passengers who chose to visit the city, before setting off across the River Tyne on the King Edward VII Bridge. We return south, steam hauled, up the ECML to York. Here a diesel locomotive takes over the train for the remainder of the journey back to Cleethorpes. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

This excursion provides a rare opportunity to travel by special train from the North Lincolnshire area to Tyneside.The route is via the East Coast Main Line through York. Passengers have the option of spending time in Newcastle-upon-Tyne or staying on the train to travel over the Blythe & Tyne Railway line to Morpeth, a route no longer used by passenger services. Our train will be steam hauled from Cleethorpes to Newcastle and Morpeth and then back to York.

Saturday 3rd October 2015

R. Smith

Approximate Timings Outward Return Cleethorpes 07:30 21:45Grimsby 07:40 21:30Barnetby 08:00 20:50Scunthorpe 08:20 20:30York 10:00 19:00Newcastle 12:30 16:50Morpeth 13:40 16:30







The Tynesider


Premier £185 £145 £515

First £125 £90 £340

Standard £80 £60 £220


Our train leaves Poole at around 06:15 and will be diesel hauled from there to Westbury. We stop to pick up more passengers at Bournemouth, Southampton, Salisbury and Westbury. Here we change motive power and an ex-British Railways Britannia class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive will take over the train, either No. 70000 “Britannia” or No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”.

We shall soon be speeding along through the Somerset countryside and across the Somerset Levels to Taunton, where we make a brief stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. Our steam locomotive will be working hard as we climb to Whiteball Summit on the Somerset and Devon border. We continue through Exeter and follow the Exe Estuary, passing the picturesque Cockwood Harbour. We come to one of Britain’s most scenic stretches of railway when we run along the famous sea wall from Dawlish to Teignmouth. We race through tunnels and rock cuttings right on the edge of the sea, a truly wonderful experience.

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

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

We leave Kingswear at around 17:30, steam hauled, for the journey back to Westbury Station. From there the train will be diesel hauled to Poole. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

The Dartmouth Express provides an opportunity for a very special day out travelling by train from stations in Dorset and Hampshire to Kingswear in beautiful South Devon.The special train will be hauled from Westbury to Kingswear and back by a ‘Britannia’ class ‘Pacific’ type steam locomotive. We travel over the ‘Heritage’ Dartmouth Steam Railway from Paignton to Kingswear, from where there is a ferry crossing the beautiful River Dart to Dartmouth.

Saturday 3rd October 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Poole 06:15 23:55Bournemouth 06:25 23:40Southampton 07:10 23:00Salisbury 08:15 22:00Westbury 08:45 21:20Kingswear 13:05 17:30









Premier £209 £129 £547

First £132 £65 £329

Standard £89 £45 £223


Our train leaves Leicester, diesel hauled, at around 06:30 and stops to pick up more passengers at Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway, Alfreton, and Sheffield. We continue through Leeds and Skipton to Hellifield where we change locomotives. A steam locomotive replaces the diesel locomotive on our train for the journey over the spectacular Settle to Carlisle Railway.

Between Hellifield and Carlisle there is scarcely a level mile but our powerful steam locomotive will negotiate the 78 miles of “ups and downs” in truly classic style. Settle Junction marks the beginning of one of Britain’s most arduous climbs, a total of 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100. This will be a tough test for our locomotive which we will see – and hear – working very hard! We cross the breathtaking Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel. The route runs high above valleys, over bridges and through more tunnels to Dent, the highest station in England. We make the final climb to Ais Gill Summit, all 1,169 feet of it, the dramatic peak of our journey! We travel high above the valley at Mallerstang and then drop down through Kirkby Stephen to Appleby, where our steam locomotive takes on water.

We can expect a fast run downhill from Appleby along the Eden Valley to Carlisle, where we arrive at around 13:00. There will be time to explore the ‘Border’ city with its many attractions which include the castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum, the pedestrianised English Street, and Lanes Shopping Centre.

