2026 UKR railtours

[Isle of Mull]

Superb weekend (Well Fri/Sat) on the 125 Group HST on the UKR tours, everything seemed to run pretty much perfectly apart from some ARS type regulation it seemed in the Welwyn area on the return yesterday. "Good" to see another train with passengers do EWR, before any actual service trains go there, highlights what a mess it all is.

Tangents finished, great weekend, set seemed a credit to the 125 Group with next to no issues and the buffet seemed to do very well as had to have an extra restock on the way on the Saturday. Spot on stuff.

I’d love to see more 125 group tours, it is quite underused for its potential

 

[43096]

I’d love to see more 125 group tours, it is quite underused for its potential

Worth remembering that it is an entire train - not a loco - that is maintained entirely by volunteers, in their own time, and remains authorised for 125mph mainline running. That is no small commitment by those volunteers. It's like the proverbial iceberg - the bit you see above the water (the tours themselves) is dwarfed by what you don't see. There is simply a limit on how often it can run in consequence.

 

[LiftFan]

It was a very good tour, and a big bonus for me was plenty of 125mph running too! It's so nice to ride the HST doing what it was built to do, credit due to whoever does the pathing for that one as quite often NR like to stick the charters on the slow lines and leave them there (understandable for the shed tours but can seem harsh when the tour is being run with 100mph+ capability).

 

[DarloRich]

Superb weekend (Well Fri/Sat) on the 125 Group HST on the UKR tours, everything seemed to run pretty much perfectly apart from some ARS type regulation it seemed in the Welwyn area on the return yesterday. "Good" to see another train with passengers do EWR, before any actual service trains go there, highlights what a mess it all is.

I enjoyed the run on Friday from Manchester to Princes Risborough and the HST flew along E-W which was the real reason for my journey. Shame we couldn't stop at Bletchley High or Winslow for photos

Worth remembering that it is an entire train - not a loco - that is maintained entirely by volunteers, in their own time, and remains authorised for 125mph mainline running. That is no small commitment by those volunteers. It's like the proverbial iceberg - the bit you see above the water (the tours themselves) is dwarfed by what you don't see. There is simply a limit on how often it can run in consequence.

The set was a credit to the volunteers. At lot of hard work must go into keeping it that way. it is nice to see the group aims fulfilled on a regular basis.

( I didn't do the full tour as coming form the north east I have been to Saltburn FAR to often and have had quite a few HST on the ECML )

 

[43096]

I enjoyed the run on Friday from Manchester to Princes Risborough and the HST flew along E-W which was the real reason for my journey.

It's 100mph line... so be rude not to!

( I didn't do the full tour as coming form the north east I have been to Saltburn FAR to often and have had quite a few HST on the ECML )

Although I bet 43025 is required for the route!

 

[DarloRich]

It's 100mph line... so be rude not to!

zoomed along. Fantastic running. Very smooth. Now, I just need the Bletchley High to Fenny Stratford chord. 17 years and still trying.......

Although I bet 43025 is required for the route!

silly Western thing

HST was required full stop for E-W although i had been to the end at Swanbourne before by other means. I also think I have now covered all of the WCML by HST so a useful trip out! (OMG I sound like a spotter!)

 

[Isle of Mull]

New tours
“Another Cockney Comes Home”
“The Southern Seaside Sparrow”
On October 2nd and 3rd respectfully
using ROG 37s and ERS mk2s

 

[renegademaster]

£159 is awfully expensive for Bognor Regis

 

[Isle of Mull]

£159 is awfully expensive for Bognor Regis

Suppose that’s the price of tour these days, beats 185 on statesman rail though

 

[PP57601]

Just announced for Saturday 3rd October is a trip to Bognor Regis with top n tail EPR Class 37’s.

Within the blurb, it states a 37/0 and 37/4.
Assume this will be 37218 and 37423, unless they have acquired others?

 

[Isle of Mull]

Just announced for Saturday 3rd October is a trip to Bognor Regis with top n tail EPR Class 37’s.

Within the blurb, it states a 37/0 and 37/4.
Assume this will be 37218 and 37423, unless they have acquired others?

Could it not be 37407 either

 

[PP57601]

New tours
“Another Cockney Comes Home”
“The Southern Seaside Sparrow”
On October 2nd and 3rd respectfully
using ROG 37s and ERS mk2s

EPR, not ROG 37’s quoted on the UKR website.

Could it not be 37407 either

Could it not be 37407 either

hence my mention of not knowing 100% what the fleet consists of

 

[Harpo]

£159 is awfully expensive for Bognor Regis

10% early booking discount until Tuesday 7 July on the UKR website - Code EB10.

 

[The exile]

£159 is awfully expensive for Bognor Regis

A fair proportion of people on most tours are as interested in the route as the destination. This would plug the second biggest gap in my “loco hauled” map so If be on it like a shot, Bognor or no Bognor, if I weren’t already committed to be somewhere else.

 

[SECR 65]

To be honest, Bognor Regis is probably one of the few places on the West Coastway where you can park your tour for a few hours without it being in the way of services. Littlehampton maybe, or possibly the third platform at Hove or Worthing? But Bognor seems the obvious place.

 

[Ailsa_Craig]

To be honest, Bognor Regis is probably one of the few places on the West Coastway where you can park your tour for a few hours without it being in the way of services. Littlehampton maybe, or possibly the third platform at Hove or Worthing? But Bognor seems the obvious place.

A maybe, but as this trip would require train tickets and a hotel stay, I will hang fire for now given their recent propensity to can railtours

 

[Isle of Mull]

Saturdays locos
Our rostered locomotives*, with thanks to GB Railfreight, DB Cargo and Heavy Haul, are as follows:
•57310 UK Railtours (GB Railfreight)
•66104 (DB Cargo)
•66537 (Heavy Haul)
•66705 (GB Railfreight)
•69001 (GB Railfreight) working in the morning
•69004 (GB Railfreight) working in the afternoon

*locomotives are of course subject to availability and may be substituted without notice due to mechanical or operational requirements.

 

[AstroAreus]

Saturdays locos
Our rostered locomotives*, with thanks to GB Railfreight, DB Cargo and Heavy Haul, are as follows:
•57310 UK Railtours (GB Railfreight)
•66104 (DB Cargo)
•66537 (Heavy Haul)
•66705 (GB Railfreight)
•69001 (GB Railfreight) working in the morning
•69004 (GB Railfreight) working in the afternoon

*locomotives are of course subject to availability and may be substituted without notice due to mechanical or operational requirements.

57306 set to replace 310 due to fault

 

[Isle of Mull]

57306 set to replace 310 due to fault

View attachment 207117

I’d say Liz was quite sad

 

[PP57601]

I’d say Liz was quite sad

Why? It’s still a 57/3 ????

 

[Isle of Mull]

Why? It’s still a 57/3 ????

But it isn’t the Uk railtours one

 

[PP57601]

But it isn’t the Uk railtours one

It’s just a nameplate ‍♂️

 

[philjo]

New tours
“Another Cockney Comes Home”
“The Southern Seaside Sparrow”
On October 2nd and 3rd respectfully
using ROG 37s and ERS mk2s

The Southern Seaside Sparrow on 3rd October is now fully booked but the UKR website says they hope to add another standard class coach so bookings may reopen in a few days.
As a rare event I can walk to one of the pick up stations in 10 minutes from home so don’t need to rely on early morning & late evening GN/Thameslink connections !