Branch Line Society special raises £50,000 for hospice
A BRANCH Line Societyorganised railtour, which ran over four days and involved the collaboration of several industry partners, has raised £50,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice, based in Boston Spa, near York.
As well as the tour, rail industry partners donated a range of money-can’t-buy prizes auctioned on July 9, which included a cab ride on a DB Cargo freight train and a visit to Neville Hill depot.
The charity was selected after rail staff witnessed first-hand the care it offers. A member of staff at Network Rail’s route operating centre tragically lost her disabled son while receiving support from the hospice.
Although ticket sales were limited to 50% of normal capacity due to Covid-19, the money-can’t-buy prizes were provided as a fundraising boost.
Itinerary
Day one of the tour, July 2, saw travel from Edinburgh to York via the Settle-Carlisle line, visiting Glasgow and Wakefield Europort. The next day the train ran a circular route to the East Midlands, visiting the Sinfin branch, Toton depot and the new East Midlands Gateway freight terminal close to the airport. On the third day, lines around
Sheffield, Huddersfield, east Manchester and Crewe Basford Hall yard were visited.
On the final day, July 5, the train returned from York to Scotland via Harrogate, Hartlepool Docks, Tyne Yard and the Tyne Valley.
On each of the four days, 300 passengers were carried as a result of a partnership involving Network Rail, DB Cargo, Direct Rail Services, the Scottish
Railway Preservation Society and Freightliner.
This was the third charter train that Network Rail has helped to organise, with the previous two raising more than £40,000 for the same charity.