The Branch Line Society operated two rail tours in early May in order to fundraise for the Martin House Hospice.

The Shedi Tour ran on Friday, 3 May, while on Saturday, 4 May the appropriately named May the Fourth be With You tour was held.

On both days, ticket prices were £194 for first class travel and £134 for standard class, with discounts available for children.

Charity raffles were also held in order to increase the total amount collected for the Martin House Hospice.

The tours saw a wide variety of locomotives operate, including Class 33, 73, 59, and 66. These were provided by the 71A Locomotive Group, DB Cargo, Freightliner and GB Railfreight.

On both days, the tours started and ended in Eastleigh in Hampshire.

They reached various destinations across the South West and Wales, including Portsmouth, Exeter, Westbury and Cardiff.

The star locomotive for the Shedi Tour was 71A Locomotive Group’s Class 33 33012. This operated several mini charters over the course of the day, with other modern freight locomotives taking over for some sections of the route, in what the Branch Line Society termed a ‘spin and win’ event. 

Meanwhile, for the May the Fourth be With You tour, 33012 ran in top ‘n tail mode with a GBRf Class 73/1. A Class 59 provided by Freightliner piloted the train between Westbury and Exeter.

You can read more about the specific sections of route each locomotive ran by clicking here.

The £11,000 raised is being donated to the Martin House Hospice, a charity which provides free hospice care for young people affected by life-limiting conditions.

For more information about their work please use this link.