2026 BLS Tours

[31160]

Hello all, on the fixtures page on the BLS site it shows a save the date for Sunday 22nd February, at the moment there are no other details but in December this year there is a tour on the Friday and the Sunday bracketing a UKR tour to Bemish on the Saturday so it may indicate something on the 21st

 

[Forty29]

Beamish? Would have thought they they would mention save the dates for other days that would tie in so probably just a one day event. Just guessing!

 

[Kite159]

I'm sure I read somewhere the 21st December is meant to be an SWR 455 farewell tour.

As for the date in February, with the BLS it could be anything from a walking trip to various elements of a particular station/area, a visit to a private railway to a mainline tour, until it gets announced you just don't know anything

 

[sad1e]

I'm sure I read somewhere the 21st December is meant to be an SWR 455 farewell tour.

I think it is , they had it up on their website for a day or so as the 455 tour until they changed it to save the date.

 

[31160]

If it is a 455 farewell, did they ever operate in service to pompey or Southampton or was it just inner London routes

 

[Kite159]

If it is a 455 farewell, did they ever operate in service to pompey or Southampton or was it just inner London routes

Or something crazy like a 455 towards Bournemouth or somewhere else they are cleared for (not sure if they are cleared for routes south of Haslemere)

 

[sad1e]

Or something crazy like a 455 towards Bournemouth or somewhere else they are cleared for (not sure if they are cleared for routes south of Haslemere)

Hopefully they do something like the Southern 455 farewell tour and run it along as much track as possible that has been cleared for the 455's. I would definitely engage in the novelty of 455's to Bournemouth.

 

[Peter749]

Hope they arrange enough Bog Stops on the 455 tour.

 

[GW43125]

Hope they arrange enough Bog Stops on the 455 tour.

I'm not hopeful if the 313 is anything to go by!

 

[31160]

The cancelled trains that were going to run on the 31st October (47 Peterborough to Kidderminster) and 1st November ( 50s Kidderminster to Paddington) are now due to run next year at some point

 

[Harpo]

The cancelled trains that were going to run on the 31st October (47 Peterborough to Kidderminster) and 1st November ( 50s Kidderminster to Paddington) are now due to run next year at some point

There’s also the outstanding/postponed loco-hauled Cornish branches and loco-hauled Merseyside 3/5 dayer.

However, given the fragile state of both the 4TC and railtour economics, I suspect 2026 may see a far more conservative tour programme from most operators.

 

[31160]

There’s also the outstanding/postponed loco-hauled Cornish branches and loco-hauled Merseyside 3/5 dayer.

However, given the fragile state of both the 4TC and railtour economics, I suspect 2026 may see a far more conservative tour programme from most operators.

Yeah but the Cornish thing and the Merseyside job were 50008 and they work with UKR now so that's not BLS anyway

 

[TrainTrackJack]

Yeah but the Cornish thing and the Merseyside job were 50008 and they work with UKR now so that's not BLS anyway

The Cornish wasn't 50008 and there's no reason as to why it couldn't be BLS.

 

[Branch Line S]

For those that could not attend the excellent AGM and supporting fixtures in Middlesborough, a summary of the draft plans for 2026 are outlined below. Please note these are provisional plans and as always are subject to the usual planning and commercial practicalities. Once confirmed, the fixtures will be opened for sale via our website and advertised on our website, in Branch Line News and on our various social media channels.

2026

January

31st - Private miniature railway, Herefordshire

February

22nd - Loco hauled exploration with a twist
Behind the scenes tour with DB Cargo

March

West Somerset Railway
BWC IV – Ailsa Craig – the next big Class 37 installment

April

Scunthorpe Spring Steeler
International charter - Hannover and Braunschweig
Tytherington - Reloaded

May

Cornwall – third time lucky! Loco hauled, including Fowey
The Loch Ness Monster

June

The Lord of the Isles – loco hauled charter
13th - Richmond Light Railway

July

Thumping Along the Great Western

August

Scunthorpe Summer Steeler

September

The Charity Train of all Charity Trains – 4 days

October

24th AGM weekend and supporting fixtures

Please note, no further updates or questions will be answered on the above events until they are on sale. Thank you for your patience and support.

 

[Iskra]

Thank you for the improved amount of advance information.

 

[Harpo]

March

West Somerset Railway
BWC IV – Ailsa Craig – the next big Class 37 installment

With the exception of Westbury to Cary, the Berks & Hants has always been rare 37 passenger territory for some reason. Just saying………

 

[ainsworth74]

Please note, no further updates or questions will be answered on the above events until they are on sale.

