Class 50 locomotives to take part in Branch Line Society tour

The Branch Line Society has announced an unusual loco-hauled charter for a trip along the Hampshire and Sussex coast.

The Branch Line Society (BLS) has revealed that the charter will use Mark One coaching stock whilst exploring branch lines usually travelled by multiple units. This charter will see the Cliftonville Spur near Brighton, Newhaven Marine and Ore Up Siding explored.

During the charter, which is set to run on the 23rd April 2022, a raffle will be held to raise money for Trussell Trust and the BLS Buffet Car will be serving a good range of drinks, snacks and light refreshments including a selection of hand-pulled real ales.

Photography opportunities have also been put in place at the twelve reversal points along with an extended leg-stretching break at Eastbourne.

Run by SLC Operations, the charter will see more than 400 miles of top n tail English Electric Class 50 haulage with Hanson & Hall’s 50008 Thunderer alongside one of the Kidderminster based Class 50 Alliance locos.

Provisional routes and timings are as follows:

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Eastleigh P3 (PU 05.20) – Dn Slow – Up Slow – Waller’s Ash UPL – Basingstoke P3 – Reading P14 (RM / PU 06.30) – Basingstoke (PU 07.00) – Eastleigh P2 (PU 07.30) – Botley – Fareham – Portsmouth Harbour (RM) – Fratton P2 – Havant – Barnham (RM) – Bognor Regis (RM) – Barnham P1 – Littlehampton (RM) – Arundel Jn – Worthing P1 – Hove P1 – Cliftonville Spur – Preston Park P1 – Haywards Heath P1 (RM) – Lewes – Newhaven Marine (RM) – Lewes – Falmer – Brighton P6 (RM) – Falmer – Lewes P5 – Eastbourne P3 (RM) – Bexhill – Hastings P4 – Ore Up Siding (RM) – Hastings – Battle – Tunbridge Wells – Hastings Chord – Tonbridge P1 – Redhill – Purley – South Croydon (RM) – Dn Quarry – Earlswood Dn Slow – Gatwick Airport P1 – Three Bridges – Horsham P4 – Ford – Havant – Cosham – Hamble – Southampton Central P1 (RM / SD 21.00) – Eastleigh P2 (SD 21.30).

Fares:

• First Class, Non-Dining as a guaranteed table for two is £200
• First Class, Non-Dining is £175.00
• Standard Class is £115.00

Accompanied under 18’s can benefit from a £57.50 reduction for all fares. You can book via the Branch Line Society website.