Pathfinder Tours and UK Railtours have joined forces for the first time and are offering a chance for enthusiasts to ride behind a Class 52 locomotive.
D1015 is now returning to the mainline, having recently had two test runs.
The tour is a one way tour between London Paddington and Birmingham New Street and will act as a formal test run for the locomotive.
Departing London Paddington on the 14th April 2024, the tour will feature 13 coaches and a tailgunner locomotive on the rear.
D1015 will haul the tour to Bescot Yard, where a GB Railfreight Class 57 locomotive will haul the tour the short distance into Birmingham New Street.
Tickets for the tour will cost £69 for Standard Class and £89 for First Class.
“We're delighted to see D1015 Western Champion back on the main line and very pleased to be able to bring this unique opportunity to market with our friends at Pathfinder Railtours. It's taken a lot of work to get to this point and we're very grateful to DTG and GBRf for their help in putting it all together”
Director for UKR Liz Morris
“Pathfinder Railtours are excited to collaborate with UK Railtours with the first passenger test run for the Western. The locomotive has a large enthusiast following and we are very grateful for the opportunity to run this unique one way railtour. It has been a pleasure to work alongside the team at UK Railtours and GBRf to bring this all to fruition.”
Jack Boskett
More details are available on the Pathfinder Tours website
Whats the other rail tour will class 52 haul??.
Why couldn’t they let the train run into Birmingham Snow Hill ? That would have been more fitting and reminiscent of the early days of the Westerns in the 1960s.