All aboard for a classic coastal steam trip down memory lane

Jul 26 2008 by Val Javin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IT’S regarded by many as the most stylish age of rail travel. When life was more leisurely and steam trains took the strain.

The Railway Touring Company is about to recreate a taste of all that with a relaxed trip between northern towns and the seaside.

The first of the Scarborough Flyer steam rail service runs next Friday (that’s August 1) and will continue each Friday throughout August.

It will run from Huddersfield, Wakefield, Castleford and York to Scarborough offering passengers a whiff of nostalgia and an afternoon in Scarborough.

The service is a timely reminder of the fact that August 11 marks the 40th anniversary of the last steam train run by British Rail.

Three steam locomotives will be hauling The Scarborough Flyer during August, including 60009 Union of South Africa, sister to the world famous Mallard, which broke the world steam record 70 years ago on July 3, 1938.

The company uses a pool of three magnificent steam locomotives, all Pacifics and restored to top operating condition for hauling these trains.They are 6201 Princess Elizabeth, 60009 Union of South Africa and 71000 Duke of Gloucester.

The trains will be steam hauled in both directions.

Union of South Africa will be hauling the Friday, August 8 and August 22, trips.

The train leaves Huddersfield at about 9am and will arrive in Scarborough at 11.50am. The return journey leaves the east coast at 16.15 arriving back in Huddersfield at 19.10.

First class travel includes morning coffee and Danish pastries and tea and biscuits in the afternoon.

For more information about The Scarborough Flyer or The Railway Touring Company please view the website at: http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/the-scarborough-flyer---august-2008.html