The White Rose

This is one of the Railway Touring Company’s favourite trips, combining a speedy run on the East Coast Main Line behind an A4, with ample time to explore York before relaxing again on the return to Kings Cross.

Our locomotive for the return trip is the Gresley-designed A4 Pacific 60019 Bittern, one of a class of 35 built in the 1930s that operated the most important trains out of Kings Cross until 1960. One of the class was destroyed during the war. Leaving Kings Cross we will follow the route of some of the most famous trains of the past, including the Flying Scotsman, storming up the gradient through Finsbury Park and to the north. Our train will call at Potters Bar, Stevenage and Peterborough to pick up more customers. After taking water at Peterborough our locomotive will tackle the fifteen mile climb up the famous Stoke Bank. This was where Mallard achieved a record 126 mph flying down in the opposite direction. Once over the summit we should have a fast run down the twenty mile descent to the Trent Valley through Grantham and Newark and on through Retford. At Newark we pass over the flat crossing of the Nottingham to Lincoln line.

We pass through Doncaster where Bittern was built, before proceeding to York on the line built to avoid the coal mine subsidence around Selby. We will have over four hours in York to explore this delightful city. You can take a boat trip down the River Ouse, walk round the ancient city walls or visit York Minster and climb the tower for magnificent views of the city. Or perhaps you would prefer to do some souvenir shopping in the Shambles, one of the oldest shopping streets in York, or immerse yourself in some of the local history and experience the Jorvik Viking Centre, the York Dungeon or climb up Clifford’s Tower for more views of the city. Many of you will want to visit the National Railway Museum of course, and can combine this with a ride on York’s equivalent of the London Eye. Our train departs York about 16:40 retracing its route along the East Coast Main Line calling at the same stations as northbound before arriving at Kings Cross just after 21:00.

This train will be steam hauled from London Kings Cross to York and then back to Peterborough by 60019 Bittern. A modern diesel locomotive will haul our train from Peterborough back to London Kings Cross.

• Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and four course dinner silver served at your seat.
• First Class includes morning coffee and Danish pastries and tea and biscuits in the afternoon.
• Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.
Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £15 per person.
(subject to availability)