Host of events marking D-Day
June 6 is the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings... D-Day. Codenamed Operation Neptune, it was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Every year many events take place around the UK ‘marking’ that 1940s spirit, and to celebrate historical magazine Best of British joining the Heritage Railway family of publications, we wanted to let you know where some of these great family friendly events are being held this spring .
APRIL 2024
31-1 Sandtoft Trolleybus Museum 1940s Event Belton Road, Sandtoft, Doncaster, South Yorkshire (bainbridgeevents.co.uk, 07754 704779)
5-6 April Staveley Hall 1940s Wartime Event Staveley Hall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire (01246 385200, staveleyhall.co.uk) 6-7 1940s Weekend Whitwell & Reepham Railway, Reepham, Norfolk (01603 871694, whitwellstation.com)
6-7 No Man’s Land Multi-Period Living History Event, Bodrhyddan Hall, Rhuddlan, Rhyl, Denbighshire
(01745 590155, bodrhyddan.co.uk)
11 Chesterfield 1940s Market Town Centre, Chesterfield, Derbyshire (01246 345777, visitchesterfield.info/whats-on/chesterfield1940s-market-p777291)
20-21 Military History Weekend The Helicopter Museum, Westonsuper-Mare, Somerset
(01934 635227, helicoptermuseum.co.uk)
27-28 Kelham Hall Vintage Festival Kelham Hall, near Newark, Nottinghamshire (facebook.com/groups/160181713603936)
May 2024
4 Meet the Yanks Discovery Day, Staffordshire Regiment Museum, DMS Whittington, Lichfield, Staffordshire
(01543 434394, staffordshireregimentmuseum.com)
4-5 1940s Weekend Heskin Hall, Chorley, Lancashire
(01257 452044, heskinhall.com)
4-5 Operation Ashbourne Codename ‘Bolthole’ 2024, Darley Moor Airfield, Ashbourne, Derbyshire (facebook.com/events/959002918861598)
4-6 Dad’s Army Live, North Norfolk Railway, Sheringham, Norfolk (01263 820800, nnrailway.co.uk)
4-6 Sandwich Salutes the 40s Town Centre and Quay Green, Sandwich, Kent. (07736 057836, sandwichevents.org.uk)
5-6 Classic & Vintage Vehicles Papplewick Pumping Station, Ravenshead, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
(0115 963 2938, papplewickpumpingstation.org.uk) 4-5 Second World War Event, Abbey Station Visitor Centre, 192A Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
(07784 553386, abbeystationshrewsbury.com) 10-12 Brougham Hall Wartime Weekend Brougham Hall & Penrith Town Centre, Cumbria (facebook.com/wartimeweekend) 11-12 1940s Melton Mowbray, Play Close Park, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
(07837 398610, facebook.com/1940sMeltonMowbray) 11-12 Temple at War, Cressing Temple Barns, Braintree, Essex (07907 594307, templeatwar.co.uk)
11-12 Wartime Britain 2024, REME Museum, Chippenham, Wiltshire (01249 894869, rememuseum.org.uk)
11-12 Village at War, Rural Life Living Museum, Tilford, Farnham, Surrey (01252 795571, rural-life.org.uk)
12 Bressingham 1940s Day, Bressingham Steam Museum & Gardens, Diss, Norfolk (01379 686900, bressingham.co.uk)
12 Vintage Rally, Burton Agnes, Driffield, East Yorkshire (01262 490324, burtonagnes.com)
18-19 1940s Weekend, Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden, Kent (01580 765155, kesr.org.uk)
18-19 Blyth Battery Goes to War, Blyth beach, Northumberland (ianlevy.org.uk/events/blyth-battery-goes-war-0)
18-19 Home Front Amberley Museum, near Arundel, West Sussex (01798 831370, amberleymuseum.co.uk)
18-19 Spirit of Wartime, Sherwood 1940s, Thoresby Park, Newark, Nottinghamshire (bainbridgeevents.co.uk, 07754 704779)
18-19 The Wartime Village, The Village Church Farm Museum, Skegness, Lincolnshire
(01754 766658, facebook.com/churchfarmvillage)
March
16 ‘The Cumbrian Mountain Express’
Euston, Carlisle and return. Steam-hauled from Carnforth (outward) to Preston (return).
Loco: Steam: TBA. Electric: 86259 Les Ross. RTC
16 ‘The Cotswold Explorer’
Northampton, Worcester and return. Steam-hauled throughout.
