April 20th 2026

Railtour fever!
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Apologies to contributors who have, over the weekend, sent in material other than that which is shown below.

​With such a great amount of railtour photos to sort through, any non-time-sensitive submissions have been placed to one side for now. We will include them on the website from tomorrow.

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The Great Britain XVIII
Day 2 - 19.04.2026
Roger Winnen, Roger Salter, Keith Jenkin, Jonathan Harbage, Joe Birchall, Ron Westwater, Clive Smith, Paul Barlow, Jon Hird & Martin Scane

Please note, all images received relating to day 1 of this tour (18.04) have been added to yesterdays 'news' post - scroll down or click here.

Day 2 of the Great Britain XVIII saw 34028 lead the tour away from Penzance on its journey North to Chester.

Early doors at Penzance sees 34028 and its support coach in Platform 4 at Penzance. 19.04.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.

34028 heads away to collect the coaching stock. 19.04.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.

34028 and the railtour await departure from Penzance platform 1 as the crowds gather on the platform. 19.04.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.

Departure from Penzance at 0920. 19.04.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.

47826 on the rear of the train passing Penzance signal box. 19.04.2026, copyright Roger Winnen.

Superb morning light as 34028 powers 'The Great Britain' through Marazion Marsh. 19.04.2026, copyright Roger Salter.

34028 powering past Trevingey level crossing, Redruth. 19.04.2026, copyright Keith Jenkin.

A big crowd of onlookers at Trevingey. 19.04.2026, copyright Keith Jenkin.

47826 on the rear at Trevingey. 19.04.2026, copyright Keith Jenkin.

34028 and 47826 near Buckshead, Truro on 19/04/26. On the way to Chester. Video - click to play. Copyright Jonathan Harbage.

From the same spot as Jonathans video above, Today I went out to see the Great Britain XVIII with 34028 and 47 826 on their way back up, making for an impressive sight and sound as they climbed the 1 in 78. I’m pretty sure this is the first steam excursion to Penzance in 4 years. 19.04.2026, copyright Joe Birchall.

In glorious morning sunshine 34028 'Eddystone' crosses Largin Viaduct with the 1Z10 09.20 Penzance - Chester "The Great Britain XVIII" railtour with 47826 on the rear. 19.04.2026, copyright Clive Smith.

A drone shot of the tour crossing East Largin viaduct. 19.04.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.

Ron also joined the gallery at Largin - A shot of 1Z10 0920 Penzance to Chester over Largin Viaduct..what a marvellous sight it was. 19.04.2026, copyright Ron Westwater.

Sadly with no visible exhaust, 34028 drifts across St. Germans viaduct. 19.04.2026, copyright Jon Hird.

34028 'Eddystone' crosses Blatchford Viaduct near Ivybridge with the 1Z10 09.20 Penzance - Chester "The Great Britain XVIII" railtour with 47826 on the rear. 19.04.2026, copyright Clive Smith.

34028 Eddysone 0920 Penzance to Chester on Cornwood viaduct running about 5 minutes late. 19.04.2026, copyright Paul Barlow.

A fine sight as 34028 rounds the curve at Teignmouth. 19.04.2026, copyright Martin Scane.

Many thanks all - another comprehensive report on this tour.

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'The Britannic Explorer'
19.04.2026
Jon Hird, Ron Westwater, Tony Shore & Clive Smith

Please note, all images received relating to Saturdays leg of this tour (18.04) have been added to yesterdays 'news' post - scroll down or click here.

It's early doors at Fowey as 66742 leads The Britannic Explorer away from its overnight stay at the docks. 19.04.2026, copyright Jon Hird.

Further along the branch, the luxury train crosses the causeway at Golant during high tide. 19.04.2026, copyright Jon Hird.

We captured the Britannic Explorer on the Fowey estuary near St Winnow, again a pleasure to be at this spot early on a Sunday morning. 19.04.2026, copyright Ron Westwater.

Further up the branch, 66742 passes Coulson Park, Lostwithiel. 19.04.2026, copyright Tony Shore.

Onward road transport waiting at Lostwithiel to take the passengers on to various excursions around the local area. The train would drop them off in the station, before reversing back onto the Fowey branch so that its stock could be serviced. 19.04.2026, copyright Tony Shore.

After the stock had been serviced by a man in a van at the road crossing just to my right, 66742 leads the tour back onto the mainline at around 1300hrs. It would pause at Lostwithiel station to collect the passengers who had disembarked earlier in the morning. 19.04.2026, copyright Jon Hird.

66742 top and tail with 66748 at South Brent with the 1C06 10.50 Fowey Dock Carne Point - Bruton 'Britannic Explorer'. 19.04.2026, copyright Clive Smith.

Many thanks Tony and Clive - great to have The Britannic Explorer as a now regular visitor, a welcome bit of interest to the railway in the west at the weekends.

Details of the trains future visits can be found in the Railtour Calendar.

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April 1976
Part 20
Roger Winnen

A Peak with clay hoods leaves Par. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

D1037 on the 12.40 Penzance to Paddington at Par. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

D1037 Departs Par for Paddington. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

D1005 Western Venturer arrive Par on the 09.30 Paddington to Penzance. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

A Swindon Cross Country Unit at Falmouth. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

A Swindon Cross Country Unit at Falmouth. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

A Clipper Sailing Vessel in Falmouth Dry Docks. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

A Clipper Sailing Vessel in Falmouth Dry Docks. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

Falmouth Town Station. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

Penmere Platform. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

Collegewood Viaduct. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

Sidings at Penryn Station. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

D1005 Western Venturer on the 16.10 Penzance to Paddington seen at Truro. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.

25220 Enters Truro Yard with a freight. 22.04.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.