'The Master Cutler' - Friday 15 March

[yorkie]

I see this has just gone live on the Retro Railtours website; it may be of interest to some people here

The Master Cutler

Retro Railtours - aiming to provide tours for enthusiasts and daytrippers

retrorailtours.co.uk

As part of the 125th anniversary of London Marylebone station, Retro Railtours, Rail Adventure and the 125 Group have worked in conjunction with Chiltern Railways to bring you 'The Master Cutler' train, as a nod to the famous named train that originally ran along the Great Central route from Yorkshire to the capital. As sadly most of the original Great Central route is no longer in use, the train will run via the Midland Mainline as far as Leicester, before travelling westwards towards Tyseley and along the Chiltern Mainline to Marylebone.


The train will be formed of a rake of InteCity125 carriages from the 125 Group, with power cars provided by Rail Adventure. This is a rare opportunity to sample a High Speed Train to and from London Marylebone. Upon arrival at Marylebone, there will be festivities ongoing at the station as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations. You will have around four hours to explore London before the train returns north towards Sheffield just after 3pm.


Timings

The following timings are provisional:

	Outward ​	Return ​
Sheffield	06:47​	19:55​
Chesterfield	07:03​	19:39​
Derby	07:23​	19:16​
Leicester	07:49​	18:52​
London Marylebone	10:53​	15:21​

Train information

Standard Class
These traditional, comfy British Rail coaches are ideal for a day out. Seating in standard class are arranged in a mixture of bays of four and airline seats.

First Class
If you want a little extra luxury, First class is perfect. The coaches feature spacious, well padded seats, and will make your trip that bit more special! For a £50 supplement, a "table for two" can be reserved, giving you a table to yourself - ideal for couples!


Fares

Standard Class	(Adult)	£95.00
Standard Class	(Child)	£75.00
First Class	(Adult)	£143.00
First Class	(Child)	£133.00

 

[yorksrob]

Sounds good.

The return time seems doable as well.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Tempting all be it that I did have plans for that day and may need to see if they can be altered

 

[Iskra]

Think I’ll be doing this one. Nice to have a tour starting up North

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Does it tie in with any Chiltern 68 working’s at all?

 

[Townsend Hook]

Potentially - nothing convenient in the down direction but there appears to be a couple of up trains (1H41, 1H45) which could be intercepted somewhere.

Diagrams at http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/locohauled8a.html.

Loco Hauled 2024 - Chiltern Railways

 

[Iskra]

Potentially - nothing convenient in the down direction but there appears to be a couple of up trains (1H41, 1H45) which could be intercepted somewhere.

Diagrams at http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk/locohauled8a.html.

Thank you!

 

[43066]

I see this has just gone live on the Retro Railtours website; it may be of interest to some people here

The Master Cutler

Retro Railtours - aiming to provide tours for enthusiasts and daytrippers

retrorailtours.co.uk

It does look like a good itinerary, with sensible timings, over an interesting route.

A real pity about the horrendous livery adorning the Rail Adventure power cars, though. Still, at least people won’t be able to see it from inside the train!

 

[Iskra]

It does look like a good itinerary, with sensible timings, over an interesting route.

A real pity about the horrendous livery adorning the Rail Adventure power cars, though. Still, at least people won’t be able to see it from inside the train!

I think the powercars look smart individually or in a pair, what may be more ‘aesthetically questionable’ is the grey paired with the ex-EMR coaches. But, you’ll probably look back in 30 years time wistfully at the odd combination!

I’ve booked on this tour now. Rude not to really with it being reasonably priced and starting in Sheffield (thank you Retro).

 

[43066]

But, you’ll probably look back in 30 years time wistfully at the odd combination!

True (and I accept it’s in the eye of the beholder etc). Not a tour for me as a bit too much of a busman’s holiday, albeit I’m working, so might get to see it going the other way, depending where I end up!

If they do a similar one on the GWR, on the other hand, I’ll be all over it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Feb 2024 ==

I’ve booked on this tour now. Rude not to really with it being reasonably priced and starting in Sheffield (thank you Retro).

I’ll look forward to reading about your experiences.

 

[31160]

Does anyone fancy a guess at the route after Leicester

 

[matt]

Does anyone fancy a guess at the route after Leicester

The website lists the route.

 

[Iskra]

The website lists the route.

Unless I’m missing something it is a bit vague after Leicester, about how it gets to Tyseley.

Does anyone fancy a guess at the route after Leicester

Presumably Leicester-Nuneaton-Coventry-Birmingham-Chiltern Mainline. I’m unsure about exactly which lines will be taken in the Birmingham area, if anyone can shed any light?

 

[43096]

Unless I’m missing something it is a bit vague after Leicester, about how it gets to Tyseley.


Presumably Leicester-Nuneaton-Coventry-Birmingham-Chiltern Mainline. I’m unsure about exactly which lines will be taken in the Birmingham area, if anyone can shed any light?

Leicester - Nuneaton - Water Orton - Landor St Jct - Bordesley Jct - Tyseley.

 

[Iskra]

Leicester - Nuneaton - Water Orton - Landor St Jct - Bordesley Jct - Tyseley.