Loco: TBA. ST
16 ‘The Shap Mountaineer’
Birmingham New Street, Carlisle and return.
Loco: 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe .SD
20 Carlisle Excursion
Norwich, Carlisle and return. Dieselhauled between Norwich and Crewe. Loco: 34046 Braunton .SD
23 ‘The Edinburgh Flyer’
York, Edinburgh Waverley and return. Steam-hauled throughout.
Loco: TBA. RTC
23 ‘The Gateway Galloper’
Freight yards and rare track tour departing King’s Cross.
Locos: 2x Class 66s TBA. UKRT
23 Carlisle Excursion
Euston, Carlisle and return. Steam-hauled Carlisle-Crewe.
Loco: 34046 Braunton .SD
26 ‘The Golden Arrow’
Bristol Temple Meads, Canterbury and return. Steam-hauled from West London. Loco: TBA. ST
27 ‘The Whitby Flyer’
King’s Cross, Whitby and return. Steamhauled between York and Whitby. Loco: Steam: TBA. Electric: 86259 Les Ross. RTC
29 West of Scotland Push-Pull Day 1
Crewe, Edinburgh Waverly.
Loco: 47712 Lady Diana Spencer. IC
30 Settle & Carlisle Steam Special
Manchester Victoria, Carlisle and return. Steam-hauled from Carnforth (outward) to Preston (return).
Loco: 34067 Tangmere .NB
30 West of Scotland Push-Pull Day 2
Edinburgh Waverly, Oban and return. Loco: 47712 Lady Diana Spencer. IC
30 ‘The Golden Arrow’
Poole, Canterbury and return. Steamhauled throughout.
Loco: TBA. ST
31 West of Scotland Push-Pull Day 3
Edinburgh Waverly, Crewe.
Loco: 47712 Lady Diana Spencer. IC
Loco: xxxxxx
April
1 ‘The Torbay Riviera Pullman’
Hull, Paignton and return.
Loco: Midland Pullman HST. MP
4 ‘The Cambrian Coast Express’
Shrewsbury, Pwllheli and return. Locos: Class 67, 2x class 97s TBA. PT
5 ‘North Wales Coastal Pullman’
Plymouth, Llandudno and return. Loco: Midland Pullman HST. MP
6 ‘Worcester Steam Express’
Norwich, Worcester and return. Dieselhauled from Leicester (return).
Loco: No. 45596 Bahamas. RTC
6 Newcastle Excursion
King’s Cross, Newcastle and return. Loco: 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley. SD
6 Settle & Carlisle Steam Special
York, Carlisle and return. Steam-hauled from Carnforth (outward) to Preston (return).
Loco: 34067 Tangmere .NB
6 ‘Cogload Climber’
Hastings, Exeter and return. DEMU: 1001. HD
7 ‘The Shakespeare Express’
Birmingham Snow Hill, Stratford-uponAvon and return.
Loco: 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe or 7029 Clun Castle. VT
9 Bluebell Railway Excursion
Shoeburyness, Sheffield Park and return. Diesel-hauled between Shoeburyness and West London.
Loco: 46100 Royal Scot. SD
12 ‘Cornish Riviera Pullman’ Day 1
Berwick-upon-Tweed, Penzance. Loco: Midland Pullman HST. MP
13 ‘The Great Britain XVI’ Day 1
London Victoria, Worcester. Steamhauled throughout.
Loco: TBA. RTC
13 ‘The Lakelander’
Leicester, Carlisle and return. Steamhauled from Preston (outward). Loco: TBA. ST
13 Settle & Carlisle Steam Special
Liverpool Lime Street, Carlisle and return. Steam-hauled from Carnforth (outward) to Preston (return).
Loco: 34067 Tangmere. NB
13 ‘The Harbourmaster’
Rare tracks tour departing Paddington. Locos: 2x Class 66 TBA. UKRT
14 ‘The Great Britain XVI’ Day 2
Worcester, Lancaster. Steam-hauled throughout.
Loco: TBA. RTC
15 ‘Cornish Riviera Pullman’ Day 2
Penzance, Berwick-upon-Tweed. Loco: Midland Pullman HST. MP
15 ‘The Great Britain XVI’ Day 3
Lancaster, Glasgow Central. Steamhauled throughout.
Loco: TBA. RTC
16 ‘The Great Britain XVI’ Day 4
Glasgow Central, Inverness. Steam-hauled throughout.
