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Railtour page updated Fri 26-Feb-10  
6024 index page

RAILTOUR PROGRAMME


Photos of 6024 at work are always welcome at any time.
Please email to photos @ 6024.com.


Following annual maintenance at the West Somerset Railway in early 2010,
6024 is due to haul the following mainline railtours:



Sat 01-May-10
THE ROYAL DUCHY
This train will commence diesel hauled from Basingstoke, calling to pick-up at Reading West, Didcot, Swindon, Bath, Bristol, Taunton and Exeter. At Exeter, 6024 will take over for the run along the picturesque seawall through Dawlish and Teignmouth before tackling the formidable South Devon banks at Dainton and Rattery to Plymouth. After a stop here to take water and to pick-up further passengers, 6024 will head the train over the Royal Albert Bridge into Cornwall, along undulating terrain with its remarkable viaducts as far as Par. Here there will be a break while the engine is turned and watered, allowing time perhaps for a visit to the Eden Project or other nearby attractions. The return from Par will be headed by 6024 via the same route back to Plymouth, and then over the steep banks at Hemerdon and Dainton, and along the sea wall section to Exeter. After stopping at Exeter 6024 continues over the climb to Whiteball before sprinting down through Wellington to Taunton and along the Somerset levels to Bristol. Here 6024 will give way to a diesel for the final leg back to Basingstoke.
Bookings via Pathfinder Tours


Sundays 30-May to 26-Sep-10 (selected dates)
THE TORBAY EXPRESS
This year the very popular Torbay Express trainswill once again be operating between Bristol Temple Meads and Kingswear (for Dartmouth). The train will run on selected Sundays from 30 May to 26 September 2010 (not every Sunday). 6024 has been diagrammed to share these services with LNER A1 pacific 60163 Tornado and possibly another engine (to be advised). The trains are being promoted by Torbay Express Ltd. The train will call to pick-up and set down at Weston-super-Mare, Taunton and Exeter St Davids, before traversing the famous Dawlish sea wall to Newton Abbot and then around the Torbay coast through Torquay to Paignton, finally taking the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway line through Churston to the terminus station at Kingswear on the banks of the River Dart. Return from Kinsgwear will be late afternoon by the same route. The trains are steam hauled throughout in both directions. This year a full dining option will be available. These trains are very popular. Book early to avoid disappointment.
Bookings via Torbay Express Ltd

Addendum (10-Feb):
The provisional engine allocation for these trains is now as follows:--
Please note that allocations may be changed at short notice.
     Sun 30-May-10: 6024 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 06-Jun-10: 6024 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 13-Jun-10: 6024 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 20-Jun-10:    (no service)
     Sun 27-Jun-10:    (no service)
     Sun 05-Jul-10: 60163 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 12-Jul-10: 60163 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 19-Jul-10: 60163 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 26-Jul-10: 60163 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 02-Aug-10: 6024  Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 09-Aug-10: 6024  Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 16-Aug-10: 6024  Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 22-Aug-10: 60163 Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 29-Aug-10:    (no service)
     Sun 05-Sep-10: 6024  Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 12-Sep-10:    (no service)
     Sun 19-Sep-10: 60163  Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return
     Sun 26-Sep-10: 60163  Bristol Temple Meads to Kingswear and return

Sat 26-Jun-10 to Mon 28-Jun-10
THE CORNISH RIVIERA
2010 marks the 175th anniversary of the creation of the Great Western Railway. To celebrate this anniversary Steam Dreams will be operating a 3-day tour along the entire length of the Great Western Railway from London to Penzance. The tour will leave London Paddington behind 6024 on Saturday 26 June and will head via Reading and the Berks and Hants line through Newbury, Castle Cary and Taunton to to Exeter where there will be a 3 hour break to visit the city. From Exeter 5029 Nunney Castle will be attached and the two locomotives will head via the Dawlish sea wall and over the formidable South Devon banks to Plymouth. After Plymouth the train will cross Brunel's Royal Albert bridge into Cornwall and then via St Austell and Truro to Penzance. Various options for accomodation in Penzance/West Cornwall area are available through the tour operator. On Sunday 27 June there will be optional excursions including a boat trip to the Isles of Scilly.

