Best way to ride the Jacobite Train

The Jacobite train may not be running at that time. There are safety issues involved and West Coast Railways has until February, when a decision will be handed down as to whether the train will continue. https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/12/05/harry-potter-fan-this-could-be-your-last-chance-to-ride-the-iconic-hogwarts-express

If you don't care that it's not the Jacobite train, you could take a regular train that goes over the exact same route.

In a word no.

The first bus from Keswick is at 6am, into Penrith before 7am, then the first train north arrives at Glasgow Central at 0915, almost an hour after the morning train to FW has left Queen Street.

While you are at Keswick you could do the La'al Ratty at Ravenglass or the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway (with connecting 'steamer' to or from Bowness-on-Windermere and Ambleside), for your steam fix.

The only way to do it is a 3.30am taxi from Keswick, for the 4.50 am National Express bus from Carlisle to Glasgow Buchanan, arrives 6.45. Then the morning train.
Or the early Citylink bus to Fort William is usually at an adjacent stance when the London bus arrives at Buchanan.

Thanks for your very informative reply. I'm now looking at other steam options in the UK and there are several near where we'll be, so I'll let the steam enthusiast decide. I'm sure any steam trains in the Lakes district are as scenic as all get-out!

Hi, Mardee. Thanks so much for the helpful reply. I think it's steam train or forget about it from the spouse's point of view, but I will be checking back in a couple of months to see if there's any way. I know there are other steam trains out there

Well, they keep extending the deadline, so who knows what will happen? There should be a decision by Feb. 29, so you might want to check here or just google it.

Have you considered the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in the Lake District? It is a completely different experience. A narrow gauge railway was opened in 1875 to bring iron ore from the mines in Eskdale to the Furness Railway at Ravenglass.It is now a major tourist attraction in the area. The seven mile long mile track climbs 210’ from the coast at Ravenglass to the foot of England’s highest mountains in Eskdale. It follows the valleys of the River Mite and Esk to its terminus at Dalegarth. From here it is a short walk to the delightfully named Boot.

The railway is 15" (about 4cm) gauge and coaches and steam engines are in proportion to that. It is a unique experience, particularly if you travel in one of the 'open' coaches.

There is also a very good museum at Ravenglass station nwhich has a lot of history about the railway and area as well as examples of some of the old locos, coaches etc.

decimal place creeping in the narrow gauge conversion - 15 inches is about 38 cm. In the case of this railway 381 mm.

Standard gauge is 1435 mm.

You know Nigel when I typed 4cm I did think that can't be right...

Think thats Hornby guage

For a unique experience, you can stay in a camping coach at T' La'al Ratty (Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway). They used to be a common thing on the Railway system. Not many now left.
The two coaches both have interesting histories- one was an ambulance coach in WW1. They are directly opposite the loco shed!!

Boot was the original terminus of the railway, rather than the present Dalegarth. You can walk the trackbed of the old line to Boot.

The other thing in the Lake District for the steam buff is the Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston Water. She is not to be missed, especially a full lake sailing to the beautifully restored old Furness Railway pier at Lake Bank.

On 31 August we also have 2 steam excursions at Carlisle- Saphos Trains from Hereford (up via Shap, back via the Cumbrian Coast) and the Northern Belle Luxury Pullman from Hull (also up via Shap, back via the Settle and Carlisle line.). Both 'kettles' will be at Carlisle early to mid afternoon.

In the Scottish Highlands if there is no Jacobite running try the Strathspey Railway at Aviemore instead. Pair it with the Ospreys and the Badgers at Boat of Garten and you have a corker of a day out from Inverness . And maybe the SS Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine.

On another trip you may like to consider a cruise on the Clyde Puffer VIC32. Do that at a time of the year when the Waverley (the last seagoing Paddle Steamer in the world) is on the Clyde, or in early season in the Inner Hebrides and you have a heady combination- for those trips she does an annual positioning long day trip from Glasgow to Oban via The Mull of Kintyre and Islay. During her sojourn at Oban she also sails to Fort William, Tobermory and also to Kyle of Lochalsh and Portree (Skye). The trip to Kyle is also very special.

Thanks, everyone, for your knowledgeable replies. Wasleys and isn31c, I am putting your input into my draft plan and will check these options out. Final choice rests on the steam train fan, and he's uncovered some place near Oxford that looks, from my brief glance, as if the Thomas trains are in retirement there. We hope to finalize at least the location soon, and I know tickets for these rides are popular, so I want to lock that down. Really appreciate all the input, including the technical corrections :)

Tell husband that Rev Audry's book 'Small Railway Engines' was based on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway the three engines in the book were based on the three locos River Esk, River Irt and River Mite that can still be seen there.

The Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston is a wonderful trip on a sunny day.

There is also the chain link ferry that takes cars and foot passengers across Windermere from the edge of Bowness acrioss to Far Sawry. (Even if you don't take the car across, it is worth just doing the trip there and back as a foot passenger.

Thanks again, wasleys. I love the idea of the steam yacht and will try to make that happen. I'm the one who read the Thomas books to our grandson so many times I might be able to recite a couple from memory. Husband is more interested in riding in a lovely vintage carriage behind a steam train. Our trip is taking shape now thanks to the generous input of the forum members and it's a great pleasure to me.

is the place that the steam enthusiast has found near Oxford the Didcot Railway Centre? https://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/ They have a lot on their 21 acres (as they repeatedly stress) but the enthusiast must be happy poking about in a museum setting. On some days they have short demonstration rides behind diesel or steam but he should understand that those are very very short and within the bounds of the facility. Occasionally they have steam open days which pretty much limit the moving stock to steam hauled (unless there is a breakdown).

If he wants to see a real operation of a complete steam train (and a few diesels sometimes) he could consider the Severn Valley Railway which runs several trains each day over the 16 miles from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth (pub at both ends of the line and Highley engine shed for up close looks at static engines) and 16 miles back. The train calls at all the intermediate stations which are just as they were along the way, and you can hop off on and hop on to enjoy different trains. My favourite preserved railway, and one on which I volunteered for 10 years. https