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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 8th December 2018 Closed | Carnforth Charity Charter CrackerWest Coast Railways (WCR) with BLS and PLEG are delighted to announce a rare Track & Traction event at WCR's Carnforth base. Subject to line availability, (which should be better than usual as three trains are due out)/operational constraints, the train will cover as many tracks as safely available.
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| Saturday 5th January 2019 Full | Scunthorpe Cold Steel Tracker No.17Make an early New Year resolution (to go on more BLS fixtures) now and book our first one of 2019. It is a good time to visit as internal traffic is quieter after Christmas with some great photo opportunities. An interesting and unique experience, enjoy it while you still can. Over 100 miles of standard gauge track at one of the UK's last 24 hour integrated steelworks in 200 acres (totally unspoilt by tourism). A great way to see an operating steelworks at close quarters. This fixture is for members only. This fixture has now reached capacity and regrettably, no more bookings can be taken. |
| Saturday 26th January 2019 Save the date | Charity railtour West/South YorkshireNo further details are available at present. |
| Saturday 2nd February 2019 Open for booking | The Positioning MoveThis single journey forms the first part of a rather special weekend of loco-hauled railtouring with West Coast Railways (WCR) in partnership with Brush Type 4 Fund, featuring two Class 47 locomotives to Bristol via The Marches. There are a wide range of hotels (and bars!) in Bristol making this an easy social day out with some unusual routing along the way, and an ideal 'positioning move' for Sunday! |
| Sunday 3rd February 2019 Open for booking | The Looe BrushThis charter is the second part of a rather special weekend of loco-hauled railtouring with West Coast Railways (WCR) in partnership with Brush Type 4 Fund, featuring two Class 47 locomotives operating top 'n tail from Bristol Temple Meads to lovely Looe and return. This can only be done during the winter Sunday timetable when there is no branch service. |
| Saturday 23rd February 2019 Waiting List | The Woodhorn WandererWith thanks to John Cameron, a limited numbers late afternoon visit to the 1,000yd long, 2ft gauge Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, QEII Country Park, Ashington, NE63 9YF at the former Woodhorn Colliery, now a museum. Railtouring in three man riding vehicles from Vane Tempest Colliery, it is hoped to have two different locos operating, the round trip takes 20 minutes. 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. |
| Sunday 24th February 2019 Full | The South Gosforth AvoiderWith thanks to John Cameron and Nexus (Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive) a further charity railtour has kindly been arranged which complements our Feb 2018 tour. Details are being finalised but it leaves South Gosforth at 08.41, returning at 16.05 This fixture is for members only. This fixture has now reached capacity and regrettably, no more bookings can be taken. |
| Wednesday 27th February 2019 Open for booking | The Swanage ShuntersWith 08436 and 08476 in top 'n tail formation and two Queen Mary Brake Vans, our unusual lines charter reaches parts of the Swanage Railway that other charters cannot reach and is strictly limited to 50 participants. This fixture is for members only. |
| Saturday 23rd March 2019 Save the date | Railtour via the Marches line to WeymouthNo further details are available at present. |
| Sunday 24th March 2019 Save the date | Tentative date for the Ruby Vampire rerunNo further details are available at present. This fixture is for members only. |
| Saturday 30th March 2019 to Sunday 31st March 2019 Save the date | North Wales narrow gauge weekendNo further details are available at present. This fixture is for members only. |
| Saturday 6th April 2019 Save the date | Provisional track railtour to East AngliaNo further details are available at present. |
| Saturday 13th April 2019 Save the date | Weston, Nantwich Methodist Church & Willaston RailwaysNo further details are available at present. This fixture is for members only. |
| Thursday 16th May 2019 to Sunday 19th May 2019 Save the date | Island of Ireland IV (2019)No further details are available at present. This fixture is for members only. |
| Thursday 13th June 2019 Save the date | Annual Pre-Peaks Challenge railtourNo further details are available at present. |
| Sunday 7th July 2019 to Monday 8th July 2019 Save the date | Devon service train trackerNo further details are available at present. This fixture is for members only. |
| Friday 26th July 2019 to Sunday 28th July 2019 Notify interest | Carinthia ExplorerNegotiations/arrangements for a 3-day visit to the Carinthia area of southern Austria are at an advanced stage. To gauge interest and assist with organisation and pricing, expressions of interest are requested ASAP to confirm viability. |
| 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. |