From Edinburgh to York... get festive at Christmas markets
THE Railway Touring Company has scheduled 11 Christmas market trains in its programme between November 23 and December 18.
November 23 sees LMS Princess Coronation Pacific No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland heading the `Gloucester Christmas Market & Cardiff' trip from London Victoria, stopping at Staines, Ascot, Reading and Didcot Parkway.
On November 25 the `Christmas Sussex Belle' leaves London Victoria with LMS `Black Five' No. 44871, heading for Eastbourne and Hastings. A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado heads the `York Yuletide Christmas Express' from Ealing Broadway on November 27, calling at St Albans, Luton, Bedford and Kettering.
Varied programme
December 2 sees the `Worcester Christmas Fayre' trip with the A1 in charge, starting out of Norwich picking up at Wymondham, Attleborough, Thetford, Brandon, March and Peterborough.
Liverpool Lime Street is the starting point for the `York Yuletide Express' on December 4, with the train calling at Manchester Victoria and Sheffield. No engine has been booked, but expect a `Black Five.' A second train, the' Lincoln Christmas Express' also departs on December 4, this time from King's Cross, and stopping at Potters Bar, Stevenage and Peterborough.
On December 7, the `Bath & Bristol Christmas Express' heads from London Victoria, with stops at Staines, Woking and Basingstoke behind Tornado.
Leaving Paddington on December 11, the `Birmingham & Shrewsbury Christmas Express' calls at Slough, Reading, Didcot Parkway and Birmingham New Street behind No. 44871.
Also on December 11, the `Edinburgh Christmas Market' trip departs York, stopping at Durham and Newcastle, with Tornado leading.
Two locomotives
The `Christmas White Rose' starts from Cambridge for York, picking up at Ely, March and Peterborough. No. 44871 heads the outward journey, and the A1 the return.
December 18 see the `Christmas White Rose' depart King's Cross for York, stopping at Stevenage, Huntingdon and Peterborough behind Tornado, and No. 6233 working the return journey.