A SPECIAL Christmas steam train excursion marks the return to Liverpool of the veteran locomotive Leander for the first time in 44 years.
Leander, a 1936-built Jubilee class locomotive will haul the Daily Post’s York Yuletide Express on Sunday December 14 from Liverpool Lime Street and St Helens Junction to York and return.
This follows the sell-out success of Liverpool Daily Post and National Museums Liverpool's pioneering summer steam programme to North Wales and Carlisle.
There will be a three hour afternoon lay-over at York for passengers to enjoy the National Railway Museum, York Minster, Jorvik Viking Centre, Yorkshire Big Wheel or Christmas shopping.
It is hoped to have a mince pie and a drink for each passenger, plus a brass band at Liverpool or York stations.
Leander was built by the London Midland & Scottish Railway at Crewe 72 years ago and this is its first visit to Liverpool at least since withdrawal by British Railways in 1964.
The York Yuletide Express is aimed at the family day-out market and is ideal for celebrating anniversaries, birthdays and people seeking a high quality nostalgic experience.
Passengers will travel aboard comfortable and spacious coaches built in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Accommodation is in three classes: Premier Dining (Pullman-style at seat silver service with breakfast outward and dinner homeward), First Class and Standard Class. A buffet car will also be included.
“The popularity of the summer steam trains from Liverpool took us by surprise,” says Nigel Dobbing, managing director of Railway Touring Company.
“Because of the demand, we didn’t want to keep people waiting until next summer, so a York trip which we didn’t do in summer seemed ideal for Christmas.”
Departure from Lime Street is at 10.15 and return at 21.27 (times can be subject to change).
The ticket prices are: Standard class adult £74, child £39, family of four £195; First class adult £104, child £55, family £295; Premier class adult £169, child £112, family £475.
Daily Post readers will receive a £5 discount per passenger (quote YYL) when booking from Railway Touring Company, tel: 01553 661500; website: www.railwaytouring.co.uk
