Branch Line Society’s two-day Class 37 fundraising tour

THE Branch Line Society announced a charity tour under the name of ‘The Tower Tractors’ in aid of Martin House Hospice over the weekend of September 3/ 4.

It will start from Lancaster on the Saturday as ‘The Garston Growler’ and make several loops of the North West, taking in such highlights as Preston Up & Down Goods, Tuebrook Sidings, Garston

Chord, Garston Through Sidings, Ditton Reception No. 3, Stafford Royal Mail Terminal, Arpley Shunting Neck, and ‘The Hole’ at Warrington.

The second day, as ‘The Ribble Ranger’, will see a start from Blackpool North, with highlights including Blackpool South locomotive-hauled, Blackburn King Street loop, Colne branch locomotive-hauled, Blackburn Up and Down Goods, Clitheroe to Hellifield (part of ‘DalesRail’), Hellifield DGL, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway’s Network Rail connection and Neville Hill depot.

Although for members only, the tour will see the West Coast Railway Class 37s visit a variety of locations over the two days.