We leave Carlisle at around 14:40 and take the scenic Tyne Valley Line towards Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The Newcastle & Carlisle Railway opened this line in 1838 and it runs eastwards following the River Tyne just a few miles south of Hadrian’s Wall. We pass through Wylam, the birthplace of railway engineer George Stephenson, before we join the East Coast Main Line at Low Fell. We can expect some fast running as we head south through Durham and Darlington to York. Here a diesel locomotive replaces our steam locomotive for the remainder of the return journey. We stop at Sheffield, Alfreton, East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough and Leicester to set down passengers.

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

Saturday 10th October 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Leicester 06:30 22:30Loughborough 07:00 22:15East Midlands Parkway 07:15 22:00Alfreton 07:40 21:20Sheffield 08:30 20:30Carlisle 13:00 14:40







The Hadrian


Premier £215 £142 £572

First £144 £72 £360

Standard £92 £51 £235


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 Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton and Crewe. Here we change motive power and Royal Scot class steam locomotive No. 46115 “Scots Guardsman” takes over the train. We continue north along the WCML to Preston, our final stop to pick up passengers.

We pass through Lancaster and Carnforth and 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 an hour and a half in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient city.


Our journey continues from Hellifield to Clitheroe and Blackburn, where passengers for Preston leave the train. At Lostock Hall Junction we say goodbye to our steam locomotive and the blue class 86 electric locomotive joins our train. We shall have a fast run up the WCML to London Euston with stops at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.


This train will recreate the early days of steam rail tours in the 1980’s when travelling over the Settle & Carlisle Railway was “the icing on the cake” in the main line ‘steam’ calendar. We begin with a high speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Crewe hauled by a blue electric locomotive. Our train will then be steam hauled on a circular route via Shap to Carlisle and over the Settle and Carlisle line. We return from Lostock Hall Junction to London behind our electric locomotive.


Bob Green










Premier £189 £129 £507

First £135 £75 £345

Standard £79 £39 £197


Our train starts from Slough in Berkshire and will be diesel hauled from there to Westbury in Wiltshire. En route we stop at Reading and Newbury to pick up more passengers. The route follows the River Kennet through the Berkshire countryside and then runs beside the Kennet and Avon Canal for some distance before we make our final stop for passengers at Westbury. Here we change motive power and a ‘Britannia’ class steam locomotive will take over the train, either No. 70000 “Britannia” or No. 70013 “Oliver Cromwell”.

We leave Westbury and cross from Wiltshire into Somerset. We shall soon be speeding along through the Somerset countryside and across the Somerset Levels to Taunton, where we make a brief stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. Our steam locomotive will be working hard as we climb to Whiteball Summit on the Somerset and Devon border before descending through the Culm Valley to Exeter.

We then follow the Exe Estuary, passing the picturesque Cockwood Harbour, and run along the famous sea wall from Dawlish to Teignmouth. This is one of the most famous and scenic stretches of railway line in Britain which gained international prominence when part of it was washed away in the 2014 storms. After Newton Abbot we leave the main line to Plymouth and take the Kingswear branch line to Torbay.

We pass through the famous holiday resort of Torquay and stop at Paignton where passengers, who wish to spend the time there, may alight. We then join the Dartmouth Steam Railway and our steam locomotive faces a stiff challenge as it climbs the steep gradient of 1 in 60 up to the summit of this line at Churston. The line then drops down to the River Dart and the terminus at Kingswear.

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

We leave Kingswear, steam hauled, for the journey back to Westbury Station. From there the train will be diesel hauled to Slough. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

The Dartmouth Express offers an exceptional day out travelling by train from stations in Berkshire to Kingswear in South Devon.We travel along the famous ‘sea wall’ from Dawlish to Teignmouth and over the ‘Heritage’ Dartmouth Steam Railway.Train fares include a return ferry crossing to the picturesque town of Dartmouth. The special train will be hauled from Westbury to Kingswear and back by a ‘Britannia’ class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive.


