The story of this tour is an interesting one. I first spotted it being mentioned in web forums a few months back. It sounded genuine, but the idea of dispatching a cheque to an unnamed individual in the hope of enjoying two Class 50s on local freight lines was a little too odd for comfort. After a little more information appeared, and when the Railway Children charity link was disclosed, I felt more inclined to support this. After all, at worst I could lose my cash. The irony of this uncertain start to the story is that this in fact turned out to be one of the best organised and most interesting tours I've been on in years.

So we arrived at Bristol at a reasonably civilised time on a Sunday morning to find a mini diesel gala atmosphere. 50049 had arrived along with 31105 and 31285 which had been exclusively sanctioned by Network Rail to work this train in place of 50031 which was out of action. 57601 had also arrived overnight with the stock for the tour, and for good measure 47810 sat in the Middle Siding with no less than four HST power cars lashed together for a move southwards. Explored a little and took some pictures before getting refreshments. Arrived on platform 5 in time for the thunderous noise of 50049 bringing in the stock.

First trip was to Portbury with the 31s leading. Not new to me, but always interesting to use this line which is so obviously ripe for development. This time we didn't enter the terminal, halting at the stop board before reversing back to Temple Meads for a brief stop before heading for Bath Spa. We arrived in platform 2 and used the unusual crossover to regain the line to Bristol, this time taking the Rhubarb Curve to Dr Day's Junction. After a satisfying thrash up Filton Bank we took the Filton Chord - my first new track of the day - heading through Hallen Marsh and into the Bulk Handling Terminal at Avonmouth. A curious destination among the silos and coal hoppers, but interesting nonetheless.

Another reversal, this time retracing our steps via Hallen then heading into the new platform 4 at Bristol Parkway. Engineering at Westerleigh Junction meant a trip via the Severn Tunnel and Lydney to position the train for the next couple of rare branches. Enjoyed some very quick running under the river, before reversing again for a non-stop run through Gloucester on the Up Main. At Yate South we took the former line into Bristol, under the main line and through the small village of Westerleigh. We halted to reverse at the surprisingly large terminal, with a Murco oil facility and South Gloucestershire's waste transfer station on site. It was here we first heard of problems with 50049, which had shut down on arrival. Much speculation in Coach H about what would happen next.

We were soon underway, with the 31s leading us onto the Tytherington Branch at Yate Middle. My last excursion on this branch was the ill-fated trip with Nunney Castle. This trip was to be equally memorable, with our train pausing at Latteridge Crossing to take water onto 50049 from a kind householder's garden hose! This did the trick though, and we made an impressive climb into the quarry. It will be interesting to see if construction around the 2012 Olympic Site does regenerate traffic from this seemingly tiny quarry? The problems with 50049 had set us back in terms of time, and during our trip back via Gloucester and the Severn Tunnel it was announced that we would go directly to Bristol rather than taking the Patchway Chord and going again via Hallen. A BLS colleague who joined the train expressed disappointment, but stayed on board for the unusual traction. A good thing in the end, as we made up sufficient time to manage to do the chord and another run via Hallen and Avonmouth after all. If we'd not done this, we'd have arrived incredibly early at Temple Meads and needed to occupy a platform waiting for our last run of the day, a very rare locomotive hauled trip to Severn Beach.

Quite a few people bailed before this trip, and they missed a treat. In evening sunshine it was something quite special to emerge from the industrial scenery into the flat coastal landscape. Finally we arrived at Severn Beach and something of a party atmosphere descended on the train. Arrived back in Bristol a little early. A really cracking tour with some interesting destinations and a great atmosphere. There will naturally be talk about doing it again some time - and I'd happily lend my support to the team who achieved today's trip and made money for a deserving charity in the process.