UK Steam Rail Day Trips 2023/24 – The Railway Touring Company

The Railway Touring

Company

UK Steam Rail Day Trips 2023/24

Welcome

Dear Customer,

Welcome to our UK Daytrips brochure 2023/24 Third Edition.

We are delighted to bring you our new UK Daytrips brochure for the remainder of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, which you will see continues to offer many of our old favourites and now includes our festive programme of daytrips.

Our festive programme, this year, includes visits to York, Bath, Edinburgh, and Chester for their Christmas Markets. We also have new trips planned to include trips to Nottingham and Manchester this festive season, as well as a trip for passengers in the North West to visit London for the day.

We have been honoured to have been so heavily involved with 60103 Flying Scotsman’s centenary year. We are pleased to confirm that we have added some extra trips in our 2023 programme with Flying Scotsman in October and December this year, which are available to view in this brochure. Why not grab your chance to travel behind the world-renowned locomotive in this very special year.

On board our daytrips you can travel in premier dining and enjoy the luxury of being silver served at your seat; first class with morning and afternoon refreshments served or in the standard class where you can bring a picnic hamper along or grab a cup of tea from the buffet car.

Our friendly on board team are waiting to welcome you. So sit back and relax, enjoy the nostalgia of travelling by steam, take in the views and embrace the atmosphere on board.

If you need more information or have questions relating to any of our daytrips, my team and I are here to help so please give us a call.

We thank you for your continued support and custom and are looking forward to welcoming you on board.

Kelly Osborne Managing Director

The Railway Touring Company.

UK Steam Rail Day Trips 2023/24

The Coast to Coast Express

Saturday

16th September 2023

The “Coast to Coast Express” is a day trip by special train travelling from Liverpool to Scarborough and back, thus linking the Irish Sea with the North Sea. The journey includes some spectacular scenery crossing the Pennines and the option of visiting either York or Scarborough. The train will be hauled by a steam locomotive from the Carnforth pool.

At around 06:20 the “Coast to Coast Express” will leave Liverpool Lime Street, hauled by a powerful steam locomotive. We travel via Edge Hill and Rainhill. Heading eastwards, we run via Chat Moss to Manchester Victoria, where we stop to pick up further passengers.

From Manchester we now run via Guide Bridge and Woodley, where we will pause to take on water. Running via New Mills, we now head for Chinley and join the former Midland Railway’s ‘Hope Valley’ line to Sheffield, our final pick up station. We pass through Hathersage, a charming village associated with Robin Hood and the Eyre family of Bronte fame. This route is spectacularly scenic and encompasses a number of long tunnels, including the passage through the 3½ mile-long Totley Tunnel, first opened in 1892, before arrival at Sheffield.

On leaving Sheffield we head northwards through Meadowhall, adjacent to the famous Meadowhall Shopping Centre, and onwards, avoiding Rotherham, towards Swinton. We make our way northwards through Church Fenton and follow the East Coast Main Line towards York. Passengers may leave the train at York or continue to Scarborough.

York is a fascinating city to visit at any time of the year, with a huge variety of interesting places to see. It has some of the best preserved historical buildings in Europe, the city walls, Minster, Shambles, Jorvik Centre and the superb National Railway Museum. Open-topped buses leave from York Railway Station for tours around the city.

For those passengers who choose to travel to Scarborough, we leave York and take the Scarborough line, immediately crossing the River Ouse, with views of the Minster. We should have a fast run through the Vale of York before slowing for the curves that follow the River Derwent past Kirkham Abbey. We pass through Malton and Seamer before arriving in Scarborough.

Scarborough is a Victorian spa town and the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast. It has been named as the most enterprising town in Britain and provides all the facilities you would expect at an established seaside resort. It has two beautiful bays, the North Bay and South Bay, providing safe sandy beaches, and a busy harbour with an active fish quay.

Our train leaves Scarborough, steam hauled, at around 15:50 and stops at York to pick up those passengers who chose to visit the city. We change motive power at Milford Loop and return to Liverpool, diesel hauled, stopping at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability).

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult Junior Family

Premier £285 £200 £870

First £185 £130 £565

Standard £115 £85 £358

Bob Green

The West Somerset Steam Express

Saturday 16th September 2023

This series of trains from London Paddington to Minehead features haulage by two steam locomotives in one day. One steam locomotive will haul our train from London Paddington to the West Somerset Railway at Bishops Lydeard. The Heritage Railway will then provide a steam locomotive to haul our train to Minehead and back. This provides a truly fascinating day out travelling through beautiful scenery to the Bristol Channel coast.

We leave London Paddington at around 07:00, steam hauled by Jubillee class steam locomotive No.45596 Bahamas and stop at Slough and Reading to pick up more passengers. At Reading we join the Berks and Hants line which runs through picturesque rural countryside. We pass the celebrated Newbury Racecourse before making our final stop for passengers at Newbury station. We continue westwards, travelling beside the tranquil Kennet & Avon Canal, and climbing steadily to Savernake Summit. We pass through the Vale of Pewsey, with views of one of the famous Wiltshire White Horses as we approach Westbury and continue through undulating agricultural countryside to Taunton.

Soon after leaving Taunton, we arrive at Norton Fitzwarren, where we transfer to the West Somerset Railway (WSR), the longest Heritage Railway in the country. We continue to Bishops Lydeard, where a WSR steam locomotive will take over our train for the remainder of the journey to Minehead. The WSR runs along the edge of the Quantock Hills between Bishops Lydeard and Watchet where it meets the coast. The line then turns inland to Washford and returns to the coast at Blue Anchor, passing near to Dunster with its magnificent castle, and terminating at Minehead.

On arrival at Minehead, there will be more than two hours to explore this delightful Bristol Channel seaside resort, where the railway station is close to the beach. A WSR steam locomotive will haul our train from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard, where our main line steam locomotive will take over for the return journey to London Paddington. The train will stop at Newbury, Reading and Slough to set down passengers.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability).

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares Adult Junior Family

Premier £285 £200 £870

First £185 £130 £565

Standard £115 £85 £358

Bob Green

The Royal Duchy

Sunday 24th September 2023

These ever-popular summer day trips by steam train run from Bristol Temple Meads, Yatton and Taunton to Devon & Cornwall. The route includes travelling along the internationally famous sea wall at Dawlish, crossing Brunel’s famous Saltash Bridge into Cornwall, and some of the most varied and exciting scenery in the country. Passengers can choose to spend time in Plymouth or travel on to Par, where buses are provided for visits to Fowey or Charlestown.

Our train leaves Bristol Temple Meads steam hauled by locomotive No.45596 Bahamas at around 08:15 and stops to pick up further passengers at Yatton and Taunton. Almost immediately on departure from Taunton, our steam locomotive will be working hard as it tackles the climb to Whiteball Summit. We stop at Exeter St. David’s station for our locomotive to take on water and for more passengers to join the train. We leave Exeter and follow the Exe Estuary to the seaside. We then travel along the famous sea wall between Dawlish and Teignmouth, an experience not to be missed.

After Newton Abbot, our steam locomotive will demonstrate her real strength as she powers up some of the steepest main line gradients in the country. First there is the difficult climb to the summit at Dainton Tunnel, followed by a dramatic drop down to Totnes, then an equally difficult climb up Rattery Bank before descending to Plymouth. Passengers have the option to alight at Plymouth or remain on the train to Par. There will be over five hours free time to explore the historic maritime city of Plymouth which includes the Hoe, the ancient Barbican and seafront areas, and the National Marine Aquarium.

We leave Plymouth, diesel hauled, and cross the river Tamar on Brunel’s masterpiece, the Royal Albert Bridge, to enter Cornwall. Our train continues through the magnificent Cornish countryside to Par, where there will be a break of more than three hours. Buses will take passengers from Par, at no extra charge, to visit either the picturesque seaside town of Fowey or the harbour village of Charlestown. The latter is a working port and home to the Shipwreck, Rescue & Heritage Centre. We leave Par steam hauled by Bahamas at around 17:40 and stop at Plymouth to pick up those passengers who chose to alight there. Our train then returns to Bristol, stopping to set down passengers at Exeter, Taunton and Yatton enroute.

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Bob Green

The Cumbrian Coast Express

Saturday

30th September 2023

Our journey will combine the scenic grandeur of the Cumbrian Fells with the exposed Cumbrian coastline that skirts the western edge of the Lake District. We have a high-speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Carlisle, hauled by a blue Class 86 electric locomotive. We then enjoy a steam tour from Carlisle back to Carnforth via the Cumbria Coast. We return from Carnforth to London behind our blue electric locomotive.

