Page 73 - Rail Express - September 2019

RAILTOURS

DRAX ‘SYPHONS’ The Branch Line Society ranthe ‘The Luca Pezzulo Express’ from Lancaster to Hull on July20, taking in rare lines such as Stocksbridge, KellingleyColliery and
the Drax PowerStationbranch amongst others. Type 3s Nos. 37521 and 37669 ‘top and tailed’ the charity trip and areseen on the Drax branch at Gowdall. PhilChilton

Tasty year-end ahead

TWOofthe main tour operators, UK Railtours and is booked forboth thesetrips.
Pathfinder Tours, have both announced some Three railtours areatthe final planning stage
mouthwatering tours forthe back endof2019. with Pathfinder Tours, but note the datesifthey
One of the surprising ones is the chance to appeal. November 9seesRivierastock used
ride the Ironbridgebranch. This line wasbilled as on atrip to varioustantalising locations in the
destined forclosure, with ex-GWR steam loco Manchester area, whichincludesnon-passenger
No. 7029 Clun Castle proving the valedictory lines. DB Cargowillprovide Class 66 power.
runs on June 9, under the heading of the ‘Last A1 ‘Pacific’ No.60163 Tornado will be used
steam train to Ironbridge’. by Pathfinder on November 23, takingthe steam
Butthereare plans to revitalize the tourist loco on the Welsh Marches routetoShrewsbury.
attractions in thearea, and in this respectthe The train initiallyuses aClass 67 to Gloucester.
former generalmanagerofthe Severn Valley Then December 14 seea PT tour head to South
Railway,NickRalls,has taken up duties in charge Humberside to again traverse some non-
of the IronbridgeMuseums andthe railway passenger lines. ADBCargo 66 andaClass 56
is planned to form an important part of the should be in charge.
revival. This includes thepossibility,one day, of ■ The chance to savour A1 andA4steam
extending the TelfordSteam Railwaytojoin the powerfromKing’s Cross to Newcastle might be
branch once again. December 11 isthe chosen tempting to manyfolk, especiallyasitincludes
dayfor UKR’stour to Ironbridge, which will see No. 60009 Union of South Africa.Savour every
thespecial poweredbyaClass67and Class 60 chance, as this machine gets evernearer to its
in places. final run beforeretiring to aprivate museum.The
UKR hasalso booked ajaunt round the RailwayTouring Club is running ‘The Tynesider’ PEAK FOREST‘66’: UK Railtours’ charter on July13ran from Euston
North East,embracing Durham andNewcastle, on SaturdayDecember 14, with theA1 Tornado to Buxton via Crewe and Manchester Victoria, the return leg via Chinley
forNovember 30,whilst aweek later (December taking the train to York afterwhich ‘Union’ is let seen coming off the Hazel Grove-Northenden freight line at Northenden
7) sees thecompany makeits familiar pilgrimage looseonthe northernstretch to the Tyneside Junction with No. 66100 leading (‘top and tail’ with No. 66107).
to the Lincoln Christmas Market. AClass 67 capital. Greg Mape
September 2019 RAIL EXPRESS 73