D444 Bristol to Shrewsbury
97301/ 37676 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth
D444 Aberystwyth to Crewe
37676 Crewe to Bristol

This tour was the first visit of a class 50 to Aberystwyth and also the first tour to feature a Network Rail class 97 (97301 formerly 37100)

Got off the tour at Shrewsbury after D444 had 'coolant' issues (it was pouring out of the side at the top of Talerdigg!!). The 50 made it to Crewe where 37676 worked the train forward.

Had a bit of time to spare so had look around the 'modern' railway courtesy of a Cheshire Day Ranger.
Have to say I was rather uninspired by it especially the 142 that bounced me back from Manchester Piccadilly to Chester!

The first railtour for Retro railtours using 55022 from Huddersfield to Edinburgh.
Sadly 55022 wasn't too well (only on one engine) and needed assistance from 57601 on the rear going north and tucked inside 55022 on the front going south.

1Z55 0600 Huddersfield to Edinburgh
1Z56 1619 Edinburgh to Preston

Having found that by combining day returns I could get from Wrexham to London for £29.50 I embarked on a trip there using Wrexham and Shropshires service. Went for a trip to St Pancras to see the new station. Pretty impressive!

67019 1110 Wrexham to London Marylebone (67028 dor)
67012 2003 London Marylebone to Wrexham (67017 dor)

A few pictures from Spitfire Railtours, The Meridian Mariner.

1Z45 0628 Wolverhampton to Cleethorpes 37059/423 (47712 on rear providing ETH)

1Z47 1656 Cleethorpes to Wolverhampton 37059/423 (47712 on rear providing ETH)

Great day out in First Class comfort!

Some pictures from D1015s first visit to Liverpool Lime Street

After the Spitfire tour from Liverpool to Skegness was cancelled a few of us decided that we'd use the free day to have a trip to Marsden..........

An excellent day out courtesy of Spitfire Railtours simple out and back with excellent motive power.

1Z37 0644 Crewe to Paignton
1Z38 1650 Paignton to Crewe

Absolutely Top Day out with D1015 Western Champion. Cannot fault it. Well done and thanks to the DTG. Pathfinder, EWS and Riviera.

Easter weekend and took the opportunity for a trip to Staveley (near Windermere) and a visit to the excellent Hawkshead Brewery and the Eagle and Child pub.

A cracking day out!

The first tour run by Spitfire with 55022 from Liverpool to Edinburgh (via the ECML) for the bargain price of £45. An excellent tour with 4 hours at destination as well (for visiting the 'local' facilities)

1Z55 0614 Liverpool Lime Street to Edinburgh
1Z56 1734 Edinburgh to Liverpool Lime Street

This railtour organised by Spitfire Railtours was advertised as the final run in the UK for the class 87s. A simple out and back tour from Birmingham to Glasgow Central. What could possibly go wrong.........


Well the modern railway can't even do something like this simply and when the TOC running the train can't be arsed to check whether their coaches work or not then a farce is bound to occur and so it was..........