Possible Railtours.

[FQ]

Possible Railtours feel free to add some and I might e-mail a few to pathfinder.

I think a Northampton-Glasgow tour via Birmingham would be good with 87002 and 86101 on the rear. It could call at Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton and Glasgow Central.
Please post good tour ideas to this thread. Or it could be a Northampton-Glasgow Central via Birmingham New street, hauled by 87002 (front) and a DRS 47 (rear), but instead of going via the WCML north of Stafford it could get into Glasgow via Brum and Stafford to the WCML to Glasgow Central. It could then be 47 hauled to Corkerhill depot and then back into Glasgow Central by 87002.Then the 47 could drag the 87 from Glasgow to Edinburgh via Holytown and Shotts and then up to Edinburgh Waverley. Then it could go down the ECML 47 leading to York where it can go along to Huddersfield avoiding Leeds and then down to Crewe via Stalybridge, Denton, Stockport and Wilmslow.
The 47 can then come off and the 87 run round to go back to Northampton Via Birmingham.

 

[gazthomas]

Circular tour (almost) -pair of 50's down the mule from London Waterloo to Exeter, then up the Lickey to Brum New Street then back to Paddington via Reading.

 

[causton]

Would definitely do the second one, not sure about the length of Northampton to Scotland and back - would probably have to be split into two days with pathing etc, especially if you want to stop somewhere en route!

 

[Masbroughlad]

There will be a charity based railtour from the West Midlands and Shropshire to Edinburgh later this year - November/December.

Looking for a route and traction that will attract enthusiasts alongside the premier diners, first class customers and standard day-trippers /shoppers.

Some ideas:

- Leave the route and traction open?
- Settle and Carlisle out, West Coast return
- West Coast out, East coast return
- S and C out, East coast return
- open to suggestions

Traction-wise:
- leave it open (and get DRS 47s?)
- request a 68 if they are ready
- if all under the wires (from Crewe/Stafford) - 87 /86 - other
- heritage traction? 55? 50s?

Can't guarantee anything, but really want to hear ideas!

 

[STANDISH]

First 68 railtour should be in July with Pathfinder to DRS open Day at Crewe.

See their web site for full details.

 

[Masbroughlad]

In the meantime, check out 37s from Shropshire and the north west Midlands to Exeter, Torquay and Paignton. Out via Oxford, Swindon and Castle Cary, return mainline Bristol and Lickey. Saturday 14th June.

Great day, fab traction, unusual routes, raffle with top prizes and all profits to charity to boot.

A serious new provider in the railtour market:

http://severnhospice.org.uk/events/severn-riviera-express/

 

[andythebrave]

Wouldn't mind seeing St Pancras-Leicester-Sheffield-Leeds-Carlisle-Dumfries-Kilmarnock-Glasgow Class 45 & Glasgow-Carlisle-Crewe 2 x Class 50 Crewe-Euston Class 86. A Thames-Clyde/Royal Scot combination.

Probably need 2 days though!

 

[FQ]

There will be a charity based railtour from the West Midlands and Shropshire to Edinburgh later this year - November/December.

Looking for a route and traction that will attract enthusiasts alongside the premier diners, first class customers and standard day-trippers /shoppers.

Some ideas:

- Leave the route and traction open?
- Settle and Carlisle out, West Coast return
- West Coast out, East coast return
- S and C out, East coast return
- open to suggestions

Traction-wise:
- leave it open (and get DRS 47s?)
- request a 68 if they are ready
- if all under the wires (from Crewe/Stafford) - 87 /86 - other
- heritage traction? 55? 50s?

Can't guarantee anything, but really want to hear ideas!

I would say the Settle and Carlisle up for the WCML back and I would say it could be a DRS 47 up for a DRS 68 back.
Also it would give the 68 another test on route from Mossend area (Edinburgh even though Mossend is in Glasgow) to Crewe.
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Circular tour (almost) -pair of 50's down the mule from London Waterloo to Exeter, then up the Lickey to Brum New Street then back to Paddington via Reading.

