I saw this tour, just before Christmas, come up on our fixtures list - a straightforward trip along the East Coast Main Line (ECML) to Durham and Newcastle with GBRf freight loco haulage. These would be ones that hadn't been used for passenger trains before, along with a Christmas diner. I thought, why not, it's Christmas after all. So, on Fri 19 Dec, I arrived at my local station at 06.00 for the 06.08 departure to London Victoria and a short trip on the tube to 'The Cross'. Our 07.50 departure to Doncaster Decoy had 66731 at the head and, to provide Electric Train Heating, 57306 on the rear. With a full three course English breakfast (menu for the day at e-BLN 1484 page 2) served soon afterwards, with plenty of tea and coffee, things were looking good.

Departing King's Cross P6, on the Down Fast to Holloway Jn, we crossed to the Down Slow as far as Digswell. After the Welwyn Viaduct and Tunnel bottleneck, we were put on the Fast to Fletton Jn; the pickup at Peterborough was in P6. Then it was the Down Slow / Down Stamford, slowing for the connection at Helpston (very difficult to do when first installed in Mar 1971). It allowed the four tracks on the adjacent ECML to be reduced to three with loss of the Down Slow. Then it was onto the ECML Down Slow to Stoke Jn, just looping off the Down Main to pick up participants at Retford P2, before continuing through the bidirectional Babworth Loop. At Loversall Carr Jn, we diverged onto the bidirectional Down West / Up Slow (a PSUL) and Down Decoy Reception No5. Arrival at Doncaster Decoy Yard was close to booked time for the loco change; 66731 came off and 66316 took over, as booked. With our train ready to depart, we set off for Newcastle just a few minutes late along Down Slow No2.

After Sand Bank Jn, our train ran via Down / Up West Slow No1, crossing to the Down Fast immediately before Doncaster station then picking up speed. Our trademark on-train charity raffle began. Next, it was the Down Main through to York P5, where the few joiners were not forgotten in the raffle! Except for running through Darlington P4 (much to the surprise of Normals waiting for an Azuma due when we appeared), the Down Main was taken through to Ferryhill South Jn. Here, the Down Slow took us (slowly) to Tursdale Jn for that Azuma to pass. At Durham, we pulled into P2 for some who wanted their break here and those abandoning ship after having the haulage. Crossing immediately onto the Down Fast, we continued to Newcastle P2. Meanwhile, I had been wondering what to do during our break in Newcastle. Should I have a run round on the Metro or a wander around the city centre? I decided on a walk down by the quayside; it was a bit cold and damp but a nice leg stretch. We had been advised by Kev Adlam, BLS train manager, (many other hats are worn) to return at 15.15 for a 'special event' (unspecified).

Most tour participants headed for the Tyne & Wear Metro, for a last ride on an old unit or to try (and / or spot) new units with 50 years of technology advance between them. The mix was about 50 / 50 today. I heard that our General Secretary and Editor managed a trip on the Metro to Howdon during the break. From there, it was ⅝ mile walk to the pedestrian and cyclist tunnels under the River Tyne. The point of interest was the free funicular railway each end down to, and up from, the tunnels, which hadn't yet been commissioned last time they were there five years ago. There is noticeably more clearance in the cycle tunnel (which needless to say, they walked) - there were few pedestrians and cyclists about. Opened in 1951 for the Festival of Britain, it included Britain's first purpose-built cycling tunnel.



The 'special event' turned out to be the naming of 57306 as 'Branch Line Society'; It was again at the rear after the locos had swapped ends in Heaton Down Goods Loop. A speech (see first page) was made by Ian Grey, GBRf Head of Rail Services, who had joined our tour from Peterborough. Then our Society Chairman, Graeme Jolley, responded and performed the unveiling - nice touch. The loco even has the same name on both sides! All too soon it was time to reboard our train for the return to London.






We left a few minutes late but no problem. A five-course dinner was served soon after picking up participants at Durham. My compliments to the chef for a great Christmas meal including Turkey with all the trimmings and Christmas Pudding. Things were running very smoothly until we ran into a minor problem with Tallington Level Crossing. Our tour was held, along with everything else in both directions. However, Network Rail were soon on top of it, so it wasn't too long before we were off again. After Peterborough, everything seemed to be back to normal. We were therefore a little late into 'The Cross'.

The return from Newcastle P2 was first crossover to Up Fast, with a recess, as booked, in Durham Up Loop, for trains to pass (at least they can fit charters into the new ECML timetable). This was frustrating for one person alighting at Durham (on time). At Tursdale Jn, it was Up Slow and, unusually, a stop on the Up Main at Darlington for a fast train calling at Darlington to overtake - or should that be undertake? Northallerton, Longlands Jn, saw us onto the Up Slow to Skelton Bridge Jn for a set down in York P9. Then, it was on to the Up Leeds as far as Colton South Ladder, where the tour was switched to the Up Normanton. At Milford Jn, we crossed to the Up Pontefract, passing one of the two final operational merry-go-round loops on the network at Ferrybridge (inward gypsum from Spain via Hull Coal Terminal and compacted household waste from Greater Manchester for incineration). Then it was the curve to Knottingley West Jn and the Askern line. I suppose it was inevitable that there would be a delay joining the ECML at Shaftholme Jn but speed then picked up dramatically on the Up Fast through Doncaster.

Ranskill Up Passenger Loop was visited before the Retford P1 set down, where our Publications Officer, Martyn Brailsford, had found time in his frenetic schedule to see the newly named 57306. However, he was so busy chatting to another steward that he missed it! At Stoke Jn we took the Up Slow to call at Peterborough P1, handy for the exit, staying on the Up Fast / Main to Copenhagen Jn for King's Cross P1.

A great day out, thanks to Kev Adlam all the other people who made it happen. It is good to report that, with raffle tickets, window decal sales etc, £1,200 was raised for Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.