The end of 2019 marks the second year of Saphos Trains running a full mainline tour programme, following 2018's successful first year.
Icons of Steam (trading name for Locomotive Services (TOC) Limited) provided engines from their steam locomotive fleet to haul the tours.
This year saw British Railway (BR) Standard Class 7 No.70000 “Britannia”, Southern Railway (SR) Rebuilt West Country Class No.34046 “Braunton” (Running as itself and lost classmate Battle of Britain No.34052 “Lord Dowding”), London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Rebuilt Royal Scot Class No.46100 “Royal Scot” and LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 ‘Black 5' No.45231 “The Sherwood Forester” hauling mainline tours.
Below is the list of dates, tour names and engines which hauled for Saphos Trains' 2019 mainline tours.
- Saturday 13th April 2019 – The William Shakespeare – 70000 “Britannia”
- Saturday 4th May 2019 – The Welsh Marches Express – 34046 “Braunton” (Running as 34052 “Lord Dowding”)
3. Saturday 18th May 2019 – The Lakelander – 70000 “Britannia”, 45231 “The Sherwood Forester” and Class 47 47614
4. Wednesday 29th May 2019 – The Fellsman – 70000 “Britannia”
5. Sunday 16th June 2019 – The English Riviera Express – 34046 “Braunton” (Running as 34052 “Lord Dowding”) (Originally 70000 “Britannia” booked to haul but failed Fitness to Run Examination)
6. Wednesday 26th June – The Dorset Coast Explorer – 34046 “Braunton”
7. Sunday 30th June 2019 – The English Riviera Express – 34046 “Braunton”
8. Wednesday 3rd July 2019 – The Dorset Coast Explorer – 34046 “Braunton”
9. Sunday 7th July 2019 – The English Riviera Express – 34046 “Braunton”
10. Wednesday 10th July 2019 – The Fellsman – 70000 “Britannia”
11. Wednesday 17th July 2019 – The Fellsman – 70000 “Britannia”
12. Saturday 20th July – The Welsh Marches Express – 70000 “Britannia”
13. Wednesday 7th August – The Welsh Marches Express – 70000 “Britannia”
14. Wednesday 14th August – Lakelander Tour – 70000 “Britannia”
15. Wednesday 21st August – William Shakespeare Tour – 70000 “Britannia”
16. Saturday 14th September – The Yorkshire Traveller – 34046 “Braunton”
17. Saturday 26th October – Golden Arrow Tour – 70000 “Britannia” (Running as 70014 “Iron Duke”)
18. Saturday 7th December – Pennine Moors Christmas Explorer – 46100 “Royal Scot”
Heritage Visits
On top of mainline tours, some engines have also visited Heritage Railway. 34046 “Braunton” visited the East Lancashire Railway back in August and took part in the line's West Country Weekend event.
70000 “Britannia” visited the Bluebell Railway in October for the line's The Giants of Steam Gala. 46100 “Royal Scot” visited the Severn Valley Railway in November following ‘Bottom-End' repairs at it's home of LNWR Crewe.
In the same month, 46100 passed a loaded mainline test, allowing the engine to haul the Pennine Moors Christmas Explorer in December.
We hope you have enjoyed this review of Saphos Trains in 2019. If you want to book a 2020 tour, please click here. For more information about the engines, please visit Icons of Steam's website here.
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