The Holly and the Hoover date is set

THE Branch Line Society has announced a charter on Saturday, December 17 featuring Class 50 No. 50008 Thunderer and Class 31 No. 31128 Charybdis.

Under the banner of ‘The Holly and the Hoover,’ this seasonal exploration of the Chilterns is planned to begin from Burton upon Trent and will pick up passengers at Tamworth, Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway before heading into Arley Goods Loop and the Nuneaton Chord.

With the locomotives in a top-and-tail formation, the tour will continue towards Coventry and on towards Banbury and Oxford en route to London Marylebone.

After a brief stop and reversal, the excursion will retrace itself before turning towards Warwick, where there is the option to take a break and explore.

Raise a glass

After setting down passengers who want to look around Warwick, the tour continues to Stratford-upon-Avon, where there will be a break for a few hours.

Once the tour has restarted, the locomotives take the train back to Warwick and then run on towards Paddington. Another reversal from here will see the train retrace the route back to Leamington Spa before arriving at Tyseley. Taking in some of the goods lines of the area, the tour concludes by setting down passengers at their departure stations and arrives back at Burton upon Trent at11.30pm.

First and standard class are available on the train and although there is not a dining option, a buffet car will serve a variety of refreshments, which include hand-pulled real ales and ciders.

For further information, visit https:// branchline.uk