The Branch Line Society has announced an autumn rail tour, “The Whitby Endeavour”, to Whitby on Saturday, 22nd October, to get in the mood for Halloween.

Whitby was inspiration for Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. He first imagined the story of Dracula whilst walking in the West Cliff area of Whitby, looking across to Whitby Abbey, the beach below, and the famous 199 steps from the town up to the abbey.

The Whitby Endeavour, operated by SLC Operations, will feature Class 50 50008 Thunderer operating top ‘n tail with a Loram Class 37. At Whitby, famous for its for fish & chips, there will be an off-train lunch break off about 90 minutes or participants can alight at Grosmont for a visit to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

A Buffet Car will serve a wide range of hot and cold drinks, snacks, light refreshments, and a number of hand-pulled real ales and cider.

During the tour, there will be a photo stop at Battersby, and a charity raffle with all proceeds donated to the Railway Benefit Fund.

Fares for the tour are:

• First Class, non-dining, £170 or at a guaranteed table for two £195;
• Standard Class £115.00
• Accompanied under 18s benefit from a £57.50 reduction in all fares.

There is no surcharge for not being a Branch Line Society member.

Provisional routing and timings:

• Derby P6 (PU 05.30)
• Long Eaton P1 (PU 05.40)
• Alfreton P1 (PU 06.00)
• Up & Dn Blackwell Slow
• Chesterfield P3 (PU 06.35)
• Up & Dn Staveley Goods Loop
• Woodhouse Junction
• Sheffield P5 (PU 07.25 / RM)
• Up Hexthorpe Goods
• Doncaster P8 (PU 08.05)
• Knottingley West Junction
• Ferrybridge North Junction
• Church Fenton P3
• Dn Leeds
• York P10 (PU 09.28)
• Dn Longlands Loop
• Eaglescliffe
• Thornaby
• Newport East Junction Dn Main to Dn Slow
• Middlesbrough
• Battersby (photo stop / RM)
• Grosmont (SD 12.37)
• Whitby P1 (break 13.00
• 14.30 / RM)
• Grosmont (PU 14.48)
• Battersby (photo stop / RM)
• Thornaby Up Goods No 1
• Eaglescliffe
• Darlington Dn Bypass
• Shildon
• Bishop Auckland (RM)
• Darlington Up & Dn Station Loop
• Northallerton
• York P3 (SD 19.09)
• Hambleton East Junction
• Selby Canal Curve
• Doncaster P3 (SD 19.49)
• Dn Hexthorpe Goods
• Roundwood Chord
• Rotherham Central
• Sheffield P6 (SD 20.35)
• Chesterfield P3 (SD 20.55)
• Alfreton P2 (SD 21.20)
• Ironville Junction Up & Dn Erewash Slow
• Trowell Junction
• Radford Junction
• Lenton Curve
• Long Eaton P2 (SD 22.20)
• Derby P5 (SD 22.35)