click here for full list of 2008 dates

'THE DALESMAN' - Steam both ways over the Settle-Carlisle ! Hellifield to Appleby and Carlisle and return. Steam Locomotive from the pool stabled at Carnforth, including Nos. 30777 Sir Lamiel, 70013 Oliver Cromwell, 5690 Leander and others!
Our train departs from Hellifield before joining the world-famous Settle-Carlisle Railway at Settle Junction for the 72 miles to Carlisle. The Dalesman is the only steam train ride over the world-famous Settle-Carlisle Line that you can join locally at Hellifield which is at the foot of the line. For the low fare of just £49 for adults - you simply cannot beat that for steam over the Settle-Carlisle! There is the option of either approximately 5 hours in Appleby or 3 hours in Carlisle.

August 27th & September 10th
Our train departs from Hellifield at 10:55 (times to be confirmed)
Arrival back at Hellifield is at approximately 19.15 (times to be confirmed)

August 31st & September 7th
Our train departs from Hellifield at 11.30 (times to be confirmed)
Arrival back at Hellifield is at approximately 19.50 (times to be confirmed)

Britain's Most Spectacular Railway
The section of the line from Settle Junction is the most stunning and is known as 'The Long Drag' by railwaymen for its steep gradient. Our locomotive and crew will be working hard here as we pass over the famous 24-arched viaduct at Ribblehead and then plunge into Blea Moor tunnel, at 2269 yards long, the longest on the whole route. Passengers will get another marvellous view as the train steams out of Blea Moor and into the Dentdale area. We have two majestic viaducts to cross here; Dent Head and Arten Gill, before passing through Englandˆs highest main line station at Dent. As we approach Garsdale you will see the layout of a junction station here of long ago. The old route to Hawes is just visible to the right. Appleby is still some way off as we climb at 1 in 100 towards the summit of the line at Ais Gill before entering the openness of Mallerstang. The delightful station at Kirkby Stephen is passed through - we are well on our way now and travel on to Appleby and Carlisle where we have a break before we return via the same route.

Destinations
There is much to see and do at both Appleby and the city of Carlisle. Our arrival at Appleby at roughly 12.05am will give the passenger about five hours in this lovely market town. The route down to the town from the station takes about 10 minutes, but do allow more time to get back, as the walk up to the station is a little steep! There is much to see here, including the marvellous Moot Hall in the town centre.
Carlisle is England's border city with Scotland and is reached at 13.15. As you leave the station you will see the city walls immediately in front of you. Why not take a guided walk around the city with one of the specially arranged guides? These walks will take you around this historic city taking in the ancient buildings, cathedral, castle and other historic buildings and features. If shopping is your forte, e have special offer vouchers to give away from some of the leading retailers in the city! We depart from Carlisle at 16.42 and Appleby at 17.55.

A Perfect Short Break
The excursion over the Settle-Carlisle Railway provides a truly perfect short break. Why not arrange a visit to Yorkshire, and more particularly the Yorkshire Dales, where you can enjoy the luscious countryside and fascinating villages, and of course the world-famous Settle - Carlisle Line. There are plenty of good places to stay. Hellifield is close to Skipton, known as 'the gateway to the Dales' and is roughly half way between this market town and Settle (along the A65 main road) which is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Please see the list of Tourist Information Centres, which can help you with accommodation.

Hellifield
Hellifield was a very important station in old railway times. It was a junction station with lines from Manchester and Blackburn and those from Bradford and Leeds converging at this relatively remote location in the old West Riding of Yorkshire. Built over 125 years ago, Hellifeld station was completely renovated in the early 1990s with over £500,000 worth of grants from local sources pus those from the Railway Heritage Trust. Today Kingfisher Railtours operate the station, along with Northern Rail, with the addition of the tea rooms so long associated with this once-important junction station. The station is thesedays, also the beginning of the steam railtours for the Settle-Carisle Line run by Kingfisher. Ample parking is available in the yard opposite the station building which is accessed by Waterside Lane off the A65 - please do not use Station Road, as this is a residential road and not suitable for road traffic.

Accommodation and Information
The local Tourist Information Centres can advise on places to stay during your visit.
Skipton 01756 792809
Settle 01729 825192
Horton in Ribblesdale 01729 860333
Kirkby Stephen 017683 71199
Appleby 017683 51177
Carlisle 01228 512444

Getting there
We encourage passengers to arrive at Hellifield by train if at all possible. Regular services are operated by Northern Rail, who can be contacted via their website or via train enquiries on 08457 484950. Pennine Buses also operate between Skipton and Settle, calling in at Hellifield. If you arrive by road transport, please access the Car Park via Waterside Lane, approximately one mile west of Hellifield village along the A65 trunk road. Car parking is totally free.

