Scarborough Spa Express

Now advertised on WCRC website running Thursdays 2nd June to 25th August

 

With a choice of interesting routes (alternate weeks) from Carnforth, dining added, Steam on at York and longer at the sea side (waits for the moaners & whingers....)

 

If the advertising's anything to go by, you'd think they've got 'Puffing Billy' or 'Locomotion' No. 1 doing the honours...

 

Interesting, in that unless there is another announcement still to come, WCRC appear to be abandoning the market they have spent the last few years cultivating, i.e. the one around the Wakefield circle, including Castleford, Normanton and Woodlesford. As recently as yesterday, that market was being offered weekly trips over the S&C on the dates now allocated to SSEs coming over from the north west.

 

I think the plan is to return to that market during the October half term. It strikes me as an 'easing-in' sort of programme.

 

They did that last year as well, so it's nothing new.

 

I think they have just expanded the choice along the route, (Fellsman !!) perhaps to make it worthwhile and sell seats.
Castleford and Normanton come under Wakefield Council and Woodlesford is part of Leeds anyway, plus both routes still pick up in several Yorkshire stations.

 

Not sure what local government has to do with it. People tend to travel from a station that is convenient for them, not one that fits with administrative boundaries.

In any event, I wonder how many takers there will be from Keighley, Shipley, Hebden Bridge and Brighouse, given that they have to pay £30 more than those boarding at Leeds or Wakefield.

 

- Short subsidised rides are available to Wakefield and Leeds in W yorks from those stations I mentioned with METRO

 

What on earth were they thinking when they wrote "Arriving in York we pick up one of the oldest Steam engines in the world ..."?

 

That will only be something known to the author. It's sloppy advertising, whatever it is.

 

Since Sir Lamiel retired from the mainline, Flying Scotsman may be the oldest mainline certified steam loco in the country, but that's not quite the same thing...

 

I'm looking forward to Gordon Hodgson driving Coppernob. No, seriously, the good thing about this is that it shows WCR have patched up their differences with NRM and the LNE zone at least to the level of being able to offer this. For anyone who thinks that the core market for the future is on secondary routes where there are slots available, to have a year where Sellafield is not available as a destination, the S and C is closed and Scarborough off limits would be pretty dire. Yes the fare structure looks odd but £29 adult standard return from York to Scarborough seems like good value.

 

It's steam in Yorkshire from £29, brilliant news !!!!

We might not (ever?) return to steam, in summer, in Yorkshire 5 days a week that we've enjoyed previously (3x SSE, Scarborough Flyer and Waverley), but as mentioned above, with the S & C currently closed this is extremely good to hear.

 

I didnt know Gladstone had been returned to steam or is it Rocket complete with S&D replica coaches

 

If it's running in Summer only, won't there be a fire risk in East Yorkshire which could cause problems?

 

Better book on one of the first three runs ! Before end of June is usually a good bet.

 

Steam hauled between York and Scarborough only - this doesn't require any hard work from the loco.

 

There are some fast running stretches and a lot greenery in the Vale of Pickering, booked early June.