REVIEWS

Wonderful Mazey Day trip

Dear Pathfinder Tours

My wife Sarah and I travelled on the Mazey Day Special on Saturday, and we just wanted to say thank you for such a wonderful day.

I had phoned into the office last week to go through Sarah’s dietary requirements, and everything was arranged absolutely perfectly on the day with no queries or fuss. It is so rare these days to see such care and attention given to the little details that make such a difference.

Please pass on our thanks to everyone involved and in particular to Lesley in the catering team, and to Mark our carriage steward for looking after us so well.

Also, it was great to see the loco named ‘Pathfinder Tours’ in recognition of 50 years of hard work by the team putting on days like this. Very well deserved indeed.

We will be booking again very soon!

Yours sincerely Tom Yearsley

The food was amazing!

Dear Pathfinders Team

We have just returned from this trip and would like to thank you so much for a wonderful tour. From start to finish it was exceptional, the hotel was excellent, the Pathfinder tour guides and the catering staff were brilliant. The food was amazing, and so much, thank goodness for elasticated waistbands😀. The weather was also very kind to us, which was a bonus.

This was the first time we have gone on a short break tour with you but it will certainly not be the last and we look forward to hopefully next Easter’s Scotland tour.

Kind regards

The Lander family

Thoroughly enjoyable weekend

Hello everyone, Grateful thanks to all concerned for yet another thoroughly enjoyable Spring Highlander. All worked so well etc. Till next time warmest good wishes Bruce and Giles Hockin

Excellent trip on the Pennine Wayfarer

I want to thank everyone for this excellent trip. I have been fairly isolated for three years and it was great to be back. However it was a special day too because after many years of great times on Pathfinder tours this may well have to be my last as I am now full time carer for my wife. All the tours have been wonderful but a few stand out. The Easter Highlander which included my 70^th birthday (2009) was marked by Richard bringing my wife and me a bottle of champagne which we enjoyed sharing with the others in our little area, but the most amazing was my 80^th when we had just about all the family on a day out to Kingswear. On this occasion we were in trouble for disturbing the flow of the service – but my apology was most graciously accepted!

On every trip we always felt like welcome guests rather than customers, yours is such a family style of team. I have just been talking in the street with a chap called Adrian and enthusing about the trip to Bolton and he says he will get in touch with you. I hope he does. I have every confidence that you will make him as welcome as you have always done for me.

I repeat my sincere thanks to all the team and particularly to Richard whose written notes I have found of real value and whose friendship has been much appreciated.

Every good wish to you all.

Sincerely,

Rob Darby

Thoroughly enjoyed the Easter Highlander

Dear Sirs,

I am writing to say how much my husband and I and also our two friends thoroughly enjoyed our weekend on the Easter Highlander. We thought it was extremely well organised and the caterers were superb, in fact nothing was too much trouble for any of the staff. We would certainly recommend this trip other people.

Unfortunately a couple of days after our return three of our party tested positive for Covid19, two of them becoming extremely poorly. We were sitting in coach D in seats 17 and 18 and wondered whether you had heard of anyone else in the vicinity being struck down by this virus.

With kind regards,

Margaret Molloy

Wonderful Spring Highlander experience

Before the moment is lost, I wanted to write to thank you and the whole team for the wonderful ‘Spring Highlander’ experience over the last weekend.

Our group of four (three of whom are ‘normals’ who have not been on railtours before), thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I originally had the idea to take my elderly mother, who has the wanderlust but finds it less easy to get around (hence the wheelchair). To her credit she readily agreed to the idea, and then to my surprise my wife said she’d like to come along too. To make it to 4, my mother suggested her friend from school days (Helen Ilsley, who she has known 75 years!) came along too, and again Helen readily agreed.

Everything about the tour was wonderful. The scenery in East Scotland and particularly in the Highlands never fails to disappoint. Your wonderful stewards were unfailingly helpful and attentive. The catering team were stars, a highly experienced, capable and fun team delivering an onslaught of fantastic food. Particular thanks for accommodating Helen’s back difficulties on Fort William day. Could you pass my thanks to the hotel for looking after her during the day, please?

Thanks also for taking the Nuneham Viaduct difficulties into your stride and revising/communicating arrangements so effectively.

To every Pathfinder representative on the train, Wow! What a superb effort again deposit a difficult run up both long term and short term!

> This was a proper job of epic proportion’s.

> My party & I (Coach F 14/15 4 of us) had a great time and we wanted to report back to you what you already know, the quality of food offering from Paul & CRD Ltd was superb.

> Their food and their staff were exemplary!

