"Explore Britain By Train"

These popular day excursions ran from the East Midlands during the 1970's and provided a relatively cheap days trainspotting to destinations around the UK, nearly always taking in avoiding and freight lines around cities, and gave plenty of time at their destinations for visiting a shed or two! Three times a year Edinburgh was on the list, and this was a must for pulling in Eastfield and Haymarket depots, but being the most expensive tour on the list at £5.05 took a few weeks to save up for! Motive power was usually a Class 45 or 47 (2x Class 20's or 25's for the Skegness trips) coupled to MkI stock, the locomotive remained with the tour, whatever region, and in each direction; the whole ensemble being shunted into a siding at its destination before its return journey. In all, a complete one day package tour without even changing trains! Sit back and take a look at some of the destinations on offer between April and June 1977, in particular savour those prices! And before you ask, I never did go on, or find out where, the Mystery trips went to!


Class 47/0 No. 47 032 crosses the Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash on a Plymouth, Liskeard, Par "Explore
Britain" working, 1st May 1976.

Explore Britain Programme
Here is our programme of rail excursions for the months of April, May and June 1977. The train times and tickets are normally available about a fortnight before the date of the trip, and many are advertised in the local press, as well as being available from your local station. All of these special, low-price excursions are planned for your pleasure - not forgetting your family and friends. And please remember that, due to the popularity of these trips, it is advisable to book your ticket well in advance. Happy exploring!

 