We leave London Euston at around 07:00 with electric traction, and speed north along the West Coast Main Line (WCML). We stop to pick up passengers at Watford Junction and then continue through Watford Tunnel into rural Hertfordshire. We stop to pick up further passengers at Milton Keynes, Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton and Crewe. We continue north along the WCML to Preston, our final stop to pick up passengers.

We pass through Lancaster and along the edge of Morecambe Bay before we arrive at Carnforth. Leaving Carnforth, we pass the Brief Encounter café and commence the long climb up to Grayrigg. We then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge to Tebay, before the notoriously steep ascent to Shap. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle. There will be time available in Carlisle to explore this ancient city with its cathedral and castle, plus an assortment of shops and cafes.

We leave Carlisle steam hauled and our return journey to Carnforth takes the scenic coastal route around the Cumbrian Coast. After Maryport, we run along the shoreline through to the industrialised district of Workington, once a centre for the production of iron and steel. There are spectacular cliff edge views as we journey southwards from Workington through to Whitehaven, with the Isle of Man visible on a clear day across the Irish Sea. We run very close to the shoreline for several miles prior to St Bees, famous for its priory and school. We pass Sellafield, where the British Nuclear Fuels plant dominates the landscape. At Ravenglass, we might catch a glimpse of the narrow gauge Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway which is normally steam operated.

At Millom, we head inland and follow the sweeping estuary through Foxfield and Kirkby in Furness. After Ulverston, we cross Leven Viaduct and curve along the edge of the bay through to Grange-over-Sands. There are more views across Morecambe Bay as we cross the lengthy Kent Viaduct at Arnside and approach Carnforth. Here, we shall say farewell to our gallant steam locomotive and our blue Class 86 electric locomotive will take over for a fast run to London Euston. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

* Passengers from Northampton will travel to and from Rugby by service train to join our train.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

Highland Express – Flying Scotsman

Saturday 7th October 2023

Visit Inverness in the Highlands on this day trip from Edinburgh which will be steam hauled by LNER Class A3 Pacific No.60103 Flying Scotsman on the return leg via the Highland Main Line. As part of the locomotive’s centenary year there are options to journey behind Flying Scotsman within Scotland.

Our special train leaves Edinburgh Waverley, diesel hauled, as we head for the world famous Forth Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You follow the scenic Fife coastline through Kirkcaldy, before heading through Thornton and Ladybank enroute to Perth, our final passenger pick up point.

After Perth we take the line towards the Highlands travelling through Kingswood Tunnel, Inver Tunnel, Pitlochry and Killiecrankie Tunnel before reaching Blair Athol, home of the famous castle of the same name. After Blair Atholl we climb to Druimuachdar summit at 1484 feet above sea level, and the highest main line summit in Britain.

The next section of our journey takes us through Kingussie and Kincraig, before we arrive in Aviemore, home to the Strathspey Railway. From Aviemore we continue through the Highlands over Slochd Summit to our destination for the day, Inverness. There will be time in Inverness to visit the town, for some sightseeing or shopping.

Our return journey from Inverness to Edinburgh will be steam hauled by the World famous Flying Scotsman locomotive. We depart Inverness and retrace our earlier route via the Highland Main line, which will include several steep climbs to demonstrate the power of Flying Scotsman on the severe gradients. The first twenty miles out of Inverness is virtually a continuous climb all the away to Slochd Summit, 1315 feet above sea level. There is a second severe fifteen mile climb up to Druimachdar Summit from Newtonmore. Combined with spectacular Highland scenery and many railway engineering feats on the way, this is clearly one of the great railway journeys of the world.

At Perth we take the line towards Gleneagles and Stirling and continue through Falkirk and Linlithgow back towards Edinburgh Waverley, arriving back there around 22:00.

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes a full Scottish breakfast and four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a Danish pastry and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with biscuits.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments. Please note Premier Dining is only available from Edinburgh Waverley.

Fares Adult Junior Family

Premier £335 £250 £1045

First £235 £180 £740

Standard £165 £125 £518

Robert Avery

The Cumbrian Mountain Express

Saturday 7th October 2023

Here’s a wonderful opportunity to get out and about with the added bonus of steam haulage over the Northern Fells, including the spectacular Settle & Carlisle Railway. We have a high speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth, hauled by a blue class 86 electric locomotive. We then enjoy a circular steam tour outwards via Shap to Carlisle and back via the Settle and Carlisle line. We return from Preston to London behind our blue electric locomotive.

We leave London Euston at around 07:00 with electric traction, and speed north along the West Coast Main Line (WCML). We stop to pick up passengers at Watford Junction and then continue through Watford Tunnel into rural Hertfordshire. We stop to pick up further passengers at Milton Keynes, Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton and Crewe. We continue north along the WCML to Preston, our final stop to pick up passengers.

We continue through Lancaster to Carnforth, where we change motive power to a steam locomotive from the Carnforth pool. Leaving Carnforth, our steam locomotive will be working hard when we climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg. We then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge to Tebay, gaining speed for the ascent to Shap. This well-known section of the WCML has a gradient of 1 in 75 and, in the former days of steam locomotives, banking engines from Tebay were often used to assist trains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle. There will be around two hours in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient ‘Border’ city with its castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum, and shopping centre.

We leave Carlisle and join the Settle & Carlisle Railway, one of the most well known and best loved stretches of railway line in Britain. We soon begin climbing, and then at Appleby, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. The climbing continues through scenic Kirkby Stephen towards the highest railway summit in England at Ais Gill, 1169 feet above sea level. We pass over tall viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through tunnels. There are magnificent views across the Fells and to the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We should have a fast run out of the hills, through Settle, until we stop again for our locomotive to take on water.

Our journey continues through Hellifield and Clitheroe to Preston where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive. We pass though Wigan and Warrington en route to Crewe hauled by our blue class 86 electric locomotive with a fast run to London expected. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

* Passengers from Northampton will travel to and from Rugby by service train to join our train.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

Fife Circular – Flying Scotsman

Sunday 8th October 2023

These special steam hauled circular trains through Fife offer the opportunity to take a journey behind the World Famous Flying Scotsman during its centenary year on a shorter journey. Three options are available morning, afternoon and evening departures.

We leave Edinburgh Waverley steam hauled and head west towards the Forth Rail Bridge. Having crossed the Firth of Forth we head through Inverkeithing and along the highly scenic Fife coast towards Kirkcaldy to Thornton South Jct. Here we leave the main line to Perth and take the line through Cardenden and Cowdenbeath towards Dunfermline.

Our locomotive will take water at Dunfermline before we then head back across the Firth of Forth Bridge through Haymarket West Junction and onwards to our journeys end at Edinburgh Waverley.

Our arrival back at Edinburgh Waverley signifies the end of our steam hauled ride through Fife, in the company of Flying Scotsman.

3 Departure Options

Morning

Premier Dining includes a full Scottish breakfast served at your seat.

First Class includes tea or coffee with a Danish pastry.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Afternoon

Premier Dining includes a two course lunch silver served at your seat.

First Class includes tea or coffee with a Danish pastry.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Evening Premier Dining includes a three course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes tea or coffee with biscuits.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments

Steve Morgan and Science Museum

Aberdeen Flyer – Flying Scotsman

Tuesday 10th October 2023

Visit the Granite City of Aberdeen on this day trip from Edinburgh steam hauled by LNER Class A3 Pacific No.60103 Flying Scotsman. As part of the locomotive’s centenary year there are options to journey behind Flying Scotsman within Scotland. The highlights of the day will be the passage over the world famous Forth Bridge and the attractive coastal line through Fife.

Our special train leaves Edinburgh Waverley, steam hauled, as we head for the world famous Forth Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You follow the scenic Fife coastline through Burntisland and Kirkcaldy, with outstanding views across the Forth estuary. Cutting inland via Thornton and Markinch, you pass through Ladybank and head across the Howe of Fife towards the Fair City of Perth.

Running along the north bank of the Tay through the Carse of Gowrie, we reach Dundee where Captain Scott’s Antarctic expedition ship ‘RRS Discovery’ is housed on the quayside.

