Blue Peter may join Saphos pool for 2023

SAPHOS Trains has announced plans for 34 steam-hauled tours in 2023 to various destinations.

The programme could see the longawaited return of LNER A2 No. 60532 Blue Peter, most likely later in the year. On the firm’s website, the A2 is pictured alongside the regular stalwarts from Steam Locomotive Services at Crewe so might therefore be expected to head a Saphos train during the programme.

Now B1 4-6-0 No. 61306 Mayflower is out of the Crewe works, Locomotive Services Limited engineers have turned their attention to the A2 once again.

Good progress has continued on the A2 inside the works with the fitting of the drain cocks which were manufactured inhouse. The new centre bogie casting has arrived and is ready for machining, and once done it will be fully assembled before fitting. The valves have now been completed.

After visiting the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for its autumn steam gala, as featured last issue, A4

No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley returned to its home base at Crewe on October 26 for a thorough inspection and service before heading south to Southall for Steam Dreams duties over the festive period.

Rounding off the year, Saphos has three tours planned.

On November 26, the Great Western Envoy is steam hauled throughout, starting from Crewe at 7am picking up at Stafford, Tame Bridge Parkway, Birmingham International and Leamington Spa to Bath and Bristol. The return is via the same route returning to Crewe at 10pm.

December 17 sees the ‘Christmas White Rose’ to York starting at Wolverhampton at 6.20am, picking up at Telford, Wellington, Shrewsbury, Crewe, Hartford, Warrington Bank Quay, Newton-le-Willows and

Manchester Victoria. Outward is via the Hope Valley line and Sheffield and the return over the Calder Valley to Wolverhampton at 11.15pm.

The ‘Pennine Moors Christmas Cracker’ on December 21 is a leisurely jaunt across the Midlands starting from Leicester at 9am, picking up at Narborough, Hinckley, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Lichfield Trent Valley, Stafford, Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay through Blackburn and Burnley over Copy Pit and the Calder Valley route to Manchester. Leicester return is at 8.05pm.

The two December trips are steam hauled from Crewe using either LMS 4-6-0 No. 46100 Royal Scot, Bulleid West Country light Pacific No. 34046 Braunton or BR Standard 7P 4-6-2 No. 70000 Britannia. There is the possibility of A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley as an option on November 22.

Saphos Trains’ 2023 season kicks off on February 11 with ‘The Lakelander’.

It originates at Rugby at 5.50am picking up at Coventry, Birmingham International, Tame Bridge Parkway, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston, returning to Rugby at 11.25pm. With steam from Preston it travels over the Settle and Carlisle line then around the Cumbrian coast on its return.

March 1 see the St David’s Day ‘Welsh Marches Express’ depart from Holyhead at 6.10am, picking up along the north Wales coast at Bangor, Llandudno Junction, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Flint, Chester and Crewe where steam takes over for a run down the Marches to Newport and Cardiff. Return to Holyhead is at 10.20pm. Both tours will have a choice of steam from the LSL pool of either Nos. 46100, 34046 or 70000.

LMS ‘Black Five’ No. 45231 travelled to Southall on November 15 in the place of No. 61306 Mayflower.