WE must congratulate the organisers of the 30th Anniversary Steam Special rail trip from Carlisle to York on Saturday, September 17, to celebrate the launch of the Development Company back in 1992.
It is a rare treat to have a steam special start in Carlisle, rather than from the other end of the line the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line, who were originally formed back in 1981 when I attended one of the inaugural meetings in the then City Hall, Carlisle with the famous rail author OS Nock as the speaker, were successful in saving with our campaign resulting in Minister of State for Transport Michael Portillo refusing the closure in 1989.
Steam hauled from Carlisle to York by LMS ‘Royal Scot’ class No. 6115 (renumbered 46115 by British Railways after nationalisation in 1948) Scots Guardsman, originally bult in 1927 (photo attached of the engine at platform 1, Carlisle just before we set off) performing beautifully throughout, picking up passengers at Appleby, Settle and Skipton.
As indeed did all the train staff, with superb silver service fine dining available for breakfast and dinner.
Nearly four hours in a sunny York topped the day off beautifully, as we indulged in what we considered an obligatory visit to the largest railway museum in the world, attracting nearly 1million visitors a year – The National Railway Museum, where we signed the book of condolence to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Steam hauled back as far as Hellifield, then diesel to Carlisle, ended a great day out. More excursions from the Carlisle end of the line would be greatly appreciated.
Patrick Tracey
Carlisle
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