The Railway Touring Company
The Cumbrian Mountain Express
Steam day trip from London over Shap to Carlisle via Settle line
1 dayfrom $162
100% of days by rail
The Railway Touring Company · Steam train day trip
The Waverley - 13 September 2026
Steam train day trip York to Carlisle via Settle & Carlisle Railway
The Railway Touring Company operates this one-day steam train excursion over the Settle & Carlisle Railway, one of Britain's most celebrated railway routes. Departing from York, Leeds, Keighley, or Skipton on 13 September 2026, a steam locomotive from the Carnforth pool hauls passengers northward to Carlisle. The journey climbs 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100, crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct and passing through Blea Moor Tunnel while ascending to Ais Gill Summit at 1,169 feet. Along the way, passengers see across the Pennine Three Peaks: Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough. Upon arrival in Carlisle, travellers have approximately two hours to explore the castle, cathedral, museum, or shopping centre before the return journey. Standard Class is a reserved seat at a table for four; First Class and Premier Dining tiers add progressively more substantial meals prepared on board. This trip suits history lovers, photographers, and rail enthusiasts drawn to the romance of steam-era travel through dramatic northern landscape.
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.
One reading is held out of the price above and this history: a supplement. 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 is listed: 13 September 2026. Confirm future steam service dates with The Railway Touring Company.
- Premier Dining is not available from Skipton; check your boarding point before selecting that tier.
- The two-hour stop in Carlisle requires independent exploration; no guided tour is mentioned.
Day by day
- Day 1rail
York to Carlisle via the Settle & Carlisle Railway
Steam-hauled round trip from York, Leeds, Keighley and Skipton over the Settle & Carlisle Railway to Carlisle, with around two hours to explore Carlisle before the steam-hauled return.
The moments this trip is built around
- Day 1The steam locomotive crosses the Ribblehead Viaduct and passes through Blea Moor Tunnel while ascending to Ais Gill Summit at 1,169 feet
- Day 1Views across the Pennine Three Peaks: Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough from the train
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.
- Which train operates this trip?
- A steam locomotive from the Carnforth pool hauled the train on this departure, travelling from York via Leeds, Keighley, and Skipton to Carlisle over the Settle & Carlisle Railway.
- Where can I board?
- The Railway Touring Company picks up passengers at York, Leeds, Keighley, and Skipton. Premier Dining is not available from Skipton.
- What is the route?
- The train departs York and travels to Church Fenton, then to Leeds, Keighley, and Skipton. It stops at Hellifield for water before joining the Settle & Carlisle Railway at Settle Junction. The route climbs 15 miles mainly at a gradient of 1 in 100, crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct, passing through Blea Moor Tunnel, and reaching Ais Gill Summit at 1,169 feet before arriving in Carlisle.
