The Branch Line Society is running a special train, ‘The Christmas Train’, on Friday, 19th December, for a magical day out to north-east England, to get the festive season off with a sparkle.

The train will be hauled by a GBRf Class 66, hopefully a Class 66 that has never worked a passenger train before, and depart from London King’s Cross just after 07:30. Travelling via the East Coast Main Line, it will pick up at Peterborough, Doncaster, and York, before continuing to Durham and Newcastle, where it will arrive at 13:15.

With just under three hours in Newcastle, passengers will have time to explore a wide range of restaurants and bars in the city centre, or visit the Christmas Market and Village.

There will also be time for participants to travel on the new Tyne and Wear Metro Class 555s, visit Monkseaton Station for its famous Left Luggage Room real ale bar, or the Tyne Pedestrian Tunnel at Jarrow to travel in the inclined lifts and see the historic wooden escalator.

Departure from Newcastle is just before 16:00, returning along the same route as the outward journey, to Doncaster, where a change of locomotive to a GBRf Class 69 will take place in the Down Decoy Yard, just South of Doncaster Station. As for the Class 66 on the outward journey, it is expected that the Class 69 will not have worked a passenger train before. Arrival at London King’s Cross is scheduled for just after 21:30.

During the journey, a charity raffle will be held in support of the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. Fares start at £119 return, and further information and booking details are available online at https://www.branchline.uk.

First Class Dining is also an option for £299 or at a guaranteed table for two for £324, which includes a full traditional English breakfast on the outward journey, and a 3-course supper on the return.

As well as main line destinations, the Branch Line Society is noted for visiting unusual sites, such as in September to an East Sussex garden railway and in July to Tytherington Quarry.