Thank you!

 

[Zontar]

It does look like a good itinerary, with sensible timings, over an interesting route.

A real pity about the horrendous livery adorning the Rail Adventure power cars, though. Still, at least people won’t be able to see it from inside the train!

I tend to agree. The two power cars will look awful next to whatever they use.

I do like the rail adventure livery for what the hsts are now used for, but for an excursion it's just going to look exactly what it is, thrown together to make some money.

 

[Iskra]

I tend to agree. The two power cars will look awful next to whatever they use.

I do like the rail adventure livery for what the hsts are now used for, but for an excursion it's just going to look exactly what it is, thrown together to make some money.

…for charity.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Feb 2024 ==

Also, probably worth pointing out that while not necessarily accurate, the picture does show the RailAdventure PC’s with grey former-XC mk3’s, which doesn’t look too bad IMO. There are some of these stored at Barrow Hill, which may indicate these are to be used since the tour starts at Sheffield.

 

[sprinterguy]

Also, probably worth pointing out that while not necessarily accurate, the picture does show the RailAdventure PC’s with grey former-XC mk3’s, which doesn’t look too bad IMO. There are some of these stored at Barrow Hill, which may indicate these are to be used since the tour starts at Sheffield.

The announcement states that "The train will be formed of a rake of Intecity125 [sic] carriages from the 125 Group": The 125 Group set is a primarily ex-East Midlands slam door rake.

 

[silexa]

Just booked onto this one - looking forward to it

 

[ExRes]

I tend to agree. The two power cars will look awful next to whatever they use.

I do like the rail adventure livery for what the hsts are now used for, but for an excursion it's just going to look exactly what it is, thrown together to make some money.

I've seen many a charter set which is made up of bits and pieces of coaches of various liveries and in various states, I've seen them with locos that haven't had a wash for weeks before they're used, what about that charter a few weeks back with the hideous 60 'Sonia' at one end a filthy 66 at the other? give me the always perfectly turned out RA power cars any day thanks

 

[Forty29]

Nowadays charters, especially the rakes of stock, are used just for this purpose so don't get a chance to get filthy as are cleaned after nearly every trip l would imagine, being privately owed . Not like BR days when locos and stock were probably used intensively all week so we're not so clean. During the late 70's/early 80's locos were usually filthy, but that added to the ambience of a rail tour. Nowadays people are paying a lot of money for a charter so expect it to be prestine.

 

[12LDA28C]

I'm not sure I'd describe it as "a rare opportunity to sample a High Speed Train to and from London Marylebone" although I appreciate it is since GWR dispensed with HSTs out of Paddington.

Many people will have had HSTs on service trains in and out of Marylebone during the various weekend diversions in the latter half of the 2010s.

 

[Townsend Hook]

I'm not sure I'd describe it as "a rare opportunity to sample a High Speed Train to and from London Marylebone" although I appreciate it is since GWR dispensed with HSTs out of Paddington.

Many people will have had HSTs on service trains in and out of Marylebone during the various weekend diversions in the latter half of the 2010s.

Fairly rare since then.. Just the midnight special from the Wall Siding every four weeks.

 

[Iskra]

I'm not sure I'd describe it as "a rare opportunity to sample a High Speed Train to and from London Marylebone" although I appreciate it is since GWR dispensed with HSTs out of Paddington.

Many people will have had HSTs on service trains in and out of Marylebone during the various weekend diversions in the latter half of the 2010s.

Certainly rare from the MML pick-up stations.

 

[yorksrob]

Pretty rare nowadays as well.

 

[OliverH68]

Paths are up. Interestingly it's doing a trip to Banbury & back on arrival into London.

1Z43 Sheffield - Marylebone - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02274/2024-03-15/detailed
1Z44 Marylebone - Banbury - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02275/2024-03-15/detailed
1Z45 Banbury - Marylebone - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02276/2024-03-15/detailed
1Z46 Marylebone - Sheffield - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02277/2024-03-15/detailed

 

[12LDA28C]

Paths are up. Interestingly it's doing a trip to Banbury & back on arrival into London.

1Z43 Sheffield - Marylebone - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02274/2024-03-15/detailed
1Z44 Marylebone - Banbury - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02275/2024-03-15/detailed
1Z45 Banbury - Marylebone - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02276/2024-03-15/detailed
1Z46 Marylebone - Sheffield - https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U02277/2024-03-15/detailed

That's a mini-tour which is being sold separately.

 

[Iskra]

That's a mini-tour which is being sold separately.

I would have thought Aylesbury would have made more sense, and garnered more enthusiasm for existing tour participants.

 

[12LDA28C]

I would have thought Aylesbury would have made more sense, and garnered more enthusiasm for existing tour participants.

Tricky to get a path across the single line from Princes Risborough I would imagine

 

[Townsend Hook]

Tricky to get a path across the single line from Princes Risborough I would imagine

And even trickier to fit the power cars with tripcocks so they could go via Harrow!

 

[12LDA28C]

And even trickier to fit the power cars with tripcocks so they could go via Harrow!

Zero chance of that, of course