Steam Experience
(also see Torbay Express Limited)

 
~ IN ASSOCIATION WITH HF RAILTOURS ~
 
TRAVEL BEHIND 'TORNADO' ON ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE AROUND THE FURNESS PENINSULAR AND ALONG THE STUNNINGLY PICTURESQUE CUMBRIAN COAST ROUTE TO CARLISLE

Join us on this very special tour as we make railway history with new build steam locomotive, 60163 'Tornado'. We steam out of Crewe and head north picking up further passengers at Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Preston. As we travel towards Lancaster, 'Tornado' can stretch her legs and give the cars on the M6, parallel with us at this point, a run for their money. Crossing the River Lune at Lancaster, we race through the city and get our first view of the sea at Hest Bank. At Carnforth, we leave the West Coast Main Line and start our journey into a more sedate world. We cross the mighty River Kent by way of a wooden viaduct at Arnside, the vast expanse of Morecambe Bay is to our left as we pass the delightful Victorian resort of Grange-Over-Sands, possibly the only resort in England to boast the fact it does not have a public house! At Ulverston, we are on the Furness Peninsular as we travel towards Barrow-in-Furness, home of Vickers shipyards.

Continuing up the coast through Foxfield and Millom, we come to Ravenglass, home of the famous Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway (listen for a possible exchange of steam whistles here!). On leaving Drigg, we pass Seascale and travel alongside the Irish sea to St. Bees. We travel inland for a short while until we get to Whitehaven and, upon leaving the town, the old harbour appears on our left as we head along what is probably the most dramatic part of our journey. We steam past Parton and its lighthouse and on towards Harrington, where if it is a clear day the Isle of Man will be visible. On leaving the old steel town of Workington, we run alongside the sea again to Maryport, where to our left the Solway Firth and southern Scotland comes into view. We then travel inland through the market town of Wigton and the lush countryside of north Cumbria to finally arrive in the great Border City of CARLISLE. We have a break here of around 2½ hours and there is plenty to see and do; The Lanes Shopping Centre, Castle, Cathedral, Tullie House Museum or simply visit one of the many bars, cafes or restaurants in the centre.

Upon departure homeward bound, 'Tornado' is ready to do battle with the arduous gradients of the Settle and Carlisle line, which boasts nineteen major viaducts and thirteen tunnels. This masterpiece of Victorian engineering takes us from sea level at Carlisle, through the tranquil Eden Valley to the market town of Appleby, with its Norman Castle, through Kirkby Stephen and onto the summit of the line at Ais Gill, reaching 1169 feet above sea level. 'Tornado' will show us what she is made of as the loco masters this harsh and brooding territory. From here southwards to Settle, it is a journey over the roof of England, as we race downhill towards Garsdale passing the Richmondshire county boundary on our left, through Rise Hill Tunnel and

Now over a year old, Tornado still draws crowds wherever it goes. Completed in late 2008 it is not 'preserved' or a replica, it is simply the 50^th member of arguably the finest class of express steam locomotives ever to run in Britain, but built over fifty years after the other 49 class members.

Today's excursion starts diesel-hauled at Gloucester, with joining stations then to Chesterfield and York. Here our diesel is replaced by Peppercorn A1 Class Pacific no.60163 Tornado, ready for the run to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and we will expect to race along at near the maximum permitted speed across the Plain of York to Northallerton, then over the River Tees into County Durham. On this outward run we hope to speed through Darlington, there crossing the legendary Stockton & Darlington Railway of 1825.

Northwards there is varied scenery before Durham, where the railway viaduct offers a superb vista of the Cathedral and Castle. There are extensive views on both sides before the descent to the Tyne Valley, welcomed by the Angel of the North. We slow for the crossing of the Tyne on one of the many bridges that lead from Gateshead to NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, a many faceted city, and where you are able to take a three hour break.

 In the days of steam, one of the hardest tests for locomotives and footplate crews came on the Great Western main line west from Exeter to Plymouth and on into Cornwall. Since most of us appreciate the sight and sound of steam engines working hard, especially through great and varied scenery, then lets have a day out over those very lines, with time in the afternoon to enjoy some of mid-Cornwall’s premier attractions.

A diesel locomotive will work the train of classic carriages from Basingstoke and the other pick up points through to Exeter, there to be replaced by the majestic ex-GWR 4-6-0 no. 6024 ‘King Edward 1’, ready to do battle with the undulating route ahead, including the South Devon Banks. But before then there is the outstanding landscape down the Exe Estuary and out onto the famous sea-wall through Dawlish to Teignmouth and up the Teign Estuary to Newton Abbot. Then the noise at the front end will build to a crescendo as the 'King' takes on the fearsome gradients to Dainton Tunnel, easing for the descent to the crossing of the River Dart at Totnes. Then the regulator is pushed wide open again for the climb of Rattery Bank, where the sight of Tigley church spire eventually signals an easing of the gradient.  We then skirt around the southern edge of Dartmoor before descending Hemerdon Bank  [a tough test on the return journey] and a fast run into Plymouth for a leg stretch and photo stop as our steam locomotive takes water.

