Railtour
Encyclopedia
A railtour is a special train which is run in order to allow people to experience rail travel which is not available using timetabled passenger services. The 'unusual' aspect may be the route of the train, the destination, specific sections of railway track (for example, freight-only lines), the locomotive hauling the train, the rolling stock (passenger carriages), or any combination of these. Organisers may own or hire locomotives or rolling stock, or tours may be organised by railway management or other bodies outside the railway fraternity. Perhaps the most famous railtour in England was the Fifteen Guinea Special
, the last steam hauled main line train run by British Railways. Railtours are often identifiable through the use of a train headboard
, often identifying the name of the specific tour or the tour operator.
locations such as Barrow Hill Engine Shed
and the West Somerset Railway
have been destinations for railtours originating from large cities. Similarly, organisations such as the Crusader Union may hire a train to take a large number of people to a specific event.
running to York
and a Class 55
to Exeter.
s are popular performers on UK railtours, sometimes covering 400 miles in one day at speeds of over 75 miles per hour. Train, branding and route are often chosen as to reflect a common theme, sometimes tracing an aspect of railway history. Railtours are organised both on a commercial basis and as a fund-raising method for railway preservation societies.
, Cornwall
– which have not seen passenger trains for several decades, or locations that have never had a public passenger service – such as the MOD
depot at Long Marston
– can be traversed by such trains.
Fifteen Guinea Special
The IT57 'Fifteen Guinea Special was the last main-line passenger train to be hauled by steam locomotive power on British Railways on 11 August 1968 before the introduction of a steam ban that started the following day...
, the last steam hauled main line train run by British Railways. Railtours are often identifiable through the use of a train headboard
Headboard (train)
A Train headboard is a board hung on the front of a locomotive. Generally it can depict a named train, although other purposes also exist. Headboards are distinct from locomotive nameplates....
, often identifying the name of the specific tour or the tour operator.
Destination tours
A 'destination' railtour is often associated with a special event of railway significance. Open days or special events at heritage railwayHeritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
locations such as Barrow Hill Engine Shed
Barrow Hill Engine Shed
Barrow Hill Roundhouse & Railway Centre, until 1948 known as Staveley Roundhouse & Train Centre, is a former Midland Railway roundhouse in Barrow Hill, near Staveley and Chesterfield, Derbyshire .-History:...
and the West Somerset Railway
West Somerset Railway
The West Somerset Railway is a railway line that originally linked and in Somerset, England.It opened in 1862 and was extended from Watchet to by the Minehead Railway in 1874. Although just a single track, improvements were needed in the first half of the twentieth century to accommodate the...
have been destinations for railtours originating from large cities. Similarly, organisations such as the Crusader Union may hire a train to take a large number of people to a specific event.
Locomotive tours
A 'locomotive' railtour focusses on the type of locomotive hauling the train. This may be a preserved locomotive, a type not usually used for passenger trains, or a type of locomotive which normally works some distance from the chosen route. Railtours in the 1980s saw a Class 52British Rail Class 52
British Rail assigned Class 52 to the class of 74 large Type 4 diesel-hydraulic locomotives built for the Western Region of British Railways between 1961 and 1964...
running to York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
and a Class 55
British Rail Class 55
The British Rail Class 55 is a class of diesel locomotive built in 1961 and 1962 by English Electric. They were designed for the high-speed express passenger services on the East Coast Main Line between and Edinburgh. They gained the name "Deltic" from the prototype locomotive, DP1 Deltic, which...
to Exeter.
Nostalgic tours
One type of railtour which is currently popular is the nostalgic excursion using a preserved train, or sometimes a train hired from a railway operator. Preserved steam locomotiveSteam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s are popular performers on UK railtours, sometimes covering 400 miles in one day at speeds of over 75 miles per hour. Train, branding and route are often chosen as to reflect a common theme, sometimes tracing an aspect of railway history. Railtours are organised both on a commercial basis and as a fund-raising method for railway preservation societies.
Track or route tours
A track or route railtour is focused on travelling over sections of railway track that are not used by scheduled passenger trains. Locations – such as Carne Point at FoweyFowey
Fowey is a small town, civil parish and cargo port at the mouth of the River Fowey in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,273.-Early history:...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
– which have not seen passenger trains for several decades, or locations that have never had a public passenger service – such as the MOD
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
depot at Long Marston
Long Marston
Long Marston may refer to:*Long Marston, Hertfordshire*Long Marston, North Yorkshire*Long Marston, Warwickshire...
– can be traversed by such trains.
Railtour promoters in the UK
- Branch Line Society
- Compass Tours
- Flamboyant Trains
- Green Express Railtours
- Heartland Rail
- Heritage Train Tours
- Hertfordshire Rail Tours
- Nenta Traintours
- Northern Belle
- Past-Time Rail
- Pathfinder ToursPathfinder ToursPathfinder Tours is a railtour operating company operating in the United Kingdom. The company was founded in 1973 by Peter Watts, who organised a rail journey from Severnside to the Cambrian coast. The company organises tours for both rail enthusiasts, and general tours to places of interest...
- Spitfire Railtours
- Steam Dreams
- The Railway Touring Company
- Retro Railtours
- The Royal Scotsman
- The Scottish Railway Preservation Society
- UK Railtours
- Venice-Simplon Orient Express
- Vintage Trains
Railtour operators in Ireland
- Irish Traction GroupIrish Traction GroupThe Irish Traction Group is a railway preservation society dedicated to preserving diesel locomotives from Irish Railways. It was formed in 1989, with the intention of attempting to preserve at least one example of every type of diesel locomotive to have operated on Irish Rail.They currently own 13...
- Railway Preservation Society of IrelandRailway Preservation Society of IrelandThe Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is an Irish railway preservation group operating in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1964. The Society has its headquarters at Whitehead, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and a base at Mullingar, County Westmeath...
External links
- http://uksteam.info/tours Railtours Index and Week-to-Week Tour Diary of Steam Hauled Railtours (UK)
- http://www.railtourinfo.co.uk Railtours Index and Week-to-Week Tour Diary of Diesel Hauled Railtours (UK)
- http://railtour.national-preservation.com SMS text based system for Railtours (UK)