To celebrate 50 years since the opening of Drax power station in North Yorkshire, on Sunday, 18th August the Branch Line Society is to run three “Drax 50 Years 1974-2024” special charter trains, with each train using a different route around the power station infrastructure.

Train One – Team Red

Team Red will feature two DB Class 66s, and depart from York at 9.42 to Wakefield Westgate, picking up at Castleford, Glasshoughton, Pontefract Monkhill, Knottingley and Hensall before traversing Drax power station loop and stopping at Hensall to set down and arriving at Wakefield Westgate at 12.32.

Train Two – Team Blue

Team Blue will feature two GB Railfreight Class 66s, will be a circular tour from Wakefield Westgate to Wakefield Westgate, departing at 12.59, picking up at Hensall before traversing Drax power station loop and stopping at Hensall to set down and arriving at Wakefield Westgate at 16.14.

Train Three – Team Green

Team Green will feature a Freightliner Class 66 and Class 70, and depart from Wakefield Westgate at 17.08 to York, picking up at Hensall before traversing Drax power station loop and stopping at Hensall and Glasshoughton to set down and arriving at York at 20.18.

Tickets for the tours will initially be sold as day rovers that cover all three tours and cost £129 for Standard Class, £189 for First Class, non-dining, and £214 for First Class, non-dining at a guaranteed table for two, with a £64.50 reduction for accompanied under-18s.

All profits from the trains, and receipts from a charity raffle, will be donated to Martin House Hospice.

On-board refreshments include a hand-pulled real ale bar and a range of drinks, snacks, and light refreshments.

Drax Power Station is vital to the regional economy, employing more than 700 people and supporting over 4,200 jobs in Yorkshire and Humberside.

It houses the largest decarbonisation project in Europe, being the site of bioenergy innovation with carbon capture and storage, which is a negative emissions technology essential in fighting the climate crisis.

“The Merry Go Round”

Following the tours of Drax, “The Merry Go Round” will conclude the day’s events with a special train York to Derby hauled by two Class 20s with ‘Red stripe’ Railfreight Cass 20s requested, and the assistance of a GB Railfreight Class 69.

It will depart from York at 20.37 and travel via the Selby Curve, Doncaster, the South Yorkshire Joint Line, Shireoaks, the ‘Robin Hood Line’ through Creswell to Lenton North Junction and the Lenton Curve to arrive at Derby at 23.59.

Tickets for “The Merry Go Round” cost £50 for Standard Class, £75 for First Class, non-dining, and £100 for First Class, non-dining at a guaranteed table for two.