To the Birthplace and the Backbone

Name: To the Birthplace and the Backbone
Start: 2025-10-11T08:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-10-12T20:30:00+01:00
Location: 10 Sandringham Road, BS34 8NP Stoke Gifford, United Kingdom

Schedule

Sat, 11 Oct, 2025 at 08:00 am to Sun, 12 Oct, 2025 at 08:30 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

10 Sandringham Road, BS34 8NP Stoke Gifford, United Kingdom | Bristol, EN

In partnership with Alstom, RailAdventure and 125 Group, the Branch Line Society is pleased to offer this amazing once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel in style to the Polmadie open day - Polmadie 150 - in Scotland. Not only will this train take you to Scotland to visit the open day, but this special train, hauled by two RailAdventure Class 43 locomotives - with Derby-built Mark 3 coaches from 125 Group - will allow passengers to board at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works, meaning a direct link between the two Railway 200 sites.
Located around two miles south-east of Glasgow Central railway station, Alstom's Glasgow Traincare Centre is currently the main base of the iconic Caledonian Sleeper service, where it is maintained and cleaned by over 100 staff who provide a round-the-clock service. Polmadie Depot typically welcomes 17 trains per day, including Avanti West Coast’s fleet of Alstom-built Class 390 Pendolinos.

Photo credit: Alstom
The railtour is called 'To the Birthplace and the Backbone', as the same set will also travel between Derby and Darlington - the location of the world’s first public railway to use steam locomotives - a few weeks before its trip to Polmadie. ‘Backbone’ refers to Glasgow being the northern terminus of the West Coast Main Line, Europe’s busiest mixed-use railway.
This railtour will also call at Derby railway station, and then Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western and Lancaster, before making its way to Motherwell for the final pick-up before we head into Glasgow for the excitement to begin. The train will return to Derby Litchurch Lane Works - which celebrates its own 150th birthday in 2026 - the following day. The return journey and access to the open day (Polmadie 150) is included in your ticket price.
And what will we do when we arrive in Glasgow? Well, with huge thanks to Alstom, we can confirm that the Scottish maintenance facility will welcome its first-ever passenger train, giving railfans a unique opportunity to ride along rare track across the depot site, including haulage by three Class 08 shunters (08451, 08696 and 08954). Multiple depot lines will be covered during our visit. However, due to on-the-day operational requirements, we can’t yet confirm yet which specific lines will be covered. On route to and from Polmadie Depot, we are also hoping to cover the very rarely-used Number 1 and 2 Sidings just outside of Glasgow Central.
And our route North, in true Branch Line Society style, will be covering a multitude of rare track items of interest, including the Litchurch Lane Works connection, Preston Dn & Up Goods loop, Carnforth No 2 Up and Dn Goods, Oxenholme Dn Windermere, Penrith P3, Carlisle No 2 Carriage Siding plus a whole additional list of WCML loops and Goods Lines which can be seen in the below spec. There really is something for everyone!
On board we will have the excellent 125 Group buffet car serving a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks, and we will be running our very successful on board charity raffle for Polmadie's nominated charities.
Plus, after the excitement of Saturday’s journey north and trip round Polmadie depot, you will have the evening to spend with friends and family, exploring the vibrant City of Glasgow. Sunday morning will be equally interesting, as you arrive at Polmadie Depot on shuttle buses from Glasgow Central, where you will be greeted by Alstom with a unique line-up of locomotives that have been based at the depot over the last 150 years. Once back in Glasgow, you will have some time for some last-minute shopping, a quick drink or two, before re-joining our special train to take you back south.
Alongside Polmadie 150, you will also get the opportunity to visit Railway 200’s unique exhibition train, Inspiration, which will be stationed in Glasgow Central on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October. Admission to the train is free. If you wish to visit the Railway 200 Exhibition Train 'Inspiration', please reserve your place online at https://railway200.co.uk/inspiration/
Key Points to Note:
The fare shown below is a ‘round-trip’ ticket - out on Saturday and return on Sunday.
No accommodation is included in this ticket - please make your own accommodation arrangements.
Your ticket includes access to the open day on Sunday, and a shuttle bus to and from Central Glasgow - please be aware, the only way to access the open day currently is by having a ticket for this fixture.
For those boarding / alighting at Litchurch Lane, please be aware there is no car parking available on site. However, there are plenty of local car parks and on-street parking available. Passengers boarding at Litchurch Lane must be able to use a set of depot steps to reach the train.
All profits from this fixture will be split between Glasgow Traincare Centre’s two chosen charities, The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and the Railway Children’s Glasgow Project.
All times and routing are indicative until confirmed by Network Rail. Final routing and timings are usually confirmed by Network Rail five days before travel and will be enclosed with your e-ticket.
Saturday 11th October
Derby Litchurch Lane (PU 08:00) - Derby (PU 08:30 / RM) - Stoke - Crewe P12 (PU 10:00) - Dn Helsby - Warrington Bank Quay P4 (PU 10:30) - Earlestown P4 - Lowton Jn - Bamfurlong Jn - Dn Goods - Wigan North Western P1 (PU 11:00) - Skew Bridge Jn - Preston Dn & Up Goods Loop - Lancaster P5 (PU 12:00) - Carnforth No 2 Up and Dn Goods - Oxenholme Dn Windermere - Tebay Up and Down Goods - Harrisons DGL - Penrith P3 - Carlisle No 2 Carriage Siding - Caldew Jn - Dn Goods - Quintinshill DPL - Beattock Village DPL - Carstairs DPL - Law DPL - Wishaw - Motherwell (PU 16:00) - Newton P1 - Kings Park - Langside - Dn Muirhouse - Glasgow Central (SD 16:30)
45 minute Break
Glasgow Central (PU 17:15) - Polmadie Depot - Glasgow Central (SD 20:00)
3 x 08 shunters working independently with the HST set in Polmadie Depot covering multiple depot lines.
Sunday 12 October 2025
Glasgow Central (PU 15:00) - Holytown - Wishaw - Carstairs - Carlisle (SD 16:30) - Penrith - Lancaster (SD 17:15) - Wigan North Western (SD 18:00) - Warrington Bank Quay (SD 18:15) - Crewe (SD 18:45) - Lichfield Curve - Derby (SD 20:00 / RM) - Derby Litchurch Lane (SD 20:30)