Vintage Trains Ltd has today confirmed passengers will have the opportunity to travel behind three working Castle class locomotives on Fathers' Day (Sunday 18 June).
Clun Castle and Earl of Mount Edgcumbe will work one direction of the Shakespeare Express each, meaning both of these can be sampled in one day. The event forms part of The Shakespeare Express programme, and the Tyseley Locomotive Works Open Day (tickets for this available separately).
Pendennis Castle is operating in the Tyseley Locomotive Works internal network, so all three locomotives can provide haulage in a single afternoon.
Tickets are on sale on the Vintage Trains website, and include a return trip from Tyseley to Birmingham Snow Hill (Clun and Earl operating on this itinerary) as well as the yard trip.
Passengers will also get early access to the Sunday of the Open Day, including a photo charter, as well as unlimited Open Day activities and the Sutton Miniature Railway. This is believed to be a true preservation first, and is only available to one hundred guests on Sunday 18 June 2023.
In addition, a special fare of £30, is available for the ‘Two Castles Tripper' allowing a return trip from Stratford-upon-Avon to Tyseley behind both Clun and Earl, each working one leg of The Shakespeare Express.
All profits from the Open Day will be used to invest in preservation of the entire Tyseley-based operation, including locomotives, carriages, new carriage shed, engine shed and more.
Based at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham, the Vintage Trains Charitable Trust has established a thriving heritage engineering workshop delivering first-class services nationwide. Through apprenticeship schemes and training, the Tyseley Locomotive Works preserves the skills of the steam age and teaches them to the next generation.
Vintage Trains established a Community Benefit Society in 2017 to develop its own train operating company, licensed to run express steam and diesel trains across Britain's rail infrastructure. Our extensive range of trains includes:
- the Shakespeare Express from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon running more than fifteen days per year
- the Polar Express train ride from Birmingham at Christmas
- Express Steam trips from Birmingham and the Midlands to exciting and enjoyable destinations
- Merrymaker excursions to popular destinations at accessible prices
- opportunities to tailor-make an experience by hiring our trains for your own needs.
I’m gonna be attending on the Saturday of the open weekend as Sunday services are a pain in the backside. Will be the first time in a few years that i’ll have seen 5043, 5080 & 7029 but it will be the first time ever that i’ll get to see 4079. Had I not dislocated my shoulder a few weeks ago I would’ve gone to see her at the SVR.