*5% DISCOUNT on all internet reservations for the ‘DALESMAN’!!!!
*This offer applies only to seat reservations on ‘Dalesman’ trains completed via this website, it does not apply to telephone or postal reservations or to existing previously made reservations.
This offer is subject to availability and Kingfisher Railtours reserves the right to withdraw the offer at anytime.

Non Dining Fares  - (return journey)
Standard Class…..Adult £49      Child 15 yrs & under………..£30

A picnic Hamper is available at £15 per item. This is delivered to your seat as we depart from Hellifield. It contains sandwiches, cake, locally produced pork pie, fruit, water, and crisps.

Special Standard Class Party of Four
(combination of adults & children)………………………….…£148

1st Class………….Adult £80      Child 15 yrs & under…….….£65

A Buffet car is available selling hot & cold beverages and snacks. Complimentary Tea & Coffee is available for 1st Class passengers for the duration of the journey.

Dining Fares  - (return journey)
First Class Luncheon Dining…………...£110
LMS Club Car Dining…………………….£130
A three course Luncheon (usually a roast lunch) and Afternoon Tea and cakes will be served on board by our Chefs and silver served at your reserved seat by our Stewards. An extensive wine and drinks list is also available.

Guaranteed window tables for 2 are available in 1st class, First Class Luncheon Dining & L.M.S. Club car Dining at a supplement of £15 per person.

'THE DALESMAN' runs on the following dates in 2008;

Wednesday 27th August 2008 - CONFIRMED LOCO BR Pacific No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell - click for secure online booking and confirmed timings >>>

Sunday 31st August 2008 - CONFIRMED LOCO BR Pacific No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell - click for secure online booking and confirmed timings >>>

Sunday 7th September 2008 - click for secure online booking and confirmed timings >>>

Wednesday 10th September 2008 - click for secure online booking confirmed timings >>>

