BLS 2025 tours

[sad1e]

There are 2 tours. So one of them will be a 4-car (?)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Dec 2025 ==

I don't think so , they'll probably pinch one one of the ones currently at Wimbledon for tour B as both are meant to be 8 car.

 

[31160]

According to the BLS website the tour on Friday which was going to feature the first departure of a class 69 from Kings cross,due to the failure of virgin 012 has morphed in shed 731, not happy with that at all, I booked on it for a 69 up the ecml (although to be honest I was very happy with the announcement of 012) can't a 69 be put on with the shed?? Preferably 001 but even mega dud 009 would be preferable to a shed on its own, arh well that's tours, but I wouldn't have spent all that money on hotels for sheds, just saying

 

[Islineclear3_1]

According to the BLS website the tour on Friday which was going to feature the first departure of a class 69 from Kings cross,due to the failure of virgin 012 has morphed in shed 731, not happy with that at all, I booked on it for a 69 up the ecml (although to be honest I was very happy with the announcement of 012) can't a 69 be put on with the shed?? Preferably 001 but even mega dud 009 would be preferable to a shed on its own, arh well that's tours, but I wouldn't have spent all that money on hotels for sheds, just saying

Unfortunately locos fail - you pay your money and take your chances. There's never a firm guarantee that the booked loco will run. At least the tour hasn't been cancelled; as you say, a substitute loco has been found

Edit: The 69 "is" running, according to the BLS website - it's at the rear of the train leaving London

 

[milooo]

I don't think so , they'll probably pinch one one of the ones currently at Wimbledon for tour B as both are meant to be 8 car.

Train B is definitely a 8 car

 

[ainsworth74]

Unfortunately locos fail - you pay your money and take your chances. There's never a firm guarantee that the booked loco will run. At least the tour hasn't been cancelled; as you say, a substitute loco has been found

Quite and they've done their best to find a loco which is at least highly likely to be a winner for most people as well rather than whatever GBRf could find down the back of the shed.

Edit: The 69 "is" running, according to the BLS website - it's at the rear of the train leaving London

Though it does seem to be a bit confusing! The BLS website suggests that the 69 will work Doncaster to London but over in the other place (WNXX, not the House of Lords, I don't think any Lords or Ladys are BLS members?) @Branch Line S posted the following on Tuesday morning:

We are delighted to report that our operator has confirmed Class 66 66316 will operate the train from the Doncaster area to Newcastle, and all the way back to London Kings Cross.

66316, the last of the Akiem conversions, was converted at EMD Longport, which included an engine overhaul, a new turbo / alternator / compressor, TPWS4, GSM-R and cab air conditioning. The former number was 29003. We understand the loco has not yet worked a passenger train in the UK.

Unfortunately, our requested Class 69 (012) has failed and has been moved to EMD for repairs. It is not expected to return to traffic until the new year. As a result, and with a huge thanks to GBRf for the arrangements, Class 66 66731 will haul the train between London Kings Cross and Doncaster.

GB Railfreight named 66731 "Capt. Tom Moore – A True British Inspiration" on April 29 2020, the day before the veteran’s 100th birthday. This naming celebrates the veteran who raised more than £29 million for the NHS by completing 200 laps of his garden in the days leading up to his birthday.

66731 has never previously worked a charter available to the general public, but has worked a private charter and attended a gala at Great Central North in 2009.

Tickets remain available for The Christmas Train and can be booked online via our website and Fixtures Tab.

I mean to be honest either way it's going to be a) a great day (wish I was on it!) and b) they've done their best to make sure that the locos are "rare" including the short notice replacement.

 

[JonathanH]

The 69 "is" running, according to the BLS website - it's at the rear of the train leaving London

Surely there will be a 57, rather than a 69, on the rear?

 

[Robin Edwards]

Surely there will be a 57, rather than a 69, on the rear?

