Day Excursions

These trains offer you the chance to take a day trip to some of the most interesting places in Great Britain. However, it is not just the destinations that are attractive, as in many cases the route takes us through some of the most outstanding scenery in the United Kingdom. Once at the destination, there is often more on offer, including tours by road coach and river cruises, to steam railways and historic castles, to breweries and museums, to the seaside and inland attractions ..... and much, much more !

All these excursions offer a choice of Standard and First Class / First Class Plus seating, whilst many also have the option of Pullman-style Premier Dining, with a full at-seat silver-service of meals through the day. All seats in each type of accommodation are at tables and offer a good view through the wide windows. A buffet service is available on all trains, and there is usually a real ale bar on board. Add friendly and helpful stewards, a souvenir booklet and information about your choice of destination and you have the ingredients for a day out that memories are made of.

Forget the crowded roads, with traffic jams, miles of cones and endless problems of parking, and join a Pathfinder excursion for a day out where all you have to do is relax and take in the great scenery that this country has to offer, all from the comfort of your comfortable carriage seat.

The WESTERN SLATER

Saturday 19th September, 2009

D1015 'WESTERN CHAMPION' TO SCENIC
NORTH WALES WITH A CHOICE OF VISITING:

LLANDUDNO * BODNANT GARDENS * LLECHWEDD SLATE CAVERNS * THE FFESTINIOG RAILWAY & SNOWDONIA

Join us for a relaxed excursion to the mountains and beautiful scenery of North Wales aboard our special locomotive hauled train, traction throughout being provided by D1015 ‘Western Champion’, the doyen of this classic diesel locomotive design.

The rail route after Birmingham is via Crewe and Chester to Llandudno Junction, where we bid farewell to visitors visiting Llandudno. After reversing here, we traverse the attractive Conwy Valley branchline to its end at BLAENAU FFESTINIOG, the line twisting and climbing much of the way and a very good test for our locomotive ‘Western Champion’.

LLANDUDNO: From Llandudno Junction, use the regular service train (fare payable locally) to nearby lines end at this traditional Victorian seaside resort, famous for its Great Orme Tramway and cable cars.

Upon arrival in Blaenau Ffestiniog, ‘the Slate Capital of the World’, there is around three hours to explore at your own pace, perhaps including a visit to the LLECHWEDD SLATE CAVERNS (pay locally on the day). Alternatively, we can offer the following options:

FFESTINIOG RAILWAY TRIP & SNOWDONIA COACH TOUR: Steam train from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog, guided coach tour onto Betws-y-Coed for return railtour. Supplementary fare: £19 adult, £11 junior. BODNANT GARDENS: By road coach transfer from Llandudno Junction to these 80 acre internationally famous Gardens, set delightfully in the Conwy Valley. Supplementary fare: £11.50 adult, £8 junior (£5 reduction for National Trust members). The return rail journey retraces our morning route to conclude what we hope will be a most interesting day out with ‘Western Champion’ at the helm.	Joining points	Depart	Return
	Didcot Parkway	0600	2250
	Oxford	0615	2235
	Banbury	0645	2205
	Leamington Spa	0710	2140
	Coventry	0735	2115
	Birmingham International	0750	2100
	Tame Bridge Parkway	0810	2040
	Fares (all points)	Adult	Junior
	Standard Class	£69.50	£34.75
	First Class Plus	£109.00	£89.00
	Premier Dining	£179.00	£159.00
	Private 'Table for Two’ seats available in First Class Plus and Premier Dining at a supplement of £18 per person.

The WESTERN ROCKS

Saturday 31st October, 2009

TO THE PENNINES, PEAK DISTRICT and BUXTON,
with CHATSWORTH HOUSE OPTION,
TAKING D1015 ‘WESTERN CHAMPION’ INTO THE HILLS!

Grindsbrook Gold Offering a wide selection of joining points, our route after Chesterfield takes this tour into Yorkshire, for the first climb of the day over the Pennines, using the Huddersfield to Stalybridge ‘Diggle’ route. Onward travel west through Stockport will then see traversal of the Buxton ‘passenger’ line and another steep ascent, this time into the hills of the Peak District to BUXTON, where everyone will enjoy a break in excess of 2 hours in this distinctive Spa Town.

