Chairmans Blog

Many thanks from us to almost 20 of you who’ve written to us or emailed in your ideas for our 2011 railtour following our request in the latest issue of our Rail Report.

Ideas have included:

- Tenby in South Wales, incorporating other stops along the way
- Weymouth, again with stops along the way
- Pwllheli, now the line is available again for heavier trains, possibly including an add-on run over the Ffestiniog Railway and/or the Welsh Highland Railway, the latter being open all the way to/from Porthmadog next year
- Clitheroe-Carnforth-Barrow-Cumbrian Coast to Carlisle, returning either via the West Coast Main Line or the Settle-Carlisle Line
- York and Scarborough with an add-on for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- Bangor for bus transfer to Caernarfon and the fully-reopened Welsh Highland Railway
- Skegness, routed via the Hope Valley (possibly with heritage traction, though it’s recognised that can bring “basher” difficulties!)

By far the most popular request is for Edinburgh with an add-on for the Bo’ness & Kinneal Railway and for others time to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Based on this, we’ve already started the process of researching the options for Edinburgh. We had hoped to go there this year, but found on our chosen date that Network Rail had closed both the West Coast Main Line and the East Coast Main Line. (Yes, we heard all the guff in the Press about the West Coast Main Line Upgrade being completed, but given the regular closures at weekends, we’re a little less convinced!)

Many of you have also written in thanking us for the organisation. Here’s a typical quote: “The organisation of these excursions must be a nightmare, but you all pull it off as always very well. A credit to all involved.”

If you’ve further ideas, please let us know.

Thanks for your feedback. It’s very much appreciated.