The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway in Skegness will run an extra day's train service on Saturday 24 June to cater for passengers arriving on The Jolly Vacman.
The Jolly Vacman is a charter service organised by the Branch Line Society, with its name derived from the nickname that railway enthusiasts gave to one of the two locomotives that will haul the train – a Class 50 diesel electric, known to aficionados as a ‘Hoover'.
The train will start in Derby and pick up at Long Eaton and Nottingham, covering some sections of the national network not normally used by passenger trains.
The detailed timetable can be found here.
The other locomotive will be a Class 37 diesel electric, which is known to enthusiasts as a ‘tractor' because its motors sound like an agricultural vehicle.
Passengers on the Jolly Vacman will have the option to leave the train in Skegness, where they can visit the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway's line in the Skegness Water Leisure Park.
They can also choose to stay on board to explore some of Lincolnshire's lesser used routes.
The Jolly Vacman will return to Skegness in the late afternoon to collect passengers who stayed in the town.
Details of The Jolly Vacman and the Branch Line Society (including all its 2023 programme) are available on the Society's website. Bookings for the society's tours can be made by emailing bookings.officer@branchline.uk.
The LCLR has not increased its fares for the 2023 operating season, as it is aware of the cost-of-living pressures on its main customer demographic, families enjoying traditional seaside holidays on the Lincolnshire coast, and visitors from around the UK.
Fares remain at £2 return for adults and children, or £5 for a family group of two adults and up to three children; children under three travel free (as do dogs and pilots of incoming aircraft on the adjacent Skegness Airfield).
Trains will run from 10.30 am to around 3.30 pm on the following dates:
Diesel:
- Saturday 24 June
- Mondays 31 July, 7 August, 14 August, 21 August, 28 August
- Wednesdays 26 July, 2 August, 9 August, 16 August, 23 August, 30 August
Steam:
- Saturdays 22 July, 29 July, 5 August, 12 August, 19 August, 26 August, 2 September, 28 October
Trains run from 10.30 until 15.40.
On steam days, the first trains will be hauled by diesel locos, with the steam loco taking over around 12.00.
The LCLR had not planned to operate any further services after its May Bank Holiday operations until Saturday 22 July, but the Chairman of its Historic Vehicles Trust, Richard Shepherd, explained that: “We have enjoyed two previous visits from the Branch Line Society, whose members were keen to explore our railway and made generous donations towards its upkeep. We've no idea how many will want to visit us on Saturday 24th June but we have decided to open and run public trains using one of our heritage diesel locomotives that day, so everyone will be welcome. We are looking forward to welcoming loyal friends and the public”.
