Duchess set for South Devon banks excursion

THE Railway Touring Company’s April 22-30 ‘Great Britain XVI’ has been boosted by fresh booking while many regular tourists have held their reservations made before the two-year period of lockdowns, said operations manager Rachael Jackson.

The only other RTC trip in the month is the April 9 ‘Stratford Flyer’, running from Manchester to Stratford-upon-Avon

May 14 sees the Norwich to Windsor ‘Flyer’ running via Thetford, Ely, and Finsbury Park.

May 21 heralds another of RTC’s popular ‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’ excursion which follows the well-worn itinerary, featuring the Class 86 electric from Eustion to Carnforth, where steam takes over for the final leg to Carlisle.

The May 28 ‘South Devon Explorer’ is set to run from Woking to Plymouth North Road.

The train will be diesel-hauled to Bristol Temple Meads via pick-up stops at Guildford, Reading, and Newbury. LMS 4-6-2 No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland takes over from Bristol and handles the return leg as far as Taunton, where it will be replaced by a diesel.