Saphos Trains is to run a ‘Cumbrian Mountaineer’ rail tour on Thursday 12 February next year.

The tour will depart from Crewe at 10.35 in the morning, returning there at 20.30. Timings are approximate and may change.

The company is running this service – followed by another one in March – specifically to measure the performance of its Class 8 Pacific locomotives. This train will be hauled by 60532 ‘Blue Peter’, which returned to service following an overhaul last year.

The service will travel along the West Coast Main Line, and will travel through Preston and the county town of Lancaster.

The locomotive will climb the severe 1 in 75 gradients of Grayrigg and Shap Summit. As it climbs over the Lakeland Fells, the journey offers passengers attractive views of the Cumbrian mountains and the high Pennines. It will then descend to Penrith, and from there will head on to Carlisle past some impressive Lakeland scenery.

The train will remain at Carlisle for around two hours, so that passengers can disembark and explore the ancient city near the border between England and Scotland, where attractions include the castle, cathedral, Tullie House Museum and a shopping centre.

The return journey will also be hauled by a steam locomotive, and will retrace the outward journey. The train will steam over Shap Summit from Carlisle and travel back to Crewe.

First class (non-dining) tickets are priced at £139 per person, plus an optional supplement of £25 per person for a private window table for two. First-class passengers will be seated at tables of four or two people and will be able to buy light refreshments and hot and cold drinks from the train’s buffet car.

Standard class (non-dining) tickets are priced at £99 per person. Standard class passengers will be seated at tables of four and will also be able to make purchases from the train’s buffet car.

Tickets are available online from Saphos Trains.