A railtour is a special train which is run in order to allow people to experience rail travel which is not normally available using timetabled passenger services. The 'unusual' aspect may be the route of the train, the destination, the occasion, specific sections of railway track (for example, freight-only lines), the locomotive hauling the train, the rolling stock (passenger carriages), or any combination of these. Organisers may own or hire locomotives or rolling stock, or tours may be organised by railway management or other bodies outside the railway fraternity. Perhaps the most famous railtour in England was the Fifteen Guinea Special , the last steam hauled main line train run by British Rail . Railtours are often identifiable through the use of a train headboard , often identifying the name of the specific tour or the tour operator. On TOPS , railtours are usually given a 1Zxx headcode . Exceptions to this rule include regularly scheduled railtours such as the Belmond British Pullman operated Venice-Simplon Orient Express trains.
37-479: The Stobart Pullman was a railtour operator in the United Kingdom , operating pullman type charter trains, as Stobart Rail Tours . The company was a subsidiary of Eddie Stobart Ltd. and was operated by Stobart's rail partner, Direct Rail Services (DRS). On 16 July 2008, the company released a statement on its website that "train operations have been suspended". The Stobart Pullman had its origins in
74-523: A musket shot. On 31 August, the Parliamentarian cavalry forced their way through the Royalist lines and retreated towards Saltash , leaving the foot soldiers to be evacuated by sea from Fowey. Essex and some officers did indeed escape, but the majority of the force surrendered a few days later near Golant and were then marched to Poole , but most died before reaching there. The fortunes of
111-476: A beacon tower was erected on the Gribben Head by Trinity House to improve navigation into Fowey and around Par bay. The Fowey Harbour Commissioners were established by an Act of Parliament in 1869, to develop and improve the harbour. On 1 June in that year, the 7 ft ( 2,134 mm ) broad gauge Lostwithiel and Fowey Railway was opened to new jetties situated above Carne Point, and in 1873,
148-401: A commercial basis and as a fund-raising method for railway preservation societies. A track or route railtour is focused on travelling over sections of railway track that are not used by scheduled passenger trains. Locations – such as Carne Point at Fowey , Cornwall – which have not seen passenger trains for several decades, or locations that have never had a public passenger service – such as
185-507: A merchant visiting local tin mines in which he had a commercial interest. At the entrance to the River, on the eastern side below the cliffs to the south-west of St Saviour's Point, there is a cross to commemorate this supposed visit. This cross is marked on very early charts and was maintained by monks from Tywardreath . The cross is known locally as "Punches Cross", supposedly derived from the name of Pontius Pilate . One hundred yards west of
222-543: A silver medal, was demolished in 1999. Fowey has been the inspiration for many authors, including Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch ('Q') , who lived in the town in retirement, and Daphne du Maurier . The du Maurier Festival Society runs the Fowey Festival of Arts and Literature each May, the month of her birth. Various visual artists have had close connection with Fowey and lived there, including Fred Yates (painter), Andrew Litten Amanda Hoskin who primarily paints
259-641: Is a frequent and regular service running from outside the church in the town centre to the main car park on Hanson Drive. Both vehicle and foot ferry services cross the river to Bodinnick and Polruan. A ship to shore water taxi service operates from Easter until the end of October and a foot ferry to the fishing village of Mevagissey runs from 1 May to 1 October, weather permitting. Fowey has two schools: Fowey Primary School and Fowey River Academy , both of which are in Windmill Road. Fowey Grammar School, for which its architect Silvanus Trevail received
296-657: Is at the entrance to a large flooded valley created after the last ice age by the melt waters that caused the sea level to rise dramatically, creating a large natural harbour which is navigable for its last seven miles. Fowey is in the South Coast (Eastern Section) of the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . It lies at the end of the Saints' Way and has ferries across the river to Polruan (foot) and Bodinnick (vehicle). There are many historic buildings in
333-426: Is currently popular is the nostalgic excursion using a preserved train , or sometimes a train hired from a railway operator. Preserved steam locomotives are popular performers on UK railtours, sometimes covering 400 miles in one day at speeds of over 75 miles per hour. Train, branding and route are often chosen as to reflect a common theme, sometimes tracing an aspect of railway history. Railtours are organised both on
370-455: The 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ( 1,435 mm ) standard gauge Cornwall Minerals Railway (CMR) opened a line from Newquay and Par to further jetties between Caffa Mill Pill and Carne Point. Both of these railways initially carried just goods, but on 20 June 1876, a passenger station was opened on the CMR on land reclaimed from Caffa Mill Pill. The Lostwithiel line closed at
407-648: The Blue Pullman train as Dionysos and Artemis, introduced by FM Rail for the Hertfordshire rail tour company. Railtour A 'destination' railtour is often associated with a special event of railway significance. Open days or special events at heritage railway locations such as Barrow Hill Engine Shed and the West Somerset Railway have been destinations for railtours originating from large cities. Similarly, organisations such as
