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68026 on our Cat & Dock tour (15th June 2017) on the Ormskirk branch. [© Mike Birtles 2017] |
The Branch Line Society
Guest
Fixtures
The Society maintains an active programme of varied outdoor fixtures, and these are run primarily for members. In some cases, especially mainline charter trains, we are pleased to accommodate non-members.
Members receive 24 newsletters per year giving advance notification of events, and benefit from priority booking and discounted fares. You can normally re-coup your membership fee on just one fixture and some fixtures are for members only, so
join us today!
If you are not a member and would like to be kept informed about our fixtures, please click here.
Click on a fixture name below for more details, and to book or notify interest.
Please note that although dates are given as far in advance as possible (in order to allow a measure of planning by intending participants to take place), they must be treated as only provisional until an event is actually open for bookings, as changes can and do occur.
| Saturday 18th May 2019 Closed | Island of Ireland IV Day ThreeDay three of our next Island of Ireland adventure begins in Cork at 07.30 with a full day exploration of the area by executive coach. We start by heading off to Clonakilty Golf Club to ride on the two funicular railways, before calling at West Cork Model Railway Village to view the exhibits and enjoy a private charter on their road train. Next, we make our way to Tralee, to view the stored exhibits of the Tralee and Dingle Railway before moving on to Listowel to ride on the rather unique Lartigue Monorail, and view the museum. Finally, we take the ferry from Tarbert to Killimer to take a ride on the West Clare Railway and visit the Moyasta Musuem, where we expect our private charter to be diesel hauled, before heading back direct to Cork to conclude our special day. This fixture is for members only. |
| Sunday 19th May 2019 Closed | Island of Ireland IV Day Four - The Cork StopperThe Branch Line Society is delighted to announce its second unusual lines charter train in conjunction with Irish Rail. Traversing unusual lines in County Cork and County Kerry, there will be a leg stretch break in Tralee and a photo stop at Mallow.
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| Saturday 1st June 2019 Open for booking | Exbury EucryphiaThanks to our member Rod Bryant, a visit probably starting at 12.00, to the 12¼" gauge, 1¼ mile long, Exbury Steam Railway at Exbury Gardens, Beaulieu, SO45 1AZ. Courtesy of Exbury Estates and railway management we will have two trips covering the very rare station avoiding triangle and the 2018 deviation. |
| Saturday 1st June 2019 Open for booking | Royal RunaboutTo follow Exbury, Rod Bryant has kindly arranged a comprehensive 'all available lines' railtour including rare track, of the complex interesting 10¼" gauge (public run 1,000yd) Royal Victoria Railway, Royal Victoria Park, Netley |
| Sunday 9th June 2019 Open for booking | The Sunday YickerThe Branch Line Society is delighted to announce an unusual short formed loco hauled charter train traversing unusual lines in the North West, with a leg stretch break and photo stop at Liverpool Lime Street. The train will have only three Standard Class and one Brake Composite coaches available and will be hauled by a WCR Class 33 operating in top 'n tail formation with Class 31 31128.
This fixture is for members only. |
| Wednesday 12th June 2019 Notify interest | The Liverpool Lime Street Saveaway TrackerOur member Tom Gilby is kindly leading a sociable group of like minded members on service trains the day before our 'Conwy Cat' tour, with summer daylight until 22.00. Meet Liverpool Lime Street or Liverpool South Parkway armed with an All Zones 'Saveaway' ticket for an all day intensive microgricing itinerary, devised to cover all 10 platforms and eight expected crossovers on the approaches to the remodelled Lime Street. This fixture is for members only. |
| Thursday 13th June 2019 Open for booking | The Conwy CatUpdated routing, click on fixture for further details.
