'The Malvern Mountaineer' (Thur), 'The Coast & Peaks Rover' (Fri) and 'The Haggis Peaks & Tractors' (Sat).

When I was asked to write this piece, one of the consideration points was 'Why I booked on this trip?' After much consideration, I still don't really know why I did! Those that know me will know that Class 37s aren't my preferred traction (although I don't dislike them!). I am also not a big track basher. So why did I book on a 3-day track & tractor tour? 37521 & 37667 were both scratched in some time ago, and there was no major required track. (I may have needed some of the loops or crossovers, and my lack of knowledge on this will no doubt disgust some readers. I do have a huge amount of respect for those of you that do record everything in such high detail.) I did miss out on booking GBRf 2021, so perhaps that was a contributing factor. In short, I don't know why I booked - but I am glad that I did.

For me, the fun should have begun on Thursday with a 05.00 alarm at home in Derby. It actually started an hour later with a flap that I'd woken up with a +10 to my train (living some 2 miles from the station, without a car, meant that was never going to make!). A very quick dash that morning meant I made the 06.43 which got me into Crewe only 20 minutes later than I had originally planned.

Once safely onto the train in the Locomotive Services Ltd Depot, it was time to start prepping the set. It was a hive of activity, and for whatever reason the memorable task was going through the full train putting out the window decals (so you can blame me if they were wonky!). The set then shunted from the shed into the station, loaded up and off we went. We headed southbound via Stafford, taking the line towards my birth city of Wolverhampton but veering left at Bushbury Jn towards Bescot, taking the line at Darlaston Jn towards Tame Bridge Parkway where we loaded additional passengers (and an urn). After passing through Perry Barr, we turned towards Soho and briefly started heading north again through Smethwick Rolfe Street. Utilising the curve at Galton Jn, we passed through the closed Smethwick West station (last train Sat 28 Sep 1996) and proceeded towards Stourbridge. Having grown up in Stourbridge, had this tour run 15 or so years earlier I may well have been sighted on the platform getting photos! We continued through Kidderminster and Worcester Shrub Hill, and in true railtour style why take the direct line to Hereford when you can go the long way around? Our route took us via Cheltenham (then into a loop, which I'm informed was rateable?), Gloucester and towards Newport. The theme of the day seemed to be avoiding places, and as per Wolverhampton and Walsall we took the curve at Maindee to travel up the Marches through to Hereford for a leg stretch break.

A highlight, I'm told, was the elusive Pontrilas Up Goods Loop, missed on a previous tour when the box was switched out, as it often is. This time Kev made sure by arranging for two passenger trains to pass us! Our time in Hereford P3 gave me the chance to catch up with a member of gateline staff that I know. (Well he wasn't going to check the souvenir tickets of over 200 charter passengers was he and they don't work the barriers‽) before we shunted ECS into the stabling and reversing siding to ... wait for it ... reverse. The train was then sanitised ready for our return to Crewe.

We returned to the station to pick up our passengers and proceeded, most unusually, non-stop through Ledbury (a first for a member who had used the line regularly since 1964), passing BLN HQ on the right at Great Malvern and Bromsgrove to tackle the Lickey Incline. Our route took us via Birmingham New Street (did we set the fire alarms off?), Walsall and Rugeley - the line between Walsall and Rugeley has only had electric trains since May 2019. We then did the connection now rarely used by passenger trains, I'm advised, from Rugeley Trent Valley P1 to Rugeley North Jn, joining the West Coast Main Line for our journey via Stafford and back into Crewe. After our passengers had alighted, a thorough clean was completed prior to stewards leaving at the Depot. Following issues surrounding the generator car on the train, 47712 joined it at the depot to cool the set overnight. A quick walk to the hotel ended Thursday.






On to Friday, and a slight disappointment for me - I had hoped that 47712 would shunt us out of the depot (would have been a tasty year winner!), but sadly it was detached before. This was made up for by a flying run along the North Wales Coast to Holyhead; my RailMiles suggested an average speed of 63.3mph for this section. Unsurprisingly, the bleak town of Holyhead was overcast but thankfully dry. Due to the train being over length for Llandudno, our second leg terminated at Llandudno Junction.

