AN historic steam locomotive named after the Queen is returning to Carlisle this summer.

What is considered to be one of Britain’s most ostentatious trains spent the last years of its working life operating from Carlisle railway depots. Crimson-painted “Princess Elizabeth” will take passengers on the Northern Belle, a 1930s-style Pullman train, on a dozen slap-up champagne journeys over the Settle-Carlisle line.

English actor Bill Nighy described the train as “the Grand Duchess of Luxury” earlier this year on Channel 5’s World’s Most Scenic Railways programme. He said after a trip on the Northern Belle over the same route through the Yorkshire Dales: “Our plush grand tour has been the experience of a lifetime.”

Princess Elizabeth, built at Crewe in 1933 for the princely sum of £11,675 and named after the present Queen, was once a regular sight in Carlisle. The locomotive was based at the city’s Kingmoor and Upperby sheds and hauled express trains to London and Glasgow before being withdrawn from service by British Rail in 1962.

The train was nicknamed “Lizzie” by generations of railwayman said veteran engine driver, Chris Cubitt, who was on the engine’s footplate during the Channel 5 programme.

“All steam locomotives are temperamental. You’ve got to treat them right. If you don’t, they’ll soon let you down!" he said.

The carefully-renovated carriages of the Northern Belle were originally part of the iconic Orient Express group and one was once used on the Queen’s Royal Train. To book a place visit www.northernbelle.co.uk