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| Friday 28th June 2019 Notify interest Pay on the day | Blyth & Tyne Signal Box VisitsWith thanks to the indefatigable Nick Jones, the plan is to visit all/most of: Newsham, Bedlington South, Bedlington North, Winning, Freemans, Marchey's House signal boxes and possibly North Seaton and Hirst Lane gate boxes too. This fixture is for members only. |
| Saturday 29th June 2019 Open for booking | The Seaton SurveyorWith thanks to Simon Mortimer, a summer sojourn by the sea at this 2' 9" gauge, 2¾ mile long, tramway along the lovely River Axe estuary, mostly on the old branch. It follows public service, but in daylight hours, for full operational flexibility.
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| Sunday 7th July 2019 to Monday 8th July 2019 Notify interest | The Devon Triangle of Doom TrackerFollowing last summer's Cornwall Service Train Tracker, our member Mark Haggas will kindly lead a group covering the railways of Devon over two long summer days. All possible track on a service train is included from Plymouth (five London end platform approaches) to Axminster & Tiverton Parkway. Also all branches with Okehampton (one reason for a Sunday and Monday) and as many of the rarer/less common platforms and crossovers as possible. The Gunnislake branch and Plymouth country end are in Devon, but were done last year. This fixture is for members only. |
| Saturday 13th July 2019 Open for booking | The Andrew Wilson ('Brillo') Memorial CharterUPDATE: Postponed to Saturday 13th July (was Saturday 5th May). See fixture details for further information.
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| Saturday 20th July 2019 Waiting List | The Luca Pezzulo ExpressThis rather special and unusual Branch Line Society loco hauled charter, operated by West Coast Railways, will be visiting FOUR freight installations in the Network Rail London North East zone. From a traction perspective, we will feature a WCR Class 37 operating in top 'n tail formation with a Colas Rail Class 37. This fixture is now full. If you wish to be added to the waiting list please click on the tour name and click on the "Join waiting list" button - there is no need to send an email. |
| Friday 26th July 2019 to Sunday 28th July 2019 Open for booking | The Carinthia Explorer - All Three DaysNow taking bookings from non-BLS members too.
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| Friday 26th July 2019 Open for booking | The Carinthia Explorer - Day OneNow taking bookings from non-BLS members too.
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| Saturday 27th July 2019 Open for booking | The Carinthia Explorer - Day TwoNow taking bookings from non-BLS members too.
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| Saturday 27th July 2019 Open for booking | The Return of Thunder VacUpdated routing.
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| Sunday 28th July 2019 Full | The Steel City SpecialWe are delighted to announce a special charity charter exploring the Supertram network and reaching areas not normally accessible to the public, including the limited use tracks of 'The Delta' in both directions and will include a visit to the recently opened Rotherham Parkgate Tram Train extension. This fixture is for members only. This fixture has now reached capacity and regrettably, no more bookings can be taken. |
| Sunday 28th July 2019 Open for booking | The Carinthia Explorer - Day ThreeNow taking bookings from non-BLS members too.
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| Saturday 10th August 2019 Save the date | Loco hauled tour Crewe - PortsmouthNo further details are available at present. |
| Monday 26th August 2019 Waiting List | Scunthorpe Steeler No.19 railtourWith over 100 miles of standard gauge track to choose from; a great way to see an operating integrated steel works and 24-hour industrial railway at close quarters set in 200 acres (totally unspoilt by tourism). An extensive full day summer railtour, and it is hoped to include the new line and realignments of its junctions at either end. This fixture is for members only. This fixture is now full. If you wish to be added to the waiting list please click on the tour name and click on the "Join waiting list" button - there is no need to send an email. |
| Friday 6th September 2019 to Sunday 8th September 2019 Save the date | Society Track & Traction railtour in NorwayNo further details are available at present. This fixture is for members only. |
| Saturday 14th September 2019 Save the date | Provisional track railtour to East AngliaNote: re-dated from Saturday 6th April
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| Friday 15th November 2019 to Sunday 17th November 2019 Save the date | Provisional Barrow Hill AGM weekend with Sunday railtourNo further details are available at present. This fixture is for members only. |