The Branch Line Society have announced the Gosh Ness Monster railtour, raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital, set to take place between Friday, 22 and Sunday, 24 May 2026. 

With thanks to GBRf and Hastings Diesels Limited (HDL), the Branch Line Society are presenting the opportunity to travel from Tonbridge on a three-day excursion to see the beauty of the Scottish Highlands on a route rarely seen by a Hastings unit.

With boarding points from Tonbridge up the West Coast Main Line, the journey is set to take passengers towards Carlisle, onto Edinburgh Waverley on day one, followed by a packed day two of travel, headed from Waverley towards Edinburgh Haymarket, Perth, Avimore, Inverness, Aberdeen, and both the Tay and Forth Bridges.

Then, on day three, the tour makes its way back down the West Coast Mainline from Edinburgh Waverley.

The train is composed of 6-car unit 201013 and 3-car unit 201001, coupled together to form a 9-car train. Onboard will also be a buffet car and a daily charity raffle.

The Hastings DEMUs belong to a class of 23 diesel-electric units built in the late 1950s to replace steam-hauled services between London and Hastings via Tunbridge Wells. The units remained in service until their withdrawal in 1986 and are now preserved for enthusiast operations.

Ticket Prices:

Standard Class – £349

Standard Class, Motor Coach – £399

Indicative timings are as follows:

Friday, 22 May:

Tonbridge (08:12) – Bromley South (08:42) – Kensington Olympia (09:19) – Up and Dn SW Goods – Acton Lane Reception No 1 – Watford Junction (10:15) – Milton Keynes Central (11:00) – Northampton Down Goods – Rugby P6 (11:30) – Up & Dn Through Siding – Nuneaton (11:50) – Stafford (12:45) – Crewe Up & Dn Loop – Warrington Bank Quay – Wigan North Western (13:50) – Preston – Lancaster – Grayrigg DPL – Penrith P3 – Carlisle (15:45 / 20 minute photo stop) – Lockerbie DPL – Beattock Summit DPL – Carstairs – Slateford – Edinburgh (19:30)

Saturday, 23 May:

Haymarket P0 (08:00) – Haymarket North Goods Loop – Inverkeithing – Kirkcaldy – Ladybank – Perth P4 (South) – Perth UPL – Pitlochry – Kingussie – Aviemore (20-minute photo stop) – Inverness (2 hour break) – Elgin – Keith – Aberdeen (20-minute photo stop) – Craiginches Loop No 2 – Dundee Up Through – Tay Bridge – Ladybank – Kirkcaldy – Forth Bridge – Haymarket P0 (20:00)

Sunday, 24 May:

Edinburgh (09:00) – Haymarket – Carstairs – Carlisle (10:45 / 20-minute photo stop) – Penrith – Lancaster – Preston Up Goods – Wigan North Western (12:30) – Warrington Bank Quay – Crewe Up & Dn Loop – Stafford (13:45) – Nuneaton (14:45) – Rugby (15:15) – Northampton Reception line – Milton Keynes Central P2 (16:30) – Bletchley Relief No 2 – Tring P4 – Watford Junction (18:00) – Acton Lane Reception No 2 – Kensington Olympia (19:30) – Bromley South (20:30) – Tonbridge (22:00)