Above: Steam Locomotive Jubilee 'Alberta' working the last Scarborough Spa Express on the 2020 season.
Dates of Special Steam and Diesel Heritage Trains arriving and departing Scarborough station in 2021
Thursday 27th May 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express' (Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railway from Carnforth, Hellifield, Skipton, Keighley, Shipley, Woodlesford and York further details from the West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Saturday 5th June 2021 'Scarborough Flyer' (Steam Train) operated by The Railway Touring Company from Manchester Victoria, Romiley, Hathersage and Sheffield further details from The Railway Touring Company Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 14:05 estimated departure time 16:05
Thursday 10th June 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express' (Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railways from Carnforth, Lancaster, Preston, Blackburn, Hebden Bridge, Brighouse, Wakefield Kirkgate and York. Further details from West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Thursday 24th June 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express' (Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railway from Carnforth, Hellifield, Skipton, Keighley, Shipley, Woodlesford and York further details from the West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Thursday 8th July 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express' (Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railways from Carnforth, Lancaster, Preston, Blackburn, Hebden Bridge, Brighouse, Wakefield Kirkgate and York. Further details from West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Saturday 10th July 2021 'Yorkshire Coast Statesman (Diesel Train) operated by Statesman Rail from St Albans City, Luton, Bedford, Market Harborough, Kettering, Wellingborough, Leicester, Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway, Ilkeston and Alfreton. Further details from the Statesman Rail Website. Estimated 3-hour afternoon break in Scarborough
Thursday 15th July 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express' (Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railway from Carnforth, Hellifield, Skipton, Keighley, Shipley, Woodlesford and York further details from the West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Saturday 17th July 2021 'Yorkshire Coast Statesman (Diesel Train) operated by Statesman Rail from Potters Bar, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Letchworth, Royston, Cambridge, Ely, March and Peterborough. Further details from the Statesman Rail Website. Estimated 3-hour afternoon break in Scarborough
Thursday 29th July 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express'(Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railways from Carnforth, Lancaster, Preston, Blackburn, Hebden Bridge, Brighouse, Wakefield Kirkgate and York. Further details from West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Thursday 5th August 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express' (Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railway from Carnforth, Hellifield, Skipton, Keighley, Shipley, Woodlesford and York further details from the West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Thursday 19th August 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express' (Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railways from Carnforth, Lancaster, Preston, Blackburn, Hebden Bridge, Brighouse, Wakefield Kirkgate and York. Further details from West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Wednesday 25th August 2021 'The Scarborough Belle' (Diesel Train Class 47, Class 20 Locomotives) operated by Vintage Trains from Tyseley Locomotive Works, Coleshill Parkway, Tamworth High Level, Burton-on-Trent and Derby. Further details from Vintage Trains Website
Thursday 26th August 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express' (Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railway from Carnforth, Hellifield, Skipton, Keighley, Shipley, Woodlesford and York further details from the West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Thursday 9th September 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express' (Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railways from Carnforth, Lancaster, Preston, Blackburn, Hebden Bridge, Brighouse, Wakefield Kirkgate and York. Further details from West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Friday 10th September 2021 'Scarborough at Leisure' (Diesel Train) operated by Northern Belle from Llandudno Junction, Chester, Crewe and Manchester Victoria. Further details from the Northern Belle Website. Estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:30, estimated departure time 16:30
Saturday 11th September 2021 'Settle-Carlisle Circular' (Diesel Train) operated by Statesman Rail from Scarborough outward over the Settle & Carlisle railway line. Return route is via the West Coast Line climbing over Shap Summit and the pretty Lune Gorge affording stunning views of the Cumbrian Mountains. Further details from the Statesman Rail website estimated departure from Scarborough 09:00 retuning to Scarborough at 19:05. (This special train also offers the rare opportunity of travelling by heritage train from Scarborough, Seamer and Malton)
Photo above: Railway Touring Company special train with steam locomotive 'Alberta' curretly named 'Sierra Leone', photo thanks to Bob Green
Saturday 11th September 2021 'Coast to Coast Express' (Steam Train) operated by The Railway Touring Company from Liverpool Lime Street, Manchester Victoria, Sheffield and York. Further details from The Railway Touring Company Website. Estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:30, estimated departure time 16:00
Thursday 16th September 2021 'Scarborough Spa Express' (Steam Train) operated by West Coast Railway from Carnforth, Hellifield, Skipton, Keighley, Shipley, Woodlesford and York further details from the West Coast Railways Website estimated arrival time in Scarborough 12:34 estimated departure time 16:41
Steam locomotive Jubilee 'Galatea' at Scarborough Railway Station ready for departure on 15th August 2019. Passing is 'Barbara Castle' the name of a Northern Rail, Class 158 Diesel Multiple Unit with a service from Scarborough to Sheffield.
