ANDANIA TO RETURN TO THE MAIN LINE IN AUGUST
Published at 16:00 on Wednesday 1st August 2018
Tags: Class 40, D213, Saphos Trains, Andania
Class 40 No. D213 Andania eases a Heywood - Rawtenstall service across the River Irwell at Summerseat on 24th September 2016. Fred Kerr
It has been well reported that Jeremy Hosking's Locomotive Services (TOC) Limited signed a deal with the owner of Class 40 No. D213 Andania earlier this year.
Now Saphos Trains, one of the charter train arms of the Hosking's empire, has confirmed that the locomotive will be returned to the main line this autumn.
Having been withdrawn from British Rail service in the late 1980s, the locomotive was purchased by Trevor Dean and after periods at the South Yorkshire Railway, Meadowhall, the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley and Barrow Hill, the restoration to operational condition has been progressive. Recently the Class 40 was moved from Barrow Hill to Crewe Diesel Depot where further work has been undertaken including fitting the latest TPWS and GSM-R safety and communication systems as required for main line service.
The main line return will take the locomotive back to former haunts commencing with the 'Cumbrian Mountain Whistler' on 27th August. The train originates at Crewe, with pick-ups at Warrington Bank Quay and Wigan North Western, as it heads north to Carlisle. The outward journey is over the Settle & Carlisle line, returning via Shap.
On 6th October, again departing from Crewe, with a pick-up at Warrington Bank Quay, the 'Yorkshire Coast Merrymaker' makes its way via Manchester Victoria and the climb of Miles Platting bank through Standedge Tunnel, to reach York and Scarborough. The return is via the Calder Valley through Hebden Bridge and Copy Pit to Blackburn.
The final tour of the trio takes place on 13th October, and Andania will return to the North Wales Coast route on a charter that has been much awaited by enthusiasts. The 'North Wales Coast Forty' will originate at Crewe, the sole pick-up point, and head for Llandudno Junction. After a reversal, the train takes in the Blaenau Ffestiniog branch, before returning to Llandudno Junction and continuing westwards to Holyhead. The return journey will be direct to Chester and Crewe.
Tickets are on sale now from the Saphos Trains website priced at £75 Standard and £99 First Class, on all trips.
