EXPERIENCE VINTAGE TRAINS IN 2021

Vintage Trains | Express Steam Trains

EXPERIENCE VINTAGE TRAINS

IN 2021

3Vintage Trains | Express Steam Trains2 Vintage Trains | Express Steam Trains

INTRODUCTION NEVER DONE BEFORE FEATURES Welcome to Vintage Trains, the 21st century’s only publicly owned and

charitably-controlled Train Operating Company. We are back where we

belong from July 2021 – at speed, on the main line, doing what we do best!

We have enhanced our offer with a high quality dining experience, varied

menus, authentic Pullman cars, entertainment on new Saturday Shakespeare

Express trains and record-breaking Castles climbing hills and running at

75mph. Imagine the chink of cutlery, the smell of freshly cooked bacon and eggs

on your great British breakfast plate or sipping a glass of Champagne over a four

course dinner, all on a steam-hauled express train!

• NEW Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on The Shakespeare Express

• NEW Murder on The Shakespeare Express

• NEW Seaside Staycation August Expresses

• NEW High quality Pullman dining with varied menus on all trains

• FIRST Stephenson Locomotive Society Swindon special for over 25 years

• CELEBRATING the return to main line steam fifty years ago rerunning the trial train through the Severn Tunnel

• NEW Express steam trains up the Lickey Incline

• NEW Double headed Class 20 diesel tours

• NEW Online Booking on NEW website

• NEW Free secure parking at Tyseley (avoiding Birmingham’s city centre congestion charge)

• GOOD TO GO BUBBLE SEATING for groups of 2,4 or 6 people

• PLUS 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe returns to the mainline

Covid-19. Vintage Trains operates in line with Government/Visit England’s

‘We’re Good to Go’ guidelines on social distancing and deep cleaning.

Please note that a number of our steam tours will be assisted by a diesel locomotive for operational reasons including turning

the train at some destinations. The steam locomotive will be doing the hard work on the mainline!

Michael Whitehouse

Chairman

Vintage Trains

This exciting railtour schedule is brought to you by our

experienced team, true pioneers in main line

steam now in their third generation.

We all look forward to welcoming you on board in 2021!


THE 2021 LOCOMOTIVE FLEET Earl of Mount Edgcumbe

The Queen Mother 47 773

Duchess of Sutherland

Class 20s

The locomotive which started it all. Clun Castle was built in 1950 by British Railways to the famous Great Western Railway Castle class design and competed with new diesels being introduced on fast trains. She took the record for the shortest timed point to point journey from Plymouth to Bristol in 1964. This epic run ensured 7029’s preservation and she came to Tyseley to begin a distinguished second career in preservation. She powered the last express steam train on the GWR’s northern route to Birkenhead, the last steam train out of both Birmingham Snow Hill and Moor Street stations, so making a trilogy of lasts as she was also the last steam locomotive to run out of Paddington, hauling the last steam train on the Western Region. Not content with that, 7029 hauled the first ‘Return to Steam’ celebration run ending the infamous BR steam ban and in 1988 she was driven part way to Tyseley by HRH The Prince of Wales in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the London & Birmingham Railway and also ran the very first Shakespeare Express under the Vintage Trains banner.

5043 is our second member of the Castle class but built in 1936 and so an authentic GWR locomotive, named after one of the Directors of the GWR. She ran some of the Western Region’s top expresses including The Bristolian, being shedded at London’s Old Oak Common depot. When withdrawn, she was consigned to Barry scrapyard but found too good to destroy. Tyseley Locomotive Works rebuilt 5043 to exacting standards and she has recorded some remarkable performances, including several non-stop runs, recreating The Bristolian, The Cheltenham Spa Express and The Inter City. More recently, she ran on the Plymouth to Bristol route and shaved a few minutes off 7029’s own record. So now we have two record breakers in the collection.

47773 is from one of the most successful of modern diesel electric locomotive classes, built in large numbers to run across the whole British Rail network. Erected by the Brush Falcon Works, Loughborough as D1755, she entered service in August 1964 at Swansea. In 1982, she was named The Queen Mother by HRH The Queen Mother at Aberdeen. She was bought for preservation at Tyseley in March 2007.

