The Railway Touring Company
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The Railway Touring Company · Steam day trip
The Cumbrian Coast Express
The Railway Touring Company offers a one-day steam excursion from Crewe on The Cumbrian Coast Express, departing in August 2026. The journey begins with diesel haulage from Crewe via Wilmslow, Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly, and Preston to Carnforth. There, a steam locomotive takes over for the main event: a run along the Cumbrian Coast line, one of England's most scenic railway routes. The train crosses the Kent Viaduct at Arnside and the Leven Viaduct near Ulverston, passing through Kirkby-in-Furness and Millom before reaching Ravenglass. At journey's end, guests enjoy a private charter on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, celebrating its 150th anniversary, or can opt for an excursion to Muncaster Castle. Meals vary by tier: Standard passengers receive a reserved seat; First Class adds morning tea and afternoon refreshments; Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four-course dinner prepared and served on board. The return journey retraces the same route by steam then diesel to Crewe.
Price history
Across 4 checks, this price has held at £120 every time.
Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 1 of 4 point is a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.
2 readings are held out of the price above and this history: an unconfirmed large change. We only price on the operator's package from-price, read from its own page.
What to know before you look closer
- Only one departure listed: August 2026 from Crewe. Confirm current and future dates with The Railway Touring Company before booking.
- Premier Dining (the highest tier at GBP 335) is not available from Preston station.
Day by day
- Day 1rail
The Cumbrian Coast Express
Diesel-hauled from Crewe via Wilmslow, Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly and Preston to Carnforth, where steam takes over along the Cumbrian Coast to Ravenglass for a private charter on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway or an optional visit to Muncaster Castle, before returning by the same route.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1Steam locomotive takes over at Carnforth and hauls the train along the Cumbrian Coast line, crossing the Kent Viaduct at Arnside and the Leven Viaduct near Ulverston to Ravenglass
- Day 1Private charter on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, or optional visit to Muncaster Castle
Questions travellers ask
- How much does it cost?
- From £120 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $162 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
- Is this trip fully escorted?
- The Railway Touring Company operates the train journey with reserved seating. At Ravenglass, you may join a private charter on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway or visit Muncaster Castle as an optional activity.
- Which trains are used?
- Diesel haulage from Crewe to Carnforth, then a steam locomotive along the Cumbrian Coast to Ravenglass. At Ravenglass, guests board the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway for a private charter.
- What is the route?
- The train departs Crewe, calls at Wilmslow, Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly, and Preston, then continues to Carnforth where steam takes over. The steam leg runs along the Cumbrian Coast line through Kirkby-in-Furness and Millom to Ravenglass, passing the Kent Viaduct at Arnside and the Leven Viaduct near Ulverston. Return is by the same route.
- Can I visit Muncaster Castle?
- Yes, Muncaster Castle is offered as an optional excursion at Ravenglass instead of the private railway charter.
