Just the two Saphos Trains for December

FOLLOWING what was a busy summer of railtours, Saphos Trains has surprisingly reduced its main line activities to just two pre-Christmas trips during December.

Derbyshire's Chatsworth House, dressed for the festivities, is the big attraction on December 8 when the ‘Chatsworth Christmas Sparkle Express' departs from Lancaster, the train making calls at Preston, Wigan North Western, Warrington Bank Quay, Hartford, Crewe, Stafford, Lichfield Trent Valley and Chesterfield.

On arrival, passengers will be conveyed to the big house by road.

On December 18, the ‘Pennine Moors Christmas Cracker' starts from Rugby and calls at Coventry, Henley-in-Arden, Birmingham International and Crewe for a circular luncheon tour.

Motive power is not detailed but with No. 70000 Britannia, No. 5029 Nunney Castle and No. 60532 Blue Peter still in the workshops the choice on the day will be shared by LMS 4-6-0 No. 46100 Royal Scot, West Country 4-6-2 No. 34046 Braunton and possibly ‘Black Five' 4-6-0 No. 45231 The Sherwood Forester.

Pullman tours

A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley and Blue Peter are illustrated in the promoter's sales literature.

Turning to diesel-electric power, the Midland Pullman continues to attract customers keen to experience the high life.

Over October 23-25, the ‘West Highland Pullman' provides a break in the Highlands based on Fort William.

Departing Tilehurst, the ‘Pullman' picks up at stations between Didcot and Kemble, Cheltenham and Kidderminster.

In a similar vein, the ‘Royal Highland Pullman' visits the Cairngorms National Park after departing from London St Pancras on October 30.

On November 6 ‘The Whitby Jet' leaves Barrow-in-Furness for the coast and a second ‘Jet' departs Finsbury Park on November 12.

The ‘Settle & Carlisle Pullman runs from Dundee to Edinburgh and York on December 4.