Suggest an intinery

I'm going on tour next June in my vintage camper.

Starting at All Ford day in Monmouth, I thought the next stops logically would be the Severn Valley followed by The Ironbridge Gorge.

Where next do you think? (I would like to include the Tramway Museum at Crich).

 

If you're starting at Monmouth, it would be a shame to go striaght to the Severn Valley. You're only about 15 miles from the Dean Forest Railway. It's only a short line, but well worth a visit. They might even have 5541 ready by then. You could perhaps include it before arriving at Monmouth, as if you're coming from Reading, you could go over the Severn on the M48, and it's only a short detour up the A48 to Lydney. Mind you, I'd suggest that if you do that, you then re-trace your steps to Chepstow and drive to Monmouth along thew Wye Valley. The Chepstow-Monouth railway has long gone, but it's absoultely stunning countryside.

Also, the Glos-Warwicks is a lovely line, with some great scenery and possibly three new engines on the roster by then - 4270, 7820 and 35006. From Monmouth, take the A4136 to Huntley, then the A40 to the outskirts of Cheltenham. The Racecourse is signposted. It's only about 1 1/4 hours' drive from there to the Severn Valley

If you're around on Friday 6th June, 5043 is doing an evening run from Birmingham to Gloucester and back .

Just a few thoughts. I won't be offended if you say "no thank you", but great as the SVR is, it seems a shame to pass straight through Gloucestershire without sampling its steam railways first.

 

First question to ask is what days? There are lots of interesting places that have only limited opening and it is no use suggesting these if they don't fit in. Second question is, is it being confined to railways and tramways?

 

good th0ughts....keep 'em coming!

 

AT least a week either side of the 8th June I think

Not confined to them but mainly them let's say.

 

Ironbridge, then Welshpool & Llanfair then Llangollen. After that it is straightforward across to Crich

Paul H.

 

I was thinking Llangollen might be en route, hadn't thought of Welshpool!

Crich is Derbyshire...anything else near it?

 

I'll second the suggestions to go to both the Dean forest railway and of course "my" railway, the GWSR, as pointed out, by June 7820 and 35006 will almost certainly be in service, with a good chance of 4270 as well. Rosters tend to be published a good few weeks in advance so you can plan it if you want to see a particular loco.

I'm currently wondering how long it would take me to do all the railways I go for free on with my work permit (I don't wave it about that much, honest!) back to back, from ravenglass and eskdale to Mid-hants, with various others in between

 

Peak Rail is only a few miles further on, and the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley must be fairly close. Also, if you travel from the SVR to Crich, you wouldn't need to go far out of you way to pop in on the Churnet Valley line. I've never visited any of these lines, so I'll leave it for others to give them a 1 to 5 star rating!

One practical point to consider is that quite a few lines only operate on certain days midweek. You'll be fine any day on the SVR that time of the year, but I know the two Gloucestershire standard gauage lines don't run trains every weekday. Here's the link ot the GWSR 2014 timetable:- http://www.gwsr.com/planning-your-visit/2014-timetable.aspx The Dean Forest hasn't put up its 2014 timetable, but in 2013, it only ran on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays during June.

Ps - I might have visited the Churnet Valley by the time of your travels. The line is hosting a visit from 34007 Wadebridge next year, and that is rather tempting, to put it mildly!

 

Slightly left field, but still within the general "heritage" area - have you thought about Acton Scott Farm - if you don't know it, it was the setting for Victorian Farm on BBC2 a few years back. It's near Church Stretton, so in Shropshire.

Tom

 

I'd forgotten about mid-week services. On the GWSR Mondays and Fridays are non-operating days almost throughout the hear, and during June a weekend is probably going to be best if you're interested in steam (2 steam locos in service during weekends), mid-week if you're more diesel orientated (1 steam, 1 DMU and 1 diesel) and if you go on the 22nd-3rd, you can ride behind Thomas (on second thoughts, probably best to avoid it, you get people who don't normally frequent a railway asking amusing questions - last time I think: man points at Thomas; "Is she a patriot?" erm...)

I may have to visit the CVR too, wadebridge does sound good, I havn't been there for ages, certainly not since whatever extensions they've had, plus a new railway company tacked onto the end of it from what I can make out! However the GCR's gala just before is slap bang on my birthday, so it may be that, or maybe both

 

awkward, I can't be everywhere at the weekend only! I assumed the major lines ran 7 days a week!

 

Well, you've started with the SVR and then on up to Ironbridge. From there, carry on and visit the Telford Railway. From there, head west to Welshpool, north to the Cambrian Railway and on to Llangollen. Time to head east, then, to the Foxfield Railway, followed by the Churnet Valley before nipping across to the Ecclesbourne Valley and the National Tramway Museum. It will now probably be time to start heading homeward bound, calling in on both the Great Central Railways and the Battlefield line. Last port of call before hitting the M5 would be the Chasewater Railway.
For me, the above would be a fantastic itinery. The only drawback is that a good few are only open at weekends so, in several cases, it will simply be a look around and on your way again. However, none have really required a significant detour and there's a lot of wonderful scenery en route.

 

most run at some point mid-week during June (and the rest of summer), but with a reduced timetable, that's all

 

ambitious! however in some cases a look round might suffice. Is the GCR south of Crich then? I'd certainly like to do that!

 

From Crich make for the A610 to Nottingham. You could even slightly divert to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley - plenty to see there - and on to Ruddington (GCR(N)
Have a look at:

http://www.heritagerailways.com/Visits_Map.php

 

Hmm, Nottingham not as far north as I thought.

SO I'm thinking :#

Dean Forest on the way to Monmouth
SVR Kidderminster
SVR Bridgnorth
Llangollen
Crich
GCR/MRC

That should be a full week!

 

Another couple of non-railway options:

Cosford, near Telford (So another place to visit if you spend a day or two in the SVR / Ironbridge sort of area). It is the RAF museum outpost - think of it as Shildon to Hendon's York.

Also, if you are starting near the Forest of Dean, there is Clearwell Caves, an old iron working mine and has some industrial archaeology remnants.

Tom

 

You could cluster the railways / attractions in Derbyshire: Crich, MRC, EVR, Steeple Grange Light Railway, Peak Rail and Barrow Hill