Icon of age of steam train heading to Lancashire and this is how you can get on board

An historic steam locomotive which was filmed thundering through Preston in an iconic 1930s film is heading back to the city.
Scots Guardsman at Preston railway stationScots Guardsman at Preston railway station
Scots Guardsman at Preston railway station

Scots Guardsman was famously captured on camera in the 1936 black and white documentary Night Mail film over the soundtrack of W H Auden’s classic poem – “ This is the Night Mail crossing the Border, Bringing the cheque and the postal order”.

The 93-year-old train – once the pride of the LMS region – is one of three heritage steam engines being lined up to pull the Dalesman and Scarborough Spa services later this month.

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The other two are Alberta, a Jubilee Class locomotive, and the massive British India Line, which hauled the very first Bournemouth Belle luxury train and often pulled the legendary Atlantic Coast Express between London and Exeter.

A spokesman for operators West Coast Railways said: “These are three stunning locomotives which will be thrilling for both passengers and spectators.”

Special safety measures are being introduced following the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain social distancing and all passengers will have to wear face masks while on board the vintage former British Railways carriages.

The spokesman said: “Obviously safety of our passengers and staff is paramount. So we have reduced the number of seats and only members of the same family or ‘social pods’ will be allowed to sit together.

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“But we are confident that none of the measures will detract from a great day out on our trains.”

The Dalesman service starts on July 28 from Chester, picking up passengers at Frodsham, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan, Leyland and Preston before travelling over the Settle-Carlisle line. Passengers will spend two hours in Carlisle before the return journey.

The Scarborough Spa Express starts from Carnforth on July 30, calling at Lancaster, Preston, Blackburn, Hebden Bridge, Brighouse, Wakefield and York on its way to the East Yorkshire seaside resort.

Fares start at £69 return, £35 for children. For more details see westcoastrailways.co.uk/.

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