Hanson and Hall rail charters 2024

[TrainTrackJack]

After a few months downtime for 50008 and the Third Life Rail MK3 set, 2024 is looking more positive with the announcement of several charters next year. Dates and itineraries are yet to be finalised but the website is up and running.

Rail Charters - BOOK NOW — Hanson & Hall Rail Solutions

www.hansonhallrail.co.uk

 

[31160]

Yeah I've heard Inverness mentioned in relation to them, apparently there should be two chartees going to Inverness with 50s next year from two different operators

 

[TrainTrackJack]

The first set of tour details for 2024 have been announced;

"We are please to advise two dates for your 2024 diary. 25th and 26th May we are planning to run charters, both using a short formation of MK1 coaches. As such, seats will be limited.

Sales and details available through the Branch Line Society website in due course. Go to https://www.branchline.uk/home.php and look under the ‘fixtures’ tab.

A quick taster……..

25/05 East Anglia with 50008 and Class 20. The train will pick up at points in Hampshire, Berkshire and London.

26/05 South Western territory with 50008 and modern freight power.

All the usual caveats apply!"

Rail Charters - BOOK NOW — Hanson & Hall Rail Solutions

www.hansonhallrail.co.uk

Not the Third Life Rail MK3 set then, whether this'll see future use on charters is yet to be seen.

 

[43096]

Not the Third Life Rail MK3 set then, whether this'll see future use on charters is yet to be seen.

That set is owned by Hanson and Hall now. It may well be that the routing on the two tours precludes use of Mark 3s: third rail land is quite restrictive in where C3 gauge stock can go - and there’s also the issue of LSL bogies being prohibited (what bogies does the set have?).

 

[31160]

Well both charters start from Eastleigh so definitely the third rail issue might be in play here

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Dec 2023 ==

Both the Saturday and Sunday tours are up for booking on the BLS site Saturday goes Eastleigh to Kings Lynn via Reading and King's Cross return via Harlow and Stratford t&t 20 and 50. Sunday is Eastleigh to Weymouth via Salisbury and Yeovil Pen Mill return via Bournemouth t&t 66 and 50, as its showing MK1s i would GUESS at the LUL 4tc

 

[Kite159]

Booked on both tours, nice to have a railtour picking up locally to avoid the cost of accommodation & reduced travel costs.

The LUL 4tc would make sense, after-all outside West Coast who else has Mk1s with the required modifications?

 

[12LDA28C]

Booked on both tours, nice to have a railtour picking up locally to avoid the cost of accommodation & reduced travel costs.

The LUL 4tc would make sense, after-all outside West Coast who else has Mk1s with the required modifications?

LSL operate compliant Mark 1s.

 

[JonathanH]

LSL operate compliant Mark 1s.

Indeed, but there is a Steam Dreams trip using them on that weekend.

 

[ExRes]

I understand that details of the two tours, 'The Hanson Hanse' and 'The Millbrook Meander' have gone up on the Branch Line Society website

 

[ExRes]

I understand that details of the two tours, 'The Hanson Hanse' and 'The Millbrook Meander' have gone up on the Branch Line Society website

Make the first of many, on top of those two there are now further listings on the H&H website for

6th & 9th June - "Some rare loco hauled track in Norfolk, and another first for a Class 50, and no doubt our second loco too"

20th July - "From the Chiltern Hills into North Wales - Details TBC"

14th September - "The Essex coast"

"There are other projects in hand, including another in June and then December. All will feature 50008 and second loco, yet to be confirmed, with a short set of Mk1s to form our train. All the usual caveats apply ....."

 

[31160]

Make the first of many, on top of those two there are now further listings on the H&H website for

6th & 9th June - "Some rare loco hauled track in Norfolk, and another first for a Class 50, and no doubt our second loco too"

20th July - "From the Chiltern Hills into North Wales - Details TBC"

14th September - "The Essex coast"

"There are other projects in hand, including another in June and then December. All will feature 50008 and second loco, yet to be confirmed, with a short set of Mk1s to form our train. All the usual caveats apply ....."

Hopefully the North Wales one will go all the way to Holyhead or at least Llandudno, it might be a rehash of the one that was on the BLS website last year t&t with 20s

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jan 2024 ==

I know this might get merged but I'm hearing that the 6-9th June will be going to the North Norfolk on the 6th and staying for the gala inbetween and then going back on the 9th, so I suspect that will probably be a short rake for the reversals at Norwich and Cromer with something on the other end of the 50, it would be great to reverse at Liv St and have the 50 all the way up the main, but I have no idea where its gonna start

 

[ExRes]

An update on Branch Line Society website for the 6th June, "The Holt Hoover" is part of the North Norfolk Railway Rail & Ales event, 50008 will lead paired up with 33012 from 71A Locomotive Group from Eastleigh to Humberstone Road, the 50 will then attach to the rear for the run to Sheringham, the return "The Cromer Crompton" on the 9th is currently due to have the 33 leading from Cromer, details of current timings are on the BLS site

 

[Robin Procter]

Regarding the Millbrook Meander tour, I notice a red (DB?) Class 67 included on the BLS Fixture web page - Is that to supply vacuum(?) connectivity?

I saw a double-headed combo of H&H Class 50 008 'Thunderer' & DB 67 008 on a Retro Railtours Tour last year near Taunton hauling rather smartly liveried Retro Railtours coaches.

BLS Fixtures List

 

[43096]

Regarding the Millbrook Meander tour, I notice a red (DB?) Class 67 included on the BLS Fixture web page - Is that to supply vacuum(?) connectivity?

No, because both 50008 and all Class 67s are air only.

 

[Robin Procter]

No, because both 50008 and all Class 67s are air only.

.... Thanks for the reply but I am ignorant of what "air only" means. Is it that the coaches used on this train require air? Is that for air-conditioning?

 

[43096]

.... Thanks for the reply but I am ignorant of what "air only" means. Is it that the coaches used on this train require air? Is that for air-conditioning?

I was rather assuming that as you referenced vacuum you were referring to the braking system.

 

[JonathanH]

.... Thanks for the reply but I am ignorant of what "air only" means. Is it that the coaches used on this train require air? Is that for air-conditioning?

Air brakes in this context, as opposed to vacuum brakes.

 

[Robin Procter]

Air brakes in this context, as opposed to vacuum brakes.

.... Ah, thanks. Shows what little I know about brakes on trains. We each learn something new each day. I plan to photograph this train.

 

[43096]

Air brakes in this context, as opposed to vacuum brakes.

As 50008 is air only, it could be said the Vac doesn’t have vac.

 

[ExRes]

The BLS 'Hanson Hanse' and 'Millbrook Meander' tours for Martin House Childrens Hospice are taking place this Saturday and Sunday

50008 will be making its way from Knottingley to Eastleigh via Kidderminster SVR tomorrow and Friday to team up with a Class 20, expected to be 20007, for Saturday and a Freightliner Class 66 for Sunday with 08785 piloting at Southampton and Millbrook Freightliner terminals

All timings are on the BLS website, both tours are fully booked