Pathfinder announces another double-headed charter for autumn
A NEW tour behind a Class 47 and two Class 33s with Riviera’s Mk1 coaching set has been recently added to the Pathfinder Tours programme.
On September 24, the WCR 47 will start from Burton upon Trent, picking up in the Birmingham suburbs before heading via Worcester Parkway, Cheltenham Spa and Sapperton and joining the Great Western Main Line towards London.
At Willesden, the Class 33s take over running the tour through London before crossing the River Thames towards their destination at Canterbury and Margate.
The return will be via a different route to Willesden for the locomotive change before following the outward journey to Burton upon Trent
Bookings are still coming in for the redated July 23 ‘Hadrian Hoover’, starting in the Midlands behind two Class 50s courtesy of the Class 50 Alliance. Departing Tame Bridge Parkway at 6.05am, it will pick up at Birmingham New Street, Tamworth, Burton upon Trent, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield and York. From there, the tour heads up the East Coast Main Line and from Newcastle takes the Tyne Valley Line to Carlisle for a two-hour afternoon break, before returning via the Settle and Carlisle line. The stock will again be Mk.1 Riviera coaches.
1960s memories
The August 6‘Dorset Coast Explorer’ from Burton to Weymouth and return, rekindling memories of 1960s trains prior to electrification hauled by two WCR Class 33s, is now not only fully booked but has a waiting list. The appeal of the 33s and Mk.1 coaches on their old stomping ground between Bournemouth and Weymouth was a great attraction, travelling via New Street, Kidderminster, Worcester Shrub Hill, Cheltenham Spa and Swindon, returning via Bristol before picking up the outward route at Cheltenham Spa. The tour is Pathfinders’ first with Class 33s since 2008.
September 3 sees the ‘Cumbrian Fells Express’ behind Bulleid Battle of Britain Pacific No. 34067 Tangmere. Originating at Bristol Temple Meads, it picks up at Bristol Parkway, Cam & Dursley, Cheltenham Spa, Worcester Parkway, Birmingham New Street, Stafford, Crewe and Preston.
At Carnforth, Tangmere takes over for a run northbound over Shap to Carlisle, returning via the Settle & Carlisle to Preston where a diesel returns the train to Bristol. An extra first-class coach and a premier dining coach have been added, and places are still available.
Booking is still available for the ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ on September 9. Starting from Cardiff at 7am, it runs via Newport over the Welsh Marches behind a DB Cargo diesel outward and return, picking up on route to Shrewsbury. After Shrewsbury, two Network Rail Class 97/3s (ERTMS-fitted 37s) take over to Barmouth for a run over Talerddig to Machynlleth.
Options are available to alight at Minffordd & Portmeirion, Porthmadog and Pwllheli, after crossing the wooden viaduct over the Afon Mawddach estuary at Barmouth.
Tractors over the S&C
The Settle and Carlisle features again on October 15 but this time behind two West Coast Railways Class 37s. South Wales again provides the starting point in Newport at 5.45am, picking up at Bristol Parkway, Cam & Dursley, Cheltenham Spa, Worcester Parkway, Bromsgrove, Birmingham New Street, and Stafford, and returning to Newport at 11.30pm.