Chance to hop on a vintage steam train at Wakefield for a journey to remember this summer

Railway fans from Wakefield can travel behind an historic steam locomotive that starred in the iconic 1936 documentary movie Night Mail, this summer.
Loco Scots Guardsman enveloped in smokeLoco Scots Guardsman enveloped in smoke
Loco Scots Guardsman enveloped in smoke

Railway fans from Wakefield can travel behind an historic steam locomotive that starred in the iconic 1936 documentary movie Night Mail, this summer.

‘Scots Guardsman’ – filmed steaming between London and Glasgow as W H Auden read the famous lines “This is the Night Mail crossing the border, Bringing the cheque and the postal order” – is one of three engines rostered to pull special trains.

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The Scarborough Spa Express will be diesel-hauled from Carnforth through Hebden Bridge, Brighouse and Wakefield Kirkgate, to York, where a steam locomotive takes over.

The Dalesman will be diesel-hauled from York through Normanton, Wakefield, Leeds Central and Skipton before a steam engine is coupled at Hellifield for the last leg.

The other two engines to haul trains are ‘British India Line,’ that once pulled crack expresses like the Bournemouth Belle and the Atlantic Coast Express from London.

Passengers will wear safety masks, with social distancing in place.

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A spokesman for West Coast Railways said: “We are chuffed to be back on track again after being shunted off into a siding by the pandemic. But the safety of passengers, crew and communities remains paramount.”

The first Scarborough Spa Express from Wakefield will depart at 10.17am on July 30, and will run fortnightly until September 24.

The first Dalesman from Wakefield departs at 9.35am on August 4, running fortnightly until September 14.

For full details see westcoastrailways.co.uk