UK mk4s on railtours

[GM078]

Pure curiosity on my part, but have the BR mk4s ever been used on a railtour?

Sprung to mind with our recent railtour in Ireland being the first to use the Irish mkIVs (though a completely different vehicle to the UK mk4).

 

[JonathanH]

Pure curiosity on my part, but have the BR mk4s ever been used on a railtour?

Yes - see link below

https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/940604hr.htm

4th June 1994

Hertfordshire Rail Tours
The Geordie 225 Special

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Traction Used	91026, Metro units 4026 + 4027
Stock Used	12201+12401+12407+12408+12459+12301+10306+11211+11202+82219

Route : 1F55 throughout
(Metro tour train : T191)
​

However, I suspect this is not really what you are asking in that your question is not whether a 91+Mk4 set has ever been chartered to run its normal route, but rather has a Mark 4 set ever been taken to an unusual location without the usual traction attached. That may be no.

 

[DanNCL]

In addition to the above charter, VTEC ran a Christmas charter on 10th December 2016 with 91129 on a return trip between Newcastle and Kings Cross. The Mark 4s had christmas decorations, I seem to recall tinsel on the luggage racks and snowflake stickers on some of the windows.

 

[GM078]

Thanks, I guess it still counts.

Are there clearance issues with mk4s in terms of route availability?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Are there clearance issues with mk4s in terms of route availability?

Yes, they don't fit on the Midland Main Line for a start - as in they physically don't rather than just because they've never been cleared for it.

 

[craigybagel]

Thanks, I guess it still counts.

Are there clearance issues with mk4s in terms of route availability?

Some work was necessary to clear them for their current Cardiff - Holyhead operations for TfW, and some further work is required for them to be able to take up Manchester - Cardiff & Swansea journeys from December. Even now sets running to and from Crewe for maintenance have to run via Chester to Cardiff and not take the direct route to Shrewsbury as they're not yet cleared.