Scarborough Spa Express

History

Regular steam operations on most of British Rail ended in 1968. In the early 1970s, British Rail allowed steam back on the main line, using preserved steam locomotives, and, by the late 1970s, the company ran a series of trains during the summer months from York to Scarborough and back. In 1981, BR introduced the Scarborough Spa Express, which ran from York to Scarborough and return, twice a week. The following year, this was extended to run over the circular route from York to Harrogate and Leeds, and then returning to York and continuing to Scarborough. These ran until 1988.

In the 2000s

After 1988, there were occasional steam railtours to Scarborough, featuring locomotives which included 60800 Green Arrow, 46229 Duchess of Hamilton, 48151 Gauge O' Guild, 3440 City of Truro and 45596 Bahamas. It was not until 2002 that regular trips began again. These were introduced by West Coast Railways and ran from Scarborough to York and return for three days a week during July and August. The same format was used again in 2003. The National Railway Museum began running a service directly from York to Scarborough in 2004 from 20 July. 4472 Flying Scotsman, having just been acquired by the NRM, was the main loco used, but LMS Stanier Class 5 45407 'The Lancashire Fusilier' was available in the event of any loco failure. The NRM sponsored the SSE until the end of 2006, when they decided to hand over the running of the SSE to the Railway Touring Company. In 2007, the Railway Touring Company included the Harrogate Loop in the SSE itinerary once more and ran a number of very successful tours during July and August. In 2008-2009, WCR took over the running of the SSE and they again utilised the Harrogate loop, running on three days a week during July and August. In 2010, the route was changed when gauging problems on the Harrogate loop put a stop to any steam locomotive using that route. This is how the Wakefield Circle was born, with WCR again running the SSE three days a week during July and August. The route was York-Normanton-Wakefield Kirkgate-Wakefield Westgate-Woodlesford-Castleford and back to York; then, from York the usual trip to Scarborough and back to York and the Wakefield Circle as per the morning run, and finally returning to York at 21-00. It was intended that the same route would be used in 2012.

Locomotives

In recent years, the following locomotives have been used:

On its first run, 6233 Duchess of Sutherland hit a bridge between Harrogate and Leeds, causing minor damage, and was not used on that route subsequently.