> Your Stewards as always superb, Steve & Martin are great lads, Gary is just a nutter, love em all!

> If we were to have any criticism it would be of the unavoidable use of Coaches morning and evening given the hotel location. I understand it is like herding cats and needs to be done as you did it!!

> We were spoilt on our first two trips, Inverness and Aviemore, where the hotel was a walk away. I also understand you need a hotel who will prebook up to 80 rooms or so, not so easy now in Inverness for any fair price!

> Thank you for riding out Covid & surviving, developing Pathfinder Tours again and for serving the Midlands as you regularly do! More stops at Bromsgrove please!!

All down to teamwork

Just a quick email to thank you and all of your staff, not forgetting also, all the train maintenance workers and the wonderful restaurant staff, for all of their hard and most successful work over the past weekend for the benefit and enjoyment of all your 177 customers, including me. The organisation was simply faultless and it never ceases to amaze me how you can achieve such a high level of excellence. I guess that it is all down to teamwork which the likes of you and other seniors in the organisation help to foster. You are entitled to feel justly proud of the organisation and of its end product which was enjoyed and achieved with much enjoyment by your customers. It was also nice to see you still working on ‘the shop floor’ despite your well earned elevation within the Company.

Well done to you and everyone else involved.

Kind regards

Geoff James

The Easter Highlander had such good food!

On behalf of my wife and myself we would like to thank you for a really enjoyable 4 days. it was first class from start to finish the catering on the train was first class how they managed to cook and serve such good food in such a small please pass on our thanks to the catering staff.

Also please pass on our grateful thanks to our steward David who was really helpful and looked after us so well.

The hotel was a really good choice and the checking in was really well organised no waiting room was really nice.

Once again thank you for a great weekend.

Chris & Tina Elias

Tour was one of the best

The Diamond Twenties tour was one of the best I have ever been on. Dungeness is really dear to my heart and it was amazing to be on the train amongst the fields with the amazing scenery. The whole thing was absolutely magic.

Ann Town – May 2018

Thank you for Mazey Day!

To all at Pathfinders,

Just to say thank you for the brilliant service my friend and I received from your team in Premier dinning on Saturday.

The food was excellent and there was a good relaxing atmosphere onboard the train.

I look forward to booking with you again sometime in the near future.

Well done to Peter and the team

Regards, Mr Leonard Sykes

Just Brilliant!

Dear all,

I just wanted to let you know that the trip last Saturday was brilliant, thank you.

Up until the day before I had been rather poorly in hospital and didn’t know if I would be well enough to come on the day. But I decided to risk it, I couldn’t miss all that lovely scenery. As it turned out I was allocated a table to myself (I was in J seat 7 facing) which I was extremely grateful for because I could sit and have a quiet relaxing time with everything brought to me. The journey was amazing and all the Pathfinder stewards and catering staff were so helpful and understanding. So thank you for a really enjoyable day. I look forward to the next.

With best wishes to you all,

Jane Hartell

A Huge Thank You!

Please say a huge thank you to everyone involved in yesterday’s trip to Penzance. It was fabulous to be travelling through our beautiful countryside, and get to see the sea – again.

All staff on the train were very pleasant and helpful, and kept us informed as and when the hitches arose.

Kind regards. Dave and Phyl Smith

Excellent Tour

A big, big thank you for the excellent tour on Saturday (The Class 50 Terminator – Phoenixed). When I asked for tickets to be sat as close to the locos as possible I never thought I’d actually get them, let alone right next to it, and although coach A was at the back from Paddington, we certainly got the best of it on the climb back to Exeter from Penzance!

We had a cracking day and the lack of coach heating proved to be a massive benefit to us (that’s not a complaint). Food and drink prices on the train for us ‘non dining’ people were very reasonable too.

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Everything ran more or less to time and Flying Scotsman performed well along North Wales mainline. One slight mishap with the engine when restarting from a signal stop just outside Chester slipping on the tight curve – that aside a great day out!!

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Fantastic Easter Weekend!

What a fantastic 4 days that was! Please pass on our heartfelt thanks to all your guys involved, they were fantastic throughout. Will hopefully be doing this again.

A special thanks too for the catering company onboard, CRD Ltd, who were outstanding both with the menus, quality of food and the standard of service by their staff which went way above and beyond anything I was expecting.

Again, many thanks until the next time.

Grahame Conlon

Helpful and approachable

Good afternoon,

We travelled with you on Monday on the Crompton Torbay Venturer and just wanted to say how very much we enjoyed the day. Everything was so well organized and all of your staff were so helpful and approachable.

We shall certainly be travelling with you again in the future.