On Monday 28 June, the final day of this 3-day tour will see 5029 and 6024 doubleheading the train from Penzance back to London. The train will follow the outward route as far as Taunton where it will take the original main line to Bristol. There will be a 3 hour break at Bristol to visit the city, before the two engines resume their journey via Bath, the famous Box tunnel and Swindon back to London Paddington.
Bookings via Steam Dreams


Sat 10-Jul-10
THE ROYAL OAK
This special train celebrates the 80th Anniversary (the "Oak" anniversary) of the entry into service of no 6024. The engine began running in turns from Swindon in early July 1930. This train will commence at London Paddington behind 6024 and will take the direct GWR route to Birmingham via High Wycombe, Banbury, Leamington Spa and Solihull. After a brief stop at Birmingham Snow Hill, it will continue via Stourbridge Junction and Kiddermmisnter to Worcester Shrub Hill, where the outward leg terminates. After a stop of several hours at Worcester, the train will return via the former Midland Railway main line through Ashchurch to Cheltenham where GWR metals are once again reached. The train continues past Gloucester to Standish Junction, and then up the Golden Valley through Stroud and up Sapperton bank to the tunnel, before descending via Kemble (water stop) to Swindon and then along Great Western Main Line main line through Didcot to Scours Lane Yard, just west of Reading, where 6024 leaves the train. The final leg from Reading back to London Paddington will be hauled by a DBS diesel.
Booking arrangements to be announced. Special arrangments for 6024 Preservation Society Members.


Summary of Railtour Dates and other events
20-28 Mar: West Somerset Railway Gala
Sat 01-May-10: The Royal Duchy (see above)
Sun 30-May-10: The Torbay Express (see above)
Sun 06-Jun-10: The Torbay Express (see above)
Sun 13-Jun-10: The Torbay Express (see above)
Sat 19-Jun-10: TBA
Sat 26-Jun-10: The Cornish Riviera Express (see above)
Mon 28-Jun-10: The Cornish Riviera Express (see above)
Sat 10-Jul-10: The Royal Oak (see above)
17-18 Jul: Yeovil 150 event at Yeovil Jc
Sun 02-Aug-10: The Torbay Express (see above)
Sun 09-Aug-10: The Torbay Express (see above)
Sun 16-Aug-10: The Torbay Express (see above)
Sun 29-Aug-10: TBA
Sun 05-Sep-10: The Torbay Express (see above)
Sat 25-Sep-10: Bristol-Plymouth-Bristol (with 60163 Tornado)
Sat 02-Oct-10: Bristol-Paddington-Bristol
Sat 13-Nov-10: TBA
Sat 04-Dec-10: Bristol-Paddington-Bristol

Tours are subject to confirmation.
Further tours will be announced in due course.




Booking Details
Pathfinder Tours
Stag House, Gydynap Lane, Inchbrook, Woodchester, Glos GL5 5EZ
Tel: 01453-835414 or 01453-834477 Fax: 01453-836538
Email:
office@pathfindertours.co.uk
Steam Dreams
PO Box 169, Albury, Guildford Surrey GU5 9YS
Tel: 01483-209888 (209801) Fax: 01483-209889
Email:
info@steamdreams.co.uk
Torbay Express Ltd
c/o Stag House, Gydynap Lane, Inchbrook, Woodchester, Glos GL5 5EZ
Tel: 01453-834477
Email:
contact@torbay express.co.uk
UK Railtours
PO Box 50, Welwyn AL6 0WG
Tel: 01438 715050




Between mainline railtour duties, no 6024 will be based as follows (provisional):

Dates Location
12-Dec-09 to 01-May-10 West Somerset Railway
01-May-10 to 14-Jun-10 DBS Bristol Barton Hill Depot



 
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