2011 The Edinburgh Explorer II

50044 Exeter and 50049 Defiance were used for The Edinburgh Explorer II tour run by Spitfire Railtours. The locomotives worked from Preston to Edinburgh via Manchester and Leeds, a total of 617 miles for the one day trip. Locomotive 57001 was used as tail-gunner and back-up purposes throughout the tour.

The tour carried people wishing to visit Edinburgh and enthusiasts wishing to venture around the Fife circle. Originally it had been envisaged that the Class 50s would haul this part of the tour in a top-'n'-tail formation. Due to pathing issues at Edinburgh however, the tour had to be hauled by locomotive 57001 instead with the two Class 50s left in situ at the rear. In this manner the whole stock was turned, leaving the Class 50s to haul the tour back to Preston without having to be detached.

Date: 2011-11-19