First UK Timetabled Steam Service for nearly Half a Century

[Claude_Dreyfus]

For the first time in 49 years, there has been a timetabled mainline service train hauled by a steam locomotive in the UK. Of course, there are many instances of steam services on Britain's railways; rail tours, the Jacobite (between Fort William and Mallaig) and the National Rail section to Whitby from the North Yorkshire Moors line, but this is something more significant.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-38957943

 

This is an approach taken (successfully by all accounts) in Germany, so hopefully we may see something similar in the future. This could be helped by more new build steam locos being planned. Ironically, Tornado is significantly younger than the usual diesel units use on the line.

 

My own experience on the Settle - Carlisle was back in 1993. I was but a youngster, which probably accounted for why I chose to travel in the class 144 pacer on the return journey!

[cteno4]

very cool and quite the deal for the ticket for a nice day trip! makes it something on the list for the next GB visit!

 

jeff

[cteno4]

Wow clicking thru the route thru the park on google maps its looks like spectacular country side scenery for this trip. thats going to be a hit!

 

jeff

[westfalen]

This was the view out of my hotel window at Ribblehead in November 2015, would have been great to substitute Tornado for that train.