We now have the go ahead to post the full Great Britain IV itinerary:
The Great Britain III railtour was a great success despite the problem caused by the threatened strike.
Although we had indicated that this may be the last one, we promised our customers on the train that we would run at least one more.
We have re-introduced the original concept by running from Lands End to John O’Groats and all points in between.
In 2011, for the first time, we run through to Wick.
Saturday 16th April
An A4 to York and a Royal Scot to Edinburgh
Our train departs London Kings Cross at around 08:20 hauled by A4 Pacific 60019 Bittern with
2 tenders and will pick up customers at Peterborough. A celebratory glass of champagne will be served to all customers on departure with a full English breakfast for customers travelling in premier class. Leaving Peterborough our train is non-stop to York beginning with the climb to Stoke Summit, where another A4 Pacific, Mallard, achieved the world record for steam at 126 mph, in the southern direction. At York we say goodbye to 60019 Bittern and welcome 46115 Scots Guardsman, our second steam loco of the day. Continuing along the East Coast Main Line our next stop is Newcastle, where our locomotive takes water. North of Newcastle our train follows the rugged Northumberland coastline with fine views of picturesque Alnmouth and distant views of Lindisfarne and the Farn Islands. Soon we pass over the magnificent Royal Border Bridge at Berwick-upon-Tweed heading for the Scottish border, Dunbar and Drem before our Scots Guardsman steams into Edinburgh Waverley.
We have overnight accommodation in Edinburgh.
Sunday 17th April
Over the Forth and Tay Bridges to Aberdeen and Inverness
The second A4 of the tour, 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, will be ready to depart Edinburgh Waverley with our train at around 09:00.
We cross over the magnificent Forth Bridge, with superb views over the Firth of Forth, and enter Fife. The journey through Fife is both scenic and fascinating; we hug the sea shore for some of the way. Our train leaves Fife and crosses over the wide expanse of the Firth of Tay by the famous Tay Bridge, before arriving in Dundee where our locomotive takes on water. On leaving Dundee the line skirts the sea shore on its way to Montrose before continuing through Stonehaven to the Granite City, Aberdeen. Our A4 leaves us here and two Black V’s, 44871 and 45407 take us from Inverness through Huntley, Keith, Elgin and Nairn to arrive in Inverness late afternoon where we transfer to our hotels.
Monday 18th April
To the Far North with two Black V’s
After breakfast, we join our special steam hauled train at Inverness Station, hauled by former LMS class V 4-6-0’s 44871 and 45407. We leave Inverness by way of Rose Street Junction and soon after cross the Clachnaharry Swing Bridge with fine views over the Firth. We pass through Dingwall, Alness, Fearn, Tain and Inveshin to Lairg where there will be a break while our locomotive’s take water. On leaving Lairg we climb up to Lairg Summit before dropping down to the sea at Golspie and then travelling alongside the sea to Brora. We continue to head north, with fine views over the sea until we turn inland again at Helmsdale where we climb through Kinbrace and Forsinard to the line’s summit at County March. We pass through Georgemas Junction and we head north to Wick, Britain’s most distant railway terminal. Overnight accommodation in Inverness.
Tuesday 19th April
A free day in Inverness
Today you can take some time for yourself or join our optional trip.
Tuesday 19th April
Optional steam trip to the Kyle of Lochalsh
Hauled by a former LNER K4 2-6-0 61994, you’ll enjoy a full Scottish Breakfast silver served at your seat soon after departure. Passing over the Caledonian Canal on the Clachnaharry Swing Bridge, we take the Kyle line at Dingwall; possibly the most scenic line in the country. The route takes us up Raven Rock Summit and Luib Summit before taking water at Achnashellach, then down to the shore of Loch Carron for fine views of the lochs and mountains. At the Kyle of Lochalsh you’ll have more than two and a half hours free to explore. There’s also a coach tour to the fairytale Eileen Donnan Castle and to Portree, capital of the Isle of Skye.
We return to Inverness in the afternoon and you’ll be served a 2-course lunch at your seat on the return journey. Arrival in Inverness around 17:30 for an overnight stay. Please note that this optional trip has limited accommodation.
