BROMSGROVE and Droitwich residents can experience the delights of travelling by steam train on a railtour to south Wales on Sunday (November 27), writes Neil Gordon.
The ‘Welsh Marches Express’ departs from Birmingham, before calling at Barnt Green, Droitwich and Worcester, en-route to Newport, and the Welsh capital, Cardiff.
Two former LMS mainline steam engines, known as Black 5’s, numbers 44871 and 45407, are set to work the train throughout the day, with a diesel locomotive on the rear providing support.
Nigel Dobbing from organisers the Railway Touring Company said “We are looking forward to the experience of traveling behind two steam locomotives on the mainline, and we are inviting people to join with us.”
The train stops at Barnt Green at 9.23am, passes through Bromsgrove at 09.36am, before stopping at Droitwich at 09.48am. It then continues on, through Worcester and Hereford, to Newport at 12.28pm, and finally Cardiff at 1.05pm.
Returning back to the Midlands behind the steamers, the tour departs from Cardiff at 4.54pm and Newport 5.20pm, returning via Hereford and Worcester, arriving at Droitwich at 8.29pm.
The train is then scheduled to stop in the up goods loop at Bromsgrove at 8.42pm, before departing at 9.03pm, and calling back at Barnt Green at 9.13pm.
Tickets are priced from £109 (adult) and £75 (child) for standard class, with first class and premier dining options also available.
Tickets can be purchased by calling 01553 661 500 until 5pm today (Friday), and until 3pm tomorrow (Saturday). Visit www.railwaytouringcompany.com for more details. If you are booking tickets for this trip, please mention the Standard.
Anyone going to see the train is reminded to stay safe at all times.
