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Step back in time on board one of our heritage carriages,
as we travel along Britain’s scenic mainline to an exciting destination of your choice

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See a list of all available excursions available this year, you can also book online with us.

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Confirmed timings for our tours and latest news.

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Pathfinder Tours

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Already know where you want to go? Then book online with us today!

Our customers just love to travel in authentic heritage carriages; others have a real passion for the locomotives, steam or diesel. Many travel with us time and time again – we’d love to welcome you on board too!

OUR EXCURSIONS

Book on one of our forthcoming excursions here
For all of the latest news on our excursions, see our News Page

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09decAll DayThe Chester Christmas Cromptons - Confirmed Timings AddedTravel by special train to Shrewsbury or stay on for Christmas festivities at Chester Christmas Market. Joining Stations: Eastleigh, Southampton Central, Romsey, Salisbury, Warminster, Westbury, Trowbridge, Bath Spa, *Filton Abbey Wood

Event Details


SATURDAY 9 DECEMBER 2023

JOIN US AS WE CONTINUE CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IN THIS, PATHFINDER’S 50TH YEAR! 

Departing from Eastleigh our festively decorated train, appropriately hauled by a pair of Class 33 ‘Crompton’ locomotives, picks up further through Hampshire and Wiltshire to Filton Abbey Wood. With all our passengers on board, sit back and relax in your comfortable seats as we pass through the Severn Tunnel before joining the picturesque Welsh Marches all the way through to our destinations of the day.

Option A – Shrewsbury 12:00-17:15

Passengers wishing to alight here will enjoy a break of around five hours to explore the festively decorated town, birthplace of Charles Darwin, or have a wander around Shrewsbury Castle.

Option B – Chester 12:55-1610

On leaving Shrewsbury, soon enough we arrive at Chester where passengers can enjoy a magical time (around three hours) at the Christmas Market with over 70 traditional wooden chalets wrapped around a sparkling Christmas tree in the heart of the city near to the Cathedral.

All too soon passengers are welcomed back onboard to continue the magic with our Premier Dining passengers enjoying a four course Christmas Dinner, silver served at seat.

ON BOARD FEATURES INCLUDE:

– Reserved seats aligned with the carriage windows
– A printed excursion and journey guide for everyone
– A travelling licensed buffet with refreshments, including alcoholic and soft drinks 
– The Premier Dining service includes The Great British Breakfast, Elevenses and four course festive Evening Christmas Dinner
– Cheerful, friendly and helpful Pathfinder Stewards!

CONFIRMED TIMINGS


FaresAdultJuniorParty x4Availability
Standard Class£129£70£496LAST SEATS REMAINING
First Class£185£145£720LAST SEATS REMAINING
Premier Dining£299£259£1176FULLY BOOKED

Book tickets

Table for Two seats are available at a supplement of £40 per person in Premier Dining and First Class.
First Class Passengers will each receive vouchers to collect refreshments from the buffet car during the journey.
Passengers will be able to enjoy the comfort of travelling in 1960’s ex-BR MK I carriages.
A pair of West Coast Railway Class 33 locomotives are expected to haul this excursion.
*Premier Dining is unavailable from Filton Abbey Wood for the Shrewsbury option only.

Main Photograph: Jack Boskett 

 

16decAll DayThe Festive Midland-IanA pre-Christmas 'bash' to Midland freight lines and locations. Joining Stations: Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa, Worcester Shrub Hill, Stourbridge Junction, Birmingham Snow Hill

Event Details


SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER 2023

A PRE-CHRISTMAS ‘BASH’ TO MIDLAND FREIGHT LINES AND LOCATIONS!

This rail charter has been devised to try to cover as many freight lines, loops and locations as possible in the West Midlands, featuring ‘rare track’. And, given the reduced daylight hours at this time of year, all within a shorter day, and with central joining points that make it easy to reach – a sociable day out for a pre Christmas social!

The requested motive power is Top & Tail DBC Class 60s but, due to low class numbers in service, on the day DBC may require to substitute a Class 66 for one of them.

From Gloucester we make our way via Worcester and Kidderminster into the Black Country, with a final joining point at Birmingham Snow Hill. Sidings, Goods Loops and the branch to Kineton MoD (NR Limit) feature either side of an hour or so’s lunch break at Banbury before a return to Birmingham, this time non stop through New Street station.