Wednesday 20th April
Inverness to Glasgow over the Highland Main Line
We depart Inverness after breakfast hauled by 44871 and 45407 double headed. We begin the climb up to Slochd Summit (1315 ft) immediately on leaving Inverness. This is possibly the most gruelling climb on the whole network we climb for 13 miles at 1 in 60 followed by another 10 miles at mostly 1 in 60, we drop down through Aviemore before commencing the climb up to Druimdacholar (1484 ft), the highest summit on Britain’s Railways.
We continue downhill through Blair Athol and Pitlochry to Perth. On leaving Perth we take the Glasgow mainline climbing up to Gleneagles and Dunblane. We will enjoy fine views of Stirling Castle. Our journey continues to Glasgow Central via Cumbernaud. We arrive in Glasgow late afternoon.
Thursday 21st April
Glasgow Central to Preston via the South Western
We depart Glasgow mid morning hauled by Royal Scot 4-6-0 46115 Scots Guardsman and head for Paisley along the line to Ayr. It is a fast main line and we should make good progress to Newton-on -Ayr. Here we join the freight only line to Mauchline and we then join the Glasgow South Western mainline and the old stamping ground of the Thames Clyde Express, regularly hauled in steam days by a rebuilt Royal Scot.
We then climb up to Drumlanrig Tunnel before descending down to Dumfires. We will continue alongside the Solway Firth to Gretna Junction and on to Carlisle. On leaving Carlisle, the Scots Guardsman commences its assault on Shap.
On reaching the summit we descend through Tebay and enter the picturesque Lune Gorge.
We arrive in Preston late afternoon and transfer to our hotels.
Friday 22nd April
The Welsh Marches with a Scot
After breakfast we transfer to Preston station where our train will be waiting for us. Hauled by the rebuilt Royal Scot class 4-6-0 46100. We head south from Preston passing through Warrington before entering the Roman city of Chester. Heading south on the single line to Wrexham we pause at Chirk for water. We pass through Shrewsbury, which takes us onto the scenic Welsh Marches route through Ludlow and Hereford. From here, we take the difficult climb up to Llanvihangel Summit before we descend through Abergavenny towards Newport. We pass through the Severn Tunnel before entering Bristol Temple Meads. Here we leave the train and check into our hotels.
Saturday 23rd April
Two Britannia’s to Penzance
At Bristol Temple Meads our two locomotives 70000 Britannia and 70013 Oliver Cromwell will be waiting to haul our train double headed to Penzance. We anticipate a fast run from Bristol across the Somerset Levels to Taunton. We then climb up to Whiteball Summit on the border of Somerset and Devon.
On leaving Exeter we follow the Exe Estuary with its picturesque fishing boat views, and run on to the sea wall near Dawlish. From here, our two Britannia Pacifics will be able to demonstrate their true power as they tackle some of the steepest gradients on main lines in this country. First is the difficult climb of Dainton Bank up to Dainton Tunnel before dropping down to Totnes.
Here starts the equally difficult climb of Rattery Bank before descending to Plymouth. After Plymouth we cross over the Tamar River on Brunel’s masterpiece, The Royal Albert Bridge.
He designed this bridge for the Cornwall Railway Company after Parliament rejected his original plan for a train ferry across the Hamoaze. It was opened in 1859 and has fine views over the Estuary.
Our train continues through the wonderful Cornish countryside, over high slender viaducts and through short tunnels flashing refreshing views through our carriage windows. Soon we arrive at Penzance where you have almost two hours to explore the town. We will be leaving our two steam locomotives at Penzance. The Western Class Diesel – D1015 Western Champion will take us back to Bristol Temple Meads.
Sunday 24th April
Return to London Paddington
After breakfast we join our special train at Bristol Temple Meads station hauled by Great Western Castle Class locomotive 5029 Nunney Castle.
We head eastwards through Bath and Trowbridge and join the scenic Berks and Hants line near Westbury. From Pewsey we climb to Savanake Summit before continuing through Newbury and Reading to London Paddington - our journeys end!
On behalf of the Railway Touring Company, New Romney Productions wishes you a steamy journey through Britain!
Regards,
Chris Nelson,
Managing Director
Steve Nelson
Chief Executive
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