The Branch Line Society is running an online auction to raise funds for Martin House Hospice at Boston Spa which provides hospice care for children and young people across West, North, and East Yorkshire.

The auction will give access to money-can’t-buy rail enthusiast experiences. Prizes include a day out travelling on inspection saloon Caroline around Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, including very rare track such as Immingham Bulk terminal and Dragonby sidings; a guided visit for two people to Toton TMD; and a York ROC Signalling Simulator experience for two people. Full details can be seen at: https://www.32auctions.com/BranchLineSocietySummer22

Martin House Hospice provides family-led care for children with life-shortening conditions. It is a place where children, young people, and their families can come to stay from time to time along their journey and find support, rest, and practical help. You can find out more about the hospice by visiting https://www.martinhouse.org.uk

The auction will deliver much-needed to help the hospice continue its amazing work and in return provide access to money-can’t-buy rail enthusiast experiences.

The “Day Out with Caroline” will be a chance in a lifetime to travel in Caroline, which was originally the Southern Region General Manager’s saloon. It is now used as an inspection saloon for rail inspection duties, but has historically been used as a VIP excursion train on several occasions. The saloon is notable for being used as the British Royal Train between London Waterloo and Romsey for the first part of the honeymoon trip for Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer following their wedding on 29th July 1981.

The journey will take place on Thursday, 1st September 2022 and start at York. Haulage / propulsion is expected to be a Class 37/4 diesel locomotive. The requested route is as follows:

York (PU 08.00); Milford Junction; Knottingley West Junction; Knottingley South Junction; Hatfield & Stainforth (RM); Kirk Sandall Junction; St. Catherines Junction (via South Yorks Joint); Maltby; Shireoaks; Worksop HNRC (RM); Shirebrook; High Marnham (RM); Shirebrook; Worksop; Gainsborough Central; Northorpe Loop; Brigg; Barnetby Down Sidings (RM); Wrawby Junction (RM); Ulceby; Barton on Humber (RM); Ulceby (RM); Immingham West Junction; Immingham Bulk Terminal (RM); Humber Road Junction; Wrawby Junction; Dragonby GF; Dragonby Sidings (RM); Scunthorpe Trent Yard (RM); Scunthorpe; Stainforth Junction; Knottingley South Junction; Milford Junction; York.

The Branch Line Society is a UK-based voluntary association for railway enthusiasts and is a national organisation with over 2,000 members. It was established in 1955 and is widely recognised as Britain’s leading amateur group for the study of railway infrastructure and the history of networks. It provides a news service, main line, heritage, and private rail tours and visits, and publications.