Pathfinder aims for wider range of heritage traction
AFTER announcing its first steam-hauled tour of the year on September 3, the ‘Cumbrian Fells Express’, Pathfinder Railtours is looking into using a wider range of heritage traction.
The aim is to offer a greater variety of motive power on its trips, with more steam and to work more closely with heritage diesel groups. An announcement will be made soon about its 2022/23 winter season
Two recent ‘Cambrian Coast Expresses’ over Barmouth Bridge, terminating at Pwllheli, were a resounding success over two consecutive Fridays in May.
On May 13, the tour started at Oxford, and a week later on May
20 a repeat tour originating from Bristol Temple Meads ran fully booked, and both trips kept good time throughout. Motive power was two Network Rail Class 97s. On May 20, a new timetable was in place, which caused issues as the path was to be used by a Transport for Wales service; Pathfinder worked with Transport for Wales, and Network Rail made adjustments, accommodating everyone without disruptions.
The June 18 ‘Yorkshire Rose’ from Stratford-upon-Avon to York and Scarborough was cancelled in May due to a low number of bookings. This route was a trial for the company, which had teamed up with a local group to help promote the train, but sadly it did not meet the seats required to successfully run.
‘The Mazey Day Cornishman’ on June 25 from Solihull to Penzance via Oxford has been cancelled due to the uncertainty around possible rail union strike action during the month. The decision was made between Pathfinder and the third parties involved.
The return of the ever-popular ‘Chopper Topper’ on July 2 features four class 20s top-and-tailed over an interesting mix of freight lines in the West Midlands.
Early starts
Subject to confirmation, the requested route starts at Burton upon Trent at 6.30am via Barnt Green to Gloucester, then: Cheltenham High Street-Up Eckington Goods Loop-Bromsgrove-Selly OakBirmingham New Street (pick up)Water Orton-Hams Hall Reception Line-Water Orton-Sutton Park-WalsallDarlaston Junction-Wolverhampton Wellington- possibly Donnington RFT-Wellington-Shrewsbury-CosfordOxley Chord-Stafford-RugeleyCannock-Bescot Stadium-AstonBirmingham New Street-Stourbridge Junction-Kidderminster-Droitwich Up Goods Loop-Worcester Shrub HillAbbotswood Junction-Cheltenham Spa-Gloucester, and then retracing its steps to Burton upon Trent at 11.25pm.
Bookings are going well for the July 23 ‘Hadrian Hoover’ redated from April 2, starting in the West Midlands behind two Class 50s from Tame Bridge Parkway at 6.05am, picking up at Birmingham New Street, Tamworth, Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield and York.
After York, passengers can enjoy the scenery as it runs via the Durham coast down the Tyne Valley, then over the Settle and Carlisle line via Leeds and returning via the outward journey to Tame Bridge Parkway at 11.15pm. Stock will be the Riviera Trains Mk.1 coaches.
August 6 sees the ‘Dorset Coast Explorer’ set out from Burton at 6.45am and Weymouth and return with two Class 33s operated by West Coast Railways. During the mid-1960s most trains between Bournemouth and Weymouth were hauled by class 33s prior to electrification. At the time of going to print, first class and premier dining had sold out, leaving only a handful of seats available in standard class.
This trip is Pathfinder’s first tour with Class 33s since 2008, and they will haul a rake of Riviera Mk.1s. It travels via New Street, Kidderminster, Worcester Shrub Hill, Cheltenham Spa, and Swindon, returning via Bristol before picking up the outward route at Cheltenham Spa.
Two of the ever-popular ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ trains had been booked, but the one on August 12 has been recently cancelled due to pathing problems with Transport for Wales. This will now take place on September 9, starting from Cardiff, running via Hereford and picking up on route to Shrewsbury over the Welsh Marches behind a DB cargo Class 67 outward and return. From Shrewsbury, two Network Rail Class 97/3s follow the tried and trusted route over Talerddig to Machynlleth onward to Pwllheli, with options to stop at Minffordd, Porthmadog, and finally Pwllheli before crossing the viaduct over the Afon Mawddach estuary into Barmouth, returning via the same route.
The original September 9 date over the Cambrian starting from Sheffield will be rescheduled to next year.
Behind Tangmere
A departure from diesel traction on September 3 is the ‘Cumbrian Fells Express’, behind Bulleid Battle of Britain 4-6-2 No. 34067 Tangmere.
It will make an early start dieselhauled from Bristol Temple Meads at 6am, joining stations including Bristol Parkway, Cam and Dursley, Cheltenham Spa, Worcester Parkway, Birmingham New Street, Stafford, Crewe and Preston.
Tangmere takes over at Carnforth for a run northbound over Shap to Carlisle, returning via the Settle route to Preston, from where a diesel returns the train to Bristol, arriving at 11.05pm. Due to healthy bookings, an extra first class coach has been added.
Enthusiast tours continue to show strong bookings. It is becoming widely known in the railtour industry that Mk.1 carriages have a limited shelf life on the main line, so fans should take the opportunities while they are still there.