Date

 To From Fares: Adult Fares: Child Remarks
2/4/77 Folkstone Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Burton-on-Trent, Loughborough, Leicester, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
9/4/77 Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton Derby £3.20 £2.10 Seaside
10/4/77* Torquay, Paignton Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
10/4/77* London St.Pancras Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicester £3.30 £1.65 Capital Visit
10/4/77* Mystery Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent, Matlock, Matlock Bath, Belper £3.30 £2.20  
10/4/77* Mystery Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Loughborough, Narborough, Hinkley, Oakham, Melton Mowbray £3.50 £2.50  
10/4/77* York, Scarborough Leicester, Loughborough, Beeston, Nottingham, Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Long Eaton, Alfreton & M.P. £3.20 £2.10 National Railway Museum and Seaside
11/4/77* London St. Pancras Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham Loughborough, Leicester, Kettering, Wellingborough £3.30 £1.65 Capital Visit
11/4/77* Matlock Bath, Matlock Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby. £1.45 £0.75  
11/4/77* Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope, Edale Derby, Long Eaton, Beeston, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P. £1.45 £0.75 Ramblers
11/4/77* Portsmouth & Southsea Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on Trent £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
11/4/77* Skegness Alfreton & M.P., Leicester, Loughborough, Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Long Eaton, Beeston, Nottingham £2.00 £1.00 Seaside
11/4/77* Mystery Hinkley, Narborough, Leicester, Loughborough, Kettering, Wellingborough, Alfreton & M.P., Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent £3.30 £2.20  
12/4/77 Skegness Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham £2.00 £1.00 Seaside
16/4/77 Bristol, Exeter, Teignmouth Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
16/4/77 Tenby Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Narborough, Hinkley £4.00 £2.55  
17/4/77 Clacton-on-Sea Loughborough, Leicester, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
23/4/77 Carnforth and Ravenglass Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leiceser, Loughborough, Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby £4.55 £2.60 Rail Enthusiasts Visit to Steamtown Carnforth and Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
30/4/77 Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Leicester, Loughborough, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent £3.85 £2.40 Western Adventurer
1/5/77 Bournemouth, Poole Loughborough, Leicester, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
4/5/77 Blackpool Leicester, Loughborough, Beeston, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P. £3.20 £1.60 Seaside
6/5/77 Plymouth, Liskeard, Par Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Loughborough, Leicester, Hinkley £4.30 £3.30 Overnight Excursion
6/5/77 Truro, St.Erth, Penzance Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Loughborough, Leicester, Hinkley £4.95 £3.65  
7/5/77 Spalding Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Long Eaton, Beeston, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham £1.45 £0.90 Flower Parade
8/5/77 Carlisle Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P., Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Long Eaton £3.40 £1.90 Scenic
12/5/77 Bristol, Weston-super-Mare Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Beeston, long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent £3.20 £2.10 Seaside
14/5/77 Mystery Alfreton & M.P., Beeston, Loughborough, Oakham, Melton Mowbray, Leicester, Kettering, Wellingborough £3.30 £2.20  
14/5/77 Canterbury, Dover Long Eaton, Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicester, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
15/5/77 Weymouth Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent, Leicester, Loughborough £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
15/5/77 Folkstone Matlock, Matlock Bath, Belper, Derby, Long Eaton, Loughborough, Leicester £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
21/5/77 Grange-over-Sands for Windermere Wellingborough, Kettering, Leicester, Loughborough, Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Long Eaton, Beeston, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P. £3.95 £2.65 Lakeside Adventurer
28/5/77 Torquay, Paignton Alfreton & M.P., Beeston, Loughborough, Leicester, Hinkley, Burton-on-Trent, Long Eaton, Derby £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
28/5/77 Alnmouth, Berwick, Edinburgh Wellingborough, Kettering, Leicester, Loughborough, Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Long Eaton, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P. £5.05 £3.75 Scottish Capital Visit
29/5/77 Mystery Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent £3.30 £2.20  
5/6/77 Mystery Loughborough, Leicester, Oakham, Melton Mowbray, Hinkley, Narborough, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough £3.30 £2.20  
5/6/77 London St.Pancras Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Beeston, Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Long Eaton, Loughborough, Leicester, Kettering, Wellingborough £3.30 £1.65 Capital Visit
5/6/77 Bridlington Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Long Eaton, Beeston, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P. £3.20 £2.10 Seaside
5/6/77 Mystery Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent, Matlock, Matlock Bath, Belper £3.30 £2.20  
5/6/77 Mystery Loughborough, Leicester, Oakham, Melton Mowbray, Hinkley, Narborough, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough £3.30 £2.20  
5/6/77 Clacton-on-Sea Loughborough, Leicester, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
5/6/77 Norwich, Yarmouth Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Long Eaton, Beeston, Nottingham, Loughborough, Leicester, Melton Mowbray, Oakham £3.20 £2.10 Seaside
5/6/77 Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope, Edale Derby, Long Eaton, Beeston, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P. £1.45 £0.75 Ramblers
6/6/77 Mystery Loughborough, Narborough, Hinkley, Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Long Eaton, Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Beeston £3.30 £2.20  
6/6/77 Prestatyn, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Alfreton & M.P., Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby £3.20 £2.10 Seaside
6/6/77 Matlock Bath, Matlock Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby £1.45 £0.75  
6/6/77 Bournemouth, Poole Nottingham, Beeston, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent £3.40 £2.25 Seaside
6/6/77 Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope, Edale Derby, Long Eaton, Beeston, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P. £1.45 £0.75 Ramblers
11/6/77 Barry Island Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent £3.30 £2.20 Seaside
12/6/77 Mystery Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough £3.50 £2.50  
13/6/77 Cleethorpes Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough, Beeston, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P. £2.40 £1.50 Seaside
18/6/77 York, Scarborough Wellingborough, Kettering, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P. £3.40 £2.25 National Railway Museum and Seaside
19/6/77 Mystery Burton-on-Trent, Derby, Matlock, Matlock Bath, Belper, Long Eaton, Nottingham, Alfreton & M.P. £3.30 £2.20  
26/6/77 Mystery Wellingborough, Kettering, Market Harborough, Leicester, Loughborough, Oakham, Melton Mowbray £3.50 £2.50  
26/6/77 Welshpool, Towyn, Barmouth, Minffordd, Portmadoc, Pwllheli Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent £3.20 £2.10 "Great Little Trains of Wales" and Seaside

 


Class 20 No. 20 179 pictured at its home depot, Haymarket, during one of the Edinburgh trips, 8th
November 1975.

 

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