A Hastings diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) will make a rare appearance at Goole in East Yorkshire on Saturday, 19th July, with the Branch Line Society’s The Salt and Pepper Shaker rail tour from Hastings in East Sussex.

Operated thanks to GB Railfreight (GBRf) and Hastings Diesels Limited, the tour will traverse several sections of rare track, including Goole Guardian Glass, Selby Potter Group, Brayton Sidings, and Goole Up and Down Goods Loop.

Starting from Hastings at 06:10, the tour will pick up at Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Bromley South, Willesden Junction High Level, and Peterborough.

The provisional outward route is via St Leonards Warrior Square, Crowhurst, Battle, Etchingham, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Orpington, Bromley South, Kent House, Herne Hill, Factory Junction, Kensington Olympia, Mitre Bridge Junction, Willesden Junction High Level, West Hampstead, Gospel Oak, Harringay Park Junction, Harringay Junction, Welwyn Garden City, Hitchin, Peterborough, Claypole Loop, Newark, Carlton-on-Trent Loop, Retford, Doncaster, Knottingley South Junction, Knottingley East Junction, and Rawcliffe, where there will be a short photo stop.

The return journey from Goole is via Goole Up and Down Goods Loop, Guardian Glass, Goole, Gilberdyke, Selby Potters Junction, Selby Potters, Selby Potters Junction, Selby, Brayton Sidings, Selby, Doncaster, Retford, Newark, Peterborough, Conington Loop, Hitchin, Welwyn Garden City, Copenhagen Junction, Camden Road, West Hampstead, Willesden Junction High Level, Mitre Bridge Junction, Kensington Olympia, Factory Junction, Herne Hill, Kent House, Bromley South, Orpington, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Etchingham, Battle, Crowhurst, and St Leonards Warrior Square, with arrival back at Hastings at 22.02.

Hastings diesel-electric multiple units were built in the late 1950s, and specially designed narrow bodies because of unusually narrow tunnels on the line to Hastings.

Profits from the tour will be donated to Martin House Children’s Hospice at Boston Spa near Wetherby in West Yorkshire.

Fares are £199 for First Class, non-dining and £134 for Standard Class, with a £67 reduction for accompanied under 18s. Further information about the tour is online at https://www.branchline.uk.

Goole is the site of Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village, and a rail research centre.