2026 Railtours

[Masbroughlad]

Any wishes for 2026 railtours?

I know we have the LSL program. I hoped to see an INTERCITY jaunt to Inverness. Maybe SRPS may do something?

Will anyone take the place of Pathfinder?

Would be good to see a people-mover, bucket and spade special or two. Probably no market for these today, sadly.

Will we see that WCRC HST (in maroon livery) appear?

Thought and ideas on this Twixmas evening?!

 

[Neilo09]

Hopefully see the badger class 89 out on a railtour

 

[Iskra]

Something decent with Class 20’s from Yorkshire or Derby would be my wish.

There’s rumours of 20’s to Whitby, I think with UKRailtours, so that could be the one for me.

 

[ls2270]

Something decent with Class 20’s from Yorkshire or Derby would be my wish.

There’s rumours of 20’s to Whitby, I think with UKRailtours, so that could be the one for me.

Unfortunately that’s not happening now according to their website.

 

[Iskra]

Unfortunately that’s not happening now according to their website.

Oh okay, thanks for letting me know. There’s still a couple of operators that could offer something with 20’s so I’ll keep my fingers crossed

 

[Harpo]

2026 railtour wishes?
- Affordability outside of eat-all-you-can class
- Ability to hear the locos
- Tours, not ‘return same route’ excursions with hours in crap destinations.
- Quiet PA-free coach on certain operator’s trains
- Tours that actually run

 

[Iskra]

2026 railtour wishes?
- Affordability outside of eat-all-you-can class
- Ability to hear the locos
- Tours, not ‘return same route’ excursions with hours in crap destinations.
- Quiet PA-free coach on certain operator’s trains
- Tours that actually run

Working heating/AC too.

 

[xotGD]

A pair of 37s out of Leeds on a set of Mark 1s, not departing at stupid o'clock in the morning.

 

[Iskra]

A pair of 37s out of Leeds on a set of Mark 1s, not departing at stupid o'clock in the morning.

Part-fare with West Coast?

 

[gazthomas]

My wish would be able to stream live video and audio on the railtours I'm travelling on.

 

[Rail Quest]

I just want to see the remaining railtour companies at least survive and ideally thrive, particularly since Pathfinders have now gone.

For me to get on a tour, I'll be looking for something departing from the North West at reasonable times, going to some place I've not been by train yet, with some decent traction.

 

[xotGD]

Part-fare with West Coast?

I've done that several times between Shipley and Skipton.

 

[raveon]

I like charters that run onto heritage lines. Still on my to do list (when a suitable opportunity next arises) are: the North Norfolk Railway, Peak Rail, the Weardale Railway and the Wensleydale Railway).

 

[TSGN Spotter]

I like charters that run onto heritage lines. Still on my to do list (when a suitable opportunity next arises) are: the North Norfolk Railway, Peak Rail, the Weardale Railway and the Wensleydale Railway).

I think the RTC have a charter onto the Weardale in September from London

 

[Uk02048]

Probably limited chance but "old school" charters, interesting haulage, unusual line visits (eg peak forest for example). Tbh the pricey but nice tours OK but once you've done one get a bit boring, for me anyway.

 

[xotGD]

If I spend 5 hours on a Nedex, I want to end up somewhere 5 hours away from where I boarded, rather than spending half the time grovelling about in sidings and loops.

 

[Harpo]

If I spend 5 hours on a Nedex, I want to end up somewhere 5 hours away from where I boarded, rather than spending half the time grovelling about in sidings and loops.

The Baker colouring book rather than the Quail colouring book?

(Works for me too.)

 

[Iskra]

If I spend 5 hours on a Nedex, I want to end up somewhere 5 hours away from where I boarded, rather than spending half the time grovelling about in sidings and loops.

Amen

 

[31160]

If I spend 5 hours on a Nedex, I want to end up somewhere 5 hours away from where I boarded, rather than spending half the time grovelling about in sidings and loops.

Yes God please, see the bls upcoming Chiltern mk3 farewell for details, count me out on that nonsense

 

[Iskra]

Yes God please, see the bls upcoming Chiltern mk3 farewell for details, count me out on that nonsense

I don’t mind when it’s advertised like that, but when it’s not and you’re expecting a decent, fast run but spend half the tour in loops it’s frustrating.

 

[Kite159]

Would the tour have sold out as quickly if it a vanilla Banbury - London - Birmingham - Stourbridge Junction - Banbury run with no goods loops or other unusual track?

Probably not as people would moan that's it's a bit plain and why should they pay £XX for something they can do for 25p on a service train etc etc.

 

[Iskra]

Would the tour have sold out as quickly if it a vanilla Banbury - London - Birmingham - Stourbridge Junction - Banbury run with no goods loops or other unusual track?

Probably not as people would moan that's it's a bit plain and why should they pay £XX for something they can do for 25p on a service train etc etc.

That’s a fair point, there has been plenty of time to do the normal service route in this instance.

As usual, I think it comes down to communication. It should be clearly advertised what the tour is doing. Tours making numerous dwells in loops should be advertised as doing so. I didn’t mind so much when they were rare, but when even I as someone not interested in minute bits of track is visiting the same loop over and over again on every tour it becomes a bit of a joke when you’re getting home at 3am.

 

[Uk02048]

Can have best of both, certainly random loops etc alone doesnt float my boat. Nor do more-or-less linear long day trips either.

 

[D6130]

it a vanilla Banbury

Shame the old Inter City Charters "raspberry ripple" set isn't still available!

 

[Kite159]

Shame the old Inter City Charters "raspberry ripple" set isn't still available!

Or even the old Banbury slamdoor commuter set

 

[31160]

Would the tour have sold out as quickly if it a vanilla Banbury - London - Birmingham - Stourbridge Junction - Banbury run with no goods loops or other unusual track?

Probably not as people would moan that's it's a bit plain and why should they pay £XX for something they can do for 25p on a service train etc etc.

Yeah but they could have done the branch to Stratford-o-Avon or Princess Risb to Aylesbury or even the connection onto the Chinnor pres line, or run over to Oxford loads of possibilities but to spend the day doing crossovers and similar, again firm no from me

 

[HOOVER29]

Class 50’s from the Midlands, down to & around London on the north London line before heading up to Norwich
Then on the return back to the Midlands via the Fens

I’d be very happy at that as I’ve never had 50’s at Norwich

 

[Leuvenn]

I would be interesting in seeing a full schedule for the Britannic Explorer and British Pullman.
I was shocked to hear they don't run at all from January to May

 

[Wuggie Norple]

2-day trip to Penzance with a Tyseley Castle or two?

 

[D6130]

Anyone heard any rumours about this year's programme of RPSI * railtours? Nothing on the website yet?

* Railway Preservation Society of Ireland.