Scarborough Spa Express

Coast-to-coast Wednesday steam excursion across Lancashire and Yorkshire to York and Scarborough, with two alternative routes.

The Scarborough Spa Express revives a British Rail summer steam train of the early 1980s. Two routes are used. The northern route starts at Carnforth and picks up at Skipton, Keighley, Shipley, Woodlesford and York, running through the Aire Valley along the edge of the Dales. The southern route starts at Lancaster and calls at Preston, Blackburn, Brighouse, Wakefield Kirkgate and York, crossing the Pennines through the old mill towns.

Both converge at York, where passengers may leave the train, before continuing over the Vale of York and the Wolds to Scarborough. Around three hours are allowed by the sea, enough for the harbour, castle headland and the Spa itself.

The train is steam hauled throughout, using Black Fives, Jubilees or other engines from the Carnforth pool. Four classes are offered, from Standard to Premier Dining with full English breakfast and bucks fizz on the way out and a dinner with wine on the return.