The Branch Line Society has planned two rail tours for the beginning of May with a Star Wars theme to raise money for the Martin House Hospice.

The Return of the Shedi

On Friday, 3rd May, The Return of the Shedi will comprise several “mini-tours” that will feature haulage by the 71A Locomotive Group’s Class 33 No. 33012 and locomotives from DB Cargo, Freightliner and GBRf.

The tour will be operated by GB Railfreight with accommodation in the London Underground-owned Class 438 4TC, which has both First Class and Standard Class accommodation.

Starting from Eastleigh, 33012 will travel via Chandlers Ford, Romsey, Laverstock Curve, Basingstoke, and Reading West Curve to Didcot Parkway where there will be a photo stop.

The tour will then continue to Hinksey Reception Lines, where a DB Cargo Class 66 will be at the front to travel via Up Didcot West Curve, Wantage Road Down Relief, Challow Relief, Swindon, Kemble, Stroud and Gloucester for a second photo stop.

A Freightliner Class 66 will now take over to travel via Lydney Down Goods Loop, Severn Tunnel Junction,, Newport, and Cardiff Central where 33012 will take over again to Newport, Bishton Flyover, Severn Tunnel Up Loop, Pilning Up Loop, and Bristol Parkway UPL where a Freightliner Class 59 will replace 33012.

From Bristol Parkway UPL, the route is via Filton Abbey Wood, Rhubarb Curve, Bath Spa, to Westbury where 33012 again takes over to Hungerford UPL, Newbury, and Reading where a GB Railfreight Class 66 takes over for the homeward run via Winchester to Eastleigh.

May the Fourth be With You

On Saturday, 4th May the May the Fourth be With You rail tour will feature 33012 in top ‘n tail mode with a GBRf Class 73/1, with 33012 leading on departure from Portsmouth and between Exeter and Waterloo. A Freightliner Class 59 will pilot the train between Westbury and Exeter.

The tour starts at Eastleigh and travels via Fareham, Portsmouth Harbour, Fareham, Southampton Central, Romsey, Salisbury,Warminster, Westbury, Bath Down Goods Loop, Bristol Temple Meads Down Through, Yatton DPL, Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, Tiverton DPL, Exeter St Davids P1, Exeter Central, Exeter Sig 730, Exeter Central P1, Honiton, Axminster, Chard Jn Loop, Gillingham (Dorset), Tisbury Loop, Salisbury, Basingstoke, Woking, London Waterloo, Richmond, Virginia Water, Woking, Guildford, Havant, Fareham and Eastleigh.

Other information

During both tours charity raffles will be held with all proceeds donated to Martin House Hospice, and a limited range of drinks, snacks and light refreshments will be available from the Mos Eisley Cantina.

Fares for each tour are £194 First Class and £134.00, with a £67 reduction for accompanied under 18s.

Later in May, the Branch Line Society will be running it’s The Hanson Hanse rail tour to Kings Lynn hauled by a Class 50 and Class 20, and its Millbrook Meander rail tour to Weymouth hauled by a Class 50 and a Class 66.