Barbara Castle was Minister of Transport who reprieved the Scarborough to Hull railway service from being closed in 1969. A Public Inquiry was held in York which local people attended and gave evidence. More about Barbara Castle who died in 2002 from BBC webpage How Barbara Castle broke the glass ceiling of politics
'Galatea' was steam locomotive that was expected to be used for spare parts to enable other steam locomotives to be restored. Further details from Preserved British Steam Locomotives Website 'Galatea' was withdrawn from service in 1964, only rebuilt and returned to the main line in 2013. (Almost half a Century Later!) Several of the parts used in the rebuild came from former steam locomotive 'Alberta' In tribute to this long lost steam locomotive West Coast Railway repainted and renamed the locomotive 'Alberta' See photograph at the top of this page.
Scarborough Railway Turntable
For help with this article, many thanks to the Forge Valley Railway.co.uk and the Branch Line Society
Steam engines need to be 'turned' so that they face the right way at a terminus station. While a steam engine can travel backwards, it is not how they are designed to be operated on a main line, just like a car on a motorway. In the days of steam, turning the locomotive was not a problem, every main line terminus had a turntable close by. The last steam trains ran on the old British Railway North Eastern Region in 1967, now well over 50 years ago. The former steam shed at Scarborough had closed on 20th May 1963, the turntable and facilities for a steam engine removed at the end of 1967.
Steam on British Railways finished in 1968, and with the very rare exception was then banned. At first British Railways did not want to have steam locomotives operating on the main line. The 1960's were about being modern, looking forward.
However, slowly this was relaxed, and regular routes were set up. York to Scarborough being one such route. York being the ideal location to add a steam engine to the long-distance train with the facilities at the National Railway Museum capable of maintaining this vintage traction. In less than 10 years since the demise of steam, the high-speed diesel train, was introduced, attracting passenger back to Inter City services being capable of travelling at speeds of up to 125mph, with 2 power cars.
The Yorkshire Spa Seaside town of Scarborough was an ideal destination, though it did not now have a turntable it could use the triangular track layout at Butlins Holiday Camp, built in 1947 and designed for steam trains. For a handful of years, in the 1970's, steam engines arrived hauling special trains to Scarborough could use this. While their passengers were enjoying their break in Scarborough the steam engine would 'turn round' on the triangular piece of track by Royal Oak, near Hunmanby. Then in 1977 Filey Holiday Camp Station shut. (6 years later Butlins Filey had also closed.)
The steam trains had proved popular and created a lot of good publicity for the Yorkshire Coast. The traditional seaside town were having a tough time, loosing holiday trade as people 'jetted of to the sun' and this nostalgia, was a big help to the local economy. Once the triangular section of track at Royal Oak had been removed, it looked like visiting steam trains to the coast would be a thing of the past.
In 1978 a series of trains ran during the Summer on a circular route to York via Leeds and Harrogate.
Today we are very fortunate that Scarborough Borough Council had the foresight and finance to help source and fund a new turntable. This was installed in 1981, it came from Gateshead in the North East, positioned above the old turntable pit where the former steam shed in Scarborough was located. It was extended by 4 metres so it would be large enough for any visiting preserved steam locomotive of that period. The new turntable was tested on 30th April 1981 in time for the extension of the Leeds/Harrogate York steam service during the summer to start and be named 'The Scarborough Spa Express.'
The Scarborough Spa Express is now a regular service to Scarborough operated by West Coast Railways further details from the Scarborough Spa Express Webpage
For many years now, Scarborough has been the second most popular destination for a long-distance steam excursions in England and Wales. Top of the list is Carlisle. Though this is only because it is located at the end of the world-famous Settle-Carlisle railway line.
Top Tip:
When a steam excursion comes to Scarborough, a great time to see the locomotive is the time before it is due to leave to take passenger home. The steam train will then be on Platform One alongside the world's longest railway bench. The engine driver and fireman are always happy to pose for a photograph as they will have their steam locomotive ready for the return to York.
In contrast, when the steam train arrives at Scarborough is not the best time as the platform will be busy with people getting off the train, and the train crew need to reverse the train into Falsgrave sidings so that the steam engine can be serviced, the tender filled with water and the coal prepared for the return journey
Link below to the world longest railway bench.
To find out more about special heritage train running on the national network
For details of all trains operating on the national rail network
Updated 11.11.2021