Branchline Society Mainline Railtour Fixtures 2022

[Iskra]

For those who don't know, the Branchline Society organise a number of interesting mainline tours across the year aimed at the enthusiast market, often including rarer stretches of track. They also produce a very interesting bi-weekly news letter (it's often up to 200 pages, so not really a letter) on railway goings on, which is worth the £12 membership fee alone.

BLS Home Page

UK organisation established in 1955 for the study of railway infrastructure and history of networks

www.branchline.uk

They have released initial information on some of their fixtures for 2022:

Sunday 13th February- Batteries Not Included. An exploration of the Mersey Rail Network with class 507/508 units.

Friday 8th April- Sunday 10th April- A North East track tour, Loco Hauled. Details TBC

Saturday 23rd April- South Coast Branches, Loco Hauled. Details TBC

Monday 2nd of May- TP Class 68 to Saltburn. Details TBC.

Saturday 28th May- Cornish Branches, Loco Hauled. Details TBC.

Friday 3rd of June. Mainline steam to Windsor for the Queen's Jubilee. Details TBC.

Saturday 18th June and Sunday 19th June- Portsmouth and Isle Of Wight Weekend. Details TBC

Monday 18th of July- London-Edinburgh mainline steam. Details TBC

Saturday 6th of August - East Anglian Branches, Loco Hauled. Details TBC.

Friday 2nd of September to Sunday 4th of September. Track tour to Felixstowe. Details TBC.

Saturday 10th of September and Sunday 11th of September. Scottish Branches, Loco Hauled. Details TBC.

Saturday 3rd, 10th, 17th of December. Santa Expresses.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Although details are understandably a bit thin on the ground at the moment, there's something for everyone in that lot. Personally, the loco-hauled tours on branchlines normally served by units in Scotland, Cornwall and the South Coast tours look the most interesting ones for me. London-Edinburgh steam sounds pretty special, however.

 

[nanstallon]

This sounds very interesting. My 2022 diary will be getting filled in with those dates. I wonder which Cornish branches will feature in the tour on 28th May - Gunnislake, Looe, St Ives?

 

[Iskra]

This sounds very interesting. My 2022 diary will be getting filled in with those dates. I wonder which Cornish branches will feature in the tour on 28th May - Gunnislake, Looe, St Ives?

I think St Erth is out of the question, due to the frequency of the normal rail service I don't believe it's possible- I think Falmouth might be a similar situation. Newquay would be one of the easier ones to do I suspect, plus there's the prospect of heading to the freight-only Fowey line. Although, wherever it goes it should be a good tour as it's a beautiful part of the world.

I didn't actually realise that Gunnislake is in Cornwall, I always assumed it was Devon since it's served from Plymouth, so thanks for enlightening me on that one.

 

[nanstallon]

...

I didn't actually realise that Gunnislake is in Cornwall, I always assumed it was Devon since it's served from Plymouth, so thanks for enlightening me on that one.

People have died for less! This delightful branch is in Devon from Plymouth to Bere Alston (part of the old main line, which went on to Okehampton and Exeter), but then from Bere Alston the remnant of the Callington branch goes down to Calstock viaduct and into Cornwall. A grand trip, if you haven't done it yet.

Personally, I'm a Devonshire boy, and still eat my scones with cream first and jam on top, but have lived in Cornwall for 40 years, so have a foot in both camps.

 

[Iskra]

People have died for less! This delightful branch is in Devon from Plymouth to Bere Alston (part of the old main line, which went on to Okehampton and Exeter), but then from Bere Alston the remnant of the Callington branch goes down to Calstock viaduct and into Cornwall. A grand trip, if you haven't done it yet.

Personally, I'm a Devonshire boy, and still eat my scones with cream first and jam on top, but have lived in Cornwall for 40 years, so have a foot in both camps.

Every day is a school day! I’m looking forward to travelling the line hopefully soon

 

[CW2]

It's many years since I've been to Gunnislake, but from memory the reversal facility at Bere Alston is quite restrictive in terms of maximum train length. The gradient up to Gunnislake is also quite ferocious. Back in 2007 there were tours from Plymouth to Bere Alston with 37410 top and tail with 45407 on load 7, but Bere Alston was as far up the branch as they could go.

 

[John Luxton]

It's many years since I've been to Gunnislake, but from memory the reversal facility at Bere Alston is quite restrictive in terms of maximum train length. The gradient up to Gunnislake is also quite ferocious. Back in 2007 there were tours from Plymouth to Bere Alston with 37410 top and tail with 45407 on load 7, but Bere Alston was as far up the branch as they could go.

I have been to Bere Alston quite often, only there last month. Track passes through the down platform and curves out of sight towards Tavistock. Much more than enough room for a two car DMU - probably get a 4 carriage train top and tailed easily - perhaps 5?

Gradient is quite severe as you say above Calstock plus there is the stop and whistle open crossing to cope with which has to be dealt with from a standing start on the way up!

 

[47827]

10th and 11th September should hopefully the best one but the Cornish branches would be good if the traction was of any interest.

 

[Iskra]

The 3rd of June mainline steam tour from Crewe to Eton and Windsor Riverside traction has now been announced, with it being fittingly steam hauled by Britannia.

10th and 11th September should hopefully the best one but the Cornish branches would be good if the traction was of any interest.

