2023 The Second Bite

50008 Thunderer at different stages during the The Second Bite tour run for The Branch Line Society by Hanson and Hall Rail Services Solutions. It was an attempt to run a tour that had been scheduled to run in 2022 - see The Saltburn Alternative - hence the rather strange name.

The locomotive worked in a top-'n'-tail formation with locomotive 37403 Isle of Mull which started the tour from Derby and travelled to Nottingham. 50008 then took charge from Nottingham to Battersby whereupon 37403 took the tour forward to Whitby. 50008 then led the tour back to Battersby with 37403 leading to Ferryhill Up Sidings where the consist reversed with 50008 leading down to Retford. 37403 then took the tour forward to Nottingham (via Sheffield) with 50008 hauling the final leg back to Derby.

Total distance covered by 50008 was 312 miles for the one-day trip.

Date: 2023-03-18