THE EAST ANGLIAN FREIGHTER

Sunday 19th January 2025

Join us on this thoroughly interesting exploration of East Anglian branch and freight lines rarely visited by locomotive hauled passenger trains featuring a very rare opportunity to enjoy Class 20 traction throughout the quite remote and yet delightful East Suffolk line.

Utilising classic heritage traction throughout, we take class 20 and class 37 locomotives to a wide range of locations that will have the historians debating their last visit to these destinations in passenger service. We add to this a good helping of sought after non passenger track to deliver a tour not to be missed and which we trust will be highly sought after by track and traction enthusiasts alike.

Our journey begins at London Liverpool Street, so long the regular stamping ground of class 37’s. But today our two Type 1 locomotives will take on the climb out of Liverpool Street.  Our departure time is designed to facilitate our requested routing via the Electric Lines allowing for a very rare locomotive hauled run over the slow lines at Stratford station. As we make further passenger pick-ups along the Great Eastern Main Line, we take in loops including the significant deviation afforded by the Colchester Down Goods loop and, following our final pick up, a run through of the Ipswich Down and Up Goods loop.

We now progress deep into East Suffolk and our passengers will now be able to enjoy class 20 haulage for the entire length of the East Suffolk line from Ipswich to Lowestoft. Here the train will reverse and our Europhoenix Rail Limited (EPR) class 37 locomotive will run back towards Ipswich via the unusual Norwich Wensum curve. We will run as intended to Felixstowe Creek sidings where we expect to reach the Network Rail limit, the Felixstowe Town branch and back towards Ipswich where we deviate slightly in order to negotiate the rare Bacon Factory Chord as well as (subject to the appropriate Goods Line Authorities being issued) Claydon Goods Loops where our train will once again reverse.

With our class 37 now leading we return to Ipswich where, after a break, we head to the end of the Harwich branch before reversing and taking in the Colchester Up Goods loop. Our journey back towards the Capital has one final twist. On arrival at Shenfield we take the line East towards Southend Victoria where there should be sufficient time to enjoy a fish and chip supper should you so wish before we head back towards London Liverpool Street.

Our special train will be operated by Rail Adventure utilising class 20 locomotives from Michael Owen supported by a class 37 from Europhoenix Rail Limited (EPR).

First Class Dining includes The Great British Breakfast and a four course dinner. First Class Dining is not available from Chelmsford or Ipswich due to timing constraints. A buffet car is available for those in Standard Class and First Class Non Dining. 

All timings are provisional and are intended only as a guide.

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