Appropriately, she returned to some of her former stamping grounds as she was allocated to the Birmingham Division (Bescot-Saltley) from February 1969 to July 1970.

The Duchess became an icon in the world of railway preservation after hauling the Royal Train as part of Her Majesty The Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in Wales in June. 6233 was built at Crewe by the LMS in 1938 as a top link express passenger

designed to haul the Scottish expresses, such as the famous Royal Scot, from London over the punishing Shap and Beattock banks to Glasgow. She is a member of the most powerful class of express steam locomotives ever built.

Highly successful English Electric Type 1 light mixed traffic diesel locomotives built as part of the BR modernisation plan between 1957 and 1968. The type is known by railway enthusiasts as ‘Choppers’, a name derived from the distinctive beat that the engine produces when under load, resembling the sound of a helicopter. In BR days, the use of class 20s on passenger trains was very limited, mainly to summer relief services, particularly to Skegness under the adopted title of “The Jolly Fisherman.”

Clun Castle


TRAVELLING WITH VINTAGE TRAINSCLASSES OF TRAVELPullman

Private Compartment

Club

Drink’s menu

A full restaurant car service in our authentic Pullman Cars is included with your ticket. Depending on the tour and time of day this service includes: Full English breakfast, Four Course Dinner, all served at your seat with tea & coffee.

Seating in First Class compartments for upto six people at a premium over the Club fare. Depending on the tour and time of day this service delivers a first-class experience with dining included, all served at your seat.

Seating at tables for two or four people. Light refreshments included on both legs of the journey, served at your seat.

A full drinks list including Champagne, fine wine and beers will be available to order directly to your seat in all classes.

All bookings are made subject to our ‘Conditions of Booking & Travel ‘Please note: all tickets/seats, meals and free car parking at Tyseley must be booked online on

the website - VintageTrains.co.uk. We do not accept bookings by either telephone or post.

TouristSeating at tables for two or four in our Tourist Open carriages originally built for the electrification of the West Coast Main Line. Bacon rolls, wine, beer, teas & coffees can be ordered for delivery to your seat.

Sample Menu

PullmanBreakfast

Freshly Baked Croissants & Danish PastriesGrilled Smoked Back Bacon

Lashford’s Cumberland SausagesScrambled Free Range Shropshire Eggs

Baked Portobello Mushroom & Plum TomatoesBlack PuddingBaked Beans

Buttered Granary Toast & PreservesTea & Coffee

4 Course DinnerBaskets of Artisan Bread and Butter

~Starter

Gin Cured Salmon with Cucumber, Dill & Citrus Dressing (GF)

MainRoasted Supreme of Corn Fed Chicken, Fondant Potato,

Creamed Savoy Cabbage and Coq au Vin Sauce (GF)

DessertSummer Pudding with Clotted Cream and Mixed Berry Syrup

Selection of English Cheeses with Homemade Chutney, Celery, Grapes and Biscuits

Club ClassSelection of Danish pastries

Bacon rollTea & Coffee

Sandwiches Cake

Tea and coffee

TouristA supplement of £5 when booked online.

Hot Bacon Roll (morning)

All dietary requirements are catered for but must be specified at the time of booking through the website.


THE SHAKESPEARE EXPRESS ENTERTAINMENTS The Shakespeare Express runs between Birmingham and Stratford Upon Avon along the last British main line built before the advent of high-speed lines. Steeped in culture, history, and natural beauty with rolling beautiful countryside views.

Due to the popularity, Saturdays will be run as well as Sundays in the summer season. Our exquisitely engineered steam engines pull a train of genuine Pullman cars that can offer a thrill for the whole family.

The 2021 season will offer two entertainment options on selected services:

Murder on the Shakespeare Express

Join the professional sleuths to discover whodunit on a Murder Mystery train-based ghastly crime whilst enjoying a magnificent spread!

Pullman £79pp | Club £49 pp | Tourist £25ppFamily Tickets available online

Free Parking available at Tyseley Locomotive Works when booked in advance.

