With the longer summer days now just beginning, this is the optimum time to book your tickets to travel on one of the several mainline charters hauled by a heritage locomotive.

Various tour companies use a range of locomotives and rolling stock to cater for railway enthusiasts and the public, who prefer to experience a certain era of train travel to a wide variety of destinations across the UK.

One such charter is not just taking people on a day trip out, it is also raising money for charity.

This is a great opportunity to not only enjoy a day trip out with friends and family, but to raise funds to help others while you are having a good time on board the train.

The Tour

Named “Bucket and Spade”, this special charter train will be leaving Crewe on Wednesday 5 June and will also be picking up day trippers at Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Victoria, before making its way towards the well renowned Yorkshire coast town of Scarborough.

For customers who prefer to spend their day visiting the capital of Yorkshire, there is an option to spend the day in the city of York, where you can visit a wide range of local landmarks and attractions including York Minster, Jorvik Viking Centre, the National Railway Museum and York’s Chocolate Story visitor centre and museum.

Travel on this train will include:

• Travelling in style in the comfort of First-Class carriages, behind a heritage diesel locomotive
• The option to have Full Class Dining, choosing from a sumptuous selection meals from the onboard menu
• Supporting good causes of The Railway Benefit Fund.

The trip is to be hauled throughout by English Electric Type 4 diesel (BR Class 40) No. D213 ‘Andania’.

This iconic diesel locomotive was built in 1959 and was one of the first of what became a class of 200 locomotives.

D213 spent her entire working life hauling express trains on the West Coast Mainline and was based at many of the depots along the route until being withdrawn in October 1984.

‘Andania’ is now only one of seven Class 40s to have survived into preservation and is a regular performer on charter trains across the North of England.

Tickets for this trip are selling fast, you can book them at https://www.branchline.uk/fixture.php.

Those that book online will have the option of being entered into a raffle draw to win two First Class dining tickets, offering the winners of the prize a free upgrade to Full Class dining.

The Charity

Set up in 1858, the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) is a charity that supports retired and current railway workers through challenging times.

Every 4 minutes someone contacts RBF, and its thanks to the generosity of people who donate that ensure railway workers can receive advice, grants, online tools and a legal helpline, to those that need support through the unpresented times during the unexpected journey of life.

Make sure you don’t miss this great day trip out, while at the same time making a difference to those whose lives are supported by the Railway Benefit Fund.