After a break (and ice cream) here, we continued to Chester, at the station taking the bidirectional Down & Up Main (middle) line between P3 & 4 omitted on the outward route but arranged by our Fixtures Secretary to compensate. Then it was off to Helsby then Warrington Bank Quay and down the West Coast Mainline to Carnforth. The screech of IT'S BOB filled the two coaches I was in earshot of as we passed the West Coast Railways depot. We took the line towards Barrow-in-Furness (then the Dalton Loop, avoiding the station which is only available Mondays to Fridays; Dalton Junction box is switched out at weekends). The Cumbrian Coast line was sunny and scenic - the IOM clearly visible.

This has always been a favourite of mine, the first charter I ever stewarded (Kidderminster to Carlisle) did it on the return, and at this point in life I was woefully under-travelled and the thrill of travelling along the Coast has stuck with me. Also worth mentioning, it took me a good 2½ years after scoring the Barrow avoider to run through the station itself; by which time I'd been around the avoider around a dozen times! A nice early evening Carlisle arrival meant one thing... time for a trip to the pub!






Saturday was arguably the day the majority of the passengers were looking forward to the most. We set off north and, once the generator settled down, the bacon rolls were flying out (a large delivery had arrived on the first Pendolino from Glasgow!). I was busy assisting the catering team with the rush and before I knew it we were approaching Glasgow. At this point, it seemed important to complete a rubbish run at the front of the train! From here, we had a pleasant run to Oban. At Arrochar & Tarbet there was a surprise during a stop to cross, with left hand running, the 06.03 from Mallaig to Glasgow Central - A 4-car DMU. One of our Real Ale Bar Stewards, Neil Bentley, was presented with a bespoke headboard 'Eastfield & Arrochar' complete with two Scottie dog motifs. Funded by his friends on board this was a tribute to his late, and much missed, two loyal Scottie dogs of the same names. Then at the next station, Ardlui, we crossed the 08.57 from Oban to Glasgow, another 4-car DMU, but with right hand running. After our train had been cleaned at Oban (I also had some hotel booking admin to do) it was time to go for a wander round. Unsurprisingly, everywhere was packed and the ferries were busy!

[At Oban the lengthy train was led by the two Class 37s into the left hand (on arrival) longer Down P4, the locos reaching the stop blocks and the passengers disembarking. Then the ECS set back clear of the facing crossover and the leading Class 37 ran round, followed separately by the second loco. When both were at the Glasgow end of the train it was set back so the rear coach was on the stop blocks giving the full line length on departure. Along with Fort William and Mallaig, it must be one of the few national terminal stations where a traditional loco runround is still possible. The crossover in question was only recently renewed but the one facing from the shorter Up P3 (right on arrival) has gone - PAS.]

It was soon time to head back south, and by this point the busy three days was starting to take its toll on me. As always, it was a beautiful journey back along the West Highland Line but all good things must come to an end and before long we were back in Glasgow after running via the bidirectional Dumbarton P3 in the Up direction with its attendant crossovers. As we approached the tunnels, I found some rubbish bags that needed taking up the brake (at the front) so I wandered along the train. Looking out of the windows at Argyle Street, it was apparent the locals had no love for our train as we smoked out the station - one particular highlight for me was the two old ladies holding their hands to their ears! A fairly uneventful journey followed, and our arrival into Crewe ended a hellfire 3 days.

The more observant passengers may have noticed that my tie changed periodically throughout the tour - overall five different ties made an appearance, one for each Class 1 headcode we had. As my collection of railway ties is now at around 100, I will continue this method of working for future tours!

My evening ended at the Travelodge once again, and disappointment - on checking in I was given Room 311, the same as Thursday night! I went on to completely wither the receptionist and asked for an alternative 'winner room' - sadly he was non-compliant and I had to settle for the dud room...

This charity railtour with LSL raised over £24,000 for Railway children - £3,000 of which came from three well supported raffles (from only 200 participants due to social distancing) - for once all the winners really were in First Class as the accommodation was First Class only. LSL's cleaning contractor, Heather, who joined us for the three days, did a great job on Covid security and train presentation.

On Sun 13 Jun many off the tour went to Telford for our well supported 'Gronk & Growler' traction fixture and some went to the Bala Lake Railway extension special event.