Leaving the Tay estuary, you follow the coast towards Arbroath, famous for its culinary ‘Smokies’. There are steep gradients to negotiate as we head away from Arbroath through Lunan Bay to Montrose. Reaching Montrose, which sits on a land-locked lagoon, you move inland through the Howe of Mearns via the former Caledonian Railway’s line to reach the North Sea again at Stonehaven. This section of line includes more severe gradients that will require some impressive work from our steam locomotive and crew.

Your route follows the coastline before entering the ‘Granite City’ of Aberdeen, where you’ll have just over two hours to sightsee and shop, before your steam locomotive departs Aberdeen around 16:35. We retrace our outward steps through Dundee and Perth and then follow the Caledonian line to Stirling. After Stirling, your route will be via Larbert and Falkirk Grahamstown as you make your way eastwards through Linlithgow to Edinburgh Waverley arriving there around 20:45.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full Scottish breakfast and a four course dinner silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a Danish pastry and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with biscuits.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

The Mancunian

Saturday 21st October 2023

This tour offers a unique opportunity to travel by a special charter train to the bustling city of Manchester. The train will be steam-hauled throughout from London Euston to Manchester by a locomotive from the Carnforth pool. We will follow the route of the famous express such as the Royal Scot along the West Coast Main Line (WCML) to Stoke on Trent and then onwards via Stockport to Manchester Piccadilly.

The “Mancunian” will leave London Euston at around 06:40 steam hauled behind a locomotive from the Carnforth pool. Initially on departure we shall hear our locomotive working hard on the climb up Camden Bank. We stop to pick up more passengers at Watford Junction and then continue through Watford Tunnel into rural Hertfordshire. We stop to pick up further passengers at the 1960s ‘new town’ of Milton Keynes. At Hanslope Junction, we leave the West Coast Main Line (WCML) and take the Northampton loop line where we will stop for water and pick up further passengers.

We continue northwards and pass the Daventry Railfreight Terminal (DIRFT) before rejoining the WCML at Rugby, a further pick up stop, and the birthplace of rugby football and the jet engine. We then follow the Trent Valley Line to Nuneaton, where we will make a stop to pick up passengers. We pass through Lichfield, notable for its three-spired medieval cathedral and, soon after Rugeley, is Colwich Junction, where the line to Stoke on Trent leaves the WCML. We will now follow the former North Staffordshire line through the Trent Valley towards Stoke on Trent. This line has not seen many steam hauled trains in recent years, so this will be a new steam hauled route for many. After passing through the Potteries, we continue our journey northwards through the Harecastle tunnel and take the North Staffs line to Macclesfield at Kidsgrove junction. There is a long climb from Congleton through North Rode towards Macclesfield. Here, we now pick up the former LNWR route through Poynton to Cheadle Hulme, and then onwards to Stockport.

At Stockport, we will cross the lofty Mersey Square viaduct and proceed through the suburbs of south Manchester before arriving at Manchester Piccadilly for an afternoon break. With the shops and attractions all nearby there will be something for everybody, including those who wish to shop in the Arndale Centre. There are ample pubs and restaurants for lunch, plus many museums and places of interest within easy walking distance of the city centre.

After our visit to Manchester, we will return to London steam hauled this time departing from Manchester Victoria station. We will pause at Crewe to take on water before continuing southwards along the WCML. Highlight of this journey will be the long climb out of Crewe up to Whitmore summit. After passing through Stafford, we round Queensville Curve and head for Colwich Junction, where we pick up our outward route. We will set down at our earlier calling stations on the way. This tour promises to be a fitting tribute to the former LMS golden years along the WCML and its fine locomotives.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares Adult Junior Family

Premier £285 £200 £870

First £185 £130 £565

Standard £115 £85 £358

Bob Green

The Buxton Spa Express

Sunday 29th October 2023

This special steam hauled tour commences at Preston and follows a winding route through the High Peak District of Derbyshire to the Spa Town of Buxton. We will cover both routes to and from Buxton and also we will offer the choice to take our train along the rarely visited Hindlow freight line to the quarry in the heart of the Peak District. There will be time in Buxton for you to visit its historic and cultural sights.

Our train leaves Preston steam hauled by a locomotive from the Carnforth Pool. We head south up the West Coast Main Line to Wigan North Western, where we stop for more passengers. We then travel eastwards to Manchester Victoria and a further stop is made to pick up passengers. Our locomotive will be working hard as we leave Manchester and immediately commence the climb of the testing 1 in 47 gradient of Miles Platting bank. After passing through Denton and Stockport, we shall then make our way towards Buxton via Hazel Grove, following the steeply graded former London & North Western Railway’s route through Whaley Bridge. An option to take an afternoon break in Buxton will be available to explore the attractions of the highest market town in England, including the Pump Room, The Crescent, Pavillion and its extensive gardens.

During our visit to Buxton, there will be the choice to stay on the train for a visit to Hindlow Quarry. With our steam locomotive now serviced, we will now traverse the remaining section of the former London & North Western Railway’s line to Ashbourne, running to the present limit of this freight only line at Hindlow Quarry. With gradients up to 1 in 60, this will require our locomotive to be in ‘top and tail’ mode to overcome the steep climbs. We shall then reverse back to Buxton with our diesel locomotive where we will call to pick up passengers who chose to alight here earlier.

From Buxton, we will return to Stockport steam hauled again by way of the Midland Railway’s Peak Forest line through Ashwood Dale and the vast Tunstead Limestone Quarry complex. At Chinley, we join the Hope Valley line from Sheffield and return via Disley Tunnel and the Hazel Grove Chord to Stockport and Manchester Victoria.

Our return route back to Preston will be via Wigan North Western, setting down passengers after a varied and interesting day out in the Peak District.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability).

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Glen Batten

The Armistice Kentish Belle

Saturday 11th November 2023

Can you imagine a more fitting way to commemorate Armistice Day than aboard a special steam hauled train travelling through the “Garden of England” between London and Canterbury? Sit back, relax and watch the Kent countryside go past your window as Jubilee class steam locomotive No.45596 Bahamas is put through its paces hauling our train, which will also visit some rare destinations and routes. We also remember the armistice for the end of the fighting on 11th November 1918.

Our train, hauled by Bahamas, leaves London Victoria mid morning and travels via Bromley South where we pause to pick up passengers. We will then continue via the South Eastern & Chatham main line through Sevenoaks to Tonbridge. We follow the Ashford line eastwards as far as Paddock Wood, where we will leave the main line and join the Medway Valley line to Maidstone West and Strood. This attractive line follows the river Medway all the way to Maidstone and onwards to Rochester and Strood. It is also a route that does not see steam hauled trains all that frequently.

At Strood, we will reverse our direction of travel and run diesel hauled past Rochester Castle and Cathedral as we follow the North Kent line through Chatham, famed for its historic dockyards. On the approach to Sittingbourne, we will leave the main line at Western Junction and join the Sheerness branch. We cross the river Swale and run across the Isle of Sheppey to the end of the line at Sheerness-on-Sea, where we take a short break. Apart from the town’s seaside connections, it was an important Royal Navy dockyard until its closure in 1960. The Port of Sheerness is still a significant importer of cars, plus fruit and vegetables.

We return to the main line junction at Sittingbourne steam hauled now and make our way to Faversham where we will join the Canterbury East line. From Canterbury East, it is a long climb to Shepherds Well summit before we descend steeply towards Dover, a very busy cross channel ferry port.

We pass beneath the White Cliffs of Dover, and Shakespeare Cliff marks the point where Great Britain is closest to continental Europe. Deep below the line is the route of the Channel Tunnel, 50km in length and opened in 1994. Dover was also the scene of the arriving troops in 1940 during Operation Dynamo, when 338,226 were evacuated from Dunkirk. After Folkestone, where the surrounding area is dominated by the Channel Tunnel Shuttle Terminal, we head inland to Ashford, where we will follow the line to Maidstone East, passing over our earlier route taken through Maidstone West! After Swanley, we retrace our previous route back through Bromley South to London Victoria.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes Buck’s Fizz, morning tea or coffee and Danish pastries and a four course lunch silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

The Christmas White Rose

Saturday 18th November 2023

Join us for an exhilarating main line steam run from London’s King’s Cross to the historic city of York. York is world famous for its variety of visitor attractions and home to the National Railway Museum. Our train will be hauled from London to York and as far as Peterborough on the return journey by a locomotive from the Carnforth pool.

We leave London King’s Cross in the morning steam hauled and follow the East Coast Main Line route of famous express trains like the Flying Scotsman. We storm up the gradient through Gasworks Tunnel and Finsbury Park, and northwards, calling at Stevenage, Huntingdon and Peterborough to pick up more passengers.

