Head to Carlisle for the first Pathfinder steam tour of 2022

PATHFINDER Railtours has announced its first steam-hauled tour of the year for September 3.

The ‘Cumbrian Fells Express’ will be the company’s first steam tour since last September. It will make an early start from Bristol Temple Meads at 6am, and joining stations include Bristol Parkway, Cam and Dursley, Cheltenham Spa, Worcester Parkway, Birmingham New Street, Stafford, Crewe, and Preston.

Steam comes on at Carnforth for a run behind unrebuilt Battle of Britain Bulleid Pacific No. 34067 Tangmere, northbound over Shap to Carlisle.

With the city centre across the station forecourt, a 90 minute break gives enough time for a quick stroll round the city while the locomotive is turned and serviced.

The return run is over the Settle route to Preston, where Tangmere comes off and a diesel returns the train to Bristol, arriving at 11.05pm.

A trip to Yorkshire

Before then, the Stroud-based tour operator is offering several new excursions, including a visit to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on June 18.

The ‘Yorkshire Rose’ departs from Stratford-upon-Avon, picking up at Henley-in-Arden, Whitlock’s End,

Shirley, Hall Green, Birmingham New Street and Tame Bridge Parkway.

Passengers have the option to alight at York, Malton or Scarborough, while they can also visit the NYMR.

A DB Cargo Class 67 is expected to haul Riviera Trains’ Mk.1 carriages for the ‘Mazey Day Cornishman’ on June 25.

The tour leaves Solihull and stops at Dorridge, Leamington, Banbury, Oxford, Swindon, Chippenham, Bath, and Bristol Temple Meads, and there are options to visit Truro, St Erth for St Ives, and Penzance for the Mazey Day celebrations.

The ‘Chopper Topper Returns’ is a freight line tour of the West Midlands featuring four Class 20s as motive power.

Hadrian Hoovers

Setting off from Burton upon Trent on July 2, the tour picks up at Coleshill Parkway, Barnt Green, Worcestershire Parkway, Gloucester, Cheltenham and New Street.

July 23 sees the ‘Hadrian Hoovers’ – redated from April 2 – for a trip behind two Class 50s.

It goes to Carlisle via York and along the Durham coast and the Tyne Valley before a run over the Settle and Carlisle line, calling at New Street, Tamworth, Burton upon Trent, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield and York.