JUST as the last issue had gone to press, the extended lockdown to July 19 forced Pathfinder Tours to change some of its tour dates.
The ‘Blue Boys Merrymaker’ from Eastleigh to Crewe, which uses a combination of DRS traction (Classes 37, 57, 66, 68 and 88) has been brought forward from August 10 to August 7, and only a few seats in first class remained available in mid-July.
A steam and diesel tour featuring Merchant Navy No. 35028 Clan Line hauling the ‘Man of Kent’ on July 3 will now run on September 15, while the popular annual ‘Mazey Day Cornishman’ tour, which will include a pair of Class 50s from Gloucester to Penzance and back, originally planned for June 26, has moved to September 18.
Pathfinder has also advised the route of its redated ‘Cumbrian Freighter tour has been amended to August 30 and will include a number of loops and spurs. The tour includes the Ribblehead Quarry siding, Kirkby Thore terminal, goods lines around Carlisle, Shap Hardendale Rounding Loop, Shap Quarry and several passing loops on the West Coast Main Line.