Our steam locomotive then tackles the 15-mile climb up the famous Stoke Bank. Here on 3rd July 1938, “Mallard”, an A4 class ‘Pacific’, achieved a world record speed of 126 mph when travelling in the opposite direction. Once over the summit we should have a good, fast run down the 20 mile descent to the Trent Valley and on through Grantham, Newark and Retford. We steam through Doncaster and continue northwards to our mid-day stop in York. There will be plenty of time for passengers to enjoy the city and all it has to offer. York has some major tourist attractions including the National Railway Museum, the largest museum of its type in Britain; the Shambles; the splendid Gothic York Minster, one of the largest of its kind in northern Europe; and the city walls. There are a number of other interesting museums, quaint alleyways, and a good variety of shops.

Our train leaves York late afternoon, and we will retrace our outward steps along the East Coast Main Line steam hauled by a Carnforth pool locomotive. We say goodbye to our steam locomotive at Peterborough and continue diesel hauled, stopping to set down passengers at the same stations as on the northbound journey, arriving at King’s Cross in the evening. Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when making your booking.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares Adult Junior Family

Premier £295 £205 £898

First £195 £135 £593

Standard £115 £85 £358

Bob Green

Waverley – Flying Scotsman

Sunday 19th November 2023

This summer series of steam hauled trains provides an opportunity for passengers from York, Leeds and the Aire Valley to travel over the spectacular Settle & Carlisle Railway, probably the most famous railway route in Britain. Join us to celebrate Flying Scotsman’s Centenary Year in 2023 on one of these day trips which revive the nostalgic former days of steam when travel by train through magnificent scenery was an experience to savour.

Our steam hauled train leaves York, hauled by steam locomotive No.60103 Flying Scotsman, in the morning and heads for Church Fenton where we take the direct route to Leeds. We stop to pick up more passengers at Leeds, Keighley, and Skipton. There will be a stop at Hellifield for our steam locomotive to take on water before we join the famous Settle & Carlisle Railway at Settle Junction. Here begins one of the most arduous climbs on Britain’s railway network, a total of 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100.

Once through Settle station, there are magnificent views across the Fells to the Pennine Three Peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We cross the breathtaking Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel. We pass through Dent Dale and the highest open station in England at Dent, travelling through tunnels and crossing valleys on numerous lofty viaducts, as we make the final ascent to Ais Gill Summit (1,169 feet). We travel high above the valley at Mallerstang and then drop down through Kirkby Stephen through Appleby to Lazenby, where our locomotive takes on water.

We continue to Carlisle where passengers will have over one and a half hours to explore the Border City, possibly visiting the castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum or the Lanes Shopping Centre.

Our train leaves Carlisle for the return journey in the afternoon and climbs almost continuously for just under 50 miles back up to Ais Gill summit. We stop, en route, at Appleby for our steam locomotive to take on water. We then continue to stops at Skipton, Keighley, Leeds, and York, to set down passengers.

Please note that Premier Dining is not available from Skipton on this trip.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult Junior Family

Premier £335 £250 £1045

First £235 £180 £740

Standard £165 £125 £518

Bob Green

The Cardiff Christmas Express

Tuesday 21st November 2023

Join us on this scenic rail tour by steam train through the Thames Valley, the beautiful Cotswold Hills and along the river Severn, hauled by a locomotive from the Carnforth pool. Our destinations will be the cathedral city of Gloucester, and Cardiff, the vibrant Capital of Wales. We should experience some fast running along the ex-GWR main line and some challenging climbs through the Cotswolds.

Our steam hauled train leaves London Victoria in the morning and we make our way via Clapham Junction to Staines, our first call for more passengers. We take the Reading line and make further calls at Ascot and Reading. Following the Thames Valley, we head for Didcot, our final pick up station. Our journey continues through the Vale of White Horse to Swindon, where we take the Golden Valley line through Kemble and Duchess of Sutherland then tackles the steep climb to Sapperton Tunnel.

On arrival at Gloucester, passengers have the choice of alighting here to visit the city with its centrepiece the 14th century cathedral, alongside the many shops and other attractions that the city has to offer. Our steam hauled train will call at Gloucester on the return to pick up passengers who choose to spend the afternoon here.

Our journey will continue from Gloucester towards Cardiff along the banks of the river Severn through Lydney and Chepstow as we head for Wales via Newport. The Cardiff Christmas Market is located in the heart of the city along the pedestrianised streets of the main shopping area. Enjoy the atmosphere of the market with its craft stalls, food and drink outlets and fairy lights to add to the festive feel.

We will return from Cardiff diesel hauled and will pick up at Gloucester before returning via the Golden Valley route once again to Didcot, Reading, Ascot, Staines and terminating in London Victoria, ending what promises to be a varied and enjoyable day out.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

The Nottingham Christmas Express

Thursday 23rd November 2023

Join us for a main line steam run from west London Ealing Broadway station to Nottingham. The added attraction will be the popular seasonal Nottingham Christmas market. Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland is a traditional German-style market with all the wonderful Christmas food, mulled wine, handmade gifts and decorations that you would expect to see in a German Christmas market. The traditional chalets combine well with the less traditional events and activities.

Our train leaves London Ealing Broadway at around 06:55 hauled by Jubilee class steam locomotive No. 45596 Bahamas and travels around West London through Acton Wells and Neasden South Junction. At Dudding Hill Junction we take the Brent curve and join the Midland Main Line (MML) near Cricklewood. We head north and stop at St. Albans, Luton, Bedford and Kettering, to pick up further passengers.

Our route now follows the Midland Railway’s main line through Market Harborough and onwards to Leicester. We continue northwards through Loughborough and past Radcliffe Power Station before crossing the river Trent and head for Nottingham.

Apart from the Nottingham Winter Wonderland market, there are many shops and restaurants to visit if you are still looking for Christmas gift ideas. Famed for its lace manufacture in previous years, Nottingham is still a vibrant city that caters for all year round visitors. There is even a modern tramway system operating on various routes from the city centre if you wish to explore a little further. Our special train will be steam hauled throughout.

Our train leaves Nottingham early evening and returns to London Ealing Broadway diesel hauled. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Please note: Premier Dining is not available from Kettering.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

The Christmas Cheshireman

Saturday 25th November 2023

Join us on this interesting trip by vintage steam train to the historic city of Chester, an unusual destination from Bristol. We travel via the Severn Tunnel, the South Wales Main Line, the scenic Welsh Marches route, and the Shrewsbury to Chester line. There will be over three hours to explore Chester. Our train will be steam hauled throughout by a locomotive from the Carnforth pool.

We leave Bristol Temple Meads at around 07:00 steam hauled. Our steam locomotive will be working hard as we climb to Filton Abbey Wood, where we stop to pick up more passengers.

We then head westwards along the South Wales Main Line, passing through the Severn Tunnel into Wales, and continuing to the outskirts of Newport. Here we turn northwards, crossing the river Usk, and join the Welsh Marches route.

We stop at Cwmbran and Abergavenny for more passengers to join the train before we begin the challenging climb of the Llanvihangel bank. Our steam locomotive will be in full cry all the way to the summit! We pass many sites where there were once railway stations along this route and the longest section without a station today is between Abergavenny and Hereford, where we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. There is some truly beautiful scenery as we travel through Herefordshire and into Shropshire, passing towns such as Leominster, Ludlow, Craven Arms and Church Stretton.

We continue to Shrewsbury, where the ‘listed’ Severn Bridge Junction Signal Box is the largest remaining mechanical signal box in the world. We take the Chester Line from Shrewsbury and stop at Chirk for our steam locomotive to take on water. We pass through Ruabon and Wrexham before arriving at our destination, the beautiful Roman City of Chester. There will be over three hours to explore the walled city that contains a number of medieval buildings and is famous for its 14th Century ‘Rows’, the first floor level galleried walkways connecting shops and cafes. Other places of interest include the Castle, the Cathedral, and the picturesque racecourse, located between the city walls and the river Dee.

Whilst we have been exploring the city, our steam locomotive will have been serviced and turned at Chester ready for the return journey. Our train leaves Chester at around 16:25 returning by the same route and stopping at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers.

Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when making your booking.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

The Capital Christmas Express

Saturday 25th November 2023

Join us on this rare opportunity to travel on a steam hauled excursion from the North West and West Midlands to London as we near the festive season. Our steam locomotive for the outward journey will be a Black 5. We will follow the scenic border line between England and Wales on the northern section of our journey before passing through Warwickshire, Oxford and along the Thames Valley through Reading before arriving at London’s Paddington station.

