Shh … luxury steam train route kept secret
The route of the luxury Northern Belle train’s June journey from Preston is being kept under wraps until 24 hours before departure to prevent overcrowding by trainspotters and ensure safety.
The route one of the world’s poshest trains will take from Preston this month is being kept secret to avoid crowds of trainspotters causing chaos.
Railway enthusiasts are always eager to photograph the 1930s Pullman-style Northern Belle, especially when it is being hauled by a vintage steam loco.
So apart from departure times from the various stations, bosses will not reveal any other timings until 24 hours before the trip on Saturday, June 13.
A spokesman said: “We appreciate there is always a lot of interest in the Belle and we don’t want to spoil people’s fun.
“But sometimes it can be chaotic when huge groups of people gather on station platforms, bridges or by level crossings to photograph it.
“Safety along with the comfort of our passengers and other rail users must always come first.”
The Northern Belle will set out from Preston at 10.10am hauled by a heritage diesel locomotive.
Then a steam locomotive will take over at Carnforth before the train heads off over the spectacular Settle-Carlisle line.
The same trip featured on Channel 5’s “The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journey” programme last year, when narrator Bill Nighy described the train as “the Grand Dame of luxury travel”.
The train will be back in the city in August for two trips to Edinburgh, with the chance to visit the late Queen Elizabeth's Royal Yacht Britannia.
For more details, see www.northernbelle.co.uk