Derek Phillips

Approximate Timings Outward Return Slough 07:50 23:00Reading 09:00 22:20Newbury 09:20 21:50Westbury 10:20 20:35Paignton 13:30 17:25Kingswear 14:10 16:45









Premier £209 £129 £547

First £135 £75 £345

Standard £89 £55 £233

67UK Day Trips - The White Rose

We leave London King’s Cross at around 07:10 and follow the route of famous old trains like the “Flying Scotsman”. Our steam locomotive “Union of South Africa” will run with two tenders which will provide an increased supply of water and reduce the number of water stops, thus speeding up the journey considerably. We storm up the gradient through Finsbury Park and northwards, calling at Stevenage, Huntingdon, and Peterborough to pick up more passengers.

Our steam locomotive then tackles the 15 mile climb up the famous Stoke Bank. Here on 3rd July 1938, “Mallard”, another A4 class ‘Pacific’, achieved a world record speed of 126 mph when travelling in the opposite direction. Once over the summit we should have a good, fast run down the 20 mile descent to the Trent Valley and on through Grantham, Newark and Retford. We steam through Doncaster, where “Union of South Africa” was built, and continue to our stop in York.

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 train leaves York at around 15:30, retracing the route up the East Coast Main Line. It stops to set down passengers at the same stations as on the northbound journey, arriving at King’s Cross at around 21:20. “Union of South Africa” will make a fine sight at the buffer stops at King’s Cross, recalling the glorious days of steam in the 1950’s.

Why not join us for a classic day out by steam train, combining exciting main line running, varied landscape, and time to explore the amazing city of York?Our train will be hauled from London to York and return by ex- LNER A4 class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”.This locomotive was one of a class of 35 built by the London and North Eastern Railway between 1935 and 1938. It looks just as wonderful today as it did when it was built!

Saturday 31st October 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London King’s Cross 07:10 21:20Stevenage 08:00 20:30Huntingdon 08:40 19:40Peterborough 09:30 18:50York 12:30 15:30







The White Rose


Premier £209 £132 £550

First £129 £68 £326

Standard £85 £49 £219

68UK Day Trips - The Tin Bath

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

We follow the former Midland Railway route across the Peak District and pass through the beautiful Vale of Edale. We pass through Hathersage, a charming village associated with Robin Hood and the Eyre family of Bronte fame. We continue through the 3.5 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 Wincobank Junction, adjacent to the famous Meadowhall Shopping Centre, where we join the Barnsley Line. It is a long climb from here up to Chapeltown, Wombwell and Barnsley. But it doesn’t end there! From Barnsley we take a single track line that climbs steeply at gradients of 1 in 50 and 1 in 57 up to Dodworth, where the gradient eases to 1 in 100. Soon afterwards we approach the former junction at Penistone where we steam over the magnificent 29-arch viaduct, bigger than the famous one at Ribblehead, before entering Penistone Station.

We continue past Denby Dale, famous for its huge meat pies, and the junction for the Kirklees Railway. We descend to Huddersfield, crossing many fine bridges and viaducts on the way, including the listed 32-arch Lockwood Viaduct. We continue to Brighouse where we pause for our steam locomotives to take on water. We then head for Hall Royd Junction where we take the steeply graded line to Copy Pit before descending through Burnley to Blackburn. We pass through Darwen on the climb up to Sough Tunnel, drop down to Bolton, and head back to Manchester Victoria. A diesel locomotive will then take the train back to Wigan and Preston, where we expect to arrive at around 20:30.

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

Sunday 1st November 2015

Phil Jones

Approximate Timings Outward Return Preston 08:50 20:30Wigan North Western 09:20 20:05Manchester Victoria 10:30 19:25Sheffield 12:40 13:20


Premier Dining includes Buck’s Fizz, morning tea or coffee served with a Danish pastry and a four course lunch silver served at your seat.





The Tin Bath


Premier £155 £99 £409

First £105 £60 £270

Standard £69 £40 £178

69UK Day Trips - The Robin Hood

Our special train leaves London St. Pancras at around 09:00 and heads north-westwards down the Midland Main Line (MML). We pass through Kentish Town, Cricklewood, Hendon and Radlett en route to St. Albans where we stop to pick up more passengers. The route north continues through Harpenden, Luton and Bedford. We climb to Sharnbrook Summit before Wellingborough and stop at Kettering for our locomotive to take on water.