We leave Chester in the morning, steam hauled, and head westwards towards Shrewsbury, stopping to pick up passengers at Wrexham on the way. We continue southwards and cross two spectacular lofty viaducts at Cefn Mawr and Chirk. After Gobowen, we pass through rural Shropshire and travel on a very straight alignment towards Shrewsbury, where we will pause to pick up further passengers.

Leaving Shrewsbury, we pass the Grade II listed Severn Bridge Junction signal box which is the largest mechanical signal box in the world, and head towards the West Midlands via Wellington. There are views of the Shropshire landmark hill of the Wrekin as we head eastwards before passing through Cosford. We will call at Wolverhampton to pick up passengers before threading our way through the Black Country industrialised corridor towards Birmingham. After picking up at Birmingham New Street, we take the suburban lines through to Bordesley where we will join the former GWR main line route from Birmingham Snow Hill to Oxford and London Paddington.

Our last pick up station will be Solihull before we reach Warwick and descend Hatton Bank. Next is the Warwickshire town of Royal Leamington Spa. We should now start to get up speed on the long rural stretch of line through to Banbury, where we will continue to follow the main line to Oxford.. Our route takes us through to Didcot and past the Great Western Society’s railway centre here. We then head along the sweeping Thames Valley towards Reading, where we then follow the main line through Maidenhead to London Paddington. It was Brunel that pioneered this virtually level line for the Great Western Railway, which included some formidable engineering feats such as the Maidenhead Arch over the Thames and the two mile long Sonning Cutting. We should achieve a fast run into the Capital and arrive steam hauled at London Paddington station, our destination for the afternoon.

Paddington is located conveniently on Underground and bus routes to enable you to explore many of London’s famous tourist attractions. After a full afternoon in London sightseeing, our return journey will follow our outward route, but will be diesel hauled back to Chester, calling at our various pick up points to set down.

Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when making your booking.

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard

includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

The Manchester Christmas Market

Wednesday 29th November 2023

This tour offers an unusual opportunity to travel by a special charter train to the bustling city of Manchester, especially seasonal as its famous Christmas Market will be in full swing. The train will be steam-hauled throughout from London Euston to Manchester by a locomotive from the Carnforth pool. We will follow the route of the famous express such as the Royal Scot along the West Coast Main Line (WCML) terminating at Manchester Piccadilly.

The “Manchester Christmas Market” will leave London Euston at around 06:40 steam hauled. Initially on departure we shall hear our locomotive working hard on the climb up Camden Bank. We stop to pick up more passengers at Watford Junction and then continue through Watford Tunnel into rural Hertfordshire. We stop to pick up further passengers at the 1960s ‘new town’ of Milton Keynes. At Hanslope Junction, we take the Northampton loop line where we will stop for water and pick up further passengers.

We continue northwards and rejoin the WCML at Rugby, a further pick up stop. We then follow the Trent Valley Line to Nuneaton, where we will make a stop to pick up passengers. We pass through Lichfield and follow the Trent Valley route towards Stafford, where we will pause for water.

We continue our journey through Stone and Stoke on Trent and then take the North Staffs line to Macclesfield There is a long climb from Congleton through North Rode towards Macclesfield. Here, we now pick up the former LNWR route to Stockport.

From Stockport, we proceed through the suburbs of south Manchester before arriving at Manchester Piccadilly for an afternoon break. With the shops and attractions all nearby there will be something for everybody, including those who wish to shop in the Arndale Centre. There are ample pubs and restaurants for lunch, plus many museums and places of interest within easy walking distance of the city center. The Christmas Market plans to feature over 200 stalls across a number of sites throughout the city centre. There will even be a covered ice skating rink in the Cathedral Gardens, so lots of festive attractions to complement a wide choice of existing shops in and around the city centre.

After our visit to Manchester, we will return to London steam hauled, this time departing from Manchester Victoria station. We will pause at Crewe to take on water before continuing southwards along the WCML. Highlight of this journey will be the long climb out of Crewe up to Whitmore summit. After passing through Stafford, we round Queensville Curve and head southwards along our outward route. We will set down at our earlier calling stations on the way. This tour promises to be a fitting tribute to the former LMS golden years along the WCML and its fine locomotives.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability).

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult Junior Family

Premier £295 £205 £898

First £195 £135 £593

Standard £115 £85 £358

Tony Bartlett

The Bath and Bristol Christmas Express

Saturday 2nd December 2023

Our special Christmas excursion by steam train from the south coast to the magnificent city of Bath follows a particularly scenic route through attractive countryside. There will be over four hours to explore the city, and visit the famous Bath Christmas Market or travel on to Bristol. The Christmas lights will be on, the market will be in full swing, the city will be alive with the sound of Christmas music, and in a truly festive mood.

Our train leaves Three Bridges, steam hauled by a locomotive from the Carnforth pool and heads south along the Brighton main line. It stops at Haywards Heath to pick up more passengers before continuing to Preston Park, where passengers from the Brighton area can join the train. We stop to pick up passengers at Hove and Worthing. At Salisbury, we stop for our locomotive to take on water and for passengers to stretch their legs and perhaps have a chat with our driver.

We take the South Western main line to Wilton, famous for its carpets, and then turn north through the rambling Wiltshire countryside. We cross the edge of Salisbury Plain to Warminster, noted for its army presence, before descending to Westbury. The route then follows the beautiful Avon Valley through Bradford-on-Avon to Bathampton Junction, and then it is only a short distance to Bath and the well-kept Bath Spa Station, close to the city centre.

The afternoon is free to explore the Georgian city and visit the distinctively ‘British’ Bath Christmas Market which has over 170 traditional wooden chalets selling seasonal products and gifts. The Abbey, Roman Baths, and Pump Room with its restaurant, all surround the Market site and are central to the main shopping area. However, don’t miss Milsom Street, voted ‘Britain’s Best Fashion Street’, and if you wish to see the sights at leisure, hop on a ‘City Sightseeing Tours’ bus.

Meanwhile our train continues to Bristol, another fascinating destination for those who wish to explore this fine city instead. It has several world class attractions including Britain’s most acclaimed historic ship, the S.S. ‘Great Britain’; Brunel’s iconic Clifton suspension bridge; the world’s fifth oldest zoo; and an historic harbour-side, the location of the M Shed, an exciting new innovative museum. The city is a Christmas shopper’s haven with all the major retail outlets in the Broadmead and Cabot Circus shopping centres.

Our steam locomotive will be serviced at Bristol before we return to Bath and Three Bridges steam hauled. We stop to pick up those parcel-laden passengers who opted to visit the Christmas Market in Bath! We return by the route of our outward journey, stopping at the same stations for passengers to alight.

Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when making your booking.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

The Edinburgh Christmas Market

Saturday 2nd December 2023

This special steam hauled train using a Carnforth pool locomotive will run at speed both ways from York to Edinburgh and return. There will be time in Edinburgh to visit the sights, including the extensive Christmas Market located in Princes Street Gardens, before we return south.

Our steam hauled journey will commence at the historic city of York, with its long association with railways, including the location of the National Railway Museum. Heading north away from York, we will travel down the East Coast main line through to Northallerton, where our steam locomotive will build up speed to its maximum on the straight alignment of the tracks. We will pause at Durham momentarily to pick up further passengers, before heading towards Tyneside and over the river Tyne to Newcastle, our final pick up point.

Leaving Newcastle, we head northwards and pass through Morpeth, with our speed running at the maximum along this former LNER racetrack, the preserve of the A4 Pacifics up to their withdrawal in the mid 1960s. With coastal views and quaint villages along the way, we make our way through Northumberland, with views of Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne Island simmering in the distance. Continuing towards Berwick on Tweed, we cross the spectacular 28-arch Royal Border Bridge, designed by Robert Stephenson. Just after Berwick, we cross the border and enter Scotland. Our locomotive will now be getting steam up ready for the long climb up to Grantshouse, a stiff climb at gradients of 1 in 190/200 and a test of the stamina of locomotives heading towards Edinburgh.

We pass through the Scottish Borders, with more coastal views along the way before we reach Edinburgh, the Capital of Scotland. Time will be available here for passengers to visit the city and its Christmas market, located in Princes Street Gardens, whilst our locomotive is serviced for the return journey back to York. Apart from its many shops and restaurants along Princes Street, there are many sights to see and visit, including the Palace of Holyrood, the Castle on the Royal Mile, Galleries and Museums and Princes Street Gardens.

