An Auction of Experiences is being run by the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF), as part of their Railway Family Week event to be held from 25th to 30th April.

The charity’s Railway Family Week event was first launched in 2021 and is a fundraising and awareness event that brings together the whole rail industry.

It is hoped that £50,000 will be raised for the Railway Benefit Fund. This year, the event will be held from 25th to 30th April.

There are over 40 money-can’t-buy rail experiences available to bid for, with all money raised supporting railway families through difficult times. The Auction is now live and will close on Thursday 5th May at 6 pm, and new prizes are being added daily, so be sure to check back regularly.

Bids can be placed here: https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/railwayfamilyweekauction

The charity has grouped the prizes into five categories:

Experiences with a Difference

• cab and helicopter rides in Scotland;
• a day at the British Transport Police Dog School;
• drive a Routemaster bus;
• walk the Forth Bridge, or spend the day with Network Rail on their New Measurement Train or Observation Saloon Caroline.

Behind the Scenes

• depot and ROC visits;
• simulator drives and tours of major stations where you can even record an announcement or drive an assistance buggy.

Tickets to Travel

• travel overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper;
• enjoy a Branch Line Society rail tour, or a family day out on the Scarborough Spa Express or the Dalesman.

Great Days Out

• take part in the RBF Golf Day;
• travel on The Royal Charter or take a tram tour in Blackpool.

Memorabilia

• bid for a 1st Class Pendolino seat for your office or a station sign for your wall.

Pete Waterman, RBF President, has also kindly donated three exceptional prizes;

• a day with him at his ‘Making Tracks’ exhibition at Chester Cathedral;
• the chance to visit his home in Cheshire to play trains on his model railway;
• a day on the footplate of his Small Prairie 5553 at Peak Rail.

If you have any experiences you would like to donate to the auction, please contact [email protected]