Wow that would be amazing even if it had to go Reading-Waterloo via Basingstoke to Drop off Passengers.
You could have a break in Salisbury or Exeter.

 

[overtonchris]

Circular tour (almost) -pair of 50's down the mule from London Waterloo to Exeter, then up the Lickey to Brum New Street then back to Paddington via Reading.

Would I just LOVE this....50's passing my house again.....I really miss those beasts!!

 

[breadfan]

Wouldn't mind seeing St Pancras-Leicester-Sheffield-Leeds-Carlisle-Dumfries-Kilmarnock-Glasgow Class 45 & Glasgow-Carlisle-Crewe 2 x Class 50 Crewe-Euston Class 86. A Thames-Clyde/Royal Scot combination.

Probably need 2 days though!

I always thought 40/45/46s were banned from Glasgow Central?

 

[FQ]

I always thought 40/45/46s were banned from Glasgow Central?

Are they?
Back in the day 1V32 was sometimes a Peak and 40s were definitely aloud.
Keep posting some good rail tours and I might e-mail a few to pathfinder tours.

 

[QJ]

Quote:
Originally Posted by breadfan
I always thought 40/45/46s were banned from Glasgow Central?

Posted by fishquinn
Are they?
Back in the day 1V32 was sometimes a Peak and 40s were definitely aloud.
Keep posting some good rail tours and I might e-mail a few to pathfinder tours.

They most certainly are from Central High Level (though not from the Low Level). All to do with a class 45 derailing outside the station in 1980 or thereabouts. BR banned Peaks and Forties as a consequence from entering the High Level station area. NR have continued this tradition despite the best efforts of the SRPS to devise a path into Central High Level for 40145 a few years ago. Fortunately I had a few runs in and out of the High level behind class 40s before the ban was implemented.

A pair of class 50s top and tailing reruns of the Pathfinder Curried Goyt etal would do me very nicely as would said 50s over Beattock or off to Stranraer. Of course if Fishquinn can persuade NR to relaxe their ban I would love to storm out of Glasgow High Level behind a Forty again

 

[FQ]

Of course if Fishquinn can persuade NR to relaxe their ban I would love to storm out of Glasgow High Level behind a Forty again [/QUOTE]

I have e-mailed network rail and I am awaiting a reply.

 

[gazthomas]

Glad you like the 50's idea - now how can we get it run!

 

[plastictaffy]

Class 37/4 on 6 mark 2's from New Street along the North Wales Coast. Did that when I had my priv boxes many moons ago - copped 37426 as far as Chester. Shoulda stayed on it!!
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A decent 87 or Skoda on the WCML Euston-Wolves circuit with a rake of Mark 3's for a day.........
30 quid to ride all day long. Plenty of drivers with the route knowledge, and plenty of Virgin Drivers that know 87's and 90's.

 

[FQ]

Class 37/4 on 6 mark 2's from New Street along the North Wales Coast. Did that when I had my priv boxes many moons ago - copped 37426 as far as Chester. Shoulda stayed on it!!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A decent 87 or Skoda on the WCML Euston-Wolves circuit with a rake of Mark 3's for a day.........
30 quid to ride all day long. Plenty of drivers with the route knowledge, and plenty of Virgin Drivers that know 87's and 90's.

Wow,
87002 just shuttling back and forth on the line.
That would be cracking.
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Have a Southampton-Carlisle tour hauled by a Freighliner Intermodel class 70 from Southampton to Crewe for a Freighliner Heavy Haul class 70 to carlisle going via the Settle and Carlisle there and the WCML back to Crewe where the same 70 from Southampton-Crewe can go back Crewe-Southampton.

The calling points could be Southampton Central, Eastleigh, Basingstoke, Didcot Parkway, Oxford, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Coventry, Birmingham International, Tame Bridge Parkway (via aston jcn), Stafford, Crewe and Carlisle. (Maybe take out Tame Bridge Parkway and Stafford).