We will return south with our steam locomotive and follow our outward route. Highlight of the journey back to Newcastle will be the southbound climb to Grantshouse, graded at 1 in 96 for over four miles. In no time at all, we will be back at Newcastle to set down passengers, followed by Durham and finally York.

Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when making your booking.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult Junior Family

Premier £295 £205 £898

First £195 £135 £593

Standard £115 £85 £358

Bob Green

The Christmas Sussex Belle

Wednesday 6th December 2023

Join us on a special train to celebrate the Festive Season in style. Our train travels from London Victoria to the Sussex coast, crossing the North and South Downs and passing through the beautiful countryside of the Weald. It will be steam hauled by an LMS Black 5 locomotive. This is a wonderful way to enjoy a leisurely lunch whilst appreciating the scenic views from your carriage window.

Our day out begins when our train leaves London Victoria station at around 10:30, hauled by a Black 5 steam locomotive. We journey south along the main line towards Brighton passing through East Croydon, Redhill, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges and Haywards Heath. The route crosses the Weald, an ancient area of woodland scattered with farms and villages. We leave the Brighton line at Keymer Junction, just after Wivesfield, and head southeastwards through Cooksbridge to Lewes. Here we join the East Coastway Line that runs from Brighton to Eastbourne, Hastings and Ashford. We pass through the South Downs, an area characterised by rolling chalk downland and recognised as one of the most important chalk landscapes in England.

We head to Eastbourne where our steam locomotive will be serviced and there will be time to visit this popular South Coast seaside town. The seafront consists almost entirely of Victorian hotels, which along with its pier and bandstand, give it a timeless appeal. The town is situated immediately east of Beachy Head, the highest chalk sea cliff in Great Britain and an area of outstanding natural beauty. This sheltered position contributes to Eastbourne’s title of the sunniest place in Great Britain.

We leave Eastbourne, diesel-hauled and head along the Sussex Coast through Normans Bay, Cooden Beach, and Bexhill to Hastings. Hastings can claim fame through its connection with the Norman Conquest of England, and also because it became one of the medieval Cinque Ports. The town is sometimes referred to as the birthplace of television since the pioneer of television, John Logie Baird, lived there.

Our train reverses direction of travel at Hastings and leaves with the steam locomotive in charge. We continue our journey heading north through Crowhurst and Battle, and then passing through Mountfield Tunnel. Robertsbridge station was formerly a junction station with the Colonel Stephens’ famous old Kent and East Sussex Light Railway. We pass through Royal Tunbridge Wells, a spa town situated on the northern edge of the High Weald. At Sevenoaks, we take the line through Bat and Ball station, which was named after a local inn that no longer exists. We join the line from Ashford at Otford, and the Chatham Main Line at Swanley. Our tour ends when we arrive back at London Victoria at around 17:40.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes Buck’s Fizz, morning tea or coffee and Danish pastries and a four course lunch silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

First £175 £110 £515 Standard £105 £75 £323

Tony Bartlett

The Lincoln Christmas Express

Saturday 9th December 2023

The Lincoln Christmas Express is a seasonally operated steam hauled excursion by a private charter train from London to the historic city of Lincoln. Your journey will visit the city at its most festive, with its Christmas lights and buildings all decorated to make your visit that extra bit special. Our journey will be a fast run along the East Coast Main Line to Peterborough, before we branch off to travel through rural Lincolnshire via Spalding and Sleaford.

Our day out begins when we steam out of London King’s Cross station at around 09:00 and head north down the East Coast Main Line (ECML), hauled by a locomotive from the Carnforth pool. We stop at Potters Bar, Stevenage and Peterborough to pick up more passengers. Leaving Peterborough and its famous cathedral behind, we take the former Great Northern Railway (GNR) line towards Grimsby at Werrington Junction and head across the fertile flatlands to Spalding. Here we join the Great Northern & Great Eastern Joint Railway line to Sleaford. We continue through a part of rural Lincolnshire famous for its potato farms. Approaching Lincoln, we notice that its spectacular Cathedral dominates the city. There are many iconic buildings in Lincoln set around the Cathedral quarter and the courtyard of the 12th century castle. Apart from the imposing Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln Castle is nearby and houses an original copy of the Magna Carta. You could even take the Roman Trail and explore the remains of Lindum Colonia, the Roman City of Lincoln founded in the 1st century AD. The medieval cobbled streets of the city lead to the picturesque Bailgate area, with many independent shops and cafes to choose from. Lincoln is an ideal shopping destination for all of your Christmas shopping.

All too soon it will be time to return to the station for our train back to London. We shall again be steam hauled on the return from Lincoln by way of Newark and the East Coast Main Line. After a stiff climb up through Grantham to Stoke Tunnel we descend Stoke Bank, where ‘Mallard’ achieved 126 miles per hour that still stands as the world speed record for steam. We stop to set down passengers at the same stations as on the outward journey and arrive in King’s Cross Station at around 20:40.

Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when making your booking.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

Christmas Waverley – Flying Scotsman

Sunday 10th December 2023

This Christmas special steam hauled train provides an opportunity for passengers from York, Leeds and the Aire Valley to travel over the spectacular Settle & Carlisle Railway, probably the most famous railway route in Britain. Join us to celebrate Flying Scotsman’s Centenary Year in 2023 on this Christmas day trip which revives the nostalgic former days of steam when travel by train through magnificent scenery was an experience to savour.

Our steam hauled train leaves York, hauled by steam locomotive No.60103 Flying Scotsman, at 09:30 and heads for Church Fenton where we take the direct route to Leeds. We stop to pick up more passengers at Leeds, Keighley, and Skipton. There will be a stop at Hellifield for our steam locomotive to take on water before we join the famous Settle & Carlisle Railway at Settle Junction. Here begins one of the most arduous climbs on Britain’s railway network, a total of 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100.

Once through Settle station, there are magnificent views across the Fells to the Pennine Three Peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We cross the breathtaking Ribblehead Viaduct, high above the valley floor, and enter Blea Moor Tunnel. We pass through Dent Dale and the highest open station in England at Dent, travelling through tunnels and crossing valleys on numerous lofty viaducts, as we make the final ascent to Ais Gill Summit (1,169 feet). We travel high above the valley at Mallerstang and then drop down through Kirkby Stephen through Appleby to Lazenby, where our locomotive takes on water.

We continue to Carlisle where passengers will have over one and a half hours to explore the Border City, possibly visiting the castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum or the Lanes Shopping Centre.

Our train leaves Carlisle for the return journey at around 16:15 and climbs almost continuously for just under 50 miles back up to Ais Gill summit. We stop, en route, at Appleby for our steam locomotive to take on water. We then continue to stops at Skipton, Keighley, Leeds, and York, to set down passengers.

Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when making your booking.

Please note that Premier Dining is not available from Skipton on this trip.

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

The Worcester Christmas Express

Wednesday 13th December 2023

Why not join us for a classic day out by steam train that combines exciting main line running, varied landscapes, and the special atmosphere that the historic city of Worcester can offer. The Worcester Christmas Express will be steam hauled from Cambridge to Worcester and from Worcester as far as Leicester on the return by LNER A3 class locomotive No.60103 Flying Scotsman.

Our day out begins in the morning when we leave Cambridge Station, steam hauled. We stop to pick up more passengers at Ely and March, before continuing to Peterborough, our final pick up point.

We now follow the scenic cross country line through Stamford, a town of outstanding architectural and historic interest that is of national importance. The town has over 600 listed buildings, more than half of the total for the County of Lincolnshire. We continue westwards and pass Rutland Water towards Oakham, the small county town of Rutland. Entering Leicestershire, we run through Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies, and head for Leicester. We follow the main line to London St Pancras for a while as far as Wigston Junction, where we branch off to join the Nuneaton and Birmingham line.

Crossing the West Coast main line, we now head towards Birmingham, although we will bypass the city by means of the Camp Hill line through to King’s Norton. We pass through Barnt Green and then descend the extremely steep Lickey Incline, graded at 1 in 37, and one of the steepest climbs on the national network. After Bromsgrove, we leave the main line to Bristol at Stoke Works Junction and head for Droitwich. We soon pass through the spa town of Droitwich as we approach Worcester, where there will be time to visit the attractions in the city centre.