Thank you Sue and Maurice Buxton

Thank you Pathfinder!

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank the Pathfinder staff and Frying Scotsman staff for their professional service through out the Dorset Deltic Trip. The trip was on time in Stafford and was on time throughout most of the trip. What was special for me though was I have a gluten problem and so many organisations don’t care for this. However this was different the Frying staff did an excellent job for me and nothing gave me any problems through the whole trip. In fact this turned out to be one of the best trips out Ive ever had. So many thanks to all for a great day out.

Russell C Thewlis

Scotland on tour

Here we are then, our ladies on tour, on the LOCH LINNHE boat cruise. Note BEN NEVIS looming over the loch. Overall, a brilliant weekend with excellent food service and a good hotel, well situated by the Clyde.Highlights were, RANNOCH and the TAY BRIDGE including the remains of the HIGH GIRDERS from the original bridge which collapsed in a storm on December 29th 1879. It has taken me over 40 years to get these pictures. Truly awesome.

KIND REGARDS IAN THOMAS.

Well organised tour

First Rate

I would like to compliment you on the Hacienda tour, which I travelled on last weekend. The organisation and execution of this complex tour was first-rate – I particularly liked the on-board commentary as we covered the various routings of the train.

I would keenly support any future tours of this type, where the focus is on unusual routings and coverage of routes that are unlikely to be unavailable in the future.

Notwithstanding the heating problems on the train (for which I have gratefully received the voucher code), this was an excellent tour which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Thank you,

Terry, Milton Keynes – March 2020

First Class

Another first class tour and most enjoyable.

All staff performed admirable and the catering was excellent.

Even the weather was good.

So well done to all.

Best wishes,
Robert Sherriff.

What a lovely day it was!

We went on the Railtour on Saturday to the Welsh valleys. What a lovely day it was too! Just wanted to thank all the train crew for looking after us soo well, and I can’t wait to enjoy our next trip on 12th March !

Thanks again

Lee C

First Rate

I would keenly support any future tours of this type, where the focus is on unusual routings and coverage of routes that are unlikely to be unavailable in the future.

Notwithstanding the heating problems on the train (for which I have gratefully received the voucher code), this was an excellent tour which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Thank you,

Terry, Milton Keynes – March 2020

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Well organised tour

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

Excellent Autumn Highlander Tour

THANK YOU, THANK YOU for the excellent Autumn Highlander tour. It was a great experience. Please say a huge thank you to all your staff especially those serving carriage B.

Dawn & Trevor D – October 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Well organised tour

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

A Grand Day Out

I am writing to give you feedback on the ‘Grand Day Out’ my partner and I enjoyed yesterday, Sunday 14^th July, when we caught the Tornado from Bristol Temple Meads to Tenby and, what a ride it was. The weather was just glorious, almost sunshine wall to wall, which someone in your office obviously ordered up many weeks ago to make our trip just perfect!

So here are our thoughts about the whole day:

STAFF – each and every one was very helpful (we were in coach G) and couldn’t do enough for us, as well as the other passengers. They were all very cheerful and it only registered when back home, that of course we were on a day trip so, no commuters!

CARRIAGES – although they were old, there is much life left in them yet and they were clean, with nicely pressed antimacassars on each headrest. The toilet was clean and sweet smelling, with enough room to manoeuvre, unlike the modern trains or planes…

PRESENTATON – each and every table was beautifully set for our breakfast, including a delightful little arrangement of colourful flowers, such detail is exquisite – the same also when we returned from our time in Tenby and the tables were laid out for dinner.

CATERING – an excellent menu, covering all the details of our breakfast and dinner, which had been well thought out. When the food was brought, it was beautifully presented, on hot plates (where appropriate) with nicely cooked food for our pleasure. At dinner I enquired about the possibility of having melon as my starter (melon was served at breakfast), so the member of staff said she would check with the chef and yes, I was served melon as my starter, so I was delighted with their attention to my wishes… Both Malcolm and I asked for more coffee, which was brought and, what lovely coffee it was too.

The only downside was not hearing any announcements (if there were any) as it would have been useful to have been able to listen to these, as I’m sure not everyone takes notice of a quick message from the staff as we alight the train at each stop.

I also wonder how much was raised from the raffle that was carried out and which charity it supported…

Any way – Well Done to you all as a company, having travelled many places on board ship, I was amazed at the eye to detail, plus the level of attention we were given by each of the members of staff who we came into contact with. Keep it up!!

Best wishes

Janet & Malcolm – July 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Well organised tour

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

Lovely Experience

I would just like to thank you for a lovely experience last Sunday being taken on a trip by the Tornado Steam Train (The Pembroke Coast Express).

