Britain's Best-Selling Rail Title

Subscribe
The Hub Logo

Britain's Best-Selling Rail Title

Subscribe
Buy Latest Issue

Railtours

  • Tornado set for ‘Great Britain’ debut

    Tornado set for ‘Great Britain’ debut

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    CONTINUING co-operation between West Coast Railways and The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust means Peppercorn ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado will make its debut on the ‘Great Britain’ landcruise train in 2020.  The 13th edition of the Railway Touring Company’s grand tour of England, Scotland and Wales will roll out of London King’s Cross behind the ‘A1’ on…

    Continue reading »

  • Good craic on Steam Dreams’ ‘Emerald Isle’ luxury charter

    Good craic on Steam Dreams’ ‘Emerald Isle’ luxury charter

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    BRITISH railtour operator Steam Dreams returned to Ireland during September with its multi-day ‘Emerald Isle Craic Express’. The charter was operated in conjunction with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI). The RPSI’s Dublin-based Cravens set was given the luxury treatment to bring it up to Pullman standards, including carpets, curtains, table lamps and antimacassars.…

    Continue reading »

  • ‘Duchess’ demolishes Devon banks record

    ‘Duchess’ demolishes Devon banks record

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    STANIER Pacific No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland put in a storming performance on August 4’s ‘Royal Duchy’, using its immense power to set a new record time for steam on the Plymouth to Exeter leg.  The 50 miles, including steep climbs to Hemerdon and Dainton and numerous curves and speed restrictions, were reeled off in just…

    Continue reading »

  • Branch Line Society and Vintage Trains team up for West Midlands ‘Balti bash’

    Branch Line Society and Vintage Trains team up for West Midlands ‘Balti bash’

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    VINTAGE Trains and the Branch Line Society are offering an opportunity to enjoy the tasty combination of rare track, Class 20s and a curry – all on the same train! Starting from Solihull, the September 22 tour will run to Shrewsbury via Warwick, Sutton Park and the Ironbridge branch.  After a break in Shrewsbury, the…

    Continue reading »

  • Three Type 3s – to the sea!

    Three Type 3s – to the sea!

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    THREE Class 37s at the head of a heavy freight train used to be a regular sight in South Wales and around Glasgow in BR days, but such a trio has always been a rare event on passenger trains.  On August 11, the Branch Line Society completed its two-day ‘Type 3 to the Sea’ trip…

    Continue reading »

  • Stanier pair celebrate Conwy Valley reopening

    Stanier pair celebrate Conwy Valley reopening

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    NETWORK Rail and Transport for Wales Rail Services hosted a special main line steam trip on August 3 to celebrate the reopening of the Conwy Valley line in North Wales. ‘The Conwy Quest’, double-headed by West Coast Railways’ Stanier ‘8F’ No. 48151 and ‘Jubilee’ No. 45690 Leander, ran from Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog.  At Llandudno Junction there…

    Continue reading »

  • UK Railtours unveils Christmas charter line up

    UK Railtours unveils Christmas charter line up

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Although summer is currently in full swing, charter operators have already turned their thoughts to the end of the year. UK Railtours is no exception and has announced a trio of days out by train visiting Christmas markets in Manchester, Lincoln and Beverley during December.  On December 7, UKR will run a train from London…

    Continue reading »

  • Yorkshire BLS tour raises £15k for charity

    Yorkshire BLS tour raises £15k for charity

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    THE Branch Line Society and West Coast Railways operated the ‘Luca Pezzulo Express’ on July 20, visiting rare freight lines around Yorkshire.  Highlights included a rare trip over the remnants of the Woodhead Route, running beyond the Network Rail boundary into Liberty Steel’s Stocksbridge Steelworks, near Sheffield, and the former Tinsley Yard.  The train also…

    Continue reading »

  • ‘Royal Scotsman’ on Grand Tour

    ‘Royal Scotsman’ on Grand Tour

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Belmond’s ‘Royal Scotsman’ luxury landcruise train – more usually confined to itineraries within Scotland – embarks on an annual  seven-night grand tour of Britain, visiting popular tourist spots in England and Wales. On the third leg from Edinburgh to Chester on July 7, No. 66746 leads the train through Carnforth. No. 66743 was on the…

    Continue reading »

  • Staff charter takes GBRf ‘50s’ back to Scotland

    Staff charter takes GBRf ‘50s’ back to Scotland

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    July 6 saw Class 50s Nos. 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance work a GB Railfreight staff charter from Motherwell to Scarborough via the East Coast Main Line.  The train worked the empty stock north from Burton to Motherwell via Lancaster and Carlisle on July 5, and then ran via Edinburgh and York to the North…

    Continue reading »

Latest Issue

Subscribe
Buy Latest Issue

Next Issue On Sale:

Loading data…

Free Digital Issue

Search

Tags

ASLEF Avanti West Coast British Railways COVID-19 Department for Transport Editor's Intro EMU Flying Scotsman From the archive Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Great Central Railway Great Western Railway GWR Heritage Railway HS2 Irish Latest issue Latest issue RM Letters LNER London Underground Mortons Books narrow gauge National Railway Museum Network NETWORK RAIL News North Yorkshire Moors Railway Office of Rail and Road Rail Express Rail strikes Railway Round-Up Railways Illustrated RMT ScotRail Severn Valley Railway South Western Railway Sponsored Content steam The Railway Hub The Railway Magazine Trams TransPennine Express Transport for London West Somerset Railway