The Belmond Brtiannic Explorer Gallery

Images of the Belmond Brtiannic Explorer. The Britannic Explorer's history is steeped in Irish heritage. Originally built in the 1980s as Mark 3 carriages for Irish Rail, these coaches were later acquired and transformed into the Belmond Grand Hibernian. From 2016 to 2019, the Grand Hibernian brought luxury rail travel to Ireland, offering tours of the country's stunning landscapes. Following its service in Ireland, the carriages were relocated to England and completely redesigned to become the Britannic Explorer set, to begin a new chapter of luxury journeys in Great Britain. GBRf operate the train on behalf of Belmond and is hauled by two Class 66 locomotives in ‘top and tail’ formation.

24th October 2026 The Britannic Explorer Class 66 No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' makes a rare run-round via Platform 4 at Taunton on Saturday 26th October 2026. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' then joined No. 66760 'David Gordon Harris' to double-head 1C09 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance from Taunton. (Photo: Nathan Williamson)

24th October 2026 After its overnight stop on the West Somerset Railway. The Britannic Explorer luxury land cruise arrives at Taunton Station on Saturday 24th October 2026. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' led 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance into Platform 2 before running around the luxury train to join partner No. 66760 'David Gordon Harris' for a double-headed run to Penzance. (Photo: Nathan Wailliamson)

17th October 2026 The Britannic Explorer was back in Taunton on Saturday 17th October 2026 for an Autumnal trip to Penzance. GBRf Class 66 locomotives No. 66760 'David Gordon Harris' and No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' operated 1C02 09:00 from Bishops Lydeard to Penzance. With the GBRf-liveried locomotive having run around the train in Fairwater Yard, the pair departed for Penzance, passing Silk Mills. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

3rd October 2026 GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' is pictured on the rear of the Britannic Explorer at Taunton on Saturday 3rd September 2026. Sister locomotive No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' had arrived with 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance, before running round the Britannic Explorer to head south towards Cornwall. The train suffered a rare breakdown on the return Sunday trip to Bruton at Taunton. Arriving at 16:23, running 38 minutes early with No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' leading the train. The loco failed and required No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' to move from the rear of the train to the front, finally departing at 19:15 (133 minutes late). Passengers were later treated to a Class 69 replacement of No. 69009 'Western Consort' for their next day's travel. (Photo: Chris Shewry)

20th September 2026 The Belmond Britannic Explorer luxury train passed back through Taunton on Sunday 20th September 2026. No. 66706 'Nene Valley' operated in top and tail formation with No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' as 1Z06 09:40 Lostwithiel Down Goods Loop - Bruton, where passengers will disembark for a gallery visit and evening meal. They rejoin the train later in the evening to stay overnight on the East Somerset Railway. (Photo: Kian Westlake)

19th September 2026 Having spent the night on the West Somerset Railway, the Belmond Britannic Explorer is pictured passing Norton Fitzwarren on Saturday 19th September 2026. The dedicated Class 66 was missing for this trip, which provided the opportunity to capture a double-headed GBRf-liveried Class 66 pairing. No. 66706 'Nene Valley' and No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' pass Norton Fitzwarren operating 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

30th August 2026 Having spent the weekend in Cornwall, the warmth and opulence of the Britannic Explorer would have been the best place to ride out the torrential downpours over the weekend period. No. 66764 'Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman' leads No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' north through Taunton on 30th August 2026. The pair were returning east as 1Z06 09:40 Lostwithiel Down Goods Loop - Cranmore. (Photo: Kian Westlake)

29th August 2026 The Britannic Explorer Luxury Train is pictured stabled in the morning rain at Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 29th August 2026. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' and No. 66764 'Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman' had arrived the previous night from London Victoria; passengers were waking up to the sounds of WSR Hydraulic Diesels preparing for the Diesels at 65 event. No. 66764 'Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman' and No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' later operated 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

29th August 2026 The Britannic Explorer Luxury Train is pictured stabled in the morning rain at Bishops Lydeard on Saturday 29th August 2026. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' and No. 66764 'Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman' had arrived the previous night from London Victoria; passengers were waking up to the sounds of WSR Hydraulic Diesels preparing for the Diesels at 65 event. No. 66764 'Major John Poyntz Engineer & Railwayman' and No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' later operated 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

