The Burton-on-Trent pickup at 11.02 (originally 10.00) was easy to reach by train from my Doncaster home and I arrived in plenty of time due to Covid-related train cancellations. By 09.40 a few people were already accumulating on the sunny platform and by departure time Burton-on-Trent resembled a 1980's summer morning when a Skegness-bound train behind a pair of Class 20s was about to arrive.

Bang on time 50008 in Hanson & Hall livery (complete with full sized BLS headboard) heading 50007 (masquerading as 50034, was anyone furious?) in GBRf livery rolled in with eight Mk1 coaches in chocolate and cream. This was the first of the day's bonuses, as the tour advertising had suggested the locos would be 'top & tail' (they were all day Saturday), so with both on the front and multied up both would count for haulage. With everyone efficiently loaded departure was on time, running as 1Z50.

Having said that this was mainly an ECS move made available to passengers the tour organisers had thrown in some unusual track to spice things up for those who like that sort of thing - it wouldn't really be a BLS event without 'that sort of thing', would it? The first such routing was Elford Down Goods Loop (making up for its omission on a previous tour) which was traversed without stopping, prior to another pick-up call at Tamworth high level. With the tour now fully boarded, we set off again following the usual passenger routing towards Birmingham as far as Landor Street Jn - noting that Saltley PSB had been demolished - where we took our next bit of unusual track direct to St Andrews Jn en-route for Kings Norton via the Camp Hill line. Approaching Kings Norton a little ahead of time we were regulated for several minutes before setting off again via the Down Gloucester Slow line to our next section of rare track, the Down Gloucester Goods. That should have been the track bashing over for a while for most but the signaller on the Bromsgrove workstation at West Midlands Signalling Centre had a pleasant surprise in store for us, and at Bromsgrove station we were routed through the now non-preferred Down Bromsgrove Station Loop, which was very nice, thank you very much.

So on to Stoke Works Jn, taking a right on the single track towards Droitwich to call at Worcester Shrub Hill for operational purposes amidst its wonderful semaphore signalling and away on time.Unfortunately that didn't last, as at Norton Jn were held waiting for the late running 10.50 London Paddington to Worcester Shrub Hill to clear the single line and left nine minutes late. A spirited run ensued past Honeybourne (of course) to Oxford with the driver clearly keen to regain time. It was at this point that things began to sink in, here I was about 40 years since I had last enjoyed Class 50s on the main line, sitting in comfortable airy stock with a window slightly open to let in the sound of the train and the traction, rushing along on a glorious sunny day at line speed in the English countryside.

Why on earth had I left it this long? This is what everyday train travel was like before we were rammed into air-conditioned tubes and bombarded with safety announcements, other people's mobile phone conversations and choice of music/video entertainment. Although, to be fair, BR never had a decent real ale bar on-board, so one up to BLS. Heritage railway galas are all very well but this is the real deal.

By Charlbury we were almost back on time but a signal stop there, waiting for the single line ahead to clear, put us five minutes late. Again the driver worked hard to regain time but signal checks at Wolvercot Jn saw us pass nine minutes late and then we stormed through the middle road at Oxford station and to our booked stop at Didcot Parkway on time. A few people left here but most stayed on.

Departure from Didcot was along the Up Relief line with further spirited running, right hand down a bit at Reading West Jn and along the Up Reading West Curve [new for some on board, wasn't it Graeme?] to avoid the station to Oxford Road Jn. At Southcote Jn we took the route to Basingstoke and approached our next station call on time. Unfortunately, 1M54 the 13.45 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly (booked in our platform 14.46-14.49) was running late, leaving at 14.54 and delaying our 14.54 arrival by the time it cleared our path. But slick work by the efficient BLS stewards saw us away just four minutes adrift and away along the Down Fast. Into Wallers Ash Down Passenger Loop where, on time, we were passed by 1T41 the 14.09 London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour.

With that the tour was almost over. Leaving the loop, we ran on to our final destination, Eastleigh P3, arriving a most creditable one minute late. The efficiency of the onboard staff unabated after a long day at work, the stock was soon emptied and secured and away out of the station to stable. Such was their speed that, after a quick photo in P3, an attempt to take a better photo by a quick dash over the footbridge to the Up side was thwarted by the train's prompt departure.

Would I do another tour? Absolutely! I would have no hesitation in booking a similar ECS positioning excursion and would now seriously consider the full-fat all-day version. I have a feeling that this sort of thing can become addictive. If you remember loco-hauled travel in the 1980s, it's a trip back in time; if you're too young, then come along and see what you missed out on. It only remains to say a big thank you to Hanson & Hall and the BLS volunteers who made it all happen. They say money can't buy memories but I'm not so sure now. [This positioning trip was remarkably popular with 227 bookings - only 88 less than the tour next day and many just did the Friday. Thanks to all who contributed to the charity raffle, £610 went to The Trussell Trust, a UK national food bank, but was just the 'starter' - Ed.]

Route details.

The tour window decal and tickets were designed by Amy Nash.
[© Amy Nash 2022]

The light engines for the tour on the pass between the Severn Valley Railway (left) and Network Rail at Kidderminster (21 Apr 2022).
[© Dr David Guy 2022]

The ECS (from Nemis Rail, New Wetmore Sidings) approaches Burton-on-Trent for the start of the tour.
[© Mark Fishlock 2022]

but it wasn't quite ECS approaching Burton-on-Trent...
[© Mark Fishlock 2022]

Thundering by near Norton Jn (Worcester).
[© Rob Pritchard 2022]

A little further on at Wyre Piddle along the single track from Norton Jn to Evesham heading for Honeybourne...
[© Neil Berry 2022]

50007 (renumbered 50034)+50008 on 1Z50, the 11.02 Burton-on-Trent to Eastleigh 'The Honeybourne Hoover' at Eastleigh.
[© Andy Overton 2022]