Railtour Groups and Providers

[50002Superb]

I understand that Phoenix Railtours has now ceased to exist and wondered what other groups/ tour providers were still going?

I know that ICRS are still active and organise tours.

i believe Freightmaster do as well?

I have missed anyone else?

i recently did a tour of Crewe Basford Hall and as we were arriving there was another tour finishing, I think they were called Tillys Tours or something similar based in Yorkshire. Has anyone heard of them?

 

[dave4jackie]

How do you know they no longer exist?

 

[50002Superb]

I was on their last trip to Carnforth and was told it would be their last one.

 

[RuddA]

I keep looking at the website for NENTA railtours in north Norfolk hoping that a new tour will be advertised. Everything is still for pre-covid.

 

[47827]

I keep looking at the website for NENTA railtours in north Norfolk hoping that a new tour will be advertised. Everything is still for pre-covid.

The organiser, someone I used to be friendly with, is getting on quite a bit age wise and all this going on in the world will have been more hassle than it's worth for him and his ex wife who ran them together.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

I just got an email from Pathfinder so obviously they are still going.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Retro Railtours seem to be very much intending to run some in 2022...

Thanks to all who joined us during 2021; we hope you all enjoyed travelling with us.

We will be announcing our 2022 charters early in the new year.

Steam Dreams have a number of trips for 2022 listed on their website.

Similarly, UK Railtours have a number of 2022 dates on their website.

 

[RuddA]

The organiser, someone I used to be friendly with, is getting on quite a bit age wise and all this going on in the world will have been more hassle than it's worth for him and his ex wife who ran them together.

Thanks.
I presumed that Ray Davies might have passed it on to his son as he always helped when I travelled with them (many years ago now). Always went on 4 or 5 trips a year.
He must be in his 70s now so I can't blame him.
Lovely family, always stopped for a chat as we went to the final stop in North Walsham.

 

[matt]

I think there is some confusion here. Whilst the wording is not the best, the op is referring to groups that operate trips to railway related places like depots rather than a trip on the mainline

 

[RuddA]

I think there is some confusion here. Whilst the wording is not the best, the op is referring to groups that operate trips to railway related places like depots rather than a trip on the mainline

Sorry for deviating off subject.

 

[50002Superb]

I think there is some confusion here. Whilst the wording is not the best, the op is referring to groups that operate trips to railway related places like depots rather than a trip on the mainline

Yes sorry that’s correct

 

[47827]

Thanks.
I presumed that Ray Davies might have passed it on to his son as he always helped when I travelled with them (many years ago now). Always went on 4 or 5 trips a year.
He must be in his 70s now so I can't blame him.
Lovely family, always stopped for a chat as we went to the final stop in North Walsham.

You are spot on. I used to exchange emails and often chat on the phone plus attended a good few off-train industry events where Ray was present. We frequently banged various parties to rights and for a period, when I could spare the time, I popped over for a full or partial trip on one (although I had travelled on an odd one before I knew the Davies gang too). I didn't know his son but I suspect with the stresses and challenges of railtours over the last decade or so I'd doubt his son would wish to take it on full time as I think Ray just didn't want to retire from his hobby that doubled up as a business.

I knew his former wife and later continued business partner, albeit she didn't spend quite so long chatting.

RE the thread drift. Apologies if a few us have taken the title literally here. The majority of enthusiasts and many of the public would regard a railtour provider as NENTA, Pathfinder etc and not simply those offering depot/rail site guided tours/visits which are/were great no doubt too but are easily mixed up here due to the description.