 |
On 9th April 2017, Chiltern Railway's 121034 stands in Bicester MoD Goods Loop on our Bubble and Squeak Tracker railtour. [© Geoff Plumb] |
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.
| Wednesday 23rd October 2019 Open for booking | The Kernow FunicularA Society first, trips on two significant funicular railways in Cornwall which the public are not permitted to ride on. |
| Saturday 26th October 2019 Open for booking | The Eastbourne Miniature Magical Mystery (tour)A visit to the 7¼" gauge Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway. Expected to last about 1½ hours. The Railway (public run 880yds) has offered a chance to travel over the long and rarely used (inner) P2 behind the steam locomotive in use on the day. Additional sections may be available towards the end of their operational day once the more regular clientele complete their visits. |
| Saturday 26th October 2019 Open for booking | The Isfield InvestigatorA private Society Track & Traction Event on the standard gauge Lavender Line. The Railway has been most accommodating offering a chance to travel behind (or inside!) most of their internal combustion fleet and traverse many sections of track never normally available as they are usually full of stock. A variety of motive power is anticipated. |
| Friday 15th November 2019 Open for booking | The North Derbyshire AGM Warm UpThe day starts with the Golden Valley Light Railway at the Midland Railway Centre (Swanwick). Next is the adjacent Butterley Park Miniature Railway. After lunch we travel to the Derbyshire Dales for the Wirksworth Miniature Railway. Our final miniature of the day is the Hall Leys Miniature Railway in the former spa town of Matlock. This fixture is for members only. |
| Saturday 16th November 2019 Waiting List | The AGM Roundhouse ExplorerA diesel hauled exploration of the infrastructure of the Barrow Hill site, riding in our mess van Molly. 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. |
| Saturday 16th November 2019 Open for booking | AGM Film Presentation & BuffetAndy Main, a well known member with an interest in Minor Railways will present some of his films after our AGM These generally feature standard, narrow gauge and miniature railways, some during Society events. This fixture is for members only. |
| Saturday 16th November 2019 Notify interest | ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGThe Society's 2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) will be held at the Barrow Hill Engine Shed Café, Café, Barrow Hill Engine Shed, Campbell Drive, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield S43 2PR. Members are invited to attend, express their views on the issues discussed, which include two Committee sponsored resolutions, celebrate our wide provision of unique railway infrastructure-related services and look forward to future opportunities. This fixture is for members only. |
| Sunday 17th November 2019 Open for booking | The Sunday AGM DashEnjoy a pre-AGM railtour morning dash across the border into North Nottinghamshire with a comprehensive visit to the very friendly Sherwood Forest Railway. This fixture is for members only. |
| Sunday 17th November 2019 Open for booking | The Roundhouse RotatorA Track & Traction tour operated by West Coast Railways (WCR) with an ETH Class 47/4 (47828 requested) operating 'top & tail' with BR Blue liveried Class 31 31128. Due to operational constraints it is limited to only four vehicles and will book very rapidly. |
| Friday 22nd November 2019 Open for booking | Grifftonbury 2019Following last years successful Grifftonbury 2018 musical extravaganza, Cut and Run and East Midlands Railway have decided to do it all again!!
|
| Sunday 8th December 2019 Open for booking | The Bootle BrushA Track & Traction tour operated by West Coast Railways (WCR) with two WCR Class 47s 'top & tail' - most unusual on the Merseyrail network. Due to operational constraints it is limited to four vehicles and will book very rapidly. This fixture is for members only. |
| Saturday 14th December 2019 Notify interest Pay on the day | BLS Men of SteelFarewell to British Steel Redcar station.
|
| Saturday 4th January 2020 Save the date | 2020 Scunthorpe 20th Cold Steel TrackerUpdate: 01/10/19: Postponed, to avoid probable non-BLS tour clash. New date to be advised when confirmed.
This fixture is for members only. |
| Tuesday 28th January 2020 Notify interest | The Madrid CircumnavigatorPlease note the second change of date (previously advised as Saturday 2nd November 2019 and then Friday 24th Jan 2020).
|
| Thursday 30th April 2020 to Sunday 3rd May 2020 Save the date | Island of Ireland V weekendPlease note the change of dates to avoid a tour clash (previously advised as Thursday 7th May to Sunday 10th May 2020).
|
| Saturday 2nd May 2020 Save the date | All day 'stand alone' Dublin based Irish Rail tourPlease note the change of date to avoid a tour clash (previously advised as Saturday 9th May 2020).
|
| Sunday 31st May 2020 to Sunday 7th June 2020 Save the date | Northern Sweden RailtourThe plan is to use loco-hauled stock with a restaurant car to do freight lines and non-passenger curves in Northern Sweden not covered by recent tours. |
| Friday 26th June 2020 to Sunday 28th June 2020 Notify interest | The Niedersachsen ExplorerA three day BLS tour of freight lines of the Osthannoversche Eisenbahn in northern Germany by loco hauled train. |
| Saturday 15th August 2020 Save the date | Lengthy private 15" railway in BuckinghamshireNo further details are available at present. This fixture is for members only. |