New service enables members to indulge their passion for steam

Members can enjoy discounted fares for journeys on historic steam locomotives along some of the country’s most iconic rail routes.

The Institution has partnered with The Railway Touring Company  - the UK’s largest heritage rail operator - to offer members a discount on fares for journeys with historic steam locomotives along some of the country’s most interesting and beautiful rail routes.

Many members of the Institution have a long-held fascination with steam travel and the powerful locomotives built in British works during the past century and a strong admiration for the engineering prowess of the past generations which constructed the UK’s railway network.

It was this same passion for the UK’s great rail heritage that inspired Nigel Dobbing to start organising a number of steam charters for friends and other enthusiasts, which ultimately led to the establishing of The Railway Touring Company in 1992.

Today, The Railway Touring Company has grown into a respected heritage rail operator offering hundreds of steam departures throughout the year.  The company has kindly offered members of the Institution an introductory offer of £5 per person discount on fares, when booked before 30 September 2013 (quote discount code IME).  The discount can also be extended to members’ friends and family, so you can enjoy the extraordinary steam experience for yourselves.

One of the biggest reasons why The Railway Touring Company’s steam experiences are so popular with railway enthusiasts is that the day trips almost exclusively make use of specially chartered restored vintage trains hauled by steam locomotives.

Nigel Dobbing explained: “Each year, we endeavour to put together a programme including new routes, sometimes rarely accessible to passenger traffic; different steam locomotives; new pick-up points; and interesting destinations.  We hope to offer something to interest the rail enthusiast, as well as those simply looking for a memorable day out.”

“Our onboard chefs prepare fresh food, which is silver served at your table, and this provides a special experience, perhaps to mark an anniversary or birthday.”

A look at the September steam schedule illustrates the variety of heritage rail journeys, The Railway Touring Company is now renowned for offering.  Different routes wind their way into Snowdonia, climb to 1,169 foot Ais Gill Summit along the Settle and Carlisle line, head for the popular seaside resorts of Bournemouth, Weymouth, Scarborough, follow the North Wales Coast to Bangor and Holyhead and race along the sea wall at Dawlish.

Locomotives recruited for the month of September alone, include 1938-built No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, 1951-built No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell, A4 Class ‘Pacific’ No. 60009 Union of South Africa (sister to famous, record-breaking Mallard), Black 5 No. 45305 and 1947-built No. 34067 Tangmere.

The Royal Wessex experience – 28 September

The Royal Wessex heads for Bournemouth and Weymouth for the last of the summer sun.  Travellers are due to be treated to a trip with Battle of Britain class ‘Pacific’ No. 34046 Braunton, which in August made its first mainline steam run since 1965, along this picturesque route through classic Dorset countryside with spectacular views across Poole Harbour along the way.

The Wandering 1500 Tour – 5 October

This tour recalls the legendary Wandering 1500 tours of the 1960s. Fifty years ago, British Railways first ran this famous tour with B12 class steam locomotive No. 61572 – the B12s were often referred to as the ‘fifteen-hundreds’ because that was their number series when built.  Setting out from London Liverpool Street steam hauled by B1 class 4-6-0 No. 61306 The Wandering 1500 route steams north via Cambridge and Ely to Norwich.  At Norwich the vintage train will change direction and an ex-Great Western Railway pannier tank steam locomotive will haul the train along the Bittern line to Cromer, one of the most scenic lines in the East of England traversing the Norfolk Broads.  B1 class No. 61306 will then take the train from Cromer to Sherringham and onto the North Norfolk Railway heritage line to Holt.

For your £5 per person member discount on fares, please book before 30 September 2013 quoting the reference IME at the time of booking (terms and conditions apply).  To book, please visit www.railwaytouring.net or telephone: +44 (0)1553 661500.

For more information about The Railway Touring Company, please visit: http://www.imeche.org/services/personal/steam-rail-offer

Photography by Bob Green.