WELSH MARCHES EXPRESS RAILTOUR - MONDAY 14th FEBRUARY 2022

WELSH MARCHES EXPRESS RAILTOUR
MONDAY 14th FEBRUARY 2022

DEPARTING FROM;  NOTTINGHAM,  LONG EATON,  DERBY,  TUTBURY AND HATTON,  UTTOXETER,  STOKE-ON-TRENT,  KIDSGROVE,  ALSAGER,  CREWE.

Traversing the breath-taking beauty of the Welsh Marches route our steam hauled train offers a totally unique day out as we travel through the rolling hills of the pretty Shropshire countryside dividing England and Wales for a visit to the capital city of Cardiff.

We cross the Cheshire Plain and through historic Shrewsbury to join the Welsh Marches line and at Church Stretton there are outstanding views of the Long Mynd, known in Victorian times as ‘Little Switzerland’ – continuing along the Marches we pass magnificent Stokesay Castle and the historic towns of Ludlow and Hereford. Entering South Wales and the county of Monmouthshire there are superb views of the Brecon Beacons as the black mountains tower over the train. 

Crossing the River Usk

At Newport we cross the River Usk, joining the Great Western main line to Cardiff for an afternoon break. Arrival into Cardiff Central is expected around 12:40 and you are directly in the heart of the Welsh Capital with plenty of shopping, sightseeing opportunities. 

Not forgetting that it's Valentines Day for all you loved up couples. 

The capital city of Wales offers spectacular shopping, museums, dining, and entertainment. Easy to explore on foot and close to the station you can visit the free Welsh National Museum and spectacular Cardiff Castle all within the city centre. Top class entertainment is on offer at Cardiff Bay with its restaurants, waterside views and Wales Millennium Centre and there is plenty to see and do in the three hours whilst our train is prepared for the return journey.

The train is steam hauled from Crewe by one of our immaculately restored pool of engines including: the world famous LMS Royal Scot Class, No.46100 ‘Royal Scot’ – West Country Class, No. 34046 ‘Braunton’ – Britannia Pacific Class, No 70000 ‘Britannia’ (pictured below).

Steam hauled from Crewe by one of the train operators preserved locomotives;

West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34046 Braunton
History
built at Brighton Works in November 1946 in original streamlined form and upon completion was allocated to Exmouth Junction. Further allocations included Salisbury, Brighton and Bournemouth. In 1949 the engine was re-numbered to 34046 once owned by British Railways.
Withdrawal and preservation
34046 was withdrawn from service in October 1965 and moved to the Woodham Brothers' scrapyard at Barry Island, this was to be the engine's home for the next 23 years until it was moved in 1988 to Brighton in a bid to be restored. In 1996 it was purchased by the West Somerset Railway but later sold on to a private individual. The engine was moved to Williton on the WSR where a long term restoration to running order was to be undertaken. 34046 returned to steam in July 2007 for the first time in the 42 years since its withdrawal from service. The engine's debut return to passenger service was in 2008 with plans to have the engine certified for use on the mainline hauling excursion trains. Since 2018 it was based in Crewe and owned by Jeremy Hosking. 34046 is operational on the mainline hauling excursion trains.

46100 'Royal Scot'
One of our immaculately restored locomotives; LMS Royal Scot Class, No.46100 ‘Royal Scot’ is on the roster to be available for this tour. 

History / Preservation Notes
The original 6100 was the first of its class, built in 1927 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow. It was named Royal Scot after the Royal Scots.  In 1933, 6152 The King's Dragoon Guardsman and 6100 swapped identities permanently. 6152 had been built at Derby Works in 1930. The new Royal Scot was sent to the Century of Progress Exposition of 1933 and toured Canada and the United States with a train of typical LMS carriages.  46100 was bought by Billy Butlin of Butlins holiday camps after withdrawal and after cosmetic restoration into LMS crimson lake at Crewe Works, although this was the original livery received, the locomotive did not carry it after being rebuilt (only one rebuilt Royal Scot ever carried LMS crimson lake livery and that was 6170 British Legion). It was then towed from Crewe Works to Nottingham by Black 5 No. 45038 and then from Nottingham to Boston by B1 No. 61177 on 12 June 1963.  Royal Scot arrived at Butlins on 18 July 1963 piped in by pipers from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots. This made 6100 one of two preserved rebuilt Royal Scots, the other being 6115 Scots Guardsman. It was set on a plinth at Skegness and was to remain there till the 1970s. On 16 March 1971 6100 departed from Skegness for the Bressingham Steam Museum and was returned to steam in 1972. It ran until 1978 when it once more became a static exhibit, it was eventually sold from Butlins to Bressingham in May 1989.