The Baker’s Dozen – Rebaked!

Saturday 28th June 2025

We thought our original ‘Baker’s Dozen’ tour that we ran in 2023 was the ultimate challenge. Our mission then was to visit thirteen London Termini in one day which, using the excellent Hastings DEMU, we accomplished. Today we will set out to repeat our quest – only this time we aim to achieve it ‘loco- hauled’!  Our train will comprise of just two hundred seats on board LUL’s historic 4TC set. Traction will comprise of 71A Group’s 33012 assisted by a GBRf class 66 freight locomotive.

Our tour starts at Tonbridge in the early hours of Saturday morning – an unfortunate necessity if we are to visit London’s Charing Cross station with locomotives in passenger service – something which has rarely been done this century!

After leaving Charing Cross – and still in the early hours of morning – we make the short hop from Charing Cross to Cannon Street using the highly sought after Metropolitan curve. Once regularly used during engineering disruptions, this length of track is now almost exclusively used by empty coaching stock trains…until today.

If our journey time to Cannon Street was short, it will take us somewhat longer to reach our next station call – London Liverpool Street. We expect to be routed via Brixton, Kensington Olympia, Gospel Oak and Highbury & Islington before arrival at Liverpool Street.

We hope to depart London Liverpool Street no earlier than 07.30 and thereafter we expect to run:

London Liverpool Street – Stratford – London Fenchurch St – Ferme Park Reception (REV) – London Kings Cross – Hornsey Reversing Siding (REV) – Copenhagen Jn – Primrose Hill – Kilburn Up and Down Goods Loop (REV) – Euston – Acton Canal Wharf – West Hampstead Thameslink – London St Pancras International – Neasden Jn – West Ruislip (REV) – London Marylebone – Neasden Jn (REV) – London Paddington (REV) – Hanwell Bridge Loop (REV) – Acton Wells Jn – Kensington Olympia – London Waterloo – Linford viaduct – Loughborough Jn – London Blackfriars – Brixton – London Victoria – Herne Hill – Crystal Palace – London Bridge.

Mission accomplished – our train will then return to Tonbridge where it will be serviced overnight in preparation for our complimentary tour the following day – ‘The Curvy Weaver’ – which visits several unusual railway lines in London including a thorough exploration of Alstom’s sidings in the complex at Wembley.

This is a rare and possibly once-only opportunity to visit thirteen London Termini on a loco hauled train in one day and we expect this tour to fill fast. Therefore, an early application for tickets is very much advised! Please note that due to the limited capacity of the 4TC we have needed to increase our fares to ensure we cover our costs. We kindly thank you for your understanding in this matter and look forward to seeing you onboard.

UK Railtours would like to thank GBRf and Network Rail for their assistance in planning this tour.

All timings are VERY provisional and intended only as an VERY APPROXIMATE guide. Passengers may alight from/rejoin the train from any of the London Termini stations during reversals albeit timings are not currently available.

Please note that First Class accommodation is in compartments of six seats. There are no First Class Dining or Junior fares on this train. A buffet car serving hot and cold drinks and snacks will be available. 

‘The Long Weekend Rover’ ticket permits the same passenger travel on each of our three tours over the weekend; Fri 27th June –  ‘Another Really Good Positioning Tour’; Sat 28th June – ‘The Baker’s Dozen – Rebaked’; Sun 29th June ‘The Curvy Weaver’ at a discounted rate and can only be obtained by calling the UKR office on 01438 715050. This offer cannot be used in combination with any other discount.

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