Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway

Stately Trains

The railway is very fortunate to have a number of vintage carriages based on the line, including Stephen Middleton's Stately Trains fleet and two ex-Midland Railway carriages.

These Stately Trains operate in addition to the normal steam train service on many Sundays throughout the summer, using historic railway carriages including one that is reputed to have been the carriage of a Princess.

"Travel in Victorian Splendour"

'Cranford No. 2' with the Vintage Train. (C) Stephen Middleton

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Stately Train Timetable

Annie with the vintage train at Stoneacre in 2002. (c) Bob Bonsall Dates for 2008: Sundays throughout June, July, August and September (except some special event days). Please check our timetable to make sure the Stately Trains are running on a particular date. They will also be in use for the Railway's Harvest of Steam.

On these Summer Sundays, the Stately Trains run alongside normal passenger services. Travel in the style your grandparents would have loved to on our Stately Train Service.

The Stately Trains 6-wheelers during the 2005 Harvest of Steam. (c) Daniel Fergusson Trains will be hauled by one of our steam locos and comprise carriages from the Stately Trains fleet. For 2008 the train will be made up from three 6-wheeled carriages - unique in preservation to have 3 such vehicles on their original underframes! The carriages are: GER No.14, built as a saloon for the conveyance of VIPs over the Great Eastern Railway - in teak livery; GER No.37 a saloon reputed to have been converted for use by Princess Alice - also in teak livery; and GNoSR No.34, built to haul 1st and 3rd class passengers on the Great North of Scotland Railway.

The coaches and the operation of Stately Trains have won awards and national recognition - some of the photos included here clearly show why.

These trains operate in addition to the normal steam train service, as shown on the timetable below, and a small supplement is payable for travel on the Stately Trains.

N V N V N V N V N
Embsay (depart) 10.30 11.10 12.00 12.40 13.30 14.10 15.00 15.40 16.30
Bolton Abbey (arrive) 10.45 11.25 12.15 12.55 13.45 14.25 15.15 15.55 16.45
Bolton Abbey (depart) 11.10 12.00 12.40 13.30 14.10 15.00 15.40 16.30 17.00
Embsay (arrive) 11.40 12.15 13.10 13.45 14.40 15.15 16.10 16.45 17.20
N = Normal Service Train
V = Vintage Train

The carriages in use:

  • L & Y No.1
    The interior of the L&Y Director's Saloon No. 1. (c) Tim Warner This carriage was built in 1906 for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway's Directors, to allow them to travel parts of the system in very comfortable surroundings to allow them to inspect the route. It was rebuilt by both the LMS and BR, but has been restored by Stephen Middleton to its original condition. Some splendid views can be had though the large windows of the line's scenery and of the locomotive pulling the train.

    For 2005, this carriage was attached to most normal service trains on operating days, allowing passengers to experience the luxuary and views it affords. Now in use at the National Railway Museum, York - on loan for two years.

    The L&Y Director's Saloon No. 1. (c) Andrew Wilson Stately Trains 2002 - L&Y No.1 at the rear near Stoneacre. (c) Tim Warner.

  • GNoSR No.34
    The exterior of GNoSR No.34. (c) Tim Warner. Now part of Stephen Middleton's Stately Trains fleet, Great North of Scotland Railway No. 34 was built in 1896 for use in Scotland. Although it underwent several major rebuilds during its life, it has been restored to being a 1st / 3rd 6-wheeled carriage, and impressive it most certainly is! It is also thought to be the only Scottish coach operating in England, so it's well worth a ride in.

    The seating was completed in time for the 2002 season, and the carriage is now regarded very highly - it is the favourite of the majority of passengers who have sampled what it has to offer. The views below are of its interior, showing clearly the difference between the 1st and 3rd class seating, although it is all very luxurious. For 2005 it has been repainted, and will run as part of the Stately Train, along with the GER 6-wheelers.

    The interior of GNoSR No.34. (c) Bob Bonsall. The interior of GNoSR No.34. (c) Bob Bonsall.

  • GER No.14
    GER No.14 and GER No.37 at Embsay. (c) Stephen Walker. This carriage was built by the Great Eastern Railway in 1889, and hauled VIPs over the GER. It survuved as a passenger coach, and also ran on Sir William MacAlpine's private railway, before being fully restored as part of the Stately Trains fleet. Since its restoration, it has been used on the official opening (to haul the VIPs once more) and has also visited the North Norfolk Railway.

    In the picture (right) it is the rear carriage, having a guard's compartment and associated projecting window. The other pictures (below) show the three 6-wheeled carriages running together, as they will for 2005. It is currently in a varnished teak, along with No.37.