My wife and I live in Swansea and Travelled up to Bristol on the previous Saturday to travel back home from Temple Meads. Obviously we could have picked up the train in Cardiff but wanted to experience the whole day to Tenby and back.

The staff were excellent and very helpful all day even though it did get very warm on the return.

The journey down on the Swansea District Line was a new journey for us as it does not normally have passenger trains. Part of the line runs under a housing estate and is referred to as the Ghost line when trains are heard periodically running under the estate.

Hundreds of spectators lined the route there and back many of them young children all waving at us excitedly and probably jealously too.

Thanks again for an excellent day.

Ugo – July 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Well organised tour

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

Note of Appreciation

Just a note of appreciation for last Saturday’s “Sugar Loaf Mountaineer II”. A very successful and enjoyable trip all round, not least because of the weather, fine and sunny throughout, which was a bonus blessing for crew and passengers alike.

Thank you for persevering with planning the tour. All parties certainly delivered the goods – Pathfinder with the stewarding, (all cheerful & efficient despite the extremely long day), providing us with the wonderful Kay on the buffet, and an excellent booklet, which had just the right balance of route and historical information. LSL provided a loco in prime condition, and a stalwart support team. DB Cargo provided an extremely skilled team. Hats off to the driver for doing a wonderful job, which must have required intense concentration throughout, and to the firing team for providing him with plenty of steam throughout, requiring a great deal of stamina. I am conscious that they were were doing this without the benefit of any kind of practice run! There was perhaps also a pilotman or route adviser. The water carriers and coal lorry were efficient as ever. Finally Network Rail were total stars, as last year, providing staff to sort out the tokens, supervise level crossings and major stations, and the complicated shunting and carriage water replenishment at Carmarthen. The sound of a Black Five in top condition being worked hard but efficiently will be an enduring memory. All four of us in our party really enjoyed the day. So thank you again for facilitating all of the above, which must have been a complex and time-consuming business.

Not having travelled with Pathfinder before last September, I must admit to being very wary after last year’s tour, which in the event, because of Network Rail’s supervision on the Heart of Wales line, the weather and scenery, turned out reasonably ok, despite the appalling delay at the start, lack of any heat and an extremely scruffy Class 37 etc. etc. The trouble is that this time, the whole trip was so good that I may be reluctant to book any future railtour for fear that it might not be anywhere near as good!

With best wishes for the rest of this year, and for next year’s programme,

Fraser G – September 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

A well organised excursion

Please accept our appreciation for the well organised tour on the Cotswold Eden Excursion. From the moment the train arrived at Worcester until our departure from the train at 21.35 we were all very impressed for the politeness, friendliness and attention throughout.

We were in coach J, and quality and quantity of the service and food throughout was deserving of a full star hotel. There appeared to be nothing that the members of the “Frying Scotsman Catering Service” could not turn their hand too.

The whole trip exceeded the expectations of both our friends who accompanied us and ourselves. Even the weather appeared to have been influenced by yourselves!

Bob & Maggie C, Worcester – September 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

A really nostalgic journey

Our party of six travelled on the the Sugar Loaf Mountaineer train on Saturday, 7 September and were absolutely delighted with the entire day. Having boarded at Craven Arms, the sight, sounds and scenic beauty of our journey did not disappoint in any way, and the courtesy of the Pathfinder Stewards added to the quality of the journey. I was also delighted that you had been able to provide my request for seating occupation. Nice to receive an abundance of information for each passenger rather than one for each table, the souvenir brochure being of high quality and very informative for all assembled travellers, whatever their interests. The presentation of the carriages was maintained to a high standard of cleanliness throughout the day, with frequent clearing of any rubbish and clutter! The highlight of the journey was the professionalism and skills of the footplate crew who expertly navigated the engine along a tortuous and steeply graded line, maintaining good timing throughout and in doing so, demonstrated noisily how well the engine ran, a wonderful sound along with the rare unfamiliar ‘clickety clack’ of 60’ rails! A really nostalgic journey (I travelled to school on the last of steam on BR) and so nice to travel on a steam trip covering a rarely used route, with so many different aspects from farmland and sheep, rivers and mountains, seaside and sand! My only minor criticism is the carriage sound system was not very clear and the enthusiasm of the broadcaster perhaps was trying to give us all too much information, but always nice when someone tells you what’s happening if you suddenly grind to a halt in the middle of nowhere!

Although the recent trends of operators has been towards regular ‘circuit’ steam, you have very ably demonstrated there is still a market for the one off unusual day trips, which I hope you will continue to run to other rare destinations.

