2019 In Review: Saphos Trains Mainline Steam Locomotive Tours

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2019 In Review: Saphos Trains Mainline Steam Locomotive Tours

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70000 Britannia arrives into Burnley Manchester Road
70000 Britannia arrives into Burnley Manchester Road // Credit: RailAdvent

The end of 2019 marks the second year of running a full mainline tour programme, following 2018’s successful first year.

(trading name for Locomotive Services (TOC) Limited) provided engines from their steam locomotive fleet to haul the tours.

This year saw British Railway (BR) Standard Class 7 No.70000 “Britannia”, Southern Railway (SR) Rebuilt West Country Class No.34046 “Braunton” (Running as itself and lost classmate Battle of Britain No.34052 “Lord Dowding”), London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Rebuilt Royal Scot Class No.46100 “Royal Scot” and LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 ‘Black 5’ No.45231 “The Sherwood Forester” hauling mainline tours.

34052 Lord Dowding
Credit: Dan Sutcliffe

Below is the list of dates, tour names and engines which hauled for Saphos Trains’ 2019 mainline tours.

  1. Saturday 13th April 2019 – The William Shakespeare70000 “Britannia” 
  1. Saturday 4th May 2019 – The Welsh Marches Express34046 “Braunton” (Running as 34052 “Lord Dowding”)

3. Saturday 18th May 2019 – The Lakelander70000 “Britannia”, 45231 “The Sherwood      Forester” and Class 47 47614

4. Wednesday 29th May 2019 – The Fellsman70000 “Britannia” 

5. Sunday 16th June 2019 – The English Riviera Express34046 “Braunton” (Running        as 34052 “Lord Dowding”) (Originally 70000 “Britannia” booked to haul but failed                Fitness to Run Examination)

6. Wednesday 26th June – The Dorset Coast Explorer34046 “Braunton”

7. Sunday 30th June 2019 – The English Riviera Express34046 “Braunton”

8. Wednesday 3rd July 2019 – The Dorset Coast Explorer34046 “Braunton”

9. Sunday 7th July 2019 – The English Riviera Express34046 “Braunton”

10. Wednesday 10th July 2019 – The Fellsman70000 “Britannia” 

11. Wednesday 17th July 2019 – The Fellsman70000 “Britannia” 

12. Saturday 20th July – The Welsh Marches Express70000 “Britannia” 

13. Wednesday 7th August – The Welsh Marches Express70000 “Britannia” 

14. Wednesday 14th August – Lakelander Tour70000 “Britannia” 

15. Wednesday 21st August – William Shakespeare Tour70000 “Britannia”

16. Saturday 14th September – The Yorkshire Traveller34046 “Braunton”

17. Saturday 26th October – Golden Arrow Tour70000 “Britannia” (Running as 70014 “Iron Duke”) 

18. Saturday 7th December – Pennine Moors Christmas Explorer – 46100 “Royal Scot” 

46100 Royal Scot
Credit: RailView

Heritage Visits

On top of mainline tours, some engines have also visited Heritage Railway. 34046 “Braunton” visited the East Lancashire Railway back in August and took part in the line’s West Country Weekend event.

70000 “Britannia” visited the Bluebell Railway in October for the line’s The Giants of Steam Gala. 46100 “Royal Scot” visited the Severn Valley Railway in November following ‘Bottom-End’ repairs at it’s home of LNWR Crewe.

In the same month, 46100 passed a loaded mainline test, allowing the engine to haul the Pennine Moors Christmas Explorer in December. 

We hope you have enjoyed this review of Saphos Trains in 2019. If you want to book a 2020 tour, please click here. For more information about the engines, please visit Icons of Steam’s website here.

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