Leaving Plymouth, we cross the River Tamar over Brunel’s famous Royal Albert Bridge, then start the sinuous run through springtime Cornwall, with its switchback gradients and lofty viaducts through Liskeard to Bodmin Parkway.

BODMIN & WENFORD RAILWAY: Alight at Bodmin Parkway and enjoy a ride over the full length of this preserved line, plus a break in Bodmin itself (note that Bodmin Parkway has cross platform access). On this date, the railway will be staging a 'Steaming Through the 40's' gala weekend.
Supplementary Fare: £10.50 Adult and £6 Junior.

The 'Royal Duchy' then continues through Lostwithiel and a climb through Treverrin Tunnel to arrive at our end destination of PAR.

These three excursions offer a wide range of joining points across Southern England (plus one in South Wales!). All start diesel hauled through to the London area, where we change locomotives to none other than new build Peppercorn A1 Class locomotive no.60163 Tornado. This superb machine, already with a couple of all time steam records to its credit, will first head us across the Thames. With hard uphill work ahead we follow one of the traditional 'boat train' routes to the Channel ports of Folkestone and Dover, from Brixton taking the alternative 'Catford Loop' to regain the main line at Shortlands Junction, climbing then steeply through Bromley South and on through Orpington to a summit at Knockholt.

Over ten miles of descent is interrupted by two miles up through Sevenoaks, but Tornado can then get to show its paces, although there is a speed restriction on the curve in to Tonbridge. From there we head almost dead straight across open country via Paddock Wood and Headcorn to Ashford, a former railway town where rail transport is again big business, the station being an interchange between domestic and international services, benefiting from a recently started and astonishingly fast commuter service to London. Look out for the new Javelin trains as the Channel Tunnel line continues eastward as we turn to the north, following the River Great Stour gently downstream to CANTERBURY (1330-1545), one of Britain's most historic cities. The Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martins church form a trio of World Heritage Sites, the Abbey having been founded in 597AD, whilst St Martin’s Church is the oldest parish church in England still in constant use. Or step back into the Middle Ages at Canterbury Tales, joining pilgrims on a journey from London to Canterbury Cathedral. Or you can just look around the city, simply admiring such delights as the riverfront weavers cottages.

After the break, we resume our journey on the long and gentle descent through open country to the small town of Minster, where we turn to the south, through Sandwich to Deal and onto the steep climb past Martin Mill, then downhill to Dover, with its history dating back to long before the Romans arrived some two thousand year ago. Now turning to the west we run at the foot of the world famous 'White Cliffs of Dover', with views across the English Channel on the climb to Folkestone. Away again we soon come alongside the Channel Tunnel main line, following it back to Ashford, where we hope to be able to pass through at close to our maximum permitted speed.

We can expect to keep up the pace until the approach to Headcorn, where we will stop to enable Tornado to take water, ready for the last leg of the journey back to the London area. Away again and the loco should be quickly back into its stride, through Paddock Wood to Tonbridge, an important railway crossroads, and where some slowing is needed for the curve that leads the main line towards the north. There are now over ten miles of hard climbing ahead, through Hildenborough and Sevenoaks Tunnel, with over a mile of downgrades through Sevenoaks before the remainder of the ascent to Knockholt Summit. It is almost all downhill from here, back through Bromley and the Catford Loop to Brixton and then into London's Victoria station. Here you should have time to say your farewells to Tornado, perhaps to have a quick word with the footplate crew and take a photo or two, with the train then reversing for the diesel hauled journey back to our joining points, at the end of what we trust will have been a superb day out in the hands of the Majesty of Steam.

OFF-TRAIN OPTIONS FROM CANTERBURY .....

A) DOVER CASTLE: Road transport will convey you for the fifteen or so miles to the ancient port of Dover, and to the fortress that looks out over the narrowest part of the English Channel. With a lighthouse dating from Roman times, Norman walls and main buildings, and large sections that were an important part of Britain's defences until the end of World War II, Dover Castle encapsulates a large part of our history and is a fascinating place to visit.
Supplementary fare: Adult £17, Junior £10 to include castle entry and road transfers, rejoining the train at Dover.

B) EAST KENT LIGHT RAILWAY: By road transfer to Shepherdswell for a diesel-hauled ride on this remnant of the Colonel Stephen's empire, which lasted to 1987 to serve a colliery and is now restored for passenger use as far as Eythorne. There will be time for a return trip before the coach takes you on to Dover to rejoin the main train (note that on each date, one passenger selected by a draw will enjoy a cab ride along the line!).
Supplementary fare:  Adult £12, Junior £8, to include road transfers and train ride.