24/11/2017
HERITAGE RAILWAYS of the UK Tour 2018
Provisional EXPANDED Itinerary Up-dated Feb 2018
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Day 1 Tue 03 July 2018 D
To-day we all meet at our London hotel for ‘Welcome drinks and dinner’
Day 2 Wed 04 July 2018 B D
The coach will collect us this morning from our London hotel and head to the beautiful countryside of Kent and Sussex as we head to Tenterden and the very rural station for the old Colonel Stephens “KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY” and a return journey from Tenterden to Bodiam. After the train ride time to visit the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum. Colonel Stephens was responsible for a variety of small railways throughout the UK that were what can be termed as “quaint” ...
'This extraordinary collection of materials, vividly telling the story of Colonel Stephens and his exotic collection of bizarre railways' (Sir Neil Cossons, Director, National Science Museum)
We drive on to the South Coast and follow the Coast Road to the seaside resort of Brighton and we hope there will be time for a ride on the famous Volk’s Electric Railway along the seafront if it’s rebuild is completed (own expense). www.kesr.org.uk
Overnight Brighton
Day 3 Thu 05 July 2018 B D
To-day we head across the scenic South Downs to one of the oldest heritage railways in the UK the BLUEBELL RAILWAY – return ride included. We join the train at Sheffield Park for the trip to East Grinstead and then return to Sheffield Park where again there will be time to see the railway’s museum and loco fleet.
We then continue over the South Downs to Littlehampton, Bognor or the famous navy city of Portsmouth and Southsea. www.bluebell-railway.co.uk
Overnight ??? nights
Day 4 Fri 06 July B, D
This morning we make our way to Portsmouth Harbour and the ferry terminal for the Isle of Wight ferry. We go by the ferry to Ryde pier and then take the ex London Underground train to Smallbrook Junction where we ride on the ISLE of WIGHT STEAM RAILWAY. www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk
A wonderful recreation of how the Isle of Wight railways used to be ...
After the train trip you can spend the remainder of the day on the Isle of.
Wight or return to Portsmouth and maybe visit the famous Royal Naval Museum
At a set time we will rejoin our coach for the short drive to WI******ER
Overnight Wi******er - 2 nights
Day 5 Sat 07 July B, D
Over the South Downs again with the magnificent views of Hampshire rural scenery to Alresford (allsfud) and the MID HANTS RAILWAY THE “WATERCRESS LINE”
We travel on the steam train to Alton and on the return climb the steep grades of what is known as ‘crossing the alps’...... a real test for any steam loco. www.watercressline.co.uk
We return to Wi******er, the ancient capital of England, where we will do a walking tour of the old city starting at King Arthur’s Round Table at the Castle and then through the Westgate and down the High Street to the Broadway and the statue of King Alfred the Great, see the National Trust “Old Mill” and then alongside the River Itchen to Wi******er College and then Jane Austen’s house and Cathedral Close
to see the famous Cathedral .... time to explore the Cathedral or the famous Wi******er Museum ..... it is a 2 minute walk to our hotel.
Overnight
Day 6 Sun 08 July B, D
Leaving Wi******er by Roman road we pass through “Watership Downs” countryside to the famous GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY CENTRE at Didcot with time to visit
the huge loco and carriage sheds where volunteers are renovating the rolling stock and exhibits including the operational ‘broad gauge’ railway. We understand it is a special steaming day but no details as yet.
www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk
Continue to Swindon for a visit to STEAM the Museum of the Great Western Railway in the old GWR Swindon workshops. This museum is so interesting and full of exhibits from the GWR steam era. www.steam-museum.gov.uk
For those interested there is a massive ‘outlets’ centre opposite the museum !
Overnight
Day 7 Mon 09 July B, D
To-day drive into Devon and Seaton to ride the SEATON TRAMWAY. This narrow gauge tram line is built on the roadbed of the old LSWR line to Seaton.
