The Branch Line Society has announce two special railtours designed to take you to and from the Swanage Railway's diesel gala in style.
This charter, operated by GB Railfreight (GBRf), will feature 71A Locomotive Group Class 33 33012 and Mark One coaching stock in the form of the London Underground owned Class 438 4-TC.
On 14 May, the Class 33 will lead from Swanage to Southampton and from Waterloo to Eastleigh. The Class 73s will lead from Southampton Central to Waterloo. This charter will feature 2x GBRf Class 73/1s operating top ‘n' tail on the Class 438 4-TC coaching stock.
The operator expects, subject to pathing and operational requirements, to feature a number of sought-after items of ‘bobbins' along the way, including of the connection from Worgret Junction to Norden on the 11 May tour, and Laverstock Curve and the connection from Norden to Worgret Junction on 14 May.
Both journeys will include a charity raffle, with all proceeds donated to the Alzheimer's Society, the new charity partner of GBRf.
Indicative routing and timings:
11 May: Eastleigh P3 (PU 11.12) – Fareham – Havant P2 – Haslemere P3 – Guildford P8 (PU 12.42) – Wokingham – Reading P14 (PU 13.22) – Dn Feeder Relief – Basingstoke P4 (PU 13.58) – Wallers Ash DPL – Shawford Junction – Dn Slow – Eastleigh – Southampton Central P4 (PU 15.07) – Up Fast – Church Lane Jn – Dn Main – Brockenhurst P1 (photo stop) – Bournemouth P4 (photo stop) – Poole P2 – Wareham – Norden – Swanage (SD 18:41)
14 May: Swanage (PU 15.15) – Norden – Wareham P1 – Poole P1 – Bournemouth P2 – Brockenhurst P1 -Southampton Central P4 (SD 17.07) – Redbridge – Laverstock Curve – Andover – Basingstoke P1 (SD 18.38) – Woking – Wimbledon – London Waterloo P19 (SD 19.41 / RM) – Wimbledon – Woking P4 – Basingstoke P2 (SD 21.16) – Andover – Laverstock Curve – Romsey – Southampton Central P4 (SD 22.22)
On both tours, accommodation will be sold as Standard Class and spaces are limited. Tickets for each are £65.15, with under-18s travelling at half price and no surcharge for not being a Branch Line Society member.
Further details can be viewed on the Branch Line Society website.
Full details of the gala can be found here.
The operator is asking passengers to state where they intend to join and alight, pointing out that this is for coach stewarding purposes and can be changed subsequently by notification.