More Goods Loops and reversal in the Wolverhampton Logistics Terminal take the train by way of Bescot to Stafford, where a reversal in the RMT platform allows traversal of the now little used Oxley Chord, and yet further Goods Loops before a final return to Birmingham New Street and the joining points of the morning.

Pathfinder are forever indebted to our friend, and yours, Ian Loveday. Ian devises and helps with many enthusiast excursions, often advising and assisting with access to heavily sought after lines. So, with more heavy influence on this charter, we thought it would be fitting to include his name in the title!

With thanks to the Tarmac Group, DBC and GBRf, after much work in the background, we are delighted to announce the addition of more mega rare track to the itinerary of this tour.  This train will now feature a (first for a passenger train?) visit to the Reservoir stone terminal sidings at Banbury.

(Updated 9/11/2023) The requested route is now: GLOUCESTER, CHELTENHAM SPA, WORCESTER SHRUB HILL, Kidderminster DGL, STOURBRIDGE JUNCTION, Stourbridge DGL, Rowley Regis UGL, BIRMINGHAM SNOW HILL, Up & Down Small Health Goods, Caledonia Yard, Up & Down Small Heath Goods, Tyseley Up Through Siding, Dorridge UPL, Leamington Spa UCV, Fenny Compton UGL, Banbury DGL, Banbury Reservoir Sdgs – BANBURY (Break), Fenny Compton DGL, Kineton Branch NR Limit, Leamington Spa DCV, Hatton DGL, Dorridge UDGL, Bordesley DGL, Birmingham New Street (non-stop), Wolverhampton Logistics Centre, Dudley Port Up Goods, Bescot Stadium, Bushbury DGL, Stafford RMT, Oxley Chord, Wolverhampton, Bescot Stadium, Bescot DGL, Aston, BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET, Rowley Regis DGL, STOURBRIDGE JUNCTION, WORCESTER SHRUB HILL, CHELTENHAM SPA, GLOUCESTER

ON BOARD FEATURES INCLUDE:
– Reserved seats aligned with the carriage windows
– A printed excursion and journey guide for everyone
– A travelling licensed buffet with refreshments, including alcoholic and soft drinks 
– A Gricers Grill will be available on board 
– Cheerful, friendly and helpful Pathfinder Stewards!

ESTIMATED TIMINGS


FaresAdultJuniorParty x4Availability
Standard Class£129£70£496FULLY BOOKED
First Class£185£145£720BOOK NOW

Book tickets

Table for Two seats are available at a supplement of £40 per person in First Class.
Passengers will be able to enjoy the comfort of travelling in 1970’s ex-BR MK2 Intercity carriages.

Main Photograph: Matt Price

 

ABOUT US

Pathfinder Tours prides itself as one of the nation’s leading names in UK rail travel by special train.

WHY CHOOSE PATHFINDER TOURS TO TRAVEL WITH?

Pathfinder Tours prides itself as one of the nation’s leading names in UK rail travel by special train. We organise up to 40 day excursions every year, as well as a number of weekend trips, travelling to many interesting destinations and events.

Some customers just love to travel in our comfortable carriages; others have a real passion for the locomotives, steam or diesel. Many travel with us time and time again – we’d love to welcome you on board too!

Contact Us

TRAVELLING WITH MOBILITY EQUIPMENT 

We are happy to welcome aboard customers who have mobility equipment that requires storing on the train. As storage space is limited, the equipment must be foldable or demountable. We recommend lightweight equipment be brought to facilitate this. Please note that we do not carry any equipment for loan purposes on the trains – please bring along that which will make your day out manageable.

Often, we only have very limited stopping time at the stations – usually 2 to 3 minutes. Stewards are there to welcome all passengers onto the train and may not have the time to assist every individual who has equipment to manoeuvre. Travelling with a companion who can help you on and off the train would be beneficial.

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BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE

To operate our main line excursions Pathfinder Tours uses these professional train operating companies (TOC’s)…

DB Cargo (DB)

Direct Rail Services (DRS)

GB Railfreight (GBRf)

each of which is owned by a respected national or international parent company.

Bookings can be made with us in the knowledge that each excursion is run with your safety and welfare as the absolute priority.

Book now!  

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

Pathfinder Tours prides itself as one of the nation’s leading names in UK rail travel by special train. We organise up to 40 day excursions every year, as well as a number of weekend trips, travelling to many interesting destinations and events.

Some customers just love to travel in our comfortable carriages; others have a real passion for the locomotives, steam or diesel. Many travel with us time and time again – we’d love to welcome you on board too!

Download Brochure  .        Read Brochure online 

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