The Cornish branches tour unfortunately appears to have been dropped, presumably due to difficulties fitting in and around the GWR services. I think it was always going to be a difficult one to deliver.

 

[47827]

The 3rd of June mainline steam tour from Crewe to Eton and Windsor Riverside traction has now been announced, with it being fittingly steam hauled by Britannia.


The Cornish branches tour unfortunately appears to have been dropped, presumably due to difficulties fitting in and around the GWR services. I think it was always going to be a difficult one to deliver.

Sundays off season if no engineering works are the only option, unless overnight running can be agreed. Most of the Cornish branches have little or no spare capacity. Missed the last one in Cornwall I wanted to do down to Looe due to lack of funds and being in my last few months living out of the UK.

 

[47593]

I did the Looe branch a couple of weeks back.... what a lovely line it is. Would be nice to trundle down there with a decent loco.

 

[47827]

I did the Looe branch a couple of weeks back.... what a lovely line it is. Would be nice to trundle down there with a decent loco.

I went once on a sprinter of some sort in the late 90s off the Night Riviera. Didn't overly appreciate at that time of day!

 

[nanstallon]

I did the Looe branch a couple of weeks back.... what a lovely line it is. Would be nice to trundle down there with a decent loco.

I did the Looe branch a couple of weeks back.... what a lovely line it is. Would be nice to trundle down there with a decent loco.

Any loco would do, as far as i am concerned!

 

[The exile]

Any loco would do, as far as i am concerned!

And even nicer to “trundle” back up again!

 

[MiNi]

I did the Looe branch a couple of weeks back.... what a lovely line it is. Would be nice to trundle down there with a decent loco.

Quite a few of us did it with top and tail 47's on BLS charter a few years ago.

 

[47827]

Quite a few of us did it with top and tail 47's on BLS charter a few years ago.

I know dozens of folk who did. If it had run just 2 or 3 months later I'd have been able to do it.

 

[nanstallon]

And even nicer to “trundle” back up again!

Why? Looe is a very nice place to be stuck in.

 

[Bevan Price]

I did the Looe branch a couple of weeks back.... what a lovely line it is. Would be nice to trundle down there with a decent loco.

Only been to Looe (& back) once - to the original station, with a 45xx 2-6-2T.

 

[Gazzab65]

BLS website now states that the loco hauled tour on 28/05/22 is no longer going to Cornwall but Lincolnshire instead.

 

[MiNi]

BLS website now states that the loco hauled tour on 28/05/22 is no longer going to Cornwall but Lincolnshire instead.

50's to Skegness

 

[47827]

.

50's to Skegness

Similar to what the owner of the 50 was hoping to do a couple of years ago. Imagine it'll be SLC the newly licensed TOC doing it if it's that 50 again as they hire it for stuff a lot already.

 

[OliverH68]

The Royal Charter from Crewe, Stafford & Nuneaton to Windsor on Friday 3rd June is now open for bookings. First class throughout with an option of premier dining too.

The 2nd May fixture has been deferred due to resourcing issues it seems.

 

[MiNi]

The Royal Charter from Crewe, Stafford & Nuneaton to Windsor on Friday 3rd June is now open for bookings. First class throughout with an option of premier dining too.

The 2nd May fixture has been deferred due to resourcing issues it seems.

yes 2nd May has been deferred but a Tyne/Tees weekend tour 8th-10th April has appeared

 

[JonathanH]

a Tyne/Tees weekend tour 8th-10th April has appeared

That one has reappeared. It had previously dropped off the list.

 

[Kite159]

I would imagine details of that Tyne/Tees weekend 8-10th April might appear with the next newsletter on Friday, solely to allow passengers to try and book up accommodation for the area the train goes to on Friday/Saturday. Even if it's not full details.

 

[The exile]

Why? Looe is a very nice place to be stuck in.

While the anticipation of the joys to come might be greater on the journey towards Looe (I'm sure there would be some people absolutely hopping up and down in their desperation to get there), in terms of loco-haulage, the trip back up to Liskeard is likely to provide more entertainment (of the audio variety, certainly!)

 

[nanstallon]

While the anticipation of the joys to come might be greater on the journey towards Looe (I'm sure there would be some people absolutely hopping up and down in their desperation to get there), in terms of loco-haulage, the trip back up to Liskeard is likely to provide more entertainment (of the audio variety, certainly!)

Yes, the climb up from Coombe Jct to the main line at Liskeard, loco hauled, would be pretty hellfire!

 

[The exile]

Yes, the climb up from Coombe Jct to the main line at Liskeard, loco hauled, would be pretty hellfire!

I’m envisaging traction with just enough power available ( but only just!) and a light drizzle! The thought brightens up a Friday afternoon in the office!

 

[theblackwatch]

I would imagine details of that Tyne/Tees weekend 8-10th April might appear with the next newsletter on Friday, solely to allow passengers to try and book up accommodation for the area the train goes to on Friday/Saturday. Even if it's not full details.

From the latest BLN, you may wish to look at somewhere in the Donkeycaster area.

 

[Kite159]

From the latest BLN, you may wish to look at somewhere in the Donkeycaster area.

With maybe a hotel in the Scotland area on the Thursday/Sunday night as the stock is from the Scottish Railway Preservation Society.

No doubt the premier Inn near Doncaster station will have put their prices up with the demand from bookers