Charter News from Railways Illustrated

Nenta announces train from Holt

Nenta Traintours has announced its 2011 summer programme of trains, and the highlight is a through train from Holt on the North Norfolk Railway to Scarborough on July 9.
The train will be limited to six coaches and powered by top-and-tailed WCR Class 47s, and will serve all three stations on the NNR and then use the new level crossing which connects with Network Rail before reversing at Cromer. At Norwich the dining and First Class coaches will be added and the train then runs via Thetford, Ely and Peterborough.
The train is the fourth in Nenta’s 2011 programme. Before it are April 9 (Stanhope), May 7 (Edinburgh) and June 4 (Carlisle). After the Scarborough trip, Nenta has three more trains; on August 6 (Minehead), September 17 (Carlisle) and December 3 (Skipton) – all are Norwich starters apart from the latter which sets off from North Walsham.
All trains will be operated by West Coast Railways using top-and-tail Class 47s. Most of the trains have a number of set down alternatives and off train options and all the details, including fares, routes, pick ups and provisional times are on www.nentatraintours.co.uk

UKR plans first Cambrian Class 67s

UK Railtours looks set to make the debut of Class 67s on a passenger train along the Cambrian Coast line to Barmouth with its January 8 ‘Barmouth Bridge Express’
As Class 67s have been cleared to Pwllheli (RI xxx ) but not 66s, the plan is to double head 67s to give plenty of power over Talerddig then run one round at Machynlleth to top-and-tail to Barmouth and back. Class 67s are not allowed to double head over Barmouth Bridge. The train starts at Euston and avoids Shrewsbury.
Two weeks later on January 22 UKR runs the ‘Pennine Panorama’ circular scenic landcruise from King’s Cross to Carnforth. The train heads via Leeds and Skipton before taking the scenic, but underrated direct line to Carnforth and then on to Preston for a short break. The return is via Manchester, Rochdale and Hebden Bridge.
Another new UKR trip is on March 19 with the ‘Welsh Highland Railway’ trip from Euston to Crewe and Llandudno Junction where half the passengers will alight to take a bus connection to the Ffestiniog railway to Porthmadog and then the Welsh Highland railway to Caernarfon to rejoin coaches to Bangor and board the train. The other half of the train will do the journey in reverse.

Pathfinder shelves Christmas ‘spinner’

Pathfinder Tours has reluctantly been forced to cancel its proposed December 11 multi traction tour which had planned to feature a pair of Class 20s and a pair of 31s. The high price from DB Schenker means it is not viable to run the train.
Pathfinder has traditionally run a multi traction ‘spin and win’ tour in the fortnight before Christmas but Peter Watts has admitted defeat on this train: “It would have cost £97.12 a ticket, down to the cost of hiring six locos. The problem is the locos [the two 20s and two 31s] are based in the north and the stock is in the south.”
Sadly, restructuring of management at DB Schenker meant despite the bid being in with them for pricing, it came back too late to re-jig to reduce the costs and still get the bid to Network Rail in time.
But Mr Watts was keen to stress that Pathfinder is still committed to enthusiast tours as part of its programme of trains for 2011. “We will look at trains in 2011 using 20s and 31s,” he added. Pathfinder is working on its early 2011 programme and hopes to announce details soon.