Pathfinder annouce closure with final tour on 20th December 2025

[D1511]

Did the tour booklet say how many tours were organised by F&W and Pathfinder?

Looking on the Six Bells site I can find 101 F&W tours and 926 Pathfinder tours that ran between 1973 and 2025.

926?? Over a 52 year operating period, that's an eaverage of 17 a year, or one every three weeks. Were there really that many??

 

[The exile]

926?? Over a 52 year operating period, that's an eaverage of 17 a year, or one every three weeks. Were there really that many??

Maybe counting “mini tours” separately. The early 90s “Lancastrians” would have chalked up a fair number in a single weekend.

 

[ValleyLines142]

The kind of behaviour which can lead to specials not being allowed any more.

Agreed, or gateline refusing entry.

 

[SW Rover]

926?? Over a 52 year operating period, that's an eaverage of 17 a year, or one every three weeks. Were there really that many??

Maybe counting “mini tours” separately. The early 90s “Lancastrians” would have chalked up a fair number in a single weekend.

I was surprised by the total number and only counted each tour once and not separate for mini tours or multiple trip tours etc. In the 90's 30 tours a year was the norm.

Now if I had more time on my hands it would be good to work out how many different locos were used on these tours.

 

[Masbroughlad]

Looks like RTC Diesel Day Trips 2026 are in the Pathfinder footprint. Anybody know if any Pathfinder staff have moved over? There's a huge similarity....

 

[31160]

Looks like RTC Diesel Day Trips 2026 are in the Pathfinder footprint. Anybody know if any Pathfinder staff have moved over? There's a huge similarity....

TBF it may be more WCR offering the already specified tours at a cheap price to RTC to check the market for them, but as pathfinder collapsed due to the vanilla traction and the state of the stock and as they aren't changing anytime soon I fail to see the attraction myself

 

[theblackwatch]

I was surprised by the total number and only counted each tour once and not separate for mini tours or multiple trip tours etc. In the 90's 30 tours a year was the norm.

Now if I had more time on my hands it would be good to work out how many different locos were used on these tours.

There was a list in Railways Illustrated a couple of issues back, although it admitted there were some 'unknowns' on kegs of a few tours from the Plymouth start point, and possibly a few trips missing.

 

[Harpo]

TBF it may be more WCR offering the already specified tours at a cheap price to RTC to check the market for them, but as pathfinder collapsed due to the vanilla traction and the state of the stock and as they aren't changing anytime soon I fail to see the attraction myself

I’ve mentioned on here before that low prices make some RTC standard class kettle trips at £115 (e.g. Whitby) cheaper than diesel railtour operators.

I’d not call 37s ‘vanilla’ and 40145 is definitely a tasty proposition too.

 

[StephenHunter]

For some enthusiasts, even vanilla is appreciated on the mainline.

 

[JonathanH]

Looks like RTC Diesel Day Trips 2026 are in the Pathfinder footprint. Anybody know if any Pathfinder staff have moved over? There's a huge similarity....

I suspect that RTC have a more comprehensive malling list than 'West Coast Railtours' which has traditionally only operated from the north.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

For some enthusiasts, even vanilla is appreciated on the mainline.

Me being one of them!

 

[The_Train]

For some enthusiasts, even vanilla is appreciated on the mainline.

Yep, I think some people still think we are in the 1980s with a raft of locos sitting around on a multitude of massive depots waiting to be called into railtour action at any time. My only issue with Pathfinder by the end was simply the amount of tours they were cancelling creating a lack of trust in handing money over to them but I will have no issue in keeping an eye on RTC for diesel tours having thoroughly enjoyed my steam/diesel mix with them to Reading last year

 

[bleeder4]

I've booked on the Newquay one, as the PF one got cancelled (through no fault of theirs, I should say). Amusing typo on the booking form - "Worchester" instead of "Worcester". It's how a lot of people unfamiliar with the city pronounce it!