Pathfinder issue revamped late-summer tour schedule

THE question of when the running of railtours may resume amid the easing of lockdown measures is one that still has no answer.

Following the release of the Government's Recovery Strategy on May 11 there has been a wealth of information coming out ofWestminster, including guidance for businesses and transport operators on how they might be able to restart operations.

However, at the time of writing there is no firm date as to when tours may start running again, or any concrete information on how such operations may look after social distancing and contamination reduction measures are taken into consideration.

Railtours tend to only make a profit for operators when fully booked, thanks to the likes of Premier Dining, and with social distancing potentially reducing seating capacity by up to 90%, there is still avery large question mark hanging over the railtour industry.

Nevertheless, Pathfinder Tours has tentatively released a number of late-summer railtour dates, with the caveat that details and dates are subject to change.

First up is the rescheduled 'Blue Boys Merrymixer' on August 15, which makes use of various DRS motive power between Hampshire and the Midlands. An OS.SS departure from Eastleigh behind aClass 68 sees the train head north, with pick-ups at Basingstoke, Reading West, Didcot Parkway, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Coventry, Birmingham International, and Birmingham New Street.

A pair of DRS Class 37s will then take over for a tour of the Midlands'lines, including the freight-only Burton to Leicester via Coalville, and the North Chord at Nuneaton, with Crewe being the ultimate destination.

After a break a Class 66 will head the tour away from Crewe and through the West Midlands to Rugby via Shrewsbury, Walsall and Nuneaton, with a number of freight loops traversed, including Gresty Green Up Loop, Shrewsbury Crewe Bank, Cosford Up Goods Loop and Oxley Up Goods Loop.

Another loco change at Rugby will see a Class 88 electro-diesel take over for the run back to Birmingham International, where Class 57s pick up the train for the homeward run to Eastleigh.

Full details can be found at: www.pathfindertours.co.uk/ events/the-blue-boysmerrymixer/

The'Galloway Fifties'tour, which had been expected to take Class 50s Nos. 50007 and 50049 from Tame Bridge Parkway to Stranraer on April 18, has been rescheduled for August 22, while the 'Mazey Day Cornishman' of June 27 has been renamed the 'Non-Mazey Day Cornish man; and is currently down to run on September 5.

Other rescheduled dates include the Class 97/3-hauled 'Cambrian Coast Express' (originally booked for June 3), which has been pencilled in for September 11, and the'Cumbrian Freighter; which had been due to run on May 9 and is now down for October 3.

For more details on all Pathfinder Tours trains visit: www.pathfindertours.co.uk