Next a short drive to Beer and up the very steep hill to the home of Peco model railways and Pecorama and their wonderful 7 ¼” gauge BEER HEIGHTS RAILWAY
This is one of the best miniature railways you will ever see and literally runs around the top of a large hill with fantastic views up the Devon coast. Maybe time for ‘afternoon tea’ in their Pullman car. www.peco.co.uk
We continue by travelling around Exeter and on to famous Dawlish to see the main GWR line running along the top of the seawall. This is a very famous rail line and the scene of so many photos. Continue to Plymouth
Overnight Plymouth 3 nights
Day 8 Tue 10 July B, D
The Paignton and Dartmouth Railway (now the DARTMOUTH STEAM RAILWAY) is a private company operating steam trains from the seaside resort town of Paignton to Kingswear across the river from Dartmouth. We travel by train to Kingswear and return to Paignton. www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk
Then by coach to Buckfastleigh to ride the SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY to Totnes and return – this line just has to be the best example of a GWR branch line !! . Beautiful rural stations and scenery with typical GWR branch line trains. There will be time to see the museum plus the loco sheds and workshops viewing platform at Buckfastleigh. www.southdevonrailway.co.uk
If time permits we will try to get down the very narrow lanes to the South Devon Railway’s Staverton station ...... it is like stepping into the 1950s.
Overnight Plymouth
Day 9 Wed 11 July B, D
To-day to Plymouth station to join a BritRail main line train to travel over the famous Brunel Saltash Bridge into Cornwall and onwards to Liskeard. Here we change for the train on the fascinating branch line to the little fishing port town of Looe. Free time in Looe and own return by any train to Plymouth (tickets included) and our hotel.
Overnight Plymouth
Day 10 Thu 12 July B, D
Free day to explore Plymouth.
Overnight Plymouth.
Day 11 Fri 13 July B, D
Skirting around Dartmoor we drive across Devon and into Somerset to Bishops Lydeard for our ride on the WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY - a 20 mile line and one of the longest in the UK. From Bishops Lydeard the line heads towards the coast and then follows the coast through several locally restored stations to Minehead www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk
Overnight Bristol
Day 12 Sat 14 July B, D
This morning we will visit the Bristol Waterfront project and Brunel’s SS Great Britain launched in July 1843 and including a tour of the SS Great Britain.
From Bristol we cross the River Severn Bridge to ride the DEAN FOREST RAILWAY We go to Norchard which is in the middle of the railway and then do round trip to Lydney www.dfr.co.uk
Overnight Cheltenham
Day 13 Sun 15 July B, D
In 2018 the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway should have their line open from Cheltenham right through to Broadway – the famous Cotswold town.
We will ride the steam train right through to Broadway and spend a couple of hours in Broadway before returning to Cheltenham
Overnight Cheltenham
Day 14 Mon 16 July B, D
On through the scenic Cotswolds by motorway to Kidderminster – once famous for carpets. We plan to arrive about 10.30am and spend ALL DAY riding the famous SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY - a fantastic railway that follows the River Severn through Bewdley to Bridgnorth. On our last visit the railway was operating 3 historic carriage sets - GWR, Midland Railway and their LNER ‘teak set’ and we were able to ride on all three plus visit the museum at Highley. www.svr.co.uk
Overnight Kidderminster
Day 15 Tue 17 July B, D
A long drive through mid Wales and the mountains to the VALE of RHEIDOL RAILWAY and a ride from Devils Bridge to Aberystwyth with wonderful views as the train winds down the valley. www.rheidolrailway.co.uk
Afternoon free or you can ride the afternoon train back to Devil’s Bridge and return (own expense)
Overnight Aberystwyth
Day 16 Wed 18 July B, D
To Tywyn for the famous TALYLLYN RAILWAY for a ride to Nant Gwernol and return. www.talyllyn.co.uk
Time to visit the Talyllyn Museum at Tywyn Station.
Then to the FAIRBOURNE RAILWAY – a miniature railway onto the sand dunes on the estuary opposite Barmouth with it’s famous viaduct. Ride included.
Continue through the mountains to the North Wales Coast
Overnight Bangor area 3 nights
Day 17 Thu 19 July B, D
We will take the first steam train of the day on the WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY from Caernarfon to Porthmadog www.festrail.co.uk
Later we connect with the FFESTINIOG RAILWAY from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog and return and then return to Caernarfon by coach. FANTASTIC .....
( We are waiting for the schedule to ensure we can do the return to Blaenau or this will be one way - we have also requested a visit to Boston Lodge Works)
Day 18 Fri 20 July B, D
A highlight of the tour – a steam train ride up Mount Snowdon on the SNOWDON MOUNTAIN RAILWAY.
We go by coach to Llanberis where we have seats reserved on the steam train to the summit and return www.snowdonrailway.co.uk
Later maybe ride the Llanberis Lake Railway or visit the Mining Museum (both own expense) The Snowdon Railway does not operate on wet or windy days.