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#1732787333255444-546: The Hundred Years' War . In the 14th century the harbour was defended by 160 archers ; after these were withdrawn, two blockhouses were built, one on each side of the harbour entrance. Despite these defences the town was attacked by Breton pirates in 1457. Place House , by the church, was successfully defended against the French but subsequently strengthened. This building still exists, but much remodelled. A small castle
481-455: The MOD depot at Long Marston – can be traversed by such trains. Several established railtour operators include: Former railtour operators include: Enthusiast Railtours Luxury Railtours Former Railtour operators Fowey Fowey ( / ˈ f ɔɪ / FOY ; Cornish : Fowydh , meaning 'Beech Trees' ) is a port town and civil parish at the mouth of
518-654: The River Fowey in south Cornwall , England , United Kingdom . The town has been in existence since well before the Norman invasion, with the local church first established some time in the 7th century; the estuary of the River Fowey forms a natural harbour which enabled the town to become an important trading centre. Privateers also made use of the sheltered harbourage. The Lostwithiel and Fowey Railway brought China clay here for export. The Domesday Book survey at
555-582: The 2d' in her husband's absence, around the time of Henry 6th, was published in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1832. The surrounding coastline of Fowey is popular with fishermen and spear-fishermen. Many sea creatures can be seen all around the Cornish shoreline, including mullet , bass , mackerel , lobsters and cuttlefish . Many of the species can be seen in the Fowey Aquarium in the heart of
592-695: The August 2007 reverse takeover of Eddie Stobart Group by Westbury, which brought the Westbury rail company Victa Westlink Rail into the Stobart Group. Victa Westlink had the railtour company Hertfordshire Rail Tours as a subsidiary. This tour company was rationalised and relaunched as the Stobart Pullman in February 2008, although using rolling stock and traction provided by DRS. The Pullman
629-512: The Crusader Union may hire a train to take a large number of people to a specific event. A 'locomotive' railtour focuses on the type of locomotive hauling the train. This may be a preserved locomotive, a type not usually used for passenger trains, or a type of locomotive which normally works some distance from the chosen route. Railtours in the 1980s saw a Class 52 running to York and a Class 55 to Exeter. One type of railtour which
666-585: The DRS charter pool, repainted into DRS Compass livery. The rolling stock was to First Open (FO) configuration and carried a dark blue Stobart Pullman livery, with Stobart fleetnames and the chevron S Stobart logo. Doors were painted white with the DRS compass logo and wording. The Stobart Pullman crest and wording was applied to the coaches between every other window. (47709 and 47832 are to be renamed by DRS from selections forwarded to Rail Express magazine, which closed on 24 March 2008). 47709 and 47712 previously hauled
703-550: The Town Quay in 1922 to replace an earlier station at Polkerris . This was replaced in 1997, by a new facility in Passage Street. Two lifeboats are stationed at Fowey: Maurice and Joyce Hardy , a Trent Class all weather boat that is kept afloat opposite the lifeboat station, and Olive Two , an IB1 inshore lifeboat kept inside the station and launched by davit . Fowey was the main port for loading ammunition for
740-576: The US 29th Division that landed on Omaha Beach on D Day during the Second World War. There was a munitions siding at Woodgate Pill just north of Fowey, originally built for the Great War conflict. The seal of the borough of Fowey was On a shield a ship of three masts on the sea her topsail furled with the legend "Sigillum oppidi de Fowy Anno Dom. 1702". Fowey Town Hall , on the Town Quay,
777-456: The early 14th century and rededicated in 1336, replacing a previous Norman church. It is belongs to the Church of England's Diocese of Truro. Fowey has thrived as a port for hundreds of years, initially as a trading and naval town, then as the centre for china clay exports. Today Fowey is busy with trawlers and yachts . Tourism is also an important source of income, contributing £14m to
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#1732787333255814-478: The end of 1879 but was reopened by the CMR as a standard gauge line in 1895, and the short gap between the two lines at Carne Point was eliminated. Passenger trains from Par were withdrawn after 1934 and from Lostwithiel in 1965. The Par line was subsequently converted to a dedicated roadway for lorries bringing china clay from Par after which all trains had to run via Lostwithiel . The Royal National Lifeboat Institution established Fowey Lifeboat Station near
851-464: The end of the 11th century records manors at Penventinue and Trenant, and a priory was soon established nearby at Tywardreath . c. 1300 the prior granted a charter to people living in Fowey itself. This medieval town ran from a north gate near Boddinick Passage to a south gate at what is now Lostwithiel Street; the town extended a little way up the hillside and was bounded on the other side by
888-446: The harbour became much reduced, with trade going to Plymouth and elsewhere instead. Fishing became more important, but local merchants were often appointed as privateers and did some smuggling on the side. Tin, copper and iron mines, along with quarries and china clay pits became important industries in the area, which led to improvements at rival harbours. West Polmear beach was dug out to become Charlestown harbour circa 1800, as
