Operations
Steam operations
In 2011, Compass Tours ran its first steam operations with five Mersey Moorlander trips running every Monday during August. This service operated from Crewe via Liverpool to Preston, where the steam engine was attached to run to Carlisle via the Settle & Carlisle line and returning directly to Preston via the West Coast Main Line. Locomotives used for the trips included LMS Black 5 45305, BR Britannia Pacific 70013 Oliver Cromwell and LMS Black 5 45231 The Sherwood Forester. Most of the initial excursions were a notable success, although a cylinder failure on 45321, the locomotive on the final tour, caused a failure at Hellifield on the outward leg.
Following on from the success of the initial tours, in 2012 Compass Tours ran a second set of three steam tours, this time to York, under the name of The Roses Express for three Wednesdays during April. The tours operated from Southport on 4 April, Barrow-in-Furness on 11 April and finally Hooton on 18 April, of the 3 only the Southport to York trip was steam hauled throughout with the other two having diesel haulage from the start to certain locations where the steam engines were attached. Locomotives used for these trips were LMS Stanier 8F 48151 and LMS Royal Scot 46115 Scots Guardsman. 48151 worked 4 and 18 April tours with 46115 only working 11 April's service from Barrow-in-Furness.
The Mersey Moorlander services had a resurgence in 2012, with two dates in July and the remainder being on Mondays during August. Unlike the 2011 services, hauled by a multitude of locomotives, all of the 2012 excursions were hauled by LMS Black 5 45305.
In 2013 a number of steam excursions were planned to run. However, the first services were plagued by problems; LMS 8F 48151 failed at Carlisle with the White Rose Moorlander, due to a broken spring. The Yorkshire Coast Express also suffered problems when the same locomotive caused numerous fires on the return trip which resulted in its removal at York. Out of the three further tours that were planned only one went ahead, with LMS Black 5 44932 hauling The Fylde Coast Express from Carlisle to Blackpool North.
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No steam trips were planned for 2014, however rather quietly it was decided that one portion of the multiday West Highlander was to be steam hauled between Crianlarich and Oban with the locomotive being confirmed as LMS Black 5 45407 The Lancashire Fusilier, unusually with 44871 on the rear providing a hitherto unseen sight of top and tail steam locomotives hauling air-conditioned Mark 2F stock. This was because of a shortage of lightweight diesel locomotives being available for the trip in to Oban, where Route Availability requirements are stringent. They were provided at no extra cost to Compass Tours.
In 2015, under new ownership, planned steam haulage returned; locomotives used include LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0s numbers 45690 Leander and 45699 Galatea.
Rolling stock used
In its 12-year history, Compass Tours never owned any rolling stock but hired in coaches and locomotives from a train operating company or locomotive preservation group as required.
In later years it used West Coast Railways, based at Carnforth MPD to provide both locomotives and rolling stock, but also used DB Schenker, Cotswold Rail, FM Rail, Direct Rail Services, Freightliner, Riviera Trains, Class 40 Preservation Group and AC Locomotive Group. The Compass Tours archive shows a full list of previously used locomotives.
Social responsibility and charity operations
Until cessation of operations at the end of 2014, Compass Tours supported AYME - the Association of Young People with ME through an organised charity raffle and a collection box on-board most of its commercially operated charter services. Over £100,000 was raised for the charity over the 12 years. Additional on board raffles were occasionally used to raise funds for the owning/operating group of the locomotive on the tour (such as Class 40 Preservation Society when tours are hauled by 40145 "East Lancashire Railway").