To indulge yourself in tradition, celebrate a special occasion or simply treat the family the Shakespeare Express is fun for all. Pullman dining, Club and Tourist class options plus special entertainment on certain dates – what could be better on a summers weekend than a trip on a 20th Century Steam Locomotive.

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party ®

Bring the kids on a fantastic journey to a make-believe world and enjoy both adult and children’s food while you speed through the Warwickshire countryside!

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THE SEASIDE EXPRESS THE SEASIDE EXPRESSSaint Tudno ExpressThe Jolly Fisherman

To Skegness Wednesday 4th August 2021

to LlandudnoWednesday 11th August 2021

Double-Headed Class 20 DieselsDeparting From

Tyseley Locomotive Works | Coleshill Parkway | Nuneaton |Leicester | East Midlands Parkway

Double-headed Class 20 DieselsDeparting From

Tyseley Locomotive Works | Walsall | Wolverhampton

We revive the traditional summer seaside family outing, embarking with double-headed ‘Chopper’ Class 20s. We then head through Leicester, Nottingham, Sleaford and onwards to the East Coast.

We plan to offer up to 5 hours at this former fishing town, now a traditional Lincolnshire seaside destination. Skeggy, also known as the Blackpool of the East Coast, is famous for its fish and chips, clock tower and the ‘Jolly Fisherman’ mascot from which our train takes its name. The statue of the Jolly Fisherman is in the Compass Gardens and is well worth a visit.

Pullman £179pp | Club £89 pp | Tourist £49 ppPrivate Compartment £499




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The ever-popular North Wales destination of Llandudno is today’s eagerly anticipated seaside outing with the Class 20’s at the helm.

Enjoy over four hours in Wales’ premier holiday destination of Llandudno.

Discover the sites that inspired the Lewis Carroll classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with the Alice Town Trails. Along the trail, you’ll encounter the longest pier in Wales and one of the finest recreational piers in Britain, where you can admire the majestic line of hotels that have not changed since Victorian times. Look out for the St Georges Hotel. It is thought that Lewis Carroll wrote part of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland here.

Llandudno’s Great Orme Tramway is a remarkable historical survival and celebrated it centenary in 2002. It is one of only three cable hauled street tramways still in existence world wide.


THE SEASIDE EXPRESSWeston Venturer

To Bristol and Weston Super MareWednesday 18th August 2021

Class 47 & Class 20 DieselsDeparting From

Tyseley Locomotive Works | Birmingham Snow Hill | Stourbridge Junction | Worcester

Pullman £159pp | Club £79 pp | Tourist £99 PER BUBBLEPrivate Compartment £499


Pullman £159pp | Club £79 pp | Tourist £99 PER BUBBLEPrivate Compartment £499



Hauled by Class 47 number 47773 with a Class 20 diesel on the rear, we make a short stop at Bristol, before continuing to the seaside town of Weston Super Mare.

Weston is steeped in Victorian history and dominated by stretches of glorious sandy beach. It has a packed cultural calendar, two piers a long promenade and the quintessential seaside activities of donkey rides and sandcastle building, all topped off with fish and chips and ice-cream.Also to there really are so many amazing things to do in Bristol.

Bristol is the city of bridges, balloons, boats, bikes, Brunel and Banksy.

THE SEASIDE EXPRESSThe Scarborough Belle

To York and ScarboroughWednesday 25th August 2021

Class 47 & Class 20 DieselsDeparting From

Tyseley Locomotive Works | Coleshill Parkway | Tamworth (High Level) | Burton on Trent | Derby

Our train will be hauled by Class 47 number 47773 with a Class 20 diesel on the rear of the train.We arrive in York where you may leave the train if you wish. After a short stop, we continue to the seaside town of Scarborough.The ever-popular city of York has many attractions for the day visitor. Inside York’s three miles of city walls there is evidence of Roman, Viking and Medieval history, mixed with classic architecture from three centuries. Scarborough is the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast and lies between 10 and 230ft above sea level. The older part of the town is situated around the harbour, the main

tourist area with a sandy beach, cafes and entertainment facilities. Its rocky promontory supports the 11th century ruins of Scarborough Castle and divides the seafront into two bays. The North Bay miniature railway runs through Northstead Manor Gardens to the Sea Life Centre at Scalby Mills. The North Bay Railway has what is believed to be the oldest operational diesel-hydraulic locomotive in the world. Neptune was built in 1931 by Hudswell Clarke of Leeds and is appropriately numbered 1931. The Diving Belle statue located on the harbour represents the love people have for Scarborough.



