Saphos festive steam season starts with a sell-out excursion to Chesterfield

SAPHOS Trains begins its festive season of excursions with its ‘Chatsworth Sparkle Christmas Express', running between Carnforth and Chesterfield – for Chatsworth House – on December 5, with soldout notices on its website.

Next up, the ‘Christmas White Rose' departs Llandudno Junction for York on December 15. The ‘Rose' stops at Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Flint, Shotton, Chester, Frodsham, Warrington Bank Quay, Newton-le-Willows and Manchester Victoria.

Circular tour

On December 18, the ‘Pennine Moors Christmas Cracker' leaves Rugby for a circular tour of the Midlands, taking in joining stations at Coventry, Hampton-in-Arden, Birmingham International, Tame Bridge Parkway, Wolverhampton, Penkridge, Stafford and Crewe.

Motive power for these trips will be selected from ‘Black Five' No. 45231, Bulleid 4-6-2 No. 34046

Braunton or LMS 4-6-0 No. 46100

Royal Scot.

Following the festive traffic, Saphos Trains kicks off the 2022 season with another ‘White Rose', starting from Wolverhampton to York on February 2. The train picks up at Walsall, Cannock, Rugeley, Stafford, Crewe, Hartford, Warrington Bank Quay, Newton-leWillows and Manchester Victoria.

Turning to matters diesel-electric, the Midland Pullman set is a sellout on December 4, the reliveried Class 125 unit running from Dundee via Edinburgh to York.

On January 22 the ‘Settle & Carlisle Pullman' departs Eastleigh for a circular tour over the Settle and Carlisle line and the Cumbrian Fells.

South West starts

The Pullman picks up at Winchester, Micheldever, Basingstoke,

Reading, Maidenhead, Slough and Watford Junction.

The basic itinerary is repeated on January 29 when the HST is booked to start from Plymouth, calling at Totnes, Newton Abbot, Exeter St David's, Tiverton Parkway, Taunton, Bridgwater, Yatton, Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway.

SAM YEELES The Midland Pullman visited Fort William on October 23, followed by a day trip to Mallaig on the 24th, and returning south on the 25th. Believed to be the first time a High Speed Train set has visited Mallaig, it is pictured at Arisaig passing LMS ‘Black Five’ No. 45407, heading the ‘Jacobite’ on October 24. The Midland Pullman is set to return to the West Highland Line in 2022.