I'm a railfan from the US who'll be visiting the UK in June 2023. When will they start posting the steam runnings for summer 2023 and where would be the best place to look for announcements. I'd really like to do a steam outing if I can find out in advance to put it on my schedule. Thanks much!
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Steam excursions in summer 2023
- Thread starter Cambear62
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Well I suspect the actual dates won't be out till next spring,but you could plan on say the Ft William to Mallaig service(Harry Potter train) with runs more or less most days through the summer although that means you have to get yourself into the Highlands of Scotland, although you should make it off the through sleeper from London which is worth a ride for itself let alone the steam, or the York to Scarborough runs fairly regularly, or you could just go to one of the preserved lines,say the West Somerset and they pretty much will fit around your plans,hope that helps a bit,Good luck with it anyway
I’m sure you’ll have a great time, but can I ask why you want to go for an excursion? There are many, very fine heritage railways in the UK running steam operations day in, day out through the summer. From wherever you are visiting, or staying, there should be a high quality, authentic operation within easy reach where you may obtain your steam fix.
Probably in the new year.
A1 Steam Trust are already advertising 'Aberdonian' trips in 2023.
https://www.a1steam.com/a1-rail-tours/the-aberdonian
https://www.a1steam.com/a1-rail-tours/home
Railway Touring Company currently advertising to the end of March 2023
https://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-2023
Steam Dreams not yet advertising for 2023, but have indicated their intention to run the Windsor / Surrey Hills trips.
https://www.steamdreams.co.uk/steamexpresstrips.php
as well as the usual day trips
https://www.steamdreams.co.uk/tours.php
West Coast run the Jacobite, Dalesman and Scarborough Spa excursions.
https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/
Saphos Trains posted their 2022 schedule around the start of the year so would assume they might do likewise for 2023.
https://saphostrains.com/trips-tours/
Vintage Trains tend to publish their plans with a bit less lead time.
https://vintagetrains.co.uk/train-rides/
One of the big unknowns however surrounds the rolling stock availability with it unclear whether the existing rolling stock can work past March 2023, and it being left rather late to do anything about using anything else.
The obvious reason to take main line steam is to go faster than 25mph.
The problem is access to the NRM to outstable the steam locomotive and no facility to path a steam train via the Copy Pit route.
Dave S 56F
Member
Quick one there off me about Vintage trains there running a re scheduled tour from Birmingham via Wolverhampton crewe up the settle carlisle and back to Birmingham via crewe on the west coast mainline over Shap summit steam on at Hellifield steam (northbound) off at crewe (southbound) it's on the 22nd April 2023 called the cumbrian mountaineer.
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