Bookings mount as UK Railtours return with ‘forgotten tracks' trip and more

IT WAS not long ago that Elizabeth Morris, daughter of the late John Farrow, said she was considering “closing the shop” at UK Railtours until the coronavirus threat had been overcome.

However, matters have now changed for the better and although staff are still working from home, tour bookings are mounting up.

The special 'John Farrow Memorial Train', as reported last issue, running from London Victoria to Sherborne on July 10 behind Merchant Navy Pacific No. 35028 Clan Line – apparently John's favourite engine – by late May had been fully booked in dining and reduced to just 20 seats in standard class.

Bulleid heads east

John Farrow was a very popular man in the railtour business, and enthusiasts and regulars stretching back to Hertfordshire Rail Tours days have responded accordingly.

A newcomer to UKRT's programme, the ‘Dorset Maiden', gets away from Peterborough on July 10 heading for Bournemouth and Poole, calling at Stevenage, Potters Bar and Finsbury Park and travelling on via Willesden, Kew, Virginia Water, Woking, Basingstoke, Winchester and Southampton.

Clan Line is back on August 28, working the ‘Merchant of Norfolk' from King's Cross to Norwich, from where passengers have the option of travelling by coach to Wroxham and a cruise on the Broads. The visit to Norwich will be the first for the 4-6-2 and only the second time it has worked out of King's Cross.

Rare track

The diesel-hauled ‘Aln Valley Venturer' is booked to run on August 7, and the ‘Tinsley Tugger' on August 14.

The former leaves King's Cross for Morepeth and Alnmouth, while the latter starts from Finsbury Park for trips among ‘forgotten tracks' with visits to Tinsley and Toton yards.