(The following article was published in the July edition of Railtalk magazine)
I'm sure many people dream of making their own railtour company. It's not an easy task but James Palmer has done just that!
I asked James where he got the idea to run a Railtour company, "Ive been a steward for a well known Railtour company for 3 years and I gained experience from that and I wanted a challenge and I am going to do a degree in transport management, so I decided to start my own company.
I questioned how he would reply to calls that are already too many tours being run at the moment, "I think its a very competitive market, however for the average punter wanting to make day trips from the North West, I feel that there arent that many operators catering for normal excursions." Dont worry though - although James priority is the day trip market - he is also aiming to entice enthusiasts by using classic traction. Ultimately, he wants both day trippers and enthusiasts to book on his tours so he must appeal to both, which is not always easy. Relying on the choosy enthusiast market alone would be a risky business, and James already feels that this area is well covered by existing operators
So, for James' first railtour, he picked a popular locomotive and an attractive city to visit. The original plan saw the train heading North along the Settle-Carlisle line, but paths proved too difficult to obtain and the break in Edinburgh would have also had to be compromised. In any case, enthusiasts wishing to experience this scenic route have plenty of tours to choose from this Summer! Besides, as James points out, "the WCML gives us the added benefit of high speed running with a Deltic, plus a Napier assault of Shap AND Beattock!" Heading back via the ECML is bound to prove a hit with Deltic fans, and the trans-Pennine journey is likely to recall memories of the final years of Deltics, displaced onto this route. Its sure to be a winner!
It all sounds so easy... but actually organising it all was a difficult task. Nevertheless, things seemed to be running smoothly when rumours of engineering work to the Chorley arches surfaced. At first this was dismissed by the operator, on the basis that Network Rail had not informed them of any closure. But a friend introduced James to a NR train planner at a diesel gala, who gave him the bad news: the rumours were true and he could not go via Chorley! Furthermore, the Bolton stop would probably have to be omitted as the route via Westhoughton had no spare paths with TPE already diverted that way.
It was all a bit disappointing; as with only 11 weeks until the tour, NR should not be announcing blockades (they are committed to a T-12 timetable). But after a few frantic calls, the tour was re-routed via the Chat Moss line, and rare curve joining the WCML at Golborne Jn- then calling additionally at Wigan North Western and Leyland. Bolton, Horwich & Chorley were removed due to the closure. Several passengers - mostly from Bolton - were informed of the decision, and all agreed to board at alternative stations. "They were very understanding," said a relieved James, "there should be more communication within the industry. Thankfully, problems were 'nipped in the bud' before anything major arose".
The Retro Deltic Scot is scheduled to run to Edinburgh on Saturday 30 August 2008.
(Article ends)
. I for one am a 'Lancashire lad', however I was schooled in Yorkshire, so like both counties very much 