Leaving Buxton, we take the alternative ‘freight only’ route, by way of Great Rocks and Chinley onto the highly scenic Hope Valley line, taking this via Edale and Dore curve back to Chesterfield and a final main line run back across the Midlands to Severnside, completing what we hope will be a great days touring. Traction throughout will be provided by diesel hydraulic locomotive D1015 ‘Western Champion’, making the classes first visit to a lot of the lines that will be traversed by this excursion. CHATSWORTH HOUSE OPTIONAL VISIT: Leave the train at Chesterfield for a road coach transfer, with a local guide, to this fine House and Estate, set in the heart of the Peak District. You will have around three hours for exploration before re-joining the road coach onto Buxton and the train home as described above. Supplementary fare: £19.50 adult or junior.	Joining points	Depart	Return
	Bristol Temple Meads	0700	2205
	Bristol Parkway	0715	2150
	Cheltenham Spa	0800	2105
	Barnt Green	0835	2030
	Birmingham New Street	0900	2005
	Burton-on-Trent *	0940	1905
	Derby *	0955	1850
	Chesterfield *	1030	1815
	* Premier Dining is not available from these stations.
	Fares (all points)	Adult	Junior
	Standard Class	£69.50	£34.75
	First Class Plus	£112.00	£92.00
	Premier Dining	£179.00	£159.00
	Private 'Table for Two’ seats available in First Class Plus and Premier Dining at a supplement of £18 per person.

The FESTIVE YORK & DURHAM EXPLORER

Saturday 28th November, 2009

... VISITS YORK, DARLINGTON & DURHAM, PLUS OPTIONS TO

CASTLE HOWARD * TEESDALE & HIGH FORCE

This special rail excursion offers a range of popular destinations in the North-East of England, all with a very distinctive Christmas flavour. First is YORK, where the St. Nicholas Fayre will be in full swing, with a wide range of stalls specialising in gifts, crafts and the very best in local farm produce, whilst the city comes alive with carol singers and buskers, just right to get you in the Christmas spirit. The open markets in various streets give you a real chance to get your hands on those unique gifts for family and friends, whilst Deliciouslyorkshire will have the very best in country produce - not to mention the living history of the medieval traders at the Barley Hall. Finally, do not forget that York is famous for its majestic Minster, Jorvik, the York Eye, Clifford's Tower, the City Walls and the National Railway Museum. You should have around five hours here for exploration.

From York our train continues north across the Plain of York and over the River Tees to DARLINGTON, cradle of the railways, from where you can catch the local train (fare not included) along part of the 1825 Stockton & Darlington Railway to the Darlington Railway Museum or Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon.

Finally, there is DURHAM, where you should have around three hours to explore this historic city, with its magnificent cathedral and castle, not forgetting its Christmas market.

In addition, we can also offer the following off-train organised options:- CASTLE HOWARD: Alight at York and join a waiting road coach for the journey to this famous stately home, the setting for Brideshead Revisited. Foods for all tastes, speciality Christmas items, gifts of all kinds, not to mention carol singers, handbell ringers and more, all set in a most majestic house, surrounded by 1000 acres of gardens, with lakes, temples and statues. Supplementary fare £15 adult, £11 junior, to include coach, guide and entry. TEESDALE + HIGH FORCE COACH TOUR: … from Darlington, west into scenic Teesdale, to include a visit to one of England’s most impressive waterfalls – High Force. A local Blue Badge Guide will also accompany the trip. Supplementary fare £14.50 adult, £9.50 junior, to include coach, guide and entry.	Joining points	Depart	Return
	Eastleigh	0510	2355
	Romsey	0525	2340
	Salisbury	0545	2320
	Warminster	0610	2255
	Trowbridge	0625	2240
	Chippenham	0650	2215
	Swindon	0710	2155
	Oxford	0755	2110
	Banbury	0825	2040
	Fares (all points)	Adult	Junior
	Standard Class	£59.00	£29.50
	First Class Plus	£99.00	£79.00
	Premier Dining	£169.00	£149.00
	Private 'Table for Two’ seats available in First Class Plus and Premier Dining at a supplement of £18 per person.

+ This train is expected to be hauled throughout by a DBS Class 67 diesel locomotive +