We take the ex-Midland Railway main line for Nottingham when we leave Kettering, passing through the former steel making town of Corby. We climb up to the magnificent 82 arch Harringworth Viaduct, at 1,275 yards (1.166 km) long it is the longest masonry viaduct in Britain. We then face a stiff climb up to Wing Tunnel, run downhill to Manton Junction, and pass through Oakham, the county town of Rutland, England’s smallest county. We stop at Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies, for our steam locomotive to take on water.

We rejoin the MML at Syston North Junction, head northwards through Loughborough and at Trent Junction take the line to Nottingham. The station’s Grade II listed buildings have recently been refurbished and redevelopment has included the construction of a bridge to carry Nottingham trams over the station on the alignment of the ex-Great Central Railway route.

We take the ex-Midland Railway route to Lincoln, crossing the East Coast Main Line (ECML) on a level crossing soon after Newark Castle Station. There will be a break of almost three hours in Lincoln providing ample time to explore the city and discover the cathedral, the castle, the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, and a variety of interesting shops.

Our train leaves Lincoln at around 16:30 and returns along the Nottingham line to Newark. Here we join the ECML and pass through Newark Northgate Station. We head south up the ECML to Grantham, climb to Stoke Summit, and descend to Peterborough. We continue through Huntingdon and Hitchin to our destination at London King’s Cross Station.

Join us aboard this steam train from London St. Pancras hauled by ex-LMSR ‘Royal Scot’ class steam locomotive No. 46115 ”Scots Guardsman”.Our special train recalls the nostalgic days of the 1950’s when a steam train called “The Robin Hood” ran between London St. Pancras and Nottingham and was often hauled by a ‘Royal Scot’.We travel outward to Nottingham and Lincoln then return by a different route to London King’s Cross Station.

Sunday 8th November 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London St. Pancras 09:00 -------London King’s Cross ------- 22:30St. Albans* 09:40 -------Lincoln 15:00 18:30*Passengers from St. Albans return by service train from St. Pancras Station.







The Robin Hood


Premier £225 £174 £624

First £150 £90 £390

Standard £110 £70 £290

70UK Day Trips - The Christmas Cheshireman

We leave Bristol Temple Meads at around 07:30 hauled by an ex-Southern Railway ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive, either Battle of Britain class No. 34067 “Tangmere” or Merchant Navy class No. 35018 “British India Line”. 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 under the River Severn and stopping at Severn Tunnel Junction for further passengers. We continue to the outskirts of Newport where we turn northwards, crossing the River Usk and joining 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 Llavihangel 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 passengers to join the train and 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 which 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, where ‘Winter Wonderland’ will be in full swing.

Whilst we have been exploring the city, our steam locomotive will have been serviced and turned at Chester ready for the return journey. Our train leaves Chester at around 17:00 returning by the same route and stopping at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

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

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. There will be over three hours in Chester where Christmas festivities should be in full swing. Our train will be hauled throughout by an ex-Southern Railway ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive, either No. 34067 “Tangmere” or No. 35018 “British India Line”.

Saturday 21st November 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Bristol Temple Meads 07:30 22:15Filton Abbey Wood 07:40 22:00Severn Tunnel Junction 07:55 21:40Cwmbran 08:45 20:35Abergavenny 09:05 20:10Hereford 09:40 19:15Chester 13:45 17:00







The Christmas Cheshireman


Premier £205 £150 £560

First £135 £70 £340

Standard £85 £45 £215

71UK Day Trips - The Bath Christmas Market

We leave Poole at around 07:00 hauled by a former Southern Railway steam locomotive, either ‘Merchant Navy’ class No. 35018 “British India Line” or ‘Battle of Britain’ class No. 34067 “Tangmere”. Our steam locomotive will be working hard, in a truly characteristic manner, as our train climbs Parkstone Bank. We stop to pick up further passengers at Bournemouth, Brockenhurst and Southampton.

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

We shall soon catch sight of the Georgian city of Bath as we approach the well-kept Bath Spa Station which is close to the city centre. The afternoon is free to explore the city which has gained a reputation not only for its famous Christmas Market but also for its quality independents and favourite high street stores. The 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.

