Branch Line Society to run tour to Kings Lynn

The [1] has announced that it is running The Hanson Hanse rail tour on Saturday, 25 May 2024 to Kings Lynn for its annual Hanse Festival.

The tour starts from [2] and will be top and tailed by [3] No. 50008 Thunderer and a single Class 20 locomotive, with Thunderer at the front on departure from Eastleigh. During the journey, there will be a charity raffle with all proceeds donated to Martin House Hospice.

50008
Class 50 50008 Thunderer. // Credit: Branch Line Society

Highlights of the tour include both the Wallers Ash loops, Dawley Goods Loop, Hanwell Goods Loop, Harringay Curve, Kings Cross suburban platform, [4] Loop, Coldham Lane Loop, [5] West Curve, March Down Goods, March Up Goods, [6] Up Loop, [7] Up Loop, High Meads Curve and Junction Road Junction to Carlton Road Junction.

50008 Thunderer
50008 Thunderer // Credit: Dan Sutcliffe

Onboard there will be a snack Bar offering a limited range of drinks, snacks and light refreshments.

As an alternative to travelling to Kings Lynn where there will be a two-hour lunch break, passengers get off at Ely for a four-hour break for a visit to its magnificent cathedral, or one of the many bars and restaurants around the Great Ouse and the marina.

Class 50 50008 'Thunderer'
Class 50 50008 ‘Thunderer’ // Credit: Cameron White / RailView

Indicative routing and timings for the tour are:

  • Eastleigh P3 (PU 07.03) – Wallers Ash Loop – [8] P4 (PU 07.35) – [9] P13 (PU 08.03) – [10] P5 (PU 08.27) – Dawley UGL – Hanwell Goods Loop – Ealing Broadway P4 (PU 09.04) – [11] High Level – [12] – Harringay Curve – [13] K440 Signal (RM) – Up Flyover – London Kings Cross P10 (PU 10.27 / RM) – Gordon Hill – [14][15] Flyover – Royston Loop – [16] – Coldham Lane DGL – Ely P1 (SD 12.28) – Kings Lynn P1 (SD 13.05)
  • Kings Lynn P1 (PU 15.05) – Ely West Curve – March Down Goods – March West Jn (RM) – March Up Goods – Ely P2 (PU 16.57) – Cambridge Through Line – Bishops Stortford Up Loop – Harlow Town P1 (photo stop) – Broxbourne UPL – Tottenham South Jn – Temple Mills East Jn – [17] P11 (SD 19.30) – High Meads Curve – High Meads Loop – Temple Mills East Jn – Tottenham South Jn – South Tottenham – Junction Road Jn – Carlton Road Jn – [18] Dn Hendon – [19] Curve Jn – Dudding Hill Jn – [20] Wells Jn – Ealing Broadway P3 (SD 20.30) – Slough P2 (SD 20.50) – Reading P8 (SD 21.08) – Basingstoke P2 (SD 21.42) – Wallers Ash Loop – Eastleigh P3 (SD 22.21)

Fares for the tour are £189 for First Class, non-dining or £129 in Standard Class, with a £64.50 reduction for Accompanied under 18s. There is no surcharge for anyone who is not a Branch Line Society member.

References

  1. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  2. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  3. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  4. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  5. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  6. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  7. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  8. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  9. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  10. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  11. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  12. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  13. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  14. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  15. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  16. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  17. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  18. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  19. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)
  20. ^ (www.railadvent.co.uk)