The Wolf Hall Thunderer is anticipated to be a very popular rail tour and will see the use of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society’s Mark 1 coaching stock and will visit a selection of south western branch lines.

The formation of the train will be restricted to a maximum of six vehicles due to operational requirements and the tour will explore a number of sought-after loops and curves which will no doubt be very much appreciated by rail enthusiasts.

The tour will be operated by RailAdventure and will see the Scottish Railway Preservation Society’s Diesel Group Class 37 37403 operate top and tail with Class 50 50008 ‘Thunderer’.

The Scottish Railway Preservation Society has also kindly provided a buffet car which will see a variety of hot and cold drinks, snacks and light refreshments including a selection of hand-pulled real ales and ciders.

An early evening break at London Waterloo will see a welcome opportunity to stretch legs, buy refreshments and enjoy a photo stop (one of a number on the tour).

Fare prices are as follows:

• First Class non-dining with a guaranteed table for two is £224
• First Class non-dining is £199
• Standard Class £139.00
• Under-18s who are accompanied will benefit from a £69.50 reduction across all fares

No surcharge will be made for those who are not members of the Branch Line Society on this tour.

Suggested routes and timings are as follows:

Derby (PU 05.31) – East Midlands Parkway (PU 05.59) – Leicester (PU 06.26) – Market Harborough – Kettering P1 (PU 06.58) – Up Slow – Wellingborough – Bedford P3 (PU 07.38) – Harlington – Up Sundon Loop – Luton P2 – Elstree & Borehamwood – Silkstream Junction – Up Hendon – Brent Curve Junction – Up Hendon – Kentish Town – London St Pancras (PU 09.24 / RM) – West Hampstead South Junction – Down Hendon – Cricklewood Curve – Dudding Hill Junction – Acton Wells Junction – South Acton Junction – Old Kew Junction – Hounslow Junction – Whitton Junction – Twickenham P3 (RM) – Strawberry Hill – Fulwell Junction – Shepperton (RM / Photo Stop) – Shepperton – Kempton Park (Photo Stop) – Shacklegate Junction – Kingston – New Malden – Wimbledon P9 (RM) – Raynes Park – Motspur Park Junction – Tolworth – Chessington (RM) – Tolworth – Motspur Park Junction – Wimbledon P9 (RM) – New Malden – Surbiton P3 – Hampton Court (RM / Photo Stop) – Surbiton – Raynes Park – Wimbledon P9 (RM) – Motspur Park – Stoneleigh – Epsom P2 (Photo Stop) – Leatherhead – Bookham – Effingham Junction – Guildford (RM / Photo Stop) – Clandon – Effingham Junction – Claygate – Hampton Court Junction – Surbiton – Raynes Park –– Wimbledon – Clapham Junction – Queenstown Road Battersea – Vauxhall P5 – London Waterloo International (SD 19.00 / RM / break) – Clapham Junction – Barnes P4 – New Kew Junction – South Acton Jn – Acton Wells Junction – Dudding Hill Junction – Brent Curve Jn – Dn Hendon – St Albans – Luton – Leagrave Junction – Bedford P3 (SD 21.46) – Wellingborough Dn Goods Loop – Kettering P2 (SD 22.26) – Market Harborough – Leicester P1 (SD 22.58) – Humberstone Road Up & Dn Goods – East Midlands Parkway (SD 23.20) – Derby (SD 23.48)

Martin House Hospice will be the benefactor of the Branch Line Society charity raffle.