Step aboard our special train, running exclusively on Saturday 22nd August, for a memorable day excursion to the historic city of Chester and the seaside town of Llandudno. This train features a number of firsts for locomotive fans, along with locomotives returning to former stamping grounds.
Following on from the sucess of our first Leven start we are delighted to offer this again. Starting in Leven we head south with convenient pick-ups at Kirkcaldy, Inverkeithing, Edinburgh, Lockerbie and Carlisle, it’s easy to step aboard and let the adventure begin.
Travel together in beautifully restored British Rail Mk1 carriages, where spacious seating and large windows make it easy to relax and enjoy the views. Our train is hauled south by British Rail Class 40 D213 (40013) “Andania”, a first visit for this class of locomotive to Leven. On our return at Chester we see a change of traction as our Class 40 is replaced by Locomotive Services Limited beautifully restored Class 45, 45118 ‘The Royal Artilleryman’. This locomotive will also be breaking new ground as it heads north to back to Leven.
On board, there’s something for everyone. Enjoy the comfort of at-seat dining with a hearty breakfast on the outward journey and a delicious three-course evening dinner on the way home. Prefer something more casual? Our buffet car offers hot and cold drinks, morning rolls and plenty of snacks to keep little travellers smiling throughout the day.
Spend time exploring Chester’s fascinating streets and historic attractions, or head to Llandudno for sandy beaches, traditional seaside fun and fresh sea air. However you choose to spend your time, this relaxed and enjoyable rail tour offers a wonderful way to travel creating memories that will last long after the journey ends.
Our journey begins in the town of Leven, Scotland’s newly reopened route, where we warmly welcome our first passengers on board before heading south into the Kingdom of Fife.
We arrive at Kirkcaldy, gathering more guests as we make our way along Scotland’s scenic east coast.
Our journey then takes us to Inverkeithing, a convenient boarding location with a large free car park and easy access from the M90. Soon after, we cross the magnificent Forth Bridge — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Scotland’s most recognisable landmarks. This iconic Victorian engineering masterpiece is always a highlight, offering breathtaking views across the Firth of Forth and an unforgettable sense of history.
Our next pick-up is at Edinburgh Waverley railway station, located in the heart of the capital, with excellent public transport connections for our guests. After a pick up at Lockerbie, we then arrive into the Border City of Carlisle to welcome our last guests on board our special train. We then head south along the West Coast Main Line, where high speed running is guaranteed to make the locomotive work hard.
Arriving in the historic city of Chester, we bid farewell to some of our guests.
Our train then continues towards the beautiful seaside town of Llandudno.
Chester and Llandudno – Free Time
We hope to be able to provide approximately 4 hours of free time in Chester, allowing plenty time to experience everything that Chester has to offer. For those who choose to stay on board for Llandudno, we hope to have 2 hours of free time allowing adequate time to wander down to the sea front.
Things to do in Chester and Llandudno
Return Journey
Our return journey retraces our route north back to Leven. At Chester on the return the Class 40 locomotive will be replaced by a Class 45 locomotive.
The train is operated by our Partners at Locomotive Services Limited.
Fares;
Estimated Timings;
Timings above are estimated timings and should only be taken as a guideline. Finalised timings will be released with tickets in advance of the Railtour.