Day 19 Sat 21 July B D
Through Snowdonia once more to Betws-y-coed and then onwards to the LLANGOLLEN RAILWAY for a return ride on the newly opened section of the railway to Corwen . On return to Llangollen it is short very steep (!) walk to look at the incredible Llangollen Canal and the horse drawn canal boats before travelling to the Froncysylite aqueduct. See boats cross this aquaduct high above the Dee Valley – an incredible site. www.llangollen-railway.co.uk
Then via motorways to the Greater Manchester area for the night.
Overnight Manchester
Day 20 Sun 22 July B D
This morning to Bury to travel on the East Lancashire Railway from Bury to Rawtenstall and return (0930 / 1043 with steam)
Upon return look over Bury station before we continue to the Worth Valley Railway at Oxenhope for the 1320 to Keighley and return.
www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk www.kwvr.co.uk
Overnight Manchester
Day 21 Mon 23 July B
The tour ends after breakfast this morning .....
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You can extend your stay in Manchester and/or the UK and we can organise your train tickets back to London and any additional arrangements in the UK such as hotels or self drive.....
Optional Isle of Man Transport Festival Wed 25 – Sun 29 July 2018
(This is a non escorted tour)
Day 21 Mon 23 July B
Free day to explore Manchester
Tue 24 July B
Transfer to Manchester Airport for the short flight to Douglas Isle of Man
Transfer airport to hotel
Wed 25 July - Sun 29 July B
ISLE OF MAN TRANSPORT FESTIVAL
Mon 30 July
Transfer to the IOM Airport for the flight to Manchester or London.
Optional YORK
Day 21 Mon 23 July B
Transfer to Manchester rail station for the Trans Pennine train to YORK
Transfer station to hotel
Tue 24 July B
A day to explore the National Railway Museum in York
Wed 25 July B
Take a bus from York to Pickering to join the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for the return train trip to Whitby.
Upon arrival back in Pickering take a bus back to York
Thu 26 July B
The tour ends after breakfast
We can organise your train tickets to London or any other arrangements you need in the U.K. or Europe
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This is a provisional itinerary and subject to change.
Meals included.... indicated by B = breakfast and D = dinner
Time and mileages mean we cannot include other railways that we would have liked to visit on this tour. Currently we hope to include rides on all the railways listed but the final itinerary will be subject to the 2018 timetables once they have been announced in late 2017.
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Registration ... and bookings
If you would like to be registered for this tour or to receive email Newsletters please email details to [email protected]
Final balance is usually due 6 weeks prior to departure of the tour.
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Price ... Approximately AUD$6500 per person twin share based on current exchange rates and known hotel reservations.
Single supplement approximately A$1000.00 ** see note
Inclusions ....
Travel by large coach – extra leg room..
18 nights dinner, bed and breakfast in twin / double en suite rooms (incl VAT)
(including London on day 1)
Rides on all the listed railways and trams
19 steam railways, 1 tram, 5 museums and one steam ship !
Entry to Pecorama and all listed Museums.
INSURANCE is compulsory on our tours and we can assist you with a policy.
AIRFARES We can look after all your air travel .... ask the
Manly (Sydney) office 1300 880 340 (Australia only)
** Travelling alone ..... if you wish we can try and match you with another single traveller so you can share a twin bedded en suite room. If we cannot match you then you will need a single room and pay the single supplement ....
In most hotels we pay for the room whether one or two people occupy the room. So if two people occupy the room the rate is halved but if the room is only occupied by one person then we have to pay the full room rate just for the one person.
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Tour operations ....
This tour will be operated by
RAILWAY TOURS WORLDWIDE (Coulter Tours)
Level 3, 27 Belgrave Street
MANLY NSW 2095
Enquiries: Ken Coulter 0417 769993 or [email protected]
Overseas 61 417 769993
Bookings and payments: 02 9001 5150 (Outside Sydney 1300 880 340)
or [email protected]
Railway Tours Worldwide is a division of Travel & Living Pty Ltd.
ABN 51 105 498 066. Lic No 2TA005531.
(Ken Coulter is well known in railway circles as he has been a member of the
Australian Railway Historical Soc Qld., Associate of UK Heritage Railways Assn,
and Sunshine Coast Railway Modellers Society.
Chairman of the Valley Rattler Volunteer Association (Mary Valley Railway)
Ken is the owner of several 5” gauge locos and has his own 5” gauge steam railway.
For 30 + years, until retirement, Ken was managing director of the Coulter Goodall Travel & Tours Group – including Railway Tours Worldwide)
Travel Insurance is COMPULSORY on this tour..
