The Branch Line Society has issued preliminary details of its BWC4 three-day rail tour on a challenging tour of routes and branches in Central Scotland.

Two Europhoenix Rail (EPR) Class 37s, including a Class 37/4, will haul the tour, working in top and tail mode throughout all three days, travelling along mainlines, branch lines, and commuter lines, many of which no longer see loco-hauled trains.

The tour runs from Friday, 20th March 2026 to Sunday, 22nd March 2026, with all profits being donated to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH).

On day one, Friday 20th March, the tour will depart from Dundee at 08:00, pick up participants at Perth, Stirling, and Springburn before touring southwest Scotland, including Ayr, Stranraer, Ardrossan, and Gourock, before arriving at Glasgow Central at 23:30.

For anyone who is not ready for bed, the Branch Line Society is in detailed negotiations with Network Rail to visit Paisley Canal, which is the last branch for a Class 37. If permission is granted, the branch would be visited late on Friday night after visiting Gourock, with an arrival back into Glasgow Central in the early hours of Saturday morning. Participants who don’t wish to become a night owl, the tour will stop at Glasgow Central to drop off passengers before it goes on to Gourock.

Day Two, Saturday 21st March, sees the tour depart from Glasgow Queen Street High Level at 08:00 and travel around lines in the central area before heading south along the West Coast Main Line to Carlisle, returning via the Glasgow and South Western Railway route to Kilmarnock and visiting more lines in central Scotland before arriving at Dalmarnock at 19:00 for connections with Scotrail trains to Glasgow Central.

Day Three, Sunday, 22nd March starts from Exhibition Centre at 07:00, and again explores lines in central Scotland before arriving at Polmont at 23:00. Among places visited will be Dumbarton Central, Balloch, Glasgow Central Low Level, Motherwell Goods Loop, Lanark, Whifflet, Haymarket, and Edinburgh Waverley.

On board the train, there will be a real ale bar with a selection of hand-pulled real ales, and a buffet serving drinks, snacks, and light refreshments.

Both First Class and Standard Class accommodation will be available, but as the train is limited to just six vehicles because of the length of some platforms, it is likely to sell out very quickly.

The tour is restricted to Branch Line Society members only, and tickets cost £399 for Standard Class, £649 for First Class, non-dining, and £749 for a guaranteed table for two in First Class, non-dining. Non-members can join the Branch Line Society for £12 per year via its homepage.

The BWC rail tours started in 2023 with a trip along the Highland Main Line and Strathcarron to Kyle of Lochalsh, then in 2024 visited Fort William with BWC2, and the far north in 2025 with BWC3.