    GER No.14, GNoSR No.34 and GER No.37 at Embsay. (c) Andrew Wilson GER No.14, GNoSR No.34 and GER No.37 at Stoneacre. (c) Simon Gott

  • GER No.37
    (c) Stephen Walker. No.37 was also built as a saloon by the GER, and it is reputed to have been the private saloon of Princess Alice, as it has several interior features (discovered during restoration) that a third class saloon would not feature. This is the condition to which it has been restored, and has proved popular, as can be seen from the photos - Victorian costume is not an essential part of the criteria to travel!

    As well as operating as Stately Trains on selected Sundays (see the Timetable for dates) these carriages also run Strawberry Specials - see below for further details, and can also be hired out for various purposes. Since restoration, the two GER carriages have been involved with a number of filming assignments in various locations. They are certainly worth a ride in! For 2005, No.37 has been repainted into a varnished teak finish.

    (c) Simon Gott. (c) M.G.Riley.


Strawberry Specials

Saturdays 21st & 28th June, 5th & 12th July 2008

On selected Summer Saturday evenings, you can enjoy an excursion in the award winning Victorian carriages.

The Strawberry Special in Embsay Station, waiting to depart for Bolton Abbey. (C) Stephen Walker. The steam-hauled train leaves Embsay at 18.30 with strawberries and cream served during the journey with a choice of wine or cordials served at Bolton Abbey Station. Advance booking is essential.

Adults: £12 each.
Children: £10 each.

Prices include travel, strawberries & cream, wine (or a soft drink).

The Stately Trains 6-wheelers. (C) Tim Warner.

For information and reservations, please telephone (01423) 561965 or pick up a booking form at either station on the railway. Alternatively, visit the Stately Trains website.

Photographs

(C) YDRMT collection. Annie has been the usual haulage for the vintage train, and despite being an industrial steam locomotive for all of its working career, it looks very appropriate with the vintage carriages. Seen here at Bow Bridge Loop running round a Winter service train a few years ago. 2003 sees the loco withdrawn for its 10-yearly overhaul, so one of the railway's other steam locos will deputise.
(c) YDRMT collection.
(c) M.G.Riley. GER number 14 is seen entering Embsay station behind 140, in the blue livery of its other guise as Thomas. Even running one carriage proved popular, and the other carriages now available have proved even more popular.
(c) M.G.Riley.
(C) Stephen Walker. With people in Victorian costume, the interior of one of the carriages is pictured here. The interiors are very impressive and the marketing of them as Stately Trains is justified by this as well as their history.
(c) Stephen Walker.
(C) Tim Warner. The location is Bolton Abbey station this time as the train departs for Embsay one Summer Sunday in 2000. This time the motive power is a visiting locomotive. The vintage train is in operation on most Summer Sundays this year, and is well worth a ride on. See the Timetable for details for specific dates.
(c) Tim Warner.
(C) Tim Warner. Annie and the vintage train approach Stoneacre Loop from Bolton Abbey with a train for Embsay during Summer 2000. You get everything - the carriages, the steam haulage and the beautiful scenary, to say nothing of the friendly volunteers!
(c) Tim Warner.
(C) Tim Warner. This photograph was taken at Holywell Halt as part of a special being run with the visiting 'Pug' and the externally completed L & Y Director's Saloon No. 1, owned by Stephen Middleton. This carriage formed the vintage train for 2002 (along with GNoSR No. 34), as the two GER 6-wheelers are on loan to the North Norfolk Railway for the year to run behind their J15. A better picture of this coach can be found above.
(c) Tim Warner.
The interior of GNoSR No.34. (c) Bob Bonsall. The interior of GNoSR No.34. (c) Bob Bonsall. Two more views of the interior of the 1st Class section of GNoSR No.34.
(c) Bob Bonsall.
The interior of GNoSR No.34. (c) Bob Bonsall. The interior of GNoSR No.34. (c) Bob Bonsall. Two more views of the interior of the 3rd Class compartment section of GNoSR No.34.
(c) Bob Bonsall.
(c) M.G.Riley. 68005 dwarfs the GER 6-wheelers as the train waits to leave Embsay station, viewed from platform 2. The carriage at the rear is No.14, which is also the vrake vehicle for the Stately Train.
(c) M.G.Riley.
(C) Simon Gott. The Stately Train also runs for the Harvest of Steam weekend, and on this occasion the visiting loco was the ex-L & Y Pug, seen here with the three 6-wheelers entering Stoneacre Loop from Bolton Abbey.
(c) Simon Gott.
(C) Matthew Bell. The first Strwaberry Special of 2002 was hauled by 68005, and is seen at Bolton Abbey ready for the return to Embsay. The Gresley leads, with GNoSR No.34 and L&Y No.1 behind.
(c) Matthew Bell.
(C) Tim Warner. Up to 2002 saw the Stately Trains operation hauled by Annie, but 2003 will see other locos as Annie is due a 10-yearly overhaul. Here the train is seen having entered Embsay.
(c) Tim Warner.


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