Monthly steam train for Hebden Bridge
- The Cotton Mill Express, which ran a trial last month, has been given the green light to run monthly in the new year

Saturday, 15 December 2007

STEAM will rise again over Calder Valley's skyline as a new tourist train celebrates our industrial heritage.

The Cotton Mill Express, which ran a trial last month, has been given the green light to operate from Manchester Victoria Station next year.

It is a six-hour 'Pennine circular' tour, passing many of Lancashire and Yorkshire's former textile mills as it travels 100 miles via Stalybridge, Diggle, Huddersfield, Hebden Bridge, Burnley, Blackburn, Darwen and Bolton. The 400-passenger capacity trains will operate with steam locomotives and period coaches dating back to the '50s and '60s.

They will run once a month from Saturday January 12 - but could increase to fortnightly if demand is high.

Promoter Past-Time Rail has set firm dates with Network Rail through to July. Further dates for the second half of the year will be confirmed soon.

Each journey will see 10 carriages pulled by a pair of locos 'double-heading'.

Trains will run on Saturdays January 12, February 9, March 15, June 14 and July 26, and on Sundays April 6 and May 18.

They will depart at 10.10am, returning to Victoria at 4.06pm. Standard adult fare will be £42.50 and first class £66.50, with discounts for four or more.

Bookings are through Past-Time Rail on 01543 411971.

Links:

Past Times

Steam info

Previously, on the Hebweb

Watch Out for the Cotton Mill Express

Hebweb news June 2007: Steam train comes to Hebden Bridge