A pro-rail company, Compass Tours heavily promoted the advantages of rail as a mode of transport, encouraging passengers to leave their cars and take the train.

The brand was originally conceived in 2003 by Kevin Melia[1] when he joined with two friends, Shaun and Nick to operate 30 August 2003 "The Tayside Liner" railtour from Crewe and stations in Cheshire and Lancashire to Stirling and Perth.

A new company targeting the same customer database and with a similar name involving West Coast Railways and a business partner, commenced operations in 2015.

After a return to operation in May 2015, West Coast Railways reduced the prominence of the Compass brand further, with around half of the original year's programme being cancelled during June.

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.

In 2015, under new ownership, planned steam haulage returned; locomotives used include LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0s numbers 45690 Leander and 45699 Galatea.