Photo: Chris j wood, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsA rare through train over the whole Esk Valley line from Middlesbrough to Whitby, steam hauled from Lancashire.
The Esk Valley offers a rare chance to travel the whole Esk Valley line between Middlesbrough and Whitby on a loco-hauled train. It leaves Carnforth behind steam and picks up at Bentham, Skipton, Leeds and York, then runs up the East Coast Main Line to Northallerton, crosses the Yarm Viaduct over the Tees and continues through Middlesbrough.
After the reversal at Battersby a diesel takes the train through Kildale, Commondale, Danby and Glaisdale to Grosmont and along the River Esk to Whitby, where there is just over an hour to explore. On the return the train is steam hauled to Battersby, diesel to Stockton, then steam again via Northallerton and York.
Ingleborough is on the left early on and Whitby Abbey on the right at the end; the Esk Valley itself winds so views alternate sides.
Sides are given facing the direction of travel. Miles are approximate from the start of the journey.
Just over an hour.
No. Diesel works the section between Battersby and Whitby, and between Battersby and Stockton on the return.
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