Loco: TBA. RTC
17 ‘The White Rose’
Hereford, York and return. Steam-hauled from Crewe (outward).
Loco: TBA. ST
17 ‘The Great Britain XVI’ Day 5
Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh and return. Steam-hauled throughout.
Loco: TBA. RTC
18 ‘The Cambrian Coast Express’
East Midlands Parkway, Pwllheli and return.
Locos: Class 67, 2x Class 97s TBA. PT
18 ‘The Great Britain XVI’ Day 6
Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh Waverley. Steam-hauled throughout. Loco: TBA. RTC
19 ‘The Great Britain XVI’ Day 7
Edinburgh Waverley, Liverpool Lime Street. Steam-hauled throughout. Loco: TBA. RTC
20 Settle & Carlisle Steam Special
Telford Central, Carlisle and return. Steam-hauled from Carnforth (outward) to Preston (return).
Loco: 34067 Tangmere .NB
20 ‘The Great Britain XVI’ Day 8
Liverpool Lime Street, Swansea. Steamhauled throughout.
Loco: TBA. RTC
20 Bath & Bristol Excursion
Horsham, Bristol Temple Meads and return. Steam-hauled outward only. Loco: 61306 Mayflower .SD
20 ‘Neasden Nonsense’
Rare tracks tour departing Tonbridge and London Victoria.
DEMU: 1001. UKRT
20 ‘The Welsh Marches Express’
Birmingham New Street, Hereford and return.
Loco: 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. VT
21 ‘The Great Britain XVI’ Day 9
Swansea, Paddington. Steam-hauled throughout.
Loco: TBA. RTC
27 Clan Line 50th Anniversary Pullman
London Victoria, Bath and return. Loco: 35028 Clan Line. BEL/UKRT
27 Settle & Carlisle Steam Special
Darlington, Carlisle and return. Steamhauled from Carnforth (outward) to Preston (return).
Loco: 34067 Tangmere .NB
27 ‘Bath & Gloucester Steam Express’
Paddington, Gloucester and return. Steam-hauled throughout.
Loco: ‘Black Five’ TBA. RTC
1 ‘The Fellsman’
Blackpool North, Carlisle and return. Loco: TBA. ST
4 ‘English Riviera Express’
Shrewsbury, Dartmouth and return. Steam-hauled to/from Taunton. Loco: TBA. ST
4 ‘The Spring Cornish Explorer’
Dorridge, Penzance and return. Dieselhauled throughout.
Locos: TBA. PT
5 ‘The Royal Duchy’
Bristol Temple Meads, Par and return. Loco: 45596 Bahamas. RTC
8 Chatsworth & Barrow Hill Excursion
Colchester, Barrow Hill and return. Loco: 46100 Royal Scot. SD
10 ‘The Great Western’ Day 1
Birmingham Snow Hill, Plymouth. Loco: 7029 Clun Castle. VT
11 Chester Excursion
Euston, Chester and return. Steam-hauled outward only.
Loco: 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley. SD
11 The Golden Age of Travel by Steam
Circular tour from London Victoria. Loco: No. 35028 Clan Line. BEL
11 ‘The Cumbrian Mountain Express’
Euston, Carlisle and return. Steam-hauled from Carnforth (outward) to Preston (return).
Locos: Steam: TBA. Electric: 86259 Les Ross. RTC
11 ‘The Great Western’ Day 2
Plymouth, Paddington, Birmingham Snow Hill. Diesel-hauled from Paddington.
Loco: 7029 Clun Castle. VT
Tour promoters
A1SLT A1 Steam Locomotive Trust 01325 488215 BEL Belmond Pullman 0845 0772 222 BLS Branch Line Society branchline.uk HD Hastings Diesels hastingsdiesels.co.uk IC Intercity
0800 038 5364 MP Midland Pullman midlandpullman.com NB Northern Belle northernbelle.co.uk PT Pathfinder Tours 01453 835414 RTC Railway Touring Company 01553 661500
SD Steam Dreams
01483 209888 SRPS Scottish Railway Preservation Society 0131 202 1033 SR Statesman Rail
0345 310 2458 ST Saphos Trains
0800 038 5320
UKRT UK Railtours
01438 715050 VT Vintage Trains
0121 708 4960
WCR West Coast Railways 0333 996 6720
The information in this list was correct at the time of going to press. We strongly advise you confirm details of a particular trip with the promoter concerned.