For three days in June, the Branch Line Society is running a Class 50-hauled rail tour to Scotland, “The Lord of the Isles”.

The tour is in partnership with the Class 50 Alliance and The Fifty Fund, and will cover many lines not covered regularly by locomotive-hauled trains, particularly by Class 50s. The Class 50 Alliance owns six Class 50 locomotives, while the Fifty Fund raises funds towards their upkeep and handles the promotion and operation side of the partnership.

The tour starts with a single Class 50 from the Severn Valley Railway’s station at Kidderminster, before adding a second Class 50 for the journey to the tour’s base, at Polmont in Scotland. En route, the tour stops to pick up passengers at Kidderminster main line station, Stourbridge Junction, Birmingham New Street, Stafford, Crewe, and Carlisle. After a 30-minute break in Carlisle, the journey continues via the West Coast Main Line, Mossend, Coatbridge Central, Cumbernauld, and Falkirk Grahamston to Polmont. Day 1 highlights include: Lockerbie, Beattock Summit, and Law Down Passenger Loops.

After a 7 am start from Polmont, Day 2 sees the tour travel via Cowlairs East and North Junctions, Dumbarton Central, and Crianlarich to Oban for a 3-hour break. Travel back to Polmont is via Glasgow Central Low and High Levels, Rutherglen West Curve, Paisley Gilmour Street, and Wemyss Bay. Day 2 highlights include Down Greenhill Branch Loop, Craigendoran West Highland Loop, Dumbarton Goods, Rutherglen West Curve and Dunrod Loop.

Day 3 allows time for a late breakfast with a 9 am start from Polmont, before returning to Kidderminster via Larkfield Curve, Kilmarnock Through Line, New Cumnock up goods loop, Thornhill up passenger loop, Carlisle, Oxenholme Up Goods Loop, the West Coast Main Line to Birmingham New Street, and Stourbridge Junction.

The train will include a buffet serving a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks, and an on-board charity raffle will be held during the journey.

Tickets for the tour cost £349 for Standard Class, £549 for First Class, Non-Dining, and £649 for First Class, Non-Dining, at a guaranteed table for two.

In March, the Branch Line Society ran another three-day charity rail tour to Scotland to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society, and at the end of May, it is running another 3-day tour to Scotland, the “Gosh Ness Monster”, this time hauled by a Hastings diesel unit.