Our steam locomotive is turned and serviced at Bristol prior to departing with our train at around 17:30 for the return journey. We stop to pick up those parcel laden passengers who stayed for the Christmas Market in Bath! During the journey, we expect to meet up with Santa and his Elves, so presents will be handed out to all children on board! Please let us know your child’s age when booking. We return by the route of our outward journey, stopping at the same stations for passengers to alight.

What better way to begin the Christmas season than with a trip by steam train on the “Bath 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.

Thursday 26th November 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Poole 07:00 22:00Bournemouth 07:15 21:50Brockenhurst 07:35 21:40Southampton 08:15 21:00Salisbury 09:30 19:05Bath 10:45 18:00Bristol 11:05 17:35







The Bath Christmas Market


Premier £189 £129 £507

First £116 £58 £290

Standard £79 £41 £199

72UK Day Trips - The Capital Christmas Express

Our day out begins with departure from Weymouth at around 07:25. Our train will be hauled by either ‘Merchant Navy’ class No. 35018 “British India Line” or ‘Battle of Britain’ class No. 34067 “Tangmere”. We stop at Dorchester, Wareham, Poole and Bournemouth to pick up more passengers. We should enjoy a fast run with our steam locomotive through the New Forest to Southampton, where we make a final stop to pick up passengers.

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

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

Our train leaves Waterloo Station at around 17:45, hauled by our steam locomotive, for the return journey to Weymouth. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers. During the journey, we expect to meet up with Santa and his Elves, and presents will be handed out to all children on board our train! Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

Is there a better way to travel from Dorset to London than in comfortable 50-year old railway carriages hauled by a steam locomotive?This outing by special train revisits the former ‘glory days’ of rail travel and takes you to the capital to enjoy the myriad attractions on offer – and do some Christmas shopping too! The train will be hauled throughout by an ex- Southern Railway ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive, a type that was used regularly on this route in ‘steam’ days.

Saturday 28th November 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Weymouth 07:25 21:50Dorchester 07:40 21:40Wareham 08:00 21:20Poole 08:15 21:05Bournemouth 08:30 20:50Southampton 09:20 20:10London Waterloo 12:05 17:45







The Capital Christmas Express


Premier £199 £112 £510

First £129 £55 £313

Standard £79 £39 £197

73UK Day Trips - The Worcester Christmas Market

Our train leaves London Paddington, steam hauled, around 07:30 and heads down the ex-Great Western Railway main line. We stop at Slough and Reading to pick up more passengers.

Our journey continues through Oxford and at Wolvercot Junction we join the Cotswold Line. Parts of this line have had double track reinstated which reopened in 2011. We pass through Finstock, Charlbury and Ascott-under-Wychwood. The Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is characterised by attractive small towns and villages built of Cotswold stone, a yellow oolitic limestone. Rare limestone grassland habitats as well as the old growth beech woodlands typify the area, which is a delight to behold. We pass through Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh, then through Campden Tunnel, and down Honeybourne Bank to Evesham.

We arrive at Worcester Shrub Hill where there will be more than three hours to explore this fine city. Worcester Christmas Fayre is the leading Victorian-themed street market in the West Midlands and is celebrating its 23rd Anniversary. Hundreds of stalls fill the atmospheric streets of Worcester’s historic heart with the colours, sounds and smells of Christmas. The city offers many other attractions including the picturesque River Severn which 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 the birthplace of the composer Sir Edward Elgar.

We leave Worcester in the late afternoon and return by a different route. At Abbots Wood Junction we join the ex-Midland Railway route to Bristol and there are distant views of the Malvern Hills to the west. We head south to Cheltenham, by-pass Gloucester, and then join the Golden Valley route at Standish Junction. We pass through Stroud and climb up the picturesque Stroud Valley to Sapperton Tunnel. We continue through Kemble and on to Swindon where we join the Great Western Main Line. We call at Reading and Slough to set down passengers, before arriving in London Paddington.


