Get All Steamed Up On The Settle To Carlisle Railway And The Scarborough Spa Express This Summer

Day trippers are in for an absolutely WIZARD day-out this summer when famous steam locomotives that once hauled crack trains around Britain will pull some of the heritage carriages from Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Express across Yorkshire.

There are three routes with two travelling over the spectacular Settle-Carlisle line through the Yorkshire Dales and northern Pennines, which has been voted the second greatest railway journey in the world.

The other goes to the historic city of York and then on to Scarborough on the East Coast. All will pick up passengers at various stations throughout Yorkshire, with one service departing from Lancashire for the Settle to Carlisle service..

You could find yourself sipping champagne and tucking into a slap-up meal while relaxing in the very same magical seats where Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna Lovegood sat during the blockbuster Potter movies.

The steam-hauled Dalesman and Scarborough Spa Express have been popular routes for many years in Yorkshire. But this year a third train, the Pendle Dalesman, will also operate from May 18.

The Scarborough train started life as the Scarborough Flier in 1927, carrying passengers from London to the seaside resort in luxurious comfort before finally being withdrawn in 1963

West Coast Railways will run the train on 11 Thursdays during the summer, starting on May 27, along two different routes. One will call at Hellifield, Skipton, Keighley, Shipley, Woodlesford and York.

The other will stop at Hebden Bridge, Brighouse, Wakefield Kirkgate and York. Passengers on both services will have four hours in Scarborough - enough time to either walk up to the castle, visit the Scarborough Spa or enjoy a leisurely stroll of the front.

The Dalesman will operate on eight Thursdays through Yorkshire, calling at York, Normanton, Wakefield Kirkgate, Leeds Central and Skipton, with just enough time in Carlisle to visit the ancient castle or the 12th century cathedral before the return journey.

The new Pendle Dalesman will run along a similar route to Carlisle but also stop to pick up passengers at Clitheroe and Long Preston.

Fares on the three trains start at £59 for adults and £20 for children in standard class. If you really want to make it an even better experience passengers can do the journey in VIP style by paying £265 for Premier Dining, which includes Bucks Fizz on boarding, followed by a full English breakfast or smoked salmon on the outward leg.

Then on the way home a slap-up four-course dinner will be served. Champagne, wine, beer and cider will also be available, as well as coffee and tea.



For more details and to book, see www.northernbelle.co.uk