To celebrate Scarborough’s 400th anniversary as a spa resort, two special steam-hauled excursion trains are set to run from Lancaster to the seaside town this summer. Passengers will be able to sip champagne while travelling in style in refurbished 1950s British Railways carriages, some of which have even featured in the Harry Potter films.
On 2nd September, The Scarborough Spa Express will pick up passengers at Preston and Blackburn before making its way to Scarborough. For those looking to shorten the journey, you can disembark at York and enjoy everything the historic city has to offer, from the stunning Minster to the Shambles and the old city walls.
For those who want to enjoy a proper Yorkshire seaside afternoon, you can carry on to Scarborough and enjoy fun on the South Bay seafront with its classic beach huts and fish and chips. Maybe even visit Scarborough Castle, which looks out over both bays, before heading back to the platform.
It makes complete sense for the railway to celebrate the occasion, as it was thanks to the birth of the railway that Scarborough became so popular. The railway’s arrival made the town accessible, leading to the rapid construction of large Victorian hotels, including the Grand Hotel, making the town a favourite destination for Victorian tourists.
While the exact steam engine has yet to be confirmed, reports from the Lancashire Post suggest it could be Scots Guardsman, a Royal Scot-class locomotive that once hauled express trains along the West Coast Main Line. Other possibilities include the crimson-painted Jubilee-class Galatea, Tangmere — known for operating the Bournemouth Belle and Atlantic Coast expresses from London Waterloo, or Oliver Cromwell, which famously pulled British Rail’s last scheduled steam service.
A spokesperson for the train said: “This is going to be one of the loveliest days out this summer — a nostalgic railway journey across some of the country’s most beautiful countryside to a traditional seaside resort. Premier first-class passengers will be able to sip a complimentary Bucks Fizz and tuck into a full traditional English breakfast during the outward journey.
“Then perhaps a stroll along the promenade, followed by fish and chips for lunch, before lazing away the afternoon in a deckchair on the beach. Finally, to round off a great day, there will be champagne back on the train, followed by a slap-up four-course dinner with wine served on the journey home in the evening.”
If this sounds like a bit of you, fares start from £93 (£45 for children). For more details, visit the West Coast Railways website here.
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