Join us on this scenic rail tour through the beautiful Cotswolds. Our destination is the cathedral city of Worcester with its Victorian-themed Christmas street market, and famous as the home of Worcestershire Sauce.We travel outward via the Cotswold Line through Moreton-in-Marsh and Evesham and return via the Golden Valley line through Stroud and Kemble.Our train will be steam hauled by the ex-GWR King class locomotive No. 6023 “King Edward II”.

Saturday 28th November 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Paddington 07:30 20:40Slough 08:05 20:15Reading 08:40 19:35Worcester 12:00 16:10







The Worcester Christmas Market


Premier £209 £142 £560

First £139 £72 £350

Standard £85 £51 £221

74UK Day Trips - The Lindum Fayre

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

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

Approaching Lincoln we notice that the city is dominated by its spectacular Cathedral. The Lindum Fayre is spread across the enthralling Cathedral quarter of Lincoln, within the courtyard of the 12th century castle and along the medieval cobbled streets of the city. There are around 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 be steam hauled by “Union of South Africa” 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 “Union of South Africa’s” classmate “Mallard” achieved 126 miles per hour which still stands as the world 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 21:30.


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 train hauled by A4 class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”. What a day you will have!With Christmas only a few weeks away this really is a very special trip, and not to be missed.

Saturday 5th December 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London’s King’s Cross 09:00 21:30Potters Bar 09:30 21:00Stevenage 10:00 20:50Peterborough 11:20 19:00Lincoln 12:45 17:45







The Lindum Fayre


Premier £199 £112 £510

First £135 £65 £335

Standard £85 £40 £210

75UK Day Trips - The Bath Christmas Market

Our train leaves Three Bridges, steam hauled by either No. 34067 “Tangmere” or No. 35018 “British India Line”, and heads south along the Brighton main line. It stops at Haywards Heath to pick up more passengers before continuing to Preston Park, where passengers from the Brighton area can join the train. We stop to pick up passengers at Hove and Worthing. At Salisbury, we stop for our locomotive to take on water and for passengers to stretch their legs and perhaps have a chat with our driver.

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

The afternoon is free to explore the Georgian city and visit the distinctively ‘British’ Bath Christmas Market which has over 170 traditional wooden chalets selling seasonal products and gifts. The Abbey, Roman Baths, and Pump Room with its restaurant, all surround the Market site and are central to the main shopping area. However, don’t miss Milsom Street, voted ‘Britain’s Best Fashion Street’, and if you wish to see the sights at leisure, hop on a ‘City Sightseeing Tours’ bus. All too soon our visit to this remarkable city will have to end as it will be time to go back to our train.

We return to Three Bridges, steam hauled, following the route of our outward journey and stopping at the same stations for passengers to alight. During the journey, Father Christmas and his Elves will be visiting the train handing out presents to all the children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

Our special Christmas excursion by steam train from the south coast to the magnificent city of Bath follows a particularly scenic route through attractive countryside. There will be over four hours to explore the city, and visit the famous Bath Christmas Market.The Christmas lights will be on, the market will be in full swing, the city will be alive with the sound of Christmas music, and in a truly festive mood. Our train will be hauled throughout by a powerful ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive.


Phil Jones

Approximate Timings Outward Return Three Bridges 08:00 22:55Haywards Heath 08:20 22:40Preston Park 09:00 22:10Hove 09:15 22:00Worthing 09:30 21:40Bath 13:40 18:00







The Bath Christmas Market


Premier £209 £129 £547

First £127 £65 £319

Standard £76 £39 £191

76UK Day Trips - The Christmas Sussex Belle

Our day out begins when our train leaves London Victoria Station at around 10:30 hauled by a powerful Bulleid-designed ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive, either No. 34067 “Tangmere” or No. 35018 “British India Line”. We journey south along the main line towards Brighton passing through East Croydon, Redhill, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges and Haywards Heath. The route crosses the Weald, an ancient area of woodland scattered with farms and villages. We leave the Brighton line at Keymer Junction, just after Wivesfield, and head south-eastwards through Cooksbridge to Lewes. Here we join the East Coastway Line that runs from Brighton to Eastbourne, Hastings, and Ashford. We pass through the South Downs, an area characterised by rolling chalk downland and recognised as one of the most important chalk landscapes in England.

