The best main line steam trip

OVER the years I’ve enjoyed many steam trips from Mallaig in the north to Bodmin in the west, but yesterday I can honestly say I had the best one yet.

Saphostrains’‘white Rose’hauled by what looked like ex works Britannia and Mk.1 coaches that were pristine inside and out, set off from Crewe with six of us enjoying our Premier Dining experience on March 7.

There’s something magical about being greeted aboard the carriage by uniformed hostesses and shown to our seats in the Pullman-style extravagance that sets this apart from others I’ve been on. A fabulous breakfast and unlimited coffee (with pastries) made the four-and-a-half hour journey across the snowcapped Pennines fly by. The Brit was clearly in fine fettle and even Miles Platting bank couldn’t slow it down for long! Arrival in York to a crowded platform with dozens of cameras clicking was bang on time. York is always a nice place to spend an afternoon and what better than a visit to Betty’s Tea Shop!

Back at the station, Britannia backed onto its train while once more crowds tried to get close enough to get that special picture of this elegant locomotive.

We took our seats again and as darkness fell, we were served a fabulous four course dinner, which we washed down with a red Malbec.

Our hostess was a wizard at folding napkins and she showed me how to make a starched napkin into a boat or a lily. Friendly staff, great food and precision timing right back to Crewe made this a day out to remember. Britannia is performing as well if not better now than ever before and that says a lot about the team looking after it. Long may that continue.

Gerald Creed,

Bristol