Spaces still available on our additional date for this tour, 21st December, click here to view

The ‘York Yuletide Express’ will provide our customers in the Merseyside and Manchester areas a pre-Christmas treat as we make the nostalgic journey to festive York by steam hauled special train, hauled by Ex LMS Jubilee 5690 Leander.

We shall depart from Liverpool Lime Street on Sunday morning and make our way up the testing climb of Olive Mount Cutting through a series of subterranean tunnels and steep sided sandstone cuttings towards the summit at Edge Hill.
The locomotive will be on easier gradients as we pick up speed along the alignment of the original 1830 Liverpool and Manchester railway.
 

We run across Chat Moss on George Stephenson’s line to Manchester where we arrive at the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway’s Manchester Victoria. Nearby is the Wheel of Manchester, near to the Urbis museum with its shimmering glass frame. We leave Manchester and take the Rochdale line. The train passes through the depths of Summit Tunnel to emerge at Todmorden in West Yorkshire.
 

After Mirfield, the ‘Leander’ will head through Healey Mills freight yards and Wakefield Kirkgate, formerly a Yorkshire coal mining town.
Continuing our journey towards York, we pass Normanton and Castleford before we join the line from Leeds at Church Fenton. From here, it will be a fast run into York, where we shall have time to visit the city with its many attractions.
 

During your stay, the Festival of Angels will be held in the York Quarter. Experience a winter wonderland of ice sculptures, snow, stalls, food and drink at this true winter festival, bringing the magic and excitement of our childhood Christmases back to us. If your taste is a little less seasonal, the National Railway Museum is a must, along with the many shops and museums offering something for everybody.
 

It will soon be time to return to the station for our steam-hauled journey with Leander back to Liverpool Lime Street. We will retrace our earlier steps through Wakefield, Rochdale and Manchester Victoria before arriving back in Liverpool during the late evening, hopefully full of Christmas spirit. It is also very likely that Santa and his Elves will be paying a visit to the train at some part of your journey!

• 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)