925-406: The lighthouse on the west of the harbour entrance, about thirty feet below the top of the cliff edge and broadly concealed, is a small grass area known as "Johnny May's Chapel". This name is believed to be that of a Methodist preacher at the time when Nonconformism was persecuted. The Church of St Fimbarrus, Fowey , also known as Fowey Parish Church, is a grade I listed building . It was built in
962-404: The local coastline. and Mabel Lucie Attwell . Fowey holds an annual Christmas craft market. An engraving of a painting by Thomas Allom entitled Fowey Harbour, St. Saviour's Chapel & Polruan Castle together with a poetical illustration by Letitia Elizabeth Landon , which recounts the repelling of the French 'out of her house' (that is, Place House ) in Fowey by the wife of 'Thomas Treury,
999-925: The local economy and accounting for more than half of the jobs in the town. Although Fowey railway station closed to passengers in 1965, the Lostwithiel to Fowey branch line remains open for goods traffic, carrying bulk china clay to the jetties at Carne Point. The nearest passenger station is at Par , whence there are trains to Penzance , Newquay , Plymouth , Bristol and London Paddington . First Kernow operate regular bus services, numbered 24 and Transport for Cornwall operate services numbered 25 (also service 24 early, late and Sundays), between Fowey, Par station and St Austell . The combined frequency varies from one bus per 1.5 hour on Sundays to two buses per hour on weekdays. From St Austell bus station connecting buses operate to other places in Cornwall. Town Bus
1036-525: The regular scenic railtour routes, and also trips to specific attractions, and to specific cultural and sporting events, such as Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot , and the 2008 Open Golf tournament . The Pullman was also used for private hire and corporate transport. The Pullman was operated as a fully first class silver service dining train, with catering provided by Premier Train Catering. The Stobart Pullman drew traction from 5 Class 47 diesel locomotives from
1073-423: The river where merchants had their houses backing onto the waterfront. The natural harbour allowed trade to develop with continental Europe and local ship owners often hired their vessels to the king to support various wars, although the town also developed a reputation for piracy , as did many others at this time. A group of privateers known as the ' Fowey Gallants ' were given licence to seize enemy vessels during
1110-697: The small settlements of Menabilly , Polkerris , Polmear and Readymoney . The parish of Fowey lies within the St Austell and Newquay constituency of the United Kingdom Parliament . Prior to Brexit in 2020, it was in the South West England constituency of the European Parliament . Fowey is a small town , civil parish and cargo port at the mouth of the River Fowey in south Cornwall , England. It
1147-399: The town, including the ruins of St Catherine's Castle , while Readymoney Cove possesses a local beach . At the time of the 2001 census, Fowey had a population of 2,273. This had increased slightly at the 2011 census to 2,395. The Fowey electoral ward had a population of 4,690 in 2011. Popular legend has it that Jesus visited Fowey as a child, along with Joseph of Arimathea who was
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1184-474: The town, which includes a very rare Albino Bull Huss. The Royal Fowey Yacht Club is based on the harbour front. A Pilot Gig Rowing Club races in and around Cornwall, with an event at Fowey being held the same week as the Regatta. The club launches from Caffa Mill slip. Fowey Golf Club was founded in 1894 and continued until the late 1940s. Cornish wrestling tournaments, for prizes, were held in Fowey at
1221-404: Was Pentewan in 1826. Joseph Austen shipped copper from Caffa Mill Pill above Fowey for a while before starting work on the new Par harbour in 1829. Fowey had to wait another forty years before it saw equivalent development, but its natural deep-water anchorage and a rail link soon gave it an advantage over the shallow artificial harbours nearer to the mines and china clay works. Meanwhile,
1258-717: Was built on St Catherine's Point, the western side of the harbour entrance, around 1540. The defences proved their worth when a Dutch attack was beaten off in 1667. The people of Fowey generally sided with the Royalists during the English Civil War , but in 1644 the Earl of Essex brought a Parliamentarian army to Lostwithiel and occupied the peninsula around Fowey. In August, a Royalist army surrounded Essex's troops and King Charles I himself viewed Fowey from Hall Walk above Polruan, where he came close to being killed by
1295-467: Was completed in 1787. Fowey elected two members to the unreformed House of Commons until the Reform Act 1832 stripped it of its representation as a rotten borough , it having lost its borough corporation a few years before. It was restored as a municipal borough in 1913, and then was merged with the nearby and much larger St Austell in 1968 to form the borough of St Austell with Fowey . This
1332-519: Was itself in 1974 replaced with the Restormel Borough, which was replaced by Cornwall Council in 2009. In local government terms, Fowey is now a civil parish with a town council and a mayor . Local government responsibilities are shared by the town council and Cornwall Council. Besides the town of Fowey itself, the parish includes the coastal area between the mouth of the River Fowey and St Austell Bay , including Gribben Head and
1369-514: Was launched with a lunchtime service for 200 people, the Wessex Circular, departing from London Victoria , travelling to Fareham , and returning to London at Euston . This service was run as a top and tailed train, powered by locomotives 47802 Pride of Cumbria and 47712 Pride of Carlisle in DRS compass livery, and a Stobart Pullman headboard . The Stobart Pullman comprised primarily rail tour charter trains, on circular dining trips and
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