Well done Pathfinder team for giving us all a special day out, and I hope we will be able to join you behind steam again next year.

Regards, Mike D – September 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

Really Excellent

Thank your to all the magnificent staff and volunteers aboard The Sugar Loaf Mountaineer II on Saturday, 7 September. The day was really excellent; the water stops for the locomotive provided lots of photo opportunities. The locomotive worked really well and I thoroughly enjoyed the day, which went like clockwork from start to finish, plus everyone was so helpful.

I am looking forward to my next day out with Pathfinder.

Peter S – September 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

Nostalgic Trip

I would like to thank yourselves and GBRF for the most excellent tour from Derby to Skegness on The Jolly Fisherman (27 May 2019) with the pair of class 20s.

My wife and I enjoyed this absolutely nostalgic trip and it certainly reminded us of the 70’s and early 80’s when pairs of 20s were the normal haulage for the summer Saturday trains to Skegness from Derby.

It was an absolute privilege to be in Coach A as requested as well, so thank you very much for that.

Thank you again and we will look forward to our next trip on a fabulous Pathfinder tour.

Chris & Jane A – June 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

Nostalgic Trip

I would like to thank yourselves and GBRF for the most excellent tour from Derby to Skegness on The Jolly Fisherman (27 May 2019) with the pair of class 20s.

It was an absolute privilege to be in Coach A as requested as well, so thank you very much for that.

Thank you again and we will look forward to our next trip on a fabulous Pathfinder tour.

Chris & Jane A – June 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Fabulous Day Out

I’d just like to say a big thank you to Pathfinder Tours and everyone else involved in making the Deltic Deviator tour such a fabulous day out. Everything was so well organised,; all the staff and catering crew were extremely friendly and efficient, and the planning that must have gone in to ensure we had the best possible experience was evident and really paid off.

The train was very clean and the toilets were given a regular once over.

I’d highly recommend booking on a Pathfinder rail tour and look forward to travelling with you again in the future.

Thank you and best wishes

Keith W – September 2018

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

Excellent Service

My party of four travelled Premier Dining with you from Hereford on Saturday on The Cumbrian Mountaineer. This was the first time we had been with Pathfinder and this is to thank you for the excellent service we had throughout the day, in spite of the appalling weather. The catering was to a very high standard, and the staff were friendly and helpful at all times. How the kitchen staff of Frying Scotsman were able to achieve that, while coping with the cramped conditions in the catering carriage was incredible – They all deserve medals!

It was very disappointing not to have returned by the Carlisle-Settle route, which was the principal reason for us selecting this tour, but the decision to close the line was outside your control. However, we were compensated by the spectacular run south behind Tornado, which has clearly fully recovered from its failure last year. To maintain a steady 75mph over that many miles, and with twelve coaches, was quite an experience. One for the record book I believe.

This is the second time we have missed out on crossing the Ribblehead viaduct, so perhaps we will make it on a third attempt. We will be looking out for your future day tours in that direction.

Michael A – March 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Brilliant trip today to Weymouth, mahoosive thanks to all crew and staff, fantastic food and service !

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

Nostalgic Trip

I would like to thank yourselves and GBRF for the most excellent tour from Derby to Skegness on The Jolly Fisherman (27 May 2019) with the pair of class 20s.

It was an absolute privilege to be in Coach A as requested as well, so thank you very much for that.

Thank you again and we will look forward to our next trip on a fabulous Pathfinder tour.

Chris & Jane A – June 2019

Thank you Pathfinder!

Russell C Thewlis

Excellent Organisation

Having been on many tours with Pathfinder albeit not for a few years now. We have just returned from a very long day on the Ynys Mon Express.

Excellent organisation, great stewards plus the very humorous Geoff from Frying Scotsman catering in the buffet.

Martin Dyer – September 2018

Tour was one of the best

Ann Town – May 2018

Excellent Tour

Between yourselves, the Fifty Alliance and GBRf you should be feeling very proud.

Thank you once again for giving us a brilliant day out.

Cheers

Mike B – March 2019

Pretty Awesome

Hi Team,

Although I was able to pass my thanks directly to the on-board Hosts Team Leader for their tireless and good humoured efforts throughout the day, just a very short note to say that the entire trip was pretty awesome.

The footplate crew were so friendly, my daughters, forever youthful around the 40 year old mark now, managed a superb selfie with the fireman!

The information packs for Liskeard and Looe (The Branch) were excellent, Cornwall’s weather providing the appropriate liquid accompaniment…

A great day out, bought for me as a birthday gift by the girls, and will be remembered for a long old time.

All the best,

Alan W – June 2019