Press Office
Full steam ahead for seaside express
It was the year of the space shuttle, the personal computer, Dynasty and the Pixie boot.
And in Yorkshire, 1981 also saw the advent of one of the UK’s few regular main line steam train services - The Scarborough Spa Express.
The National Railway Museum is gearing up to celebrate 25 years of York to Scarborough steam specials with seven weeks of seaside trips, from 18 July until 31 August.
Running every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the 2006 Scarborough Spa Express service will be hauled by the NRM’s flagship locomotive, Green Arrow, and the newly restored Sir Lamiel, returning to work in Yorkshire for the first time in many years.
The first Spa Express ran in the summer of 1981 to celebrate the re-opening Scarborough’s famous Spa building. The trains ran regularly for almost a decade, and have since been run by private operators from time to time before their relaunch by the NRM in 2004, following its purchase of the world famous steam locomotive, Flying Scotsman.
Since the relaunch, some 38,000 passengers have made the journey since a regular summer holiday service was re-launched by the NRM in 2004.
Among the passengers on the first 2006 train will be the former Mayor of Scarborough Liz MacKenzie, who greeted the very first Scarborough Spa Express when it arrived in the town 25 years ago. She will be accompanied by former steam loco drivers Reg Turvey and Lesley Willis, both from York, who crewed the 1981 service.
The anniversary train will be met in Scarborough by the current Deputy Mayor Councillor Bill Chatt, and members of the brass band ‘Simply Brass’.
"The Scarborough Spa Express offers a rare opportunity for people to experience the thrill of a regular mainline steam service as part of a great day out. There are very few places in the UK where this is still possible,” said Andrew Scott, Head of the National Railway Museum.
The Spa Express departs York Station at 11.00 and Scarborough Station 18.00. The journey each way lasts approximately an hour.
Return ticket prices are: First Class adult £50, child £40; Standard Class adult £30, child £20. Book by 13 August and for every adult, a child goes FREE.
Editor’s notes:
- 4-6-0 No 777 Sir Lamiel was built in 1925 for the Southern Railway and is the only surviving King Arthur Class steam locomotive. It is has been restored to steam at the Great Central Railway in Loughborough by members of the 5305 Locomotive Association. 2-6-2 V2 Class No 4771 Green Arrow was built by the London and North Eastern Railway in Doncaster and celebrated its 70th birthday this year.
- Restoration of the Southern Railway locomotive Lord Nelson, due to have worked The Scarborough Spa Express, is now unlikely to be completed in time for the engine to take part in the summer service.
- Other events from 1981:
Wedding of HRH Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer
NASA launches first space shuttle
IBM launches first PC
USA President Ronald Reagan is shot in an assassination attempt
France abolishes the death penalty - The Scarborough Spa Express is operated by the West Coast Railway Company.
13 July 2006