Our train will place the correct locomotive in the correct setting; a double-chimney Castle back on home-ground steaming through the picturesque Cotswold Hills to the GWR town of Swindon. Moreover, Earl of Mount Edgcumbe continues the tradition set by Cam as she is the last of her class to be returned to main line service in the preservation years and a record breaker in her own right.

The day begins as we head north and west from the heart of Birmingham, heading for Kidderminster and Worcester. After a spirited run through Cheltenham, we turn east past Stroud, heading for the Golden Valley and up the demanding and twisting climb of Sapperton Bank.

Passing Kemble, a well-preserved classic Great Western station, we steam along the newly doubled track towards the birthplace of our engine Swindon, where we will pause to allow a visit to the STEAM Museum or the acclaimed shopping centre, both located at the very heart of the old Swindon Works.

On our return journey, Earl of Mount Edgcumbe will make a short sprint along Brunel’s billiard table to Didcot where we turn northwards towards Birmingham on the GWR Northern Main Line. After a photo stop at Banbury we continue north, climbing the famous Hatton bank before returning to Birmingham.

SLS 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIALEarl of Mount EdgcumbeSaturday 25th September

Tyseley Locomotive Works 9.00am | Birmingham Snow Hill | Swindon | Banbury

Pullman £269pp | Club £149 pp | Tourist £99PPPrivate Compartment £899



We celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Stephenson Locomotive Society’s special trains originating from Birmingham and organised by Arthur ‘Cam’ Camwell,

the Midland Branch Secretary of the SLS.

These trains became an annual event, sought after by ferro-equinologists, as they regularly featured either the last of a Great Western Railway locomotive class or a famous GWR locomotive and visited Swindon works, GWR mecca.


On the first Saturday in October 1971, GWR King Class No 6000 King George V broke out of Bulmers Railway Centre in Hereford for a trial steam run to Birmingham and broke the official British Rail 1968 ban of steam on the mainline. Today we celebrate the return – on the same day and on the same route with the same locomotive which went on to haul to first official ‘Return to

Steam’ celebration run in 1972. The day begins at Tyseley Locomotive Works, we then pass through Birmingham New Street on our journey towards Shrewsbury via Wolverhampton. Taking the avoiding line at Shrewsbury, we head along the Welsh Marches line via Craven Arms to Hereford for a three hour break for city sightseeing.

RETURN TO STEAM 50TH ANNIVERSARYSaturday 2nd October

7029 Clun CastleStations

Tyseley Locomotive Works | Birmingham New Street | Hereford




Our return to Birmingham will follow the original route continuing south, avoiding Newport to join the South Wales mainline, for a sprint through the Severn Tunnel to Swindon and

a water stop at Didcot. We continue to Birmingham with a photo stop at Banbury and a climb up Hatton bank.


We head north through Birmingham, west and south via Worcester and Gloucester. We join the Welsh Marches line short of Newport and traverse the beautiful hills of the Welsh border country to Hereford where we stop for a three hour afternoon sightseeing break.

Tucked against the Welsh border, wild landscapes, dramatic history, charming market town and fabulous local food will make you feel a world away.

We then head for Shrewsbury where we loop back to the Midlands through Wolverhampton.

WELSH MARCHES EXPRESSSaturday 9th October

6233 Duchess of SutherlandTyseley Locomotive Works | Birmingham Snow Hill | Hereford





This impressive full day excursion covers Great Western and Midland main lines, hauled by Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive! We begin our adventure at Derby with diesel haulage by 47 773. We pick Burton on Trent, Tamworth (High Level), Coleshill Parkway and Tyseley before stopping at Dorridge where Duchess of Sutherland takes charge at the front of our train. We then head south and west on the GWR mainline via Oxford and Swindon to

Bristol Temple Meads for three and a half hours of sightseeing in the city.

