Railtours Track Record

摘要

Pathfinder tours marked its 1,000th main line railtour in June. The Gloucestershire firm's June 20'Heart of Wales Rambler' was the trip that clocked-up the historic figure - 42 years after it was established by Peter Watts, who is still its general manager. Pathfinder is still covering previously unchartered territory and in September makes its debut on the reopened Waverley route (see related story) using a pair of DB Schenker Class 66s. The September 18-19 tour starts in Eastleigh and its routes are due to cover other desirable sections of track for 'bashers; such as the Crewe Independent lines; Kingmoor freight lines; and the Blyth &Tyne line. Because of the intensity of the train schedule over the Borders route to Tweed bank, the charter will run over its 40-mile length and return to Edinburgh Waverley before the first timetabled train runs. Fifteen days of steam-hauled trains over the Waverley route in September and October have been announced by ScotRail. As reported last issue, John Cameron's former Haymarket-allocated A4 No. 60009 Union of South Africa will haul the Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank specials, which start on September 10. The Midlothian trips will run on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays for six consecutive weeks. Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, is "convinced the addition of steam will make our new railway one of Scotland's most sought-after attractions". Particularly attractive to enthusiasts will be the opportunity to experience steam against the 12-mile collar that is the climb from Portobello to Falahill, more than half of which is at 1-in-70.