
Welcome to Charity Railtours
Not for profit...for great causes!
News
Western Champion - Installation of replacement engines gains pace!
Please accept my apologies for the long lack of updates regarding our long postponed railtour - The Magnificent Severn.
The Diesel Traction Group informs me that conversion work on the two replacement power units and installation has progressed well and they hope to be in a position to begin testing soon. In the meantime, we have identified a possible operating date for our railtour The Magnificent Severn to South Wales, including visits to The Dean Forest Railway and Sharpness - possibly Saturday 30th September 2023.
We are now in discussions with a train operating company regarding what we might be achievable in terms of allowing passengers to travel on the stock moves before and after the tour.
We will update you once we have this information available.
What is very clear is that operating costs have increased tremendously since we first announced this tour back in 2016, so we will have to revisit ticket prices. But Charity Railtours' ethos remains unchanged - we shall always endeavour to keep fares as low as possible so that our trains are available to a wider audience of enthusiasts.
Dennis Barnes - Founder, Charity Railtours
25th February 2023

We like to take trains to interesting parts of the rail network
To date, our railtours have visited docks, warehouses and heritage lines. It's been a real slog and we are still learning, but with a great deal of help from our volunteers and the tremendous support of train companies, port owners and logistics companies, here is what we have done so far.

The Mayflower
April 15th 2018
In aid of Macmillan Cancer Support
Our train visited the seldom-used Sizewell branch, Ipswich Griffin Wharf and Harwich Town.
Sum raised: £8850

The Four Triangles
May 9th 2015
In aid of ADRA
A 0400 start from Crewe meant a mammoth day for the volunteers on the day, but months before we were clearing vegetation away from the privately owned track at Eccles Road and arranging for inspections and maintenance to take place.
Sum raised: £5967.30

The Great Eastern Freighter
August 10th 2013
In aid of Alzheimers Society
This was the first passenger train to traverse the privately owned "cross-docks" line at Felixstowe and the first ever passenger train to visit Ipswich Griffin Wharf - and that required a LOT of shunting!
Sum raised: £7965
Contact
Charity Railtours
Please do get in touch and let us know what places you would like to visit by special train, what locomotives you like and what worthy causes you would like to support.
Subscribe to our Mailing List at the bottom of the page, to receive the latest news on railtour plans and ticket availability etc.
1 Hunter Road
Ipswich
IP3 9TN
07518045077
