Vintage Trains returns to the main line in March with GWR Castle Class 7029 Clun Castle hauling the first two of the year’s special trains.

On Saturday, 5th March, Clun Castle will travel to Shrewsbury and Hereford with the “Welsh Marches Express”.

The tour will leave from the company’s base at Tyseley in Birmingham and travel north via Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury. From Shrewsbury, the train will travel south through the scenic landscape of Shropshire along the Welsh Borders line, past Leominster and Craven Arms with a view of Stokesay Castle and onto Hereford, where there will be time for a visit to the City.

On the return journey, Clun Castle will climb Llanfihangel bank, pass Abergavenny, dive under the River Severn through the Severn Tunnel, and race along Brunel’s GWR main line to Swindon, before turning north through Oxford to return to Birmingham via Hatton bank.

On Saturday 26th March, 7029 Clun Castle will be out again with “The Chester Venturer” via the East Midlands to Chester.

Tyseley in Birmingham is again the starting point, and the train will then call at Coleshill Parkway, Tamworth High Level, Burton on Trent, Nuneaton, and Leicester before heading to Chester. The return journey will be via the same route as outward.

Both tours offer a variety of seating including in authentic Pullman Cars, Club Class, and Tourist Class, as well as in private compartments for six people.

On-board catering will be available, ranging from bacon rolls, light refreshments, wine, beer, tea and coffee in Tourist Class, light refreshments including Danish pastries, sandwiches, and cake, tea and coffee in Club Class, while in Pullman Class passengers will be served a full English Breakfast and four-course evening dinner, tea and coffee.

Tickets for these two tours are on sale now and can be booked on Vintage Trains’ website at http://www.vintagetrains.co.uk

Details of Vintage Trains’ spring and summer tours will be announced in January.