Well surely those who attended the AGM would know that no further questions are necessary as you should always book on everything

 

[31160]

With the exception of Westbury to Cary, the Berks & Hants has always been rare 37 passenger territory for some reason. Just saying………

I may be wrong but I read that as two tours, one to the WSR and a class 37 tour to Scotland again, I'm sure that's where Ailsa Craig is

 

[ainsworth74]

I may be wrong but I read that as two tours, one to the WSR and a class 37 tour to Scotland again, I'm sure that's where Ailsa Craig is

You are correct, its two different fixtures. And the 37 one is in Scotland.

 

[31160]

I would love a 60 or 70 across the desert myself, done 37s on service trains not bragging just saying, imagine a 60 out of Paddington, been a long long time since the last one

 

[Branch Line S]

We are pleased to confirm we have opened up our Chiltern Railways MK3 Farewell tour on 22nd February 2026...full details and to book, please see the BLS Website and click on the Fixtures Tab.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Dec 2025 ==

Just to advise, we are down to the last 30 seats for the above tour, so please book soon if you wish to travel with us...thank you!

 

[31160]

The tour in June has released more details, 2x50s Kidderminster to Oban over 3 days in june

 

[Branch Line S]

BWC4 Scottish mainline railtour - This mainline loco-hauled railtour within Scotland should be opening for bookings soon.

Accommodation is suggested in Dundee for the night of Thursday 19th March, then Glasgow on Friday 20th March & Saturday 21st March (as close as possible to Glasgow Central / City Centre). For Sunday 22nd March night, the Falkirk area is advised, although the southbound sleeper can be caught based on projected times.

This information is provided in good faith but, as always, cancellable accommodation only is advised (per our T&Cs).

More information will follow via our usual channels.

Also, please find an updated fixtures list on our website with a number of new fixtures that have opened for bookings this evening.

 

[Watershed]

I seem to recall there was a proposed HST tour to Whitby on Sat 21 March - I presume that's no longer happening?

 

[31160]

I seem to recall there was a proposed HST tour to Whitby on Sat 21 March - I presume that's no longer happening?

That was a UKR job not a BLS, and as you say it's not running

 

[JonathanH]

I seem to recall there was a proposed HST tour to Whitby on Sat 21 March - I presume that's no longer happening?

UK Railtours have, on their diary dates page:

"Saturday 21st March – Dracula’s Wardrobes
Unfortunately we have not been successful in our goal of visiting Whitby in 2026. Apologies!"

 

[Harpo]

Whitby has a railtour on Weds 18 March. Class 86 London to York then steam. Only £115 in standard.

UK Steam Rail Day Trips and Worldwide Rail Holidays

The Railway Touring Company has a long established reputation for providing an interesting variety of UK day trips by steam train and tours in the UK, Europe and Worldwide.

www.railwaytouring.net

 

[31160]

BWC4 Scottish mainline railtour - This mainline loco-hauled railtour within Scotland should be opening for bookings soon.

Accommodation is suggested in Dundee for the night of Thursday 19th March, then Glasgow on Friday 20th March & Saturday 21st March (as close as possible to Glasgow Central / City Centre). For Sunday 22nd March night, the Falkirk area is advised, although the southbound sleeper can be caught based on projected times.

This information is provided in good faith but, as always, cancellable accommodation only is advised (per our T&Cs).

More information will follow via our usual channels.

Also, please find an updated fixtures list on our website with a number of new fixtures that have opened for bookings this evening.

Pretty sure this is a 37 job going to Stranraer etc, doubt I'll bother but it's a very good sign giving advanced gen to book hotels and that, hopefully the 50 job in June is kiddy to Glasgow Central via wcml and Dumfries, the queen st to Oban and back Saturday then back to kiddy from central Sunday, via Whitehaven would be nice, Glasgow for hotels is much cheaper than Edinburgh obvs

 

[Branch Line S]

Pleased to advise 3 new fixtures have opened this evening for you to book - please see the Fixtures Tab on the BLS website for full details and to book online.

Down to Dundee - Thursday 19th March 2026
BWC4 - Friday 20th March 2026 to Sunday 22nd March 2026
Up to Uttoxeter - Monday 23rd March 2026

 

[EYFanatic]

Would love to do them, but the BWC4 is priced a little bit too out of my range

Might do one of the side ones though