Full steam ahead through the Dales
Five special trains will be hauled by an historic steam-hauled locomotive across Yorkshire this summer to mark the 150th anniversary of one of the world’s most spectacular railway journeys.
An army of 6,000 navvies spent six years building the viaducts, bridges and tunnels on the route between Settle and Carlisle before the first passenger trains finally ran in 1876.
And the magic of that trip will be recreated in June when the Dalesman Express retraces the route through the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and the Eden Valley.
A spokesman for West Coast Railways, who are organising the journeys, said: “It will be 73 miles of pure nostalgia as the train plunges through 14 tunnels and steams across 22 viaducts, including the magnificent 24-arch, half-mile long Grade II listed one at Ribblehead, which is 104ft high.”
Passengers in Premier Dining Class will be welcomed on board with a Buck’s Fizz before a choice of tucking into a full English breakfast or smoked salmon.
Then after a sightseeing stopover in Carlisle, a slap-up four-course dinner with wine will be served during the leisurely journey home.
The organisers say it is not known yet which steam locomotive will operate the Dalesman, but it could be Scots Guardsman, which once hauled famous expresses like The Waverley and The Thames-Clyde Express over this route.
Other possible locomotives include the crimson-liveried Jubilee Class engine Galatea and Oliver Cromwell, a Britannia Class engine which hauled the last scheduled British Rail steam train in August, 1968.
Several of the vintage carriages – which have names like “Diana” and “Christina” – featured in the Harry Potter movies.
The first Dalesman service will pick up passengers from York on Tuesday, July 7, before calling at Castleford, Woodlesford, Keighley and Skipton.
The other dates are July 21, August 11 and 25, and September 15
There will also be three Dalesman trains running over the Settle-Carlisle route during the summer after setting out from Chester and picking up passengers at Preston.
These will be diesel-hauled for part of the journey before a steam locomotive takes over for the section between Hellifield and Carlisle.
Fares start at £98, with half price for children. For full details, see www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/dalesman/settle-to-carlisle-line