The K1 hauling The Three Dales railtour above Hunt Cliff, May 12th 2007. Maurice Burns.
The K1 hauling The Three Dales railtour above Hunt Cliff, May 12th 2007. Maurice Burns.
It is planned to run an NELPG sponsored, West Coast Railways operated, railtour using the K1 on Saturday 10th May 2008. The highlight is expected to be a visit to Boulby, which will be most appropriate since the Saltburn – Staithes – Whitby line closed to passengers on 3rd May 1958, almost exactly 50 years previously. The section from Saltburn to Loftus was retained for freight traffic, but then Skinningrove – Loftus closed in 1964, and the whole line from Skinningrove to Whitby was lifted. With the advent of the potash mine at Boulby the section from Skinningrove to Boulby was relaid, opening on 1st April 1974.
The train will be diesel hauled – hopefully by a class 37 – picking up and setting down at Newcastle (07.10) – (times are those requested and are subject to final approval), Durham (07.30), Darlington (07.55) and Middlesbrough (08.40). At Middlesbrough the steam locomotive K1 62005 will couple on and haul the train to Newcastle via Stockton, Norton, Stillington, Ferryhill and Durham, with a planned water stop at Tyne Yard. From Newcastle the train will run via Sunderland and the Durham coast to Hartlepool, where it is hoped to have a stop of around one hour.
The train will then continue to Billingham where it will reverse and run to Seal Sands Junction; in doing so it will pass what was formerly Phillips Oil Refinery which was the home of 62005 whilst it was based there as a stationary boiler after the end of steam in the North East. Had this not happened it is a moot point whether 62005 would have been saved from scrapping! Returning to Billingham the train will continue on to Eaglescliffe where it will reverse, the diesel then leading to Saltburn, Crag Hall and Boulby. All being well the highlight of the tour will be 62005 climbing back out of Boulby, through the 900 yard Grinkle tunnel, past Loftus and the spectacular climb round Hunt Cliff, before returning to Middlesbrough (17.35). The train will then be diesel hauled back to Darlington (18:40), Durham (18:57) and Newcastle (19.18) while 62005 and its support coach travel on to York en route to Carnforth and another season at Fort William.
The train is limited to just 8 coaches so only standard class accommodation is available, at a fare of £55. There are no discounted fares. There should be a buffet service on board. The train is non-smoking.
Whilst NELPG Enterprises Ltd will make every effort to ensure that the tour runs as advertised, it cannot be held responsible for any cancellation, alteration, delays or mishaps outside its control. Your booking is accepted as cognisance of these conditions.
Tickets and final approved timings should be sent out approximately 8 days prior to the tour.