Worcester played an important part in the English civil war and it is also a University City. The Commandery museum was the Royalists Headquarters during the Battle of Worcester in 1651 and has much to interest visitors with its historic collections and displays. Worcester Cathedral is located on the banks of the river Severn and, dating back to 1084, its imposing position makes it a major attraction in the city. Worcester is also the home of the world famous Worcestershire Sauce from a recipe invented by the pharmacists John Lea and William Perrins. Modern day Worcester is noted as a major shopping centre serving the area with many arcades and famous names which will all be in full gear for those Christmas gifts at this festive time of year.

After servicing and turning our steam locomotive, we will make our way back to our earlier calling points to set down passengers. We will be diesel hauled from Leicester on the return leg back to Cambridge.

There are three classes available: Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult Junior Family

Premier £345 £255 £1073

First £245 £185 £768

Standard £165 £125 £518

Bob Green

The York Yuletide Express

Saturday 16th December 2023

Why not join us for a classic day out by steam train that combines exciting main line running, varied landscape, and the special atmosphere of York at Christmas time? The York Yuletide Express will be steam hauled from Norwich to York by a locomotive from the Carnforth pool. York is the second most visited city in England with varied attractions to suit all tastes, well known for its Roman origins, Minster, Castle and Railway Museum.

Our day out begins at around 07:00 when we leave Norwich Station steam hauled and cross the Trowse swing bridge over the River Wensum. We stop to pick up more passengers at Thetford. Approaching Ely we take the avoiding line which curves very sharply round onto the Peterborough line. We stop at March for further passengers, before continuing to Peterborough, our final pick up point.

We head northwards on the East Coast Main Line from Peterborough and commence the climb to Stoke Summit. This was the location of the famous record breaking run by “Mallard”, an A4 class ‘Pacific’, when it achieved a staggering 126 mph on the 3rd July 1938 when travelling in the opposite direction. We pass through Grantham, Newark and Retford with our steam locomotive cruising along at speeds just a little less than “Mallard’s”!

We stop at Babworth Loop for our steam locomotive to take on water and then make a fast run along the ECML to York.

Passengers will have plenty of time in York to enjoy the city and all it has to offer. It has a number of major tourist attractions including the National Railway Museum, claimed to be one of the largest railway museums in the world. It also boasts many shops, quaint alleyways, a Castle, and the splendid Gothic cathedral York Minster, one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.

We leave York at around 16:35 for the return journey, diesel hauled this time stopping at Peterborough, March, Thetford and Norwich to set down passengers.

We expect to meet up with Santa and his Elves during the journey, so presents will be handed out to all the children on our train! Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

The York Yuletide Express promises to provide a memorable day out behind classic traction over a classic and popular route.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult Junior Family

Premier £299 £220 £928

First £199 £150 £623

Standard £129 £99 £407

Bob Green

The Edinburgh Christmas Market

Saturday 16th December 2023

This special steam hauled train using a Carnforth pool locomotive will run at speed both ways from York to Edinburgh and return. There will be time in Edinburgh to visit the sights, including the extensive Christmas Market located in Princes Street Gardens, before we return south.

Our steam hauled journey will commence at the historic city of York, with its long association with railways, including the location of the National Railway Museum. Heading north away from York, we will travel down the East Coast main line through to Northallerton, where our steam locomotive will build up speed to its maximum on the straight alignment of the tracks. We will pause at Durham momentarily to pick up further passengers, before heading towards Tyneside and over the river Tyne to Newcastle, our final pick up point.

Leaving Newcastle, we head northwards and pass through Morpeth, with our speed running at the maximum along this former LNER racetrack, the preserve of the A4 Pacifics up to their withdrawal in the mid 1960s. With coastal views and quaint villages along the way, we make our way through Northumberland, with views of Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne Island simmering in the distance. Continuing towards Berwick on Tweed, we cross the spectacular 28-arch Royal Border Bridge, designed by Robert Stephenson. Just after Berwick, we cross the border and enter Scotland. Our locomotive will now be getting steam up ready for the long climb up to Grantshouse, a stiff climb at gradients of 1 in 190/200 and a test of the stamina of locomotives heading towards Edinburgh.

We pass through the Scottish Borders, with more coastal views along the way before we reach Edinburgh, the Capital of Scotland. Time will be available here for passengers to visit the city and its Christmas market, located in Princes Street Gardens, whilst our locomotive is serviced for the return journey back to York. Apart from its many shops and restaurants along Princes Street, there are many sights to see and visit, including the Palace of Holyrood, the Castle on the Royal Mile, Galleries and Museums and Princes Street Gardens.

We will return south with our steam locomotive and follow our outward route. Highlight of the journey back to Newcastle will be the southbound climb to Grantshouse, graded at 1 in 96 for over four miles. In no time at all, we will be back at Newcastle to set down passengers, followed by Durham and finally York.

Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when making your booking.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Fares

Adult Junior Family

Premier £295 £205 £898

First £195 £135 £593

Standard £115 £85 £358

Bob Green

The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express

Saturday 27th January, 17th February and 16th March 2024

This trip provides a wonderful opportunity to get out and about during the winter months, with the added bonus of steam haulage over the Northern Fells, including the spectacular Settle & Carlisle Railway. We have a high speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth, hauled by a blue Class 86 electric locomotive. We then enjoy a circular steam tour outwards via Shap to Carlisle and back via the Settle and Carlisle line.

We leave London Euston at around 06:55 with electric traction, and speed north along the West Coast Main Line (WCML). We stop to pick up passengers at Milton Keynes, Watford Junction, Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton and Crewe. We continue north along the WCML to Preston, our final stop to pick up passengers.

We continue through Lancaster to Carnforth, where we change motive power to a steam locomotive from the Carnforth pool. Leaving Carnforth, our steam locomotive will be working hard when we climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg. We then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge to Tebay, gaining speed for the ascent to Shap. This well-known section of the WCML has a gradient of 1 in 75 and, in the former days of steam locomotives, banking engines from Tebay were often used to assist trains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle. There will be around two hours in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient ‘Border’ city with its castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum, and shopping centre.

We leave Carlisle and join the Settle & Carlisle Railway, one of the most well known and best loved stretches of railway line in Britain. We soon begin climbing, and then at Appleby, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. The climbing continues through scenic Kirkby Stephen towards the highest railway summit in England at Ais Gill, 1169 feet above sea level. We pass over tall viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through tunnels. There are magnificent views across the Fells and to the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We should have a fast run out of the hills, through Settle, until we stop again for our locomotive to take on water.

Our journey continues through Hellifield and Clitheroe to Preston where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive. We pass though Wigan and Warrington en route to Crewe hauled by our blue class 86 electric locomotive with a fast run to London expected. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers.

** Passengers from Northampton will travel to and from Rugby by service train to join our train.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express

Saturday 10th February 2024

Start the year off with a winter scenic day out from the north-west to the Cumbria Fells. Travelling outwards over the West Coast Main Line via Shap to Carlisle, time will be available to explore this historic border city. In the afternoon, we head southwards again, but via the highly scenic Settle & Carlisle line. This will be even more special if there is snow about to enhance the breathtaking scenery of the Pennines.

Our train leaves Manchester Victoria steam hauled at around 07:30 and calls at Bolton to pick up passengers. We join the West Coast Main Line (WCML) and travel north to Preston, our final stop to pick up passengers. We continue through Lancaster to Carnforth, where our locomotive will take on water. From Carnforth our steam locomotive will be working hard when we climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg. We then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge to Tebay, gaining speed for the ascent to Shap. This well-known section of the WCML has a gradient of 1 in 75 and, in the former days of steam locomotives, banking engines from Tebay were often used to assist trains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle. There will be around two hours in Carlisle, providing time to explore this ancient ‘Border’ city with its castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum, and shopping centre.

Our return train, hauled by our steam locomotive, leaves Carlisle and joins the Settle & Carlisle Railway, one of the most well known and best loved stretches of railway line in Britain. We soon begin climbing and then at Appleby, we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. The climbing continues through scenic Kirkby Stephen towards the highest railway summit in England at Ais Gill, 1,169 feet above sea level. We pass over high viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through numerous tunnels. There are magnificent views across the Fells and to the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We should have a fast run out of the hills, through Settle, until we stop again at Hellifield for our locomotive to take on water.

Our journey continues from Hellifield to Clitheroe and Preston where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive. We leave Preston diesel hauled stopping at Bolton and Manchester Victoria to set down passengers.