Description of a trip aboard The Dalesman

Our journey today starts at Hellifield station which is a Grade II listed building and still retains some of its former Midland Railway glory. Kingfisher now operate the tea rooms here and the heritage room is open giving a display about the Settle-Carlisle Line. We make the short downhill run to Long Preston station and continue to accelerate on downhill gradients before we meet the rising gradients of the Settle & Carlisle Line at Settle Junction, marked by the signalbox on the left-hand side. Some idea of the steepness of the climb ahead can be gained by the rate at which the line to Carnforth falls away on the left-hand side. That line is level at this point. It is just a couple of miles from here to Settle station and our locomotive and crew will be digging in for the long climb ahead. Weather permitting, it should be possible to see the dome of the chapel of Gigglewick School away to the left. To the right, just after the station, is Settle Parish Church. We are now climbing at 1-in-100, the task made trickier as this section is notorious for its damp conditions. Passing through Taitlands Tunnel (135 yards long), we cross the River Ribble at Sheriffs Brow. We cross the river again at Helwith Bridge where the 2,273 feet Pen-y-Ghent can be seen on the skyline to the right. Helwith Bridge marks a very brief easing of the climb and by the time we pass through Horton-in-Ribblesdale we are back on the 1-in-100. The scenery becomes more dramatic as we continue, the 2,373 feet high flat peak of Ingleborough being away to the left. Selside is marked by a small group of cottages and, very soon now, our locomotive will be eased to conform to the speed restriction over the feature that has become synonymous with the S & C, Ribblehead Viaduct. But, before that, we pass through the station at Ribblehead. The best views of the viaduct are from the right-hand side of the train. Ribblehead (or Batty Moss) Viaduct has 24 arches, is 440 yards long, 165 feet tall and took 2,000 navvies some 4 years to build. These were housed in shantytowns that gloried in such names as Sebastopol, Belgravia and Salt Lake City. Behind and to the left is Ingleborough while directly ahead is the 2,414 feet high Whernside. As we leave the viaduct, our steam locomotive will be opened up once again as she completes the long climb, passing the isolated signalbox at Blea Moor (right) and enters Blea Moor Tunnel. It is a few hundred yards inside this tunnel that, 1,151 yards above sea level, the long climb that began at Settle Junction ends.
Having passed through the 1mile 869 yards long tunnel, we emerge with views of Dentdale to the left. We cross Dent Head and Arten Gill Viaducts with the remains of wooden snow fences standing in gaunt outline to the right. The passage of Dent station, at 1,150 feet above sea level, England’s highest main line station, involves a 30mph speed restriction. The village that it serves is some 4 miles away and 350 feet below to the left. Rise Hill Tunnel is 1,212 yards long and takes us on to Garsdale station, which was formerly known as Hawes Junction. There once was a turntable to the left just north of the station and, so the story goes, on one particularly windy day many, many years ago, a locomotive being turned on this turntable was caught by the wind and sent spinning round and round out of control. This went on for several hours before staff eventually poured sand into the turntable pit to stop it rotating. The turntable has now found a home on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. As we leave Garsdale behind, the long closed line to Hawes and Northallerton diverges to the right. We cross Dandry Mire Viaduct and pass through the short Moorcock and Shotlock Hill Tunnels to complete a short climb at Ais Gill Summit. This is marked by a board recording the height as 1,169 feet above sea level. This is the highest point we shall reach today. We now begin a long descent, crossing Ais Gill Viaduct and running alongside Mallerstang Common on the right. The brakes will be used frequently to keep speed in check as we continue through Birkett Tunnel (424 yards long) and Kirkby Stephen station. The closed line from Tebay to Kirkby Stephen is crossed on Smardale Viaduct shortly before we enter Crosby Garrett Tunnel (181 yards long). The site of the former Crosby Garrett station is obvious and we then pass through the 571 yards long Helm Tunnel to reach the bottom of the long descent at Ormside Viaduct. The ten arch viaduct carries the line over the River Eden and it is now just a short run to Appleby station. The loco might take on water here. You may alight here if you wish in place of alighting at Carlisle. Do make certain though that you return to the station well in time for the departure from Appleby.
The onward run from Appleby to Carlisle takes us down the Eden Valley. Crossing the A66 shortly after leaving Appleby, Crossfell, at 2,930 feet high the highest point in the Pennine Chain, is to the right. The British Gypsum Works at Kirkby Thore are on the left shortly before we pass New Biggin station. The signalbox and level crossing at Culgaith precede Culgaith Tunnel (661 yards long) and the much shorter Waste Bank Tunnel (164 yards). Langwathby station is followed by Little Salkeld Viaduct, which carries the line 60 feet above Briggle Beck. We cross the River Eden on Long Meg Viaduct with Crossfell again visible on the right. A radio mast owned by the Civil Aviation Authority tops the nearby peak of Great Dun Fell. Lazonby Tunnel (99 yards long) opens out onto the station at Lazonby & Kirkoswald and we soon plunge into a series of three closely spaced tunnels. The first of these is Baron Wood No.1 Tunnel (207 yards) then No.2 Tunnel (252 yards) and finally Armathwaite Tunnel (325 yards long). Crossing Armathwaite Viaduct, we pass through Armathwaite station, shortly after which, to the right, is a preserved Midland Railway signalbox displaying the rather bright original MR colours. We reach a minor summit shortly after passing Low House Crossing and then begin a descent towards Carlisle which takes us past the sites of closed stations at Cotehill, Cumwhinton and Scotby. The M6 Motorway passes overhead and, at Petterill Bridge Junction, the line from Newcastle trails in on the right-hand side. A sharp, climbing right-handed curve brings us up to join the West Coast Main Line and it is then just a short run to the end of our outward journey at Carlisle station. Our steam locomotive will be detached at Carlisle station and run for servicing in readiness for the return journey which will see us exactly retracing our steps to Hellifield.
The City of Carlisle has much to offer the visitor. The Cathedral was built between 1092 and 1419 and is England’s second smallest. The Castle overlooks the north end of the railway station and was begun by William Rufus in 1092, having been strengthened and improved many times since. Carlisle station was once known as ‘Citadel’, the name being taken from a relatively recent folly close to the station. Built in medieval style, this is now used for courts and county offices. Carlisle has a very pleasant, pedestrianised shopping area called The Lanes and can offer plenty of variety in the way of places to eat and drink. We hope that the weather will be kind and enable you to get the most out of your visit to the Border City. However, our visit is brief and we would ask that you keep an eye on the clock and be back at the station in good time for our booked departure. Much as we would like to, we will not be able to wait if you’re not there.
We must advise that when we stop at Appleby again to pick up passengers and take on water, it might be required for all passengers to disembark for approximately 40 minutes. This is to allow our train to reverse into the siding here and a passenger service train to pass us. Please be prepared for this.
There are a number of sections on the return journey that will see our locomotive having to work hard. Having negotiated Petteril Bridge Junction where the line from Carlisle to Newcastle diverges to the left, the line climbs at 1-in-132 for almost 3 miles to a summit just beyond Cumwhinton station. The most sustained piece of climbing comes after we cross Ormside Viaduct about 5 minutes after leaving Appleby. Largely at 1-in-100 but with some short easier sections, the line climbs for 15 miles to Ais Gill Summit, marked by the summit board on the left-hand side.