57306 on the rear of 66731

 

[JonathanH]

455712+455717 for the first tour today

455727+455871 for the second

455719+455729 on ordinary services

 

[EYFanatic]

Im watching the queue for Train A - there appears to be a 8ft dinosaur in the line waiting to board

No... im not drinking or partaking in the devil's lettuce

(Don't believe this breaks any privacy concerns)

 

[GatwickDepress]

I can see the same, so either we’re having a shared hallucination or there was one heck of a delayed service from the Jurassic Era!

 

[EYFanatic]

I can see the same, so either we’re having a shared hallucination or there was one heck of a delayed service from the Jurassic Era!

Maybe that's how John Hammond funded his little island retreat - DR claim from millions of years delay

 

[UP13]

Am on train and can confirm that this is a dinosaur.

 

[LA50041]

Yeah the dinosaur and the wolf were a bit weird, but well done to BLS and SWR for putting on a great send off to the 455’s.
Some real spirited running in places and some lovely bits of track to colour in
Shame to see them go as I remember them coming into service but times are a changing

 

[MrJeeves]

Yeah the dinosaur and the wolf were a bit weird

and the stickers being put above the carriage gangway doors…!

 

[sad1e]

Glad they let us take the posters

 

[LA50041]

Glad they let us take the posters

Indeed! Managed to snaffle one for myself, though I gather there was some serious scrambles in some carriages.
Credit to SWR and Bournemouth depot for turning the units out so well

 

[milooo]

I'm unsure if this is the right place but a huge thank you to BLS for working with network rail and SWR to make such an amazing day for me and I'm sure many others and giving the 455s the send off they deserved.

 

[EYFanatic]

Despite it also being close to his birthday, Jesus H Christ made an appearance to welcome Train B into P1 at Waterloo - was there some sort of effort to go in fancy dress?

 

[milooo]

Despite it also being close to his birthday, Jesus H Christ made an appearance to welcome Train B into P1 at Waterloo - was there some sort of effort to go in fancy dress?

If we are thinking of the same person someone in my coach referred to him as Micheal jackson!

 

[sad1e]

Did anyone else see that 458 at Twickenham with reds Leading.

Quite a few people tried to wave to stop the driver leaving but he left with reds leading. I wonder what's going to happen to him when he gets back to the depot.

 

[EYFanatic]

Did anyone else see that 458 at Twickenham with reds Leading.

Quite a few people tried to wave to stop the driver leaving but he left with reds leading. I wonder what's going to happen to him when he gets back to the depot.

Reds leading at Twickenham?

Oh, Spurs ain't gonna like that

 

[Class15]

Did anyone else see that 458 at Twickenham with reds Leading.

Quite a few people tried to wave to stop the driver leaving but he left with reds leading. I wonder what's going to happen to him when he gets back to the depot.

I didn’t notice it, do you have any pictures?

 

[sad1e]

I didn’t notice it, do you have any pictures?

(Photo of 5727 and 458427 with Reds leading)

 

[LUYMun]

Did anyone else see that 458 at Twickenham with reds Leading.

Quite a few people tried to wave to stop the driver leaving but he left with reds leading. I wonder what's going to happen to him when he gets back to the depot.

Most likely the driver will see on the monitor at the next stop the lights are wrong and switch it over. Easy enough mistake for some.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I see Francis Bourgeois made an appearance at Waterloo... did he travel on the first train?

 

[milooo]

I see Francis Bourgeois made an appearance at Waterloo... did he travel on the first train?

I think so as I saw on this

video. (Link is to a YouTube video of Francis Bourgeois waving out of the driver's cab window on train A)

 

[D365]

Yes Francis was on the first train all day, along with a number of other ’youtubers’ and SWR colleagues/stakeholders.

 

[UP13]

I see Francis Bourgeois made an appearance at Waterloo... did he travel on the first train?

Yes. He was very patient when having to constantly pose for photos at Guildford.

 

[milooo]

Yes. He was very patient when having to constantly pose for photos at Guildford.

Shame I missed him!

 

[UP13]

Shame I missed him!

The one who I was gutted about missing was Tim Dunn, who was spotted by family members. Fortunately I have met him before.

My son (and myself) were hoping to see Geoff Marshall or Jago Hazzard.