A special Modern Railways & Railways Illustrated Railtour!
‘The Brunelian’ - Saturday 25 September 2010 - An HST special to mark GW175
* Ride on the Portbury and Avonmouth lines
* Visit the STEAM museum in Swindon
* Travel the length of Brunel’s railway from Bristol to London via Box
* Dine in style en route
* Meet the Modern Railways & Railways Illustrated teams
The Great Western Railway was incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1835.
To mark this anniversary, Modern Railways is running a special tour train in conjunction with First Great Western and Pathfinder Tours.
Readers are promised an exciting day out on the GW system taking in several
historic features of Brunel’s railway, plus some rare freight line tracks.
The enterprising folk at First Great Western intend to split two trains for us, joining together the First Class sections to make a 2+7 set with a high proportion of dining seats.
The 2+7 formation will include two Trailer First Buffets, four Trailer Firsts plus a Trailer Guard Standard.
We will use this non-standard set to tour Brunel’s railway.
Fares
Standard Class
Adult - £65.00
Junior - £32.50
First Class
Adult - £108.00
Junior - £88.00
Premier Dining
Adult - £179.00
Junior - £159.00
Deduct £10 per person if you prefer to spend the afternoon in Bristol and miss out the Portbury branch trip.
‘Table for Two’ seats available in First Class and Premier Dining at a supplement of £20 per person.
Premier Dining does not include alcoholic drinks, which may be purchased separately on the day.
How to book
Online: visit
www.pathfindertours.co.uk
Post: please give your full name, address, contact telephone number, specify ‘The Brunelian’ - 25 September, where you are joining (Paddington or Reading), number of seats and whether adult or junior, type of seating accommodation (Standard, First Class, Premier Dining), ‘table for two’ required (in First Class or Premier Dining) and whether you will be travelling to Portbury and back or spending the afternoon in Bristol.
Payment: please enclose payment by cheque, postal order or credit / debit card. Please remember to quote your card expiry date and security number and note that there is a 2.5% handling charge for all credit card bookings (there is no charge for using a debit card). Make cheques out to ‘Pathfinder Tours’.
Confirmation: A stamped addressed envelope should be enclosed if you require written confirmation of your booking.
Telephone: (01453) 835414 or (01453) 834477
Fax: (01453) 834053
This facility is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Please ensure all information is given as for a postal booking (see above).
Outline route and timings
Paddington dep. 09.15
Reading (pu) arr. 09.40
Reading dep. 09.42
Newbury
Hawkeridge Junction
Thingley Junction
Swindon arr. 11.00
Passengers detrain for visit to STEAM museum (included in tour price). The museum is a short walk from the station; a vintage bus will shuttle between the museum and station for participants with walking difficulties.
During the outward journey an English breakfast will be served to Premier Dining customers and complimentary teas and coffees to First Class customers.
Swindon dep. 13.45
Hullavington
Westerleigh
Bristol Parkway
Hallen Marsh
St Andrews Road
Avonmouth arr. 14.40 dep. 15.00
Bristol Temple Meads arr. 15.28
(potential for passengers to detrain here)
During the journey from Swindon to Bristol a cold luncheon will be served to Premier Dining customers and complimentary soft drinks, teas and coffees to First Class customers.
Bristol Temple Meads dep. 15.35
Portbury arr. 16.05
(limit of Network Rail network, train travels under Clifton suspension bridge)
Portbury dep. 16.20
Bristol Temple Meads arr. 16.45
(all passengers detrain whilst train serviced)
Bristol Temple Meads dep. 18.20
Reading (sd) arr. c19.57
(NB potentially stops intermediately at Bathampton
or Challow loops to allow enough time for dinner)
Reading dep. c19.59
London Paddington arr. c20.30
During the journey from Bristol to Swindon dinner will be served to Premier Dining customers and complimentary soft drinks, teas and coffees to First Class customers.
Final timings subject to validation by Network Rail
I for one will certainly be on this rail tour for a number of reasons,
