RAILTOURS

Two ROG Class 37s is the enticing carrot as this northern promoter returns to the railtour business.

Retro Railtours returns with two ROG ‘Growlers'.

SATURDAY, August 29, 2021, is a notable one for Rail Operations Group, for on this day it is not only the operator of a tour, but also supplies traction and coaching stock – the whole package.

It's also the day West Yorkshirebased Retro Railtours returns to the railtour scene with the

‘Retro Cumbrian Coaster 2', with

ROG providing two Class 37s and its recently acquired set of coaching stock.

The rolling stock fleet comprises former Transport for Wales and

Greater Anglia carriages. This is really significant because it offers more choice to railtour operators, providing an alternative to the limited number of sets currently available.

This tour starts at Chesterfield with a destination of Ravenglass, Whitehaven and Workington. After traversing the Dore curve, it picks up at Chinley, Stockport, Reddish South, Stalybridge, Huddersfield, Brighouse and then heads to the Cumbrian coast, courtesy of two of the ROGoperated Class 37s.

To comply with present social distancing and Covid restrictions, no single seats are being offered, although if the Government relaxes restrictions, singles may be accommodated, particularly as some of the former Greater Anglia Mk.3 stock has airline-style seating.

Retro Railtours provides its own in-house catering. On this occasion, there is no Premier Dining but there will be a buffet serving a variety of refreshments, though this is likely to be at-seat service after orders are taken first.

Standard tickets will be £79, First Class £109.

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Rail Operations Group Not one, but two of ROG's current fleet of six Class 37s will feature on Retro Railtours' comeback tour on August 29. One potential haulage candidate is 37510 Orion, seen here on February 18, 2021 at Ely (Potters Group) with 5Q76/08.07 Ely SF-Newport Sims, formed of two ROG HST barrier coaches and eight ex-LNER HST trailers for scrap.

Train Photos/Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0) Direct Rail Services Class 68 No. 68018 Vigilant returns Retro Railtours' ‘Retro Canterbury Belle' running as 1Z70 from Canterbury West to Leeds on July 9, 2016. No. 68005 Defiant was on the rear.