SATURDAY 12 March 2022 – THE PENNINE WAYFARER

(Was 22 January 2022) This train will now start from Bristol Temple Meads.

With the new year well underway and a little more daylight, how about a little exploration of this wonderful country of ours, on a scenic tour that crosses the Pennines by three different routes? With many wonderful views that will disappear as Spring reclothes the trees, and maybe even with snow on the high ground! Oh, and perhaps you might enjoy it even more by travelling in Premier Dining*, with superb meals served at your seat as the train glides its way through some of England’s finest scenery.

From our last joining point at Chesterfield we continue north, then turn left into the beautiful Hope Valley, past the grave of Robin Hood’s closest friend, Little John, through Hope and below Mam Tor (the Shivering Mountain). A run down the Goyt Valley leads round the east side of Manchester on routes that seldom see a passenger train before a climb through Rochdale and Littleborough to Summit Tunnel and thus into the Calder Valley. A narrow gorge through Hebden Bridge widens before Brighouse, where we take a short link to Huddersfield and a third crossing of the Pennines, this one with the steepest grades to a summit level at Standedge. 

Downhill again leads to Stalybridge and now to Manchester Victoria station, where passengers can alight (15:15-17:20) in this vibrant city. Alternatively, remain on the train for the short trip to Bolton (15:35-17:00) for a look around before the return journey starts. 

CONFIRMED TIMINGS

Table for Two seats are now FULLY BOOKED

Premier Dining is now fully booked, a gricers grill will be available on the train. 

Motive power is expected to be a pair of Direct Rail Services class 37 locomotives hauling a rake of MK1 carriages.

Photograph by Jack Boskett