3 minute read
The Cumbrian Mountain Express
Saturday 18th March and 13th May 2023
The Cumbrian Mountain Express provides a wonderful opportunity to get out and about during the winter months, with the added bonus of steam haulage over the Northern Fells, including the spectacular Settle & Carlisle Railway. We have a high speed journey down the West Coast Main Line to Carnforth, hauled by a blue Class 86 electric locomotive. We then enjoy a circular steam tour outwards via Shap to the outskirts of Carlisle and back via the Settle and Carlisle line.
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We leave London Euston at around 07:10 with electric traction, and speed north along the West Coast Main Line (WCML). We stop to pick up passengers at Milton Keynes (where passengers from Watford Junction join by service train), Rugby (where passengers from Northampton join by service train), Nuneaton and Crewe. We continue north along the WCML to Preston, our final stop to pick up passengers. We continue through Lancaster to Carnforth, where we change motive power to a steam locomotive from the Carnforth pool. Leaving Carnforth, our steam locomotive will be working hard when we climb the first severe gradient up to Grayrigg. We then travel through the beautiful Lune Gorge to Tebay, gaining speed for the ascent to Shap. This well-known section of the WCML has a gradient of 1 in 75 and, in the former days of steam locomotives, banking engines from Tebay were often used to assist trains. After crossing the Cumbrian Fells we descend to Penrith, and then head for Carlisle. On this occasion, we will avoid Carlisle by taking the Upperby Curve to join the Settle and Carlisle line at London Road Junction. Our journey over the Settle and Carlisle line is one of the most well known and best loved stretches of railway line in Britain. We soon begin climbing through the scenic Eden Valley and then on arrival at Appleby, we stop for and afternoon break where our steam locomotive will take on water.
We have an extended stop at Appleby for you to visit this attractive market town, with its quaint High Street, historic church and Castle, and a riverside setting with a number of local walks to enjoy. You may even spot a red squirrel! From Appleby, the climbing continues through scenic Kirkby Stephen towards the highest railway summit in England at Ais Gill, 1169 feet above sea level. We pass over tall viaducts, including the famous one at Ribblehead, and through tunnels. There are magnificent views across the Fells and to the peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. We should have a fast run out of the hills, through Settle, until we stop again for our locomotive to take on water. Our journey continues through Hellifield and Clitheroe to Preston where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive. We pass though Wigan and Warrington en route to Crewe hauled by our blue class 86 electric locomotive with a fast run to London expected. We stop at the same stations as on the outward journey to set down passengers. Approximate Timings Outward Return London Euston 07:10 22:05 Watford Junction* 06:40 21:50 Milton Keynes 08:00 21:15 Northampton** 07:40 21:30 Rugby 08:25 20:38 Nuneaton 08:45 20:20 Crewe 09:45 19:15 Preston 10:30 18:00 Appleby 13:50 15:15
There are three classes available:
Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat. First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam. Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four. Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.
