The Steam Dreams Rail Co are offering a number of trips with B1 locomotive No. 61306 Mayflower to celebrate 400 years since The Mayflower Ship and Christopher Jones sailed to the New World.

The railtours will visit key towns and cities that make up the National Mayflower trail.

The first trip will steam to Harwich, the birthplace of Christopher Jones, and will run on the Sunday 7th June 2020.

The train will travel on lines not normally accessible to passenger trains.

On Sunday 7 June, the trip, hauled by B1 Mayflower, will set off from London’s Liverpool Street and will head along the Great Eastern Main Line as far as Manningtree. Here, the train steams along the ‘Mayflower Line’ to Harwich Town.

In the afternoon, the train will depart Harwich and will head along the Mayflower Line to Manningtree. It will then join the Great Eastern Main Line to Ipswich.

At Ipswich, it will join the Felixstowe Branch Line and will steam along the freight-only Felixstowe Beach Line, which is not normally accessible to passenger trains, to Felixstowe Creek Sidings.

The train will then head the short distance back up the line before taking the Felixstowe Town Branch to Felixstowe station.

Tickets for the Steam Dreams train from Liverpool Street to Harwich and Felixstowe start from £135 in Premium Standard through to the top class of Pullman Style Dining of £319.

Passengers in Pullman Style Dining will enjoy a Champagne Breakfast on the outward journey, a Champagne Cream Tea on the afternoon tour and a four-course evening meal on the return, whilst those opting for Premium Standard will be served complimentary tea and coffee at their seats.

You can book your tickets by visiting The Steam Dreams website www.steamdreams.co.uk.

What did the officials say?

David Buck, the owner of The Steam Dreams Rail Co and B1 Mayflower, commented:

“We’re delighted with this route which allows Mayflower not only to visit Felixstowe for the first time since preservation but also to traverse lines which are rarely used by passenger trains.” He added “to ensure as many people as possible can join us on this exciting trip, we are pleased to offer a special joint fare for both trips from London Liverpool Street”.

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