A vintage steam train is coming through Greater Manchester this weekend – here are the best places to spot it

Written by Georgina Pellant
Last updated 4 years ago
Cheshire, Events, Stockport, Travel & Hotels

Manchester’s trainspotters are in for a treat this weekend as they have the chance to spy a special vintage steam train up close and personal.

Built in 1927, the 46100 Royal Scot was the flagship locomotive of the London Midland and Scottish Railway Company.

Retired in October 1962, it last appeared on the rails in 2016, after five years of restoration, for a journey from Crewe to Holyhead.

Now it’s back out on the tracks and will be steam hauled this weekend using its restored engine.

The Pennine Peaks and Valley Explorer leisure passenger service will power through the country on its way from Cheshire to Lancashire this Saturday 15th, stopping at several stations on its journey to and from Carnforth.

Licensed under creative commons via Flickr user Tony Hisgett

Scheduled to leave Crewe at 8.40am, the service will then stop at Sandbach (8.50am) and Wilmslow (9.10am).

On its way into Manchester city centre, it will then puff its way into Stockport for 9.25am before sailing on over the viaduct towards Victoria Station.

It will then head north towards Bolton for 10.55am before chuntering through Chorley (11.15am) on its way to its final destination.

Or if that’s a bit too early for you, you can always catch it on its way back.

The return journey is expected to depart Carnforth at 1.30pm and arrive in Chorley at 4.15pm, Bolton 4.30pm, Manchester Victoria at 5pm, Stockport at 6.25pm, Wilmslow at 6.40pm, Sandbach 7.10pm and back at Crew by 7.35pm.

If you’d rather be on the train – which passes Lancaster Castle after Preston and features impressive views across Morecambe Bay towards the Lakeland mountains – you’d best be speedy, as there are only a few tickets left.

Currently, the service looks like it will be pretty much full to capacity come Saturday’s journey.

Originally called the 6100, the train was renumbered 46100 by British Railways after the nationalisation of the railways in 1948.

Then in 1950, the 46100 was rebuilt with a 2A taper boiler and ‘Prior to conversion’ was added to its nameplate.

Fares for this Saturday’s journey start from £95.

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