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

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

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 17:20.

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 hauled by a former Southern Railway ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive of the type that operated in this area during the ‘days of steam’. This is a wonderful way to enjoy a leisurely lunch whilst appreciating the scenic views from your carriage window.

Tuesday 8th December 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria 10:30 17:20Eastbourne 13:00 14:30Hastings 15:00 15:10


Premier Dining includes Buck’s Fizz, morning tea or coffee and Danish pastries and a four course lunch silver served at your seat.





The Christmas Sussex Belle


Premier £164 £95 £423

First £89 £45 £223

Standard £59 £35 £153

77UK Day Trips - The York Yuletide Express

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

A4 class ‘Pacific’ “Union of South Africa” should feel at home on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) as we head northwards from Peterborough and commence the climb to Stoke Summit. This was the location of the famous record breaking run by “Mallard”, another 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 “Union of South Africa” cruising along at speeds just a little less than “Mallard’s”!

We stop at Doncaster for our steam locomotive to take on water and then make a fast run along the ECML to York.

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

We leave York at around 16:15 for the return journey, steam hauled by “Union of South Africa”. We stop at Peterborough, March, Brandon, Thetford, Attleborough, Wymondham and Norwich, to set down passengers.

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

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

Why not join us for a classic day out by steam train that combines exciting main line running, varied landscape, and the special atmosphere of York at Christmas time? The York Yuletide Express will be steam hauled from Norwich to York and return by A4 class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”. York is the second most visited city in England with varied attractions to suit all tastes.It is well known for its Roman origins, Minster, Castle, and Railway Museum.

Thursday 10th December 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return Norwich 08:00 23:10Wymondham 08:20 22:40Attleborough 08:30 22:30Thetford 08:45 22:10Brandon 08:55 22:00March 10:15 20:55Peterborough 10:40 20:25York 13:20 16:15







The York Yuletide Express


Premier £199 £122 £520

First £135 £65 £335

Standard £85 £39 £209

78UK Day Trips - The Christmas White Rose

We leave London King’s Cross at around 07:10 and follow the route of famous old trains like the “Flying Scotsman”. Our steam locomotive “Union of South Africa” will run with two tenders which will provide an increased supply of water and reduce the number of water stops, thus speeding up the journey considerably. We storm up the gradient through Finsbury Park and northwards, calling at Stevenage, Huntingdon, and Peterborough to pick up more passengers.

Our steam locomotive then tackles the 15 mile climb up the famous Stoke Bank. Here on 3rd July 1938, “Mallard”, another A4 class ‘Pacific’, achieved a world record speed of 126 mph when travelling in the opposite direction. Once over the summit we should have a good, fast run down the 20 mile descent to the Trent Valley and on through Grantham, Newark and Retford. We steam through Doncaster, where “Union of South Africa” was built, and continue to our stop in York.

There will be plenty of time for passengers to enjoy the city and all it has to offer for the festive season. 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 train leaves York at around 15:30, retracing the route up the East Coast Main Line. It stops to set down passengers at the same stations as on the northbound journey, arriving at King’s Cross at around 21:20. “Union of South Africa” will make a fine sight at the buffer stops at King’s Cross, recalling the glorious days of steam in the 1950’s.


Why not join us for a classic day out by steam train, combining exciting main line running, varied landscape, and the special atmosphere of York at Christmas time? Our train will be hauled from London to York by former LNER A4 class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive No. 60009 “Union of South Africa”.This locomotive was one of a class of 35 built by the London and North Eastern Railway between 1935 and 1938. It looks just as wonderful today as it did when it was built!


Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London King’s Cross 07:10 21:20Stevenage 08:00 20:30Huntingdon 08:40 19:40Peterborough 09:30 18:50York 12:30 15:30







The Christmas White Rose


Premier £215 £132 £562

First £139 £68 £346

Standard £85 £49 £219

79UK Day Trips - The Sherborne Christmas Carol

Our train leaves London Victoria Station at around 08:45 hauled by an ex-Southern Railway ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive, either ‘Merchant Navy’ class No. 35018 “British India Line” or ‘Battle of Britain’ class No. 34067 “Tangmere”. 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 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.