There are three classes available:

Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat.

First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four.

Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.

Bob Green

UK Day Trip Information

Travelling by Steam Train

Our UK Day Trips almost exclusively make use of specially chartered trains hauled by steam locomotives. The trains offer a choice of types of seating to suit your particular requirements. Each passenger is allocated their own reserved seat ensuring that travel on these special trains is a relaxing experience providing the perfect escape from all the hustle and bustle of modern day life. All of the seats on our trains line up with the carriage windows, unlike many modern trains, and thus provide the maximum viewing area to add to the enjoyment of your journey. In addition to our UK Day Trips, the Railway Touring Company has a programme of tours using steam hauled charter trains in many other countries of the world. These tours can be for a few days duration or last for up to two weeks, with overnight accommodation provided in good quality hotels. Please visit our website www.railwaytouring.net for further details and to request an overseas brochure; or contact us by telephone if you prefer.

Premier Dining Class

Premier Dining Class on our trains is a silver served dining experience providing you with a full meals service at your table, whilst you relax in spacious comfortable seating. The coaches used are British Rail Mark 1 First Open coaches.* The Premier Dining service usually includes a traditional full English breakfast soon after you board the train, and a four course meal on the return journey. Onboard chefs prepare fresh food for all of the meals. We are able to offer vegetarian options but cannot meet other dietary requests. A fully licensed bar service is always available, we kindly ask passengers to not consume their own alcoholic drinks. A corkage fee of £10 per person will apply for alcohol not purchased on board. The dress code is smart casual, as we like our passengers to be relaxed and travel in comfort. Tables are available for four or two in Premier Dining Class. Our tables for two are the ideal choice for an unusual and memorable celebration, for a special occasion like a wedding anniversary or birthday. Tables for two, where both passengers have window seats, can be guaranteed for an additional charge of £30.00† per person, subject to availability. Premier Dining Class is available up to and including any pick up station before 10:30. *On some occasions a Pullman coach may be used.

†Prices shown as per individual day trip page.

First Class

First Class seats accommodation on our trains is provided in British Rail Mark 1 First Open coaches* and offers tables for four or for two in spacious comfortable seating. Tables for two, where both passengers have window seats, can be guaranteed for an additional charge of £30.00† per person, subject to availability. First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by scone with butter and jam. A fully licensed bar service is always available, we kindly ask passengers to not consume their own alcoholic drinks. A corkage fee of £10 per person will apply for alcohol not purchased on board. *On some occasions a Pullman coach may be used. †Prices shown as per individual day trip page.

Standard Class

Standard Class seats are accommodated in a mid 1960’s tourist standard open coach. These are usually arranged in groups of four around a table. In some cases you may be seated in second corridor coach which is a compartment coach seating six passengers per compartment without a table. All seats are reserved. Passengers in First and Standard classes regularly bring hampers and picnics.

All the catering on board our trains is provided by a third party supplier.

Booking arrangements

Passengers can book their tickets online by visiting our website www.railwaytouring. net or by downloading a booking form which can be printed and sent by post to:- The Railway Touring Company, 14A Tuesday Market Place, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JN. Passengers can also book by telephone during office hours on 01553 661 500. Office hours are Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00. We accept most major credit and debit cards. There are no charges for paying with a credit card. When posting a booking form please enclose the full payment by cheque made payable to The Railway Touring Company, and, quoting your name, address, telephone number, choice of train, the number of seats you require, class and joining station. We regret that seats cannot be reserved unless full payment is received. Organisers arranging group travel for ten or more persons on a UK Day Trip are invited to contact the office, details above, regarding discounts where a single booking is to be made.

Acknowledgements and tickets

Bookings made by telephone will be verbally acknowledged at the time of booking and a written confirmation sent within 7 days. Tickets and travel information will usually be despatched at least 5 days before the date of travel. However, this information and the tickets cannot be sent until the departure times are confirmed by the train operator which may be at shorter notice. Please pay particular attention to the departure and arrival times sent with your tickets as these may vary from the approximate timings given in this brochure.

Gift vouchers

We are pleased to offer gift vouchers which can be used against any future trip with us. Please visit our online shop or contact the office to purchase these.

Junior tickets

Junior children includes ages 15 and under (children 3yrs and under may travel on your lap but if they do require a seat then a junior ticket price applies).

Family tickets

2 adults and 2 Juniors (aged 15 and under).

Standard conditions of booking and travel

Every effort will be made to ensure that the locomotive, rolling stock, route and timings which are hired in from third parties, will run as advertised. However, the organisers reserve the right to alter these details at any time and shall not incur any liability to any person who has bought, or contracted to buy a ticket or tickets, as a result of any such changes. There may be occasional re-scheduling or re-routing of a train. Please note whilst every effort will be made to ensure the use of the advertised steam locomotive the organisers reserve the right to substitute a different steam locomotive on occasions should it be required, for operational reasons, which would have to be accepted, no refunds will be offered for changes to advertised locomotives.

All reasonable efforts, within the control of the organisers, will be made to ensure that on the day of the trip, the train runs as planned. However, we cannot accept any responsibility for delays, mishaps, alterations or curtailment of the tour from situations outside of our control. Please note all timings shown in the brochure are approximate and subject to change.

All planned routes are subject to gauging clearance, on occasion we might be required to revise the route.

In extreme weather conditions, such as heat waves, we may be restricted or forced to substitute steam haulage for diesel due to the high risks involved, in addition we may be permitted to operate with diesel assistance to reduce the risk of line side fires.  In adverse conditions the train operating company, West Coast Railways, may feel the need to run with a diesel locomotive attached to the rear as a precaution.

The nature of steam trains is that breakdowns, delays and substitutions have to be accepted. Every genuine effort will be made to ensure that the tour runs as planned and advertised, or as close to it as possible. In the event of a failure of the scheduled steam locomotive prior to departure of the trip, every best effort will be made to find a suitable steam locomotive as a replacement. However, if this is not possible and if there is insufficient time available to cancel or postpone the trip, then a diesel may be used as substitute. In such circumstances, outside of our control, acceptance of these terms signifies your acceptance of such a change and no refund will be due.

The organisers cannot accept responsibility for the options under the control of third parties and are only responsible for returning passengers to their joining stations.

Your booking is taken as constituting acceptance of these conditions. No refund or substitutions are available, other than due to cancellation by the organisers, which can happen on occasions. We will not be liable for any consequential loss you may suffer or pay any compensation to you.

Due to the age and construction of our trains it is not possible to board whilst seated in a wheelchair, however we will be pleased to convey passengers of limited mobility whenever possible, provided they can step onto the train from the platform and move to their reserved seats with the help of an able-bodied carer, the wheelchair then being folded by you and stored at the end of the carriage. We are unable to convey mobility scooters or non-folding wheelchairs due to the age and design of the trains used.  Due to timing restraints at joining stations all mobility issues which require the use of walking aids or impact a passenger’s ability to board or disembark with ease must be confirmed and discussed prior to travel.

We are limited to only being able to provide a vegetarian dietary alternative, all other dietary requests are not available.

We recommend that during the winter months you travel wearing suitable layered clothing as the carriages on occasion can be cold. Although they are heated, unforeseen complications along with the nature of travelling by steam in vintage carriages can result in cooler conditions for passengers than modern trains.

All images shown on the website and within our brochure are for illustration purposes only and do not signify the exact routing of the train.

N.B. – All timings shown are approximate and subject to change unless otherwise shown.

UK Day Trip Booking Form

First Class Adult £

First Class Junior £ £

First Class Family £ £

Table for two supplement* £30 per person £

Standard Class Adult £ £

Standard Class Junior £ £

Standard Class Family £ £

*Table for two supplement is available in Premier Dining and First Class (subject to availability). Total Price: £

■ I enclose a cheque for the full balance (made payable to THE RAILWAY TOURING COMPANY)

■ Please charge my Visa credit card/Mastercard for the full balance

■ Please charge my Visa debit card/Maestro/Electron card for the full balance

Card Number: Security Number (CVC):

Start Date: Expiry Date: Issue Number(Maestro):

Please sign and date to confirm that you have read and accepted the terms and conditions as stated opposite and on our website.

Signed: Date:

Kelly Osborne Managing Director

Rachel Jackson Operations Manager

Hollie Kimber Operations Manager

Allison Sanders Operations Manager

Julia Barrett Office Assistant

Jade Mott Operations Assistant

Annabelle Benjamin Operations Assistant