Steamy Affairs

...I booked a trip with Steamy Affairs. Now, before you all go getting mucky ideas – it’s a company that operates trips by steam train!

I saw an advert in our local free paper for a trip on the Carlisle to Settle Railway and it was something that we had both always wanted to do, so I sent off for the information.

The trip was to be on a train pulled by the steam locomotive, the Blue Peter. Incidentally I remember ...
...Blue Peter TV programme when I was a little girl.

The Blue Peter was going to try and beat the record for the quickest time to the Carlisle and Settle summit, held by the Duchess of Hamilton since 14th August 1993, and win the Blue Riband. The Blue Riband is awarded for a trial of ‘sustained haulage capability on the 1-in-100 climb from Milepost 275, south of the Ormskirk Viaduct, to the Ais Gill summit’.

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Last year, as a surprise birthday present for my partner, Dave, I booked a trip with Steamy Affairs. Now, before you all go getting mucky ideas – it’s a company that operates trips by steam train!

I saw an advert in our local free paper for a trip on the Carlisle to Settle Railway and it was something that we had both always wanted to do, so I sent off for the information.

The trip was to be on a train pulled by the steam locomotive, the Blue Peter. Incidentally I remember seeing the footage of this locomotive being named on the Blue Peter TV programme when I was a little girl.

The Blue Peter was going to try and beat the record for the quickest time to the Carlisle and Settle summit, held by the Duchess of Hamilton since 14th August 1993, and win the Blue Riband. The Blue Riband is awarded for a trial of ‘sustained haulage capability on the 1-in-100 climb from Milepost 275, south of the Ormskirk Viaduct, to the Ais Gill summit’.

Our train was to be diesel hauled from Birmingham to Crewe where the Blue Peter would be coupled up. We would then go up the West Coast Main Line to Carlisle, have a break of about two hours and then come back over the Carlisle to Settle run to try and break the record.

There were three classes of ticket for me to choose from for this trip.

We could travel club class for £69 each, which would give us reserved seats in the club class coach with a real ale bar and snack bar available.

We could travel saloon class for £95 each, which would give us reserved seats in First Class and a Ploughman’s Lunch on the way to Carlisle and a light tea of sandwiches and a pastry on the way back.

I actually chose that we should travel Silver Service Class for £159 each. This included three meals, served at our reserved table in a similar way to our journey on the Orient Express.

Unfortunately a month before we were due to travel I received a letter explaining that, because of engineering works due to be carried out by Railtrack we would not be able to try for the Blue Riband after all which was a bit of a disappointment. We were advised that the train would run with a northbound climb over the Settle to Carlisle line and back down along the West Coast Main Line up and over Shap Summit. We were a bit disappointed about this but it wasn’t going to spoil the day for us.

A fortnight before we were due to travel we received the details of our coach and seat numbers and departure times, together with our boarding passes in the form of lapel badges to be worn on the day.

On the day itself we joined the train at Birmingham International Station at 07.30 for our journey to Crewe to meet the Blue Peter. At Crewe we were allowed to leave the train and watch Blue Peter being coupled up. We didn’t know from which direction she would be arriving and it was really exciting when we saw the steam billowing over the station wall as she approached. The cameras took a bit of a bashing I can tell you!

Once aboard for the proper journey we were given a timing sheet which detailed all the different timing points together with the time that we should be arriving, so we keep track of where we were during the journey. (track – no pun intended!)

The ladies were all given a flower for our buttonhole and there was a commentary throughout the entire journey telling us of various landmarks to look out for. The scenery was stunning but I was a little disappointed not to be able to see the bridges very well as we were on top of them, if you see what I mean. We did stop at one point to take on more water and we had a good view of the one bridge form where we were standing on the station platform.

There was a prize draw during the journey and a racing competition. We were given a complimentary newspaper from which to pick horses at one of the race meetings and the one who picked the most winners scooped the pool. I don’t remember what the prize was in the draw but suffice it to say that we didn’t win either!

We also had a menu for the day’s food so we knew what to expect. There was a price list for drinks on the back of the menu and you could order from wines, sprits, liqueurs, beers, fruit juices or pop, all at reasonable but not cheap prices.

For breakfast we had tea or coffee, fruit compote or cereals followed by bacon, sausage, egg, mushrooms, tomatoes, hash brown, fried bread and black pudding served with fresh bread or toast, with further toast and preserves to follow! It was a good job we didn’t have much before we left home that morning!

Luckily it was a light lunch which consisted of a Cheese Ploughman’s served with French bread and tea or coffee.

We had a brief stop in Carlisle after lunch. I won’t go into detail as I have actually done a separate opinion on Carlisle. We had a drink while we were here but we certainly didn’t need anything to eat!

The evening meal was bacon and Stilton salad or soup of the day, followed by roast beef with all the trimmings, with steamed syrup sponge and custard for sweet. This was followed by the cheese board and tea or coffee and after dinner chocolates.

The food and indeed the whole atmosphere and presentation of the day was not as good as the Orient Express but then the cost wasn’t as high either and it did come a very close second! 

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