TO SCARBOROUGH FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY?

Who will be the first? As this magazine was parcelled off to the printers, it stands to be West Coast, which still has its regular-itinerary ‘Dalesman’ and ‘Scarborough Spa Express’ trains in the diary for just days after the anticipated lifting of leisure restrictions in England on July 4.

The Carnforth outfit has published a set of ‘social distancing’ guidelines for passengers on its trains (see separate story).

If it does happen, it would mean July 7’s Settle-Carlisle run would become the UK’s first public steam charter since March – breaking a famine that in recent weeks has put a scythe though everybody’s programmes. The ‘Long Drag’ trips are then booked to run on Tuesdays until September 8.

Although the core of the ‘Dalesman’ is the ‘S&C’, the point at which steam comes on the train varies; that’s because the train alternates each week between starting with modern traction at either Chester (steam on at Carnforth, off at Preston) or York (steam on at Hellifield). Adult Standard is £85.

Just two days later on July 9 is the first of a remaining set of dates in the ‘Scarborough Spa’ series, planned for Thursdays until September 3. These also run alternately on two routes between Carnforth, York and Scarborough: either via Skipton and Leeds, or Preston and Wakefield. Prices vary depending on boarding and so on – Carnforth to Scarborough (Adult Standard) is £79.