 

[J123]

I would love to see a tour of some sort go through my local station Swanwick. It would be great to see a steam engine go over the bridge at Bursledon.

 

[FQ]

I would love to see a tour of some sort go through my local station Swanwick. It would be great to see a steam engine go over the bridge at Bursledon.

How about a tour from Brighton to Shrewsbury going on the way there Brighton-Havent-Southampton-Sailsbury-Westbury-Bath Spa-Patchway-Cardiff Central-Shrewsbury via the heart of Wales line.
on the way back It could go Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton-Kidderminster-Worcestester Shrub Hill-Oxford-Reading west curve-Basingstoke-Eastleigh-FFareham-Havent-Brighton.
The calls could be Brighton, Worthing, Chichester, Havant, Fareham, Southampton Central and Shresbury (On the way back people for Southampton can bale at Eastleigh).
Traction could be Tornado (60163) or Galatea (5699).
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How about a Banbury-Edinburgh Waverly as a farewell to the DRS 47s when they have to leave going Banbury-Leamington Spa-Dorridge-Water Orten-Tamworth-Derby-Doncaster-York-Edinburgh via the ECML. It could be 4 class 47s 2 on the front and 2 on the back. Also they could all be powering.

On the way back for the portion from Edinburgh could just go back the same route it came.
Pick up points could be Banbury, Leamington Spa, Dorridge, Solihull and Edinburgh.

After returning from Craigentinny depot (while people are in Edinburgh) the train could split for either 2 47s (the back 2) back to Banbury or the other 2 up from Edinburgh going Edinburgh-Inverkeithing-Dundee-Aberdeen-Elgin-Inverness for the night in Inverness. In the morning it could go onto Kyle of Lochalsh for about 1 and a half-2 hours there before going back from Kyle going Kyle Of Lochalsh-Beauly-Avimore-Perth-Stirling-Edinburgh-Grantham (where it can reverse)-Nottingham-Leicester-Nuneaton-Water Orton-Dorridge-Leamington Spa-Banbury.
The portion to Inverness could leave about 45 minutes earlier than the portion straight back to Banbury so the one of the 2 47s that led to Edinburgh can come off and move out with half the stock and then one of the 47s that was on the back from Banbury to Edinburgh can couple up to the stock to Inverness (and then on to Kyle). After that the Newly formed stock could go to Edinburgh to go onto Inverness while the stock still at Craigentinny could Reform itself as Top and Tail to go Back to Banbury.
Of course the Tour operating Company would have to put a Buffet car at the front and a buffet car at the back so there is a buffet for both portions.
Also you would probably have to pay an extra fare for Kyle of Lochalsh with something like an extra 40-45 pounds per adult and 30-35 pound per child.
I will e-mail this idea to pathfinder.

 

[plastictaffy]

Wow,
87002 just shuttling back and forth on the line.
That would be cracking.

Better than Pendolino's thundering back and forth past my place of work!!!!

 

[FQ]

Better than Pendolino's thundering back and forth past my place of work!!!!

Where do you work? Is it Goodrich near Tring? Don't answer if you don't want to though.
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I have edited a few posts so please take time to read them.

 

[alex17595]

It would be nice to see a tour up the Far North Line (Is there any running anymore). Possibly from somewhere in central England like Birmingham.

Birmingham Moor Street
Shrewsbury
Crewe
Manchester
Carlisle (via S+C)
Edinburgh
Aberdeen
Inverness
Thrurso

Possibly split it over two days.

Anything with large windows would suit me
Traction could be a 37 (steam would be nice, but pushing it)

 

[FQ]

It would be nice to see a tour up the Far North Line (Is there any running anymore). Possibly from somewhere in central England like Birmingham.

Birmingham Moor Street
Shrewsbury
Crewe
Manchester
Carlisle (via S+C)
Edinburgh
Aberdeen
Inverness
Thrurso

Possibly split it over two days.