22nd August 2026 Operating the late-running Britannic Explorer luxury charter No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' and No. 66740 'Sarah' pass Allerford with the 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard to Penzance Belmond luxury rail cruise. The train was so late exiting from the West Somerset Railway that there was no time for the usual locomotive run-round manoeuvre on arrival at Taunton. Dedicated GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' leads the tour into Devon and Cornwall for the second consecutive time, with GBRf No. 66740 'Sarah' remaining attached to the rear of the train. (Photo: S A Ginn)

22nd August 2026 The Britannic Explorer departed from the West Somerset Railway late on Saturday 22nd August 2026. No. 66740 'Sarah' and No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' operated in top and tail formation as 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance. The luxury train departed at 10:44 (104 minutes late), assumed to be down to required rest conditions for crew and the late arrival from London the night before. To save time in Taunton, the locos remained in top and tail formation for the run to Penzance rather than performing a run-round to double-head west. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

21st August 2026 The GBRf-operated Belmond Britannic Explorer luxury train operated on Friday 21st August 2026. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' and No. 66740 'Sarah' top and tailed 1V01 15:48 London Victoria - Bishops Lydeard. The train was exceptionally late, departing London 110 minutes late at 17:38 and arriving into Taunton 114 minutes late at 21:19. No. 66740 'Sarah' is pictured at the rear of the train before continuing onto the West Somerset Railway and onwards to Minehead. (Photo: Chris Shewry)

8th August 2026 The Belmond Britannia Explorer luxury charter departed from Taunton on Saturday 8th August 2026 with No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' leading No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' for the first time since the operation started. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' and No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' departed Silk Mills as 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance. (Photo: Phil Izzard)

7th August 2026 GBRf operated The Britannic Explorer on Friday 7th August 2026. No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' and No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' operated in top and tail formation as 1V01 15:48 London Victoria - Bishops Lydeard. For the first time, the GBRf-liveried locomotive led the luxury train west, with the Britannic Explorer locomotive on the rear. The charter arrived into Taunton running 57 minutes late, having been diverted via Swindon and Bristol due to Network Rail issues near Theale. (Photo: Kian Westlake)

24th July 2026 The Britannic Explorer was back on another three-day trip to the Southwest on Friday 24th July 2026. Dedicated GBRf Class 66 No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' led the luxury train from London Victoria in top and tail formation with No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' as 1V01 15:48 London Victoria - Bishops Lydeard. Having arrived onto the West Somerset Railway, the pair continued through to Minehead for an evening dinner at Kerr Moor. The train is pictured passing Watersmeet in the evening sunlight, climbing to Crowcombe. Image taken on a camera pole. (Photo: Adam Snow)

24th July 2026 The Britannic Explorer luxury train was back in Somerset on Friday 24th July 2026. Dedicated locomotives No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' and No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' operated in a top-and-tail formation to the West Somerset Railway. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' is pictured leading 1V01 15:48 London Victoria - Bishops Lydeard. The train later continued through to Minehead with a stop at Kerr Moor. (Photo: Brian Garrett)

18th July 2026 The Britannic Explorer charter is pictured at Taunton on Saturday 18th July 2026. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' and No. 66745 'Wigan Springs Branch' operated 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance, arriving into Taunton in top and tail formation, before returning to Fairwater Yard to perform a run-round before proceeding to Penzance. (Photo: Matt Powell)

17th July 2026 The Britannic Explorer luxury charter train was back in the south west on Friday, 17th July 2026. No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' operated in 'top and tail' formation with newly named No. 66745 'Wigan Springs Branch'. The 1V01 15:48 London Victoria - Bishops Lydeard service is pictured passing Silk Mills before crossing over to the West Somerset Railway at Norton Fitzwarren. (Photo: Adam Hiscock)

17th July 2026 The GBRf-operated Belmond Britannic Explorer returned to Somerset on the 17th July 2026. As booked, the train operated in top and tail formation with No. 66748 'St Michaels Mount' leading and No. 66745 'Wigan Springs Branch' at the rear. The train is pictured passing Creech St Michael operating 1V01 15:48 London Victoria - Bishops Lydeard. (Photo: Kian Westlake)

4th July 2026 Having spent the night on the West Somerset Railway, the Britannic Explorer continued west on Saturday, 4th July 2026. No. 66751 'Inspiration Delivered Hitachi Rail Europe' and No. 66744 'Heart of Wales' double-headed from Taunton Station as 1C02 09:00 Bishops Lydeard - Penzance via Taunton Station. - Image taken on a camera pole (Photo: Brian Garrett)

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