In part two we take the Midland route for our return, direct to Derby via Cheltenham Spa and the famous 1 in 37.7, two-mile gradient of ‘The Lickey’, the steepest sustained main line railway incline in Great Britain. On arrival at Derby, we say goodbye to 6233 and the 47 returns us to Tyseley.

Due to the requirement to take a banker over the Lickey Incline and not wishing to stop at the foot of the incline to gain such assistance, a diesel will accompany the rear of the

train throughout the journey from Tyseley – although we will ensure that the Duchess is doing the lion’s share of the work throughout!

THE MIDLAND BRISTOLIANSaturday 30th October

6233 Duchess of SutherlandDerby | Burton on Trent | Tamworth High Level | Coleshill Parkway | Tyseley





Castles on the Lickey incline are a rare sight so twice on the same day with two different members of the class is rare indeed! Two identical trains will start at Tyseley Locomotive Works and pick up at Birmingham Snow Hill for a fast run to Worcester. Here the train will turn before we head for Bromsgrove where

9466 will join the train, authentically banking us up the 1 in 37 incline to Blackwell. The 94XX class became the banking engines when the Lickey was transferred to the Western Region in 1958. We return to Tyseley via Birmingham New Street, another rare steam location.

THE LICKEY BANKERTwo separate runs with two Castles, both steam banked

Clun Castle or Earl of Mount Edgcumbe plus 9466Saturday 20th November

Morning & AfternoonTyseley Locomotive Works | Birmingham Snow Hill | Worcester Shrub Hill




So good we are running it all again…………. in the afternoon.


VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS FAYRE HARRINGWORTH VIADUCTMelton Mowbray

Clun Castle and Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ‘top and tailed’Saturday 5th December

Clun Castle and Earl of Mount Edgcumbe ‘top and tailed’Saturday 5th December

Tyseley Locomotive Works | Coleshill Parkway | Nuneaton Melton Mowbray

Back by popular demand, Vintage Trains returns to Melton Mowbray for the annual Victorian Christmas Fayre, a slice of Dickensian Britain with Victorian stalls, street urchins, Santa’s Grotto, street theatre, brass bands and much more – in fact something for everyone. Passengers will have approximately five hours to explore the town and enjoy the special Christmas atmosphere.





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In another Vintage Train’s tradition, while passengers visit the Melton Mowbray Victorian Christmas Fayre, others can take the lunchtime journey out to Corby and back which takes us twice across the famous Harringworth Viaduct with its spectacular views across the valley. Also known as the Welland Viaduct as it crosses the river of the same name, this is the longest masonry viaduct across a valley in the UK. 30 million bricks were used in its construction, the now Grade II listed structure opening in 1878. At its peak, 3500 people and 1200 horses were working on the site.


Tyseley Locomotive Works | Solihull | Dorridge | Leamington Spa | Banbury Bath Spa | Bristol Temple Meads

Bath is another popular Vintage Trains Christmas Market destination and 2021 sees the 20th anniversary of this event in one of Britain’s most picturesque locations, the Georgian streets of this fabulous city. A memorable day out in a stunning setting, there’s always something new to discover with local makers and designers showcasing their artisan gifts and street food to die for! Passengers will have approximately 5 hours to explore this fabulous event.

The train will continue to Bristol Temple Meads so passengers are welcome to stay on board for a visit of approximately 3 hours to the City of Bristol.






THE WHITE ROSEYork Christmas Market

Clun CastleSaturday 18th December

Tyseley Locomotive Works | Coleshill Parkway | Tamworth (High Level)Burton on Trent | Derby


Our destination is York for the ever-popular St Nicholas Fayre and Christmas Market, dominating the narrow medieval streets of Stonegate and The Shambles, full of stalls and activities. Christmas shop or visit the Gothic splendour of York Minster with its Rose Window, the Castle Museum, the National Railway Museum (free entry) or the Jorvik Viking Experience.

We will return via outbound stations after the opportunity to explore York for 4 hours.

THE MERCHANT VENTURERBath Christmas Market

Earl of Mount EdgcumbeSaturday 11th December

EXPERIENCE VINTAGE TRAINS IN 2021

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