Anything with large windows would suit me
Traction could be a 37 (steam would be nice, but pushing it)

That would be a really good tour but maybe a pair of DRS 37s from Moor street-Preston for a Steam train from Preston up the Settle and Carlisle to Carlisle for the 37s back up to Thurso.
But maybe it would be best to have it go from Birmingham International or Coventry. The routing could be Coventry-Birmingham International-Aston-Rugley Trent Valley-Crewe-Stockport-Stalybridge via Denton and Reddish South-Leeds-York-Edinburgh via the ECML-Dundee-Aberdeen-Elgin-Inverness-Wick-Thurso.

On the way back it could go Thurso-Wick-Inverness-Avimore-Stirling-Edinburgh (reverse)-Carlisle (Steam train couples up)-Settle-Hellifield-Blackburn-Preston (steam train un-couples and reverse)-Crewe-Rugely Trent Valley-Aston-Birmingham International-Coventry.
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Hope you like this idea alex17595 as it is like your idea.

 

[alex17595]

That would be a really good tour but maybe a pair of DRS 37s from Moor street-Preston for a Steam train from Preston up the Settle and Carlisle to Carlisle for the 37s back up to Thurso.
But maybe it would be best to have it go from Birmingham International or Coventry. The routing could be Coventry-Birmingham International-Aston-Rugley Trent Valley-Crewe-Stockport-Stalybridge via Denton and Reddish South-Leeds-York-Edinburgh via the ECML-Dundee-Aberdeen-Elgin-Inverness-Wick-Thurso.

On the way back it could go Thurso-Wick-Inverness-Avimore-Stirling-Edinburgh (reverse)-Carlisle (Steam train couples up)-Settle-Hellifield-Blackburn-Preston (steam train un-couples and reverse)-Crewe-Rugely Trent Valley-Aston-Birmingham International-Coventry.
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Hope you like this idea alex17595 as it is like your idea.

I was just trying to make it a little different by starting from Moor street and the welsh marches. The S+C could possibly subtituted for the Cumbrian coast. I do like the idea of going via Aberdeen one way and Aviemore the other, it would definatley be interesting going via Reddish South.
It seems a waste only having steam power between Carlisle and Preston though.

 

[FQ]

Ok then,
How about a different tour going Birmingham Moor Street-Kidderminster-Worcester Foregate Street-Hereford (reverse)-Shrewsbury-Crewe-Stockport-Stalybridge via Reddish south and Denton-Leeds-York-Edinburgh-Dundee-Aberdeen-Elgin-Inverness-Wick and Thurso (wick first).
(Break for the night). In the morning. About 11:45 departure from Thurso going from Thurso and Wick-Inverness-Avimore-Stirling-Croy-Ashfield-Drumry-Dalmuir-Fort William-Mallaig. Night in Mallaig. In the morning it could go Mallaig-Fort William for about 2 hours there before going from Fort William-Dalmuir-Partick-Glasgow Central. Break at Glasgow for about 5 hours before carrying on from Glasgow Central-Paisley Gilmour street-Irvine-Troon-Ayr.
Night in Ayr.
Leave ayr at about 12:00 and go back with the 37s from Ayr-Troon-Dumfries-Carlisle.
Steam train from Carlisle-Preston Via S and C and then Preston to Birmingham Moor Street via Crewe,Shrewsbury and Hereford.

A Scotland tour.
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Is that good?
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Does anyone have more good tour ideas?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Birmingham-Wick via Hereford, Stalybridge and Elgin is one hell of a trek in one go... Just shy of 850 miles and probably getting for 20 hours end to end.

 

[FQ]

Birmingham-Wick via Hereford, Stalybridge and Elgin is one hell of a trek in one go... Just shy of 850 miles and probably getting for 20 hours end to end.

Make it a Statesman tour and a 4 day tour so people can tour the highlands by 'Growler' again.
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I think that would be a really good and scenic tour for people.

 

[FQ]

Maybe a tour from Holyhead or Llandudno Junction to Weymouth.