2017 The Caledonian

50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance at different stages during The Caledonian tour jointly run by The Railway Magazine and Pathfinder Tours.

The proceeds of The Railway Magazine’s 120th anniversary railtour were donated to the Railway Children charity, specifically its UK-based safeguarding on transport programme.

The tour recalled the days of the late 1960s and early 1970s when Anglo-Scottish expresses were hauled by AC electric locomotives as far as Crewe, to be replaced by Class 50s for the run north to Glasgow - a situation that prevailed until the West Coast Mainline (WMCL) was fully electrified in 1974.

The tour started at London Euston behind heritage AC electric locomotive 87002 Royal Sovereign for the first leg of the tour to Crewe. Upon arrival, this was replaced by the two Class 50s which worked the tour forward up the WCML from Crewe to Glagow Central and the return to Crewe, a total of 486 miles for the one-day trip.

Date: 2017-10-07