RAILTOUR -- THE LOOE BRUSH (Branch Line Society)

The Branch Line Society presents "The Looe Brush" Tour. This tour will take place in early February 2019 and is a story in two parts, first of which is known as 'The Positioning Move' which will be held on Saturday 2nd February 2019, followed by the 'The Looe Brush' tour itself on the Sunday. 

The Positioning Move - Saturday 2nd February 2019

Approaching Craven Arms via the Marches route.

This single journey forms the first part of a rather special weekend of loco-hauled rail touring with West Coast Railways (WCR) in partnership with Brush Type 4 Fund, featuring two Class 47 locomotives to Bristol via The Marches. Our route highlights include Oxley Chord, Shrewsbury Curve, Maindee Curve as well as Craven Arms goods loop and Pilning loop. 

There are a wide range of hotels (and bars!) in Bristol making this an easy social day out with some unusual routing along the way, and an ideal 'positioning move' for Sunday! The charter will be raising money for St John's Hospice in Lancaster and Railway Benefit Fund. A Buffet Car will serve drinks and light refreshments and a number of photo stops are planned along the way. 

Timings and routing are provisional but validated by WCR and bid to Network Rail as follows: 

Lancaster d11.16 - Preston 11.52 - Crewe 13.27 - Stafford 14.29 - Oxley Chord - Abbey Foregate Curve (Shrewsbury) - Craven Arms Down Goods Loop - Maindee Curve (Hereford Loop) - East Usk Reception Road No2 (requested) - Bishton Flyover - Pilning UPL - Bristol Temple Meads a19.01. 

The Looe Brush - Sunday 3rd February 2019
This charter is the second part of a rather special weekend of loco-hauled rail touring with West Coast Railways (WCR) in partnership with Brush Type 4 Fund, featuring two Class 47 locomotives operating top 'n tail from Bristol Temple Meads to lovely Looe and return. This can only be done during the winter Sunday timetable when there is no branch service. 

Our route highlights include Fairwater Goods Reception, Exeter Riverside Yard, Tarmac Moorswater, Looe branch loco hauled, South Devon Railway connection, Westbury avoider and Heywood Jn crossover. 

St John's Hospice Lancaster

The charter will be raising money for St John's Hospice, Lancaster and Railway Benefit Fund. A Buffet Car will be available serving drinks and light refreshments, and a number of photo stops are planned along the way. We are extremely grateful to Tarmac Moorswater and South Devon Railway for their support with this charity project. There are also options to alight at Totnes or Plymouth for those seeking a longer off-train break. As many are aware, passenger use of the significant 'strategic connection' between the main line and the branch at Liskeard is not normally permitted and an approach has been made to Network Rail to clarify the current position. 

Both timings and routing are provisional and subject to confirmation but are validated by WCR and bid to Network Rail as follows: 

Bristol Temple Meads d08.10 - Taunton 08.59 - Fairwater Yard Goods Reception - Tiverton Parkway 09.37 - Exeter Riverside Yard Down Goods (on the Up side) - Exeter St Davids 10.14 - Newton Abbot - Totnes 10.51 - Plymouth 11.25 - Liskeard (rev) - Tarmac Moorswater (rev) - Looe (1 hour break/rev) - Coombe Jn (rev) - Liskeard (rev) - Plymouth P8 (photo stop) PU 17.07 - Totnes 17.40 - South Devon Railway RM - Totnes RM - Newton Abbot - Exeter St Davids 20.04 - Tiverton Parkway 20.25 - Taunton 20.41 - Castle Cary - Westbury Avoider - Heywood Jn (rev) trailing crossover - Hawkeridge Curve - Bath Spa 21.59 - Bristol Temple Meads 22.16.