Pathfinder setsout 2021 tour plans

PATHFINDERToiusrlo5oking aheadto nextyearfollowing the suspensionof its railtour programmefor the remainder of 2020becauseof the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sixtrainshavealreadybeen confirmedbetweenthe end of Januaryandmid-Junet,aking passengertso allcornersof EnglandS, cotlandandWales.

January30's'BlueBoys Merrymixer'kicksoff the programmeo, fferinga varietyof DRSlocomotives(RMSept,p74)to banishthe winter blues.

There-dated(andrenamed) 'Non-MazeyDayCornishman'ow runson April24,takinga pairof GBRailfreighCt lassSOsbackto PenzanceT.he'SOs'wiwll orkthe trainwestof Gloucestewr,ith GBRf providinga'66'forthe legsto and from Birmingham.

May1will seea pairof DRSClass 37sworkthe'Cambridge& Norfolk Explorer'fromEastleighvia SalisburyW, estburyC, hippenham, SwindonandDidcoto Norwich, with variousoff-trainexcursions availableat extracost.

Threeweekslater,on May22, the re-dated'CumbrianFreighter' headsfrom Banburyto the SettleCarlisleline,takingin a selection of rareloopsandfreightlinesen route.

Highlights

HighlightsincludeBlackburn KingStreethroughsiding,Blea MoorUpGoodsLoop,Appleby Downandthroughsiding,London RoadJunctionto CurrockJunction in CarlisleH, ardendaleQuarry roundingloopandHarrison's DownGoodsLoop,plusseveral freightloopson the WestCoast MainLine.

A furtherthreesectionsof rare trackarealsobeingsoughtto completethe itinerary.

OnJune5,Nos.50007/049will beout again,thistime heading for south-westernScotlandwith the re-dated'GallowayFiftiesa' nd a rarevisitto Stranraefror the EE Type4s.

Finallyt,he'CambrianCoast Express'winll ow run on June18, startingat BristoTl empleMeads andrunningviaWorcester, BirminghamandWolverhampton to Shrewsburyw, herea pairof NetworkRailClass97/3swill takeoverfor the superblyscenic journeyviaBarmouthto Pwllheli.

Moredetailsat:www.path findertours.co.uk