Lockdown has seen everything sadly cancelled during February, was going to see if any of the March ones survive, and that doesn't seem to be the case either looking at the list of tour operating services, so perhaps April / May at the earliest for 2021. The opening week in April sees the West Coast Railways steam railway tour 'The Jacobite' a regular daily service from Fort William to Mallaig and return hopefully that will be the start of a return to service with Easter a traditional popular period for heritage railways and tours.
THE WEST HIGHLAND AND ROYAL DEESIDE
Friday 9 April to Monday 12 April 2021
Already deferred from April 2020 looks like this one has again been delayed.
THE MERCHANT OF NORFOLK
Saturday 24 April 2021
A springtime trip from London over to Norwich sounds appealing enough, but add to that our favourite locomotive, the magnificent Merchant Navy class Pacific 35028 ‘Clan Line’, and we have a perfect Main Line Steam tour on our hands. This will be the first time in over two years that Clan Line has hauled a non-Pullman railtour, and it’s also her first trip to Norwich ever!
This operator has updated their site and the first available rail tours are not until early May 2021.
THE FELLSMAN TOUR 12th MAY 2021
The popular ‘Fellsman’ runs again in summer 2021 for its 13th season offering a 300-mile return steam hauled journey from Crewe on the spectacular ‘Settle to Carlisle Railway’ as we travel through the Yorkshire Dales and climb high towards the roof of England. With at least a dozen tours showing on the site around the country during May and June it's a very positive sign and hopefully a return to Steam action on the mainline.
https://www.statesmanrail.com/
Another operator with plenty of planned tours for May and June, the 1st May offering a trip from Ely to Llandudno.
“The Statesman” land cruise train travels across the Cheshire Plain with views of Beeston Castle, then through the Roman Walls of historic Chester and after crossing the River Dee we take the route along the spectacular Welsh coast past Rhyl and Colwyn Bay offering sweeping sea views for a visit to the beautiful Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno with its two sandy bays and traditional pier. Also the location for the Great Orme railway and links to Blaenau Ffestiniog although not sure if these will reopen in time as Wales have their own rules. There are plenty of interesting tours planned though.
The Branch Line Society
While current tours are cancelled hoping to be rescheduled, they are asking for interest in overseas tours to Germany and Poland. I think in light of Travel restrictions you need to take additional care to research these beforehand, but at least they are European tours and in spite of Brexit should still be possible. The Branch Line Society do put on some interesting and unique tours.
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