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Provisional dates for 2009 tours

Obviously, the following are subject to change at this early stage, but we are currently attempting to organise tours in 2009 on the following dates:

Saturday 25th April 2009 - 1 day tour in Germany, probably based in the Ruhr area using a private operator and a variety of traction.

Saturday 13th June 2009 - 1 day tour in Belgium using B-Holding stock as we did in October of this year.

Week commencing 6th September - multi day tour in Europe, with more details to be announced when possible.

There is also a possibility of a tour in October but no dates are available yet.

Insufficient interest has been shown either by e-mail, or as a result of canvassing passengers on the 'Fallen Heroes' tour, for the proposed railtour in Lithuania which we were thinking to run in either late April or early May 2009 - our thanks go to those who did express an interest however we will not now be pursuing this tour option.

Saturday 18th October - "The Fallen Heroes"

Another successful tour and despite a little late running during the day we hope everyone had an enjoyable time.

Our thanks are due to SNCB Nostalgie for the provision of the main train, 5910 and 5166 performed faultlessly and it was nice to see and hear them again.

We would also like to thank Stoomcentrum Maldegem for the provision of their train and the narrow gauge trip with the newly restored Moes diesel, and the Belgische Vrienden van de Stoomlocomotief for the buffet and bar they provided for us.

Saturday/Sunday 21st/22nd June - "All Good Things" & "Blaze of Glory"

With last weekends railtours in the Netherlands now behind us, Mercia Charters hope those on the train will agree it was a very good weekends railtouring despite the various changes that took place to the advertised route and traction, both on the run up to and over the weekend itself. Mercia Charters would like to thank all passengers for their understanding, your support is much appreciated.

Our thanks are also due to ACTS in particular for their significant support over the past few weeks and over the weekend as, without their efforts, the trains very probably would not have run.

Thanks also go to the VSM buffet staff for keeping us all fed and watered over the weekend (even though we ran them out of rolls on Saturday!).

Finally, Natasja in the buffet was well pleased with the number
of "bugs" that were donated by passengers for her collection!