Pathfinder Tours 2023

[Iskra]

A varied tour programme announced thus far. Has anyone booked anything?

I'm on the Cambrian Coast one, after being thwarted in previous years. I'm also looking at doing the Royal Windsor to get two of the Royal Claret 67's in, cover the Windsor Branch and explore Windsor for the first time.

25MAR The Marsh Magician A unique opportunity to travel into Liverpool Docks by train. Joining Stations: Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Cheltenham Spa, Bromsgrove, Birmingham New Street, Tame Bridge Parkway, Stafford, Crewe

08APR The Cumbrian Fellsman Take a breathtaking journey by steam train through the scenic Cumbrian Fells along the famous Settle - Carlisle Railway. Joining Stations: Leamington Spa, Warwick Parkway, Dorridge, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Wellington, Shrewsbury, Gobowen, Preston*

14APR17 The Spring Highlander A four-day land-cruise passing through spectacular Scottish scenery, travelling in classic First Class Carriages with delicious food and overnight accommodation at the Four Star Golden Jubilee Hotel, Clydebank. Joining stations: Cheltenham Spa, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Oxford, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Coventry, Birmingham International, Derby

21APR The Cambrian Coast Express A day out along the Cambrian Coast with stunning scenery. Joining Stations: Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Cam & Dursley, Cheltenham Spa, Worcestershire Parkway, Bromsgrove, Birmingham New Street*, Wolverhampton*, Shrewsbury*

29APR The Spring Cornish Explorer Travel in style to Cornwall to celebrate Trevithick Day. Joining Stations: Dorridge, Warwick Parkway, Leamington Spa, Banbury, Oxford, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads

08MAY The Royal Windsor Travel on our Royal Train to Windsor and London, in celebration of His Majesty The King's Coronation. Joining Stations: Birmingham New Street, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire Parkway, Cheltenham Spa, Stroud, Kemble, *Swindon

20MAY The Heart of Wales Explorer Take a journey through the scenic Heart of Wales route behind a pair of English Electric Class 37 diesel locomotives : *Bristol Temple Meads, Bath Spa, Chippenham, Swindon, Oxford, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Warwick Parkway, Dorridge, *Birmingham New Street

29MAY The Crompton Torbay Venture Let the train take the strain as we head to the beautiful Torbay coast. Joining Stations: Burton-on-Trent, Tamworth, Birmingham New Street, Stourbridge Junction, Kidderminster, Worcester Shrub Hill, Cheltenham Spa, Cam & Dursley, *Bristol Parkway.

10JUN The Golden Anniversary Join Pathfinder Railtours as they celebrate their 50th anniversary to the seaside town of Weymouth behind BR Class 40 No. 40145. Joining Stations: Burton-on-Trent, Tamworth, Coleshill Parkway, Birmingham New Street, Barnt Green, Worcestershire Parkway, Cheltenham Spa, *Swindon, **Bristol Parkway.

24JUN The Pathfinder Mazey Day Special Travel in style on this very special Pathfinder excursion to the annual Mazey Day celebrations in Penzance: Tame Bridge Parkway, Stourbridge Junction, Kidderminster, Droitwich Spa, Worcester Shrub Hill, Cheltenham Spa, Cam & Dursley, Bristol Parkway, Bristol Temple Meads.

08JUL The Hartlepool Tall Ships Excursion Enjoy a thrilling day to the North East, with York, Hartlepool or Newcastle to choose from. Joining Stations: Bristol Parkway, Cam & Dursley, Cheltenham Spa, Worcestershire Parkway, Bromsgrove, *Birmingham New Street

Our Rail Excursions - Pathfinder Railtours

www.pathfindertours.co.uk

 

[Iskra]

A new tour has been announced featuring a Deltic and with pick-up stations in the North of England

The Capital Deltic Reprise - Pathfinder Railtours

Join us as we enjoy the return of a Deltic to the mainline. Joining Stations: Willington, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Doncaster (Pick up twice)

www.pathfindertours.co.uk

SATURDAY 29 JULY 2023​

JOIN US AS WE WELCOME THE RETURN OF THE DELTIC
ON THE MAINLINE WITH PATHFINDER RAILTOURS!​

For two decades the 3300hp 100mph Deltic diesels were the mainstay of the fastest and heaviest trains on the route from London Kings Cross to York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, also running to Leeds, Hull and Cleethorpes. This train will take us on some of those routes, where these locos were an everyday sight for twenty years, as well as a few other sections that were used when engineering work required diversions from the regular routes, and indeed to other lines where the appearance of a Deltic would have turned heads!
BR Class 55 No. 55009 (D9009) Alycidon heads the train from the start, via Derby and Sheffield to Doncaster and a circular trip around Pontefract, Gascoigne Wood and Selby back to Doncaster and then main line to Peterborough. From there we take a ‘diversionary’ route, by way of Ely and Cambridge to Hitchin, and a run thence to ‘The Cross’, as London’s Kings Cross station is known to railway staff and enthusiasts alike. (Kings Cross 1245-1515)
After a short break in London we return north on the main line, as far as Newark, there turning to the east, through Lincoln to Barnetby and to Cleethorpes. After a short leg stretch, an assistant engine will haul the train to Ulceby for a reversal, where D9009 will resume command for the return journey through Doncaster and Sheffield to Derby and Willington.
Named at Doncaster Works on 21 July 1961 before introduction to traffic, D9009 maintained the ‘racehorse’ tradition of the LNER by commemorating the winner of the 1949 Ascot Gold Cup. Alycidon was one of eight ‘racehorse’ Deltics stabled at London’s Finsbury Park depot until its closure in May 1981, when she moved to York. 55009 was one of four Deltics prepared to work a series of farewell railtours during their final six months of operation, her final outing in BR service being on 2 January 1982 as standby locomotive for the ‘Deltic Scotsman Farewell’.

 

[Herefordian]

A friend and I are booked on the Mazey Day excursion in June.

We missed the 56 farewell and 69 debut railtours, unfortunately.

Pathfinder are great, in my experience. Should be a great day.