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.

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.

Santa and his Elves will be visiting the train during the day and distributing presents to all children travelling on the train. Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

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 powerful ex-Southern Railway ‘Pacific’ type 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.

Tuesday 15th December 2015

Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria 08:45 21:55Staines 09:35 20:50Woking 10:05 20:15Basingstoke 10:55 19:30Sherborne 13:15 16:50Yeovil Junction 13:25 16:30







The Sherborne Christmas Carol


Premier £185 £145 £515

First £139 £75 £353

Standard £85 £65 £235

80UK Day Trips - The Christmas White Rose

Our day out begins at around 07:40 when we leave Cambridge Station and head northwards, stopping at Ely, March and Peterborough to pick up more passengers. We leave Peterborough travelling northwards down the East Coast Main Line (ECML) and commence the climb to Stoke Summit. It was descending from here in July 1938 that A4 class ‘Pacific’ “Mallard” made its famous run, reaching a staggering 126 m.p.h. and gaining the world speed record for steam traction which still stands unbeaten today.

We pass through Grantham, Newark and Retford and can expect some fast running as we pass through the Nottinghamshire countryside. We cross the county border into Yorkshire and stop at Doncaster for our locomotive to take on water. The Great Northern Railway opened its railway workshops in Doncaster in 1853 and this is also the birthplace of Sir Nigel Gresley, who designed the A4 class ‘Pacific’ steam locomotives.

After a fast run along the ECML, we arrive at York where there will be plenty of time to visit the city and enjoy all that is on offer for the festive season. York has many major tourist attractions including the National Railway Museum, the largest museum of its type in Britain; the Castle; the Shambles; and the splendid Gothic York Minster, one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe. There are a number of other interesting museums, the medieval city walls, quaint alleyways called snickelways, and many shops also to be discovered.

Our steam locomotive will be turned and serviced at York ready for our journey back to Cambridge. Our train leaves York at around 16:10 for the return journey and stops to set down passengers at Peterborough, March and Ely before arriving in Cambridge at around 22:45.


Why not join us for a classic day out by steam train, combining exciting main line running, varied landscape and the special atmosphere of York at Christmas time? We shall be steam hauled from Cambridge to York and return by a powerful ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive, either ex-LNER A4 class No. 60009 “Union of South Africa” or ex-SR ‘Merchant Navy’ class No. 35018 “British India Line”.

Thursday 17th December 2015

Derek Phillips

Approximate Timings Outward Return Cambridge 07:41 22:44Ely 08:04 21:41March 08:55 20:56Peterborough 09:23 20:28York 12:18 16:13







The Christmas White Rose


Premier £189 £122 £500

First £119 £65 £303

Standard £79 £39 £197

81UK Day Trips - The York Yuletide Express

Our train leaves London Victoria at around 06:25 hauled by “Union of South Africa” and travels around West London through Kensington Olympia and Neasden. At Dudding Hill Junction we take the Brent curve and join the Midland Main Line (MML) at Cricklewood. We head north and stop at St. Albans, Luton, Bedford and Kettering, to pick up further passengers.

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

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

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

Our train leaves York at around 17:25 and returns to London Victoria diesel hauled. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

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

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


Bob Green

Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria 06:28 23:10St. Albans 08:01 21:50Luton 08:17 21:39Bedford 08:48 21:10Kettering 09:47 20:37Melton Mowbray 10:47 19:50York 13:51 17:25







The York Yuletide Express


Premier £199 £122 £520

First £129 £65 £323

Standard £85 £39 £209

82

Tour Reservation Form

Visit our website for online booking – railwaytouring.net


Title .................... Forename .................................................................Surname ...............................................................DOB* ................

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if required. The balance/full fare is due 10 weeks before travel; dates will be advised on your confirmation. As stated in our Booking

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Day Trip Booking Form

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83

The Railway Touring Company14a Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1JN

Phone: 01553 661 500 – Fax: 01553 661 800Web: www.railwaytouring.net – E-mail: [email protected]

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The Railway Touring Company - UK Day Trips and Tours 2015

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