THE unavailability of‘Deltic’No. 55009 Alycidon (RM Sept, p14) for a PathfinderTours excursion on November 25 toWinchester, Southampton and Salisbury will now see the train hauled by the Class 40 Preservation Society’s popular No. 40145.
It will be a rare excursion for a Class 40 to the south coast.
Starting at Burton-on-Trent, the‘Winchester Christmas Excursion’calls atTamworth, Birmingham New St, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire Parkway, Cheltenham Spa, Cam & Dursley and Bristol Parkway before taking the GreatWestern Main Line to Reading, then south via Basingstoke to the first calling point ofWinchester. The train makes additional set down calls at Southampton and Salisbury, giving passengers options of Christmas festivities in all three cities or choosing their own options.
By mid-September, seats were still available. Fares begin at £129 for standard class adult seating, £70 junior or £496 for a party of four. First class seats are £185 adult, £145 junior or £720 for a party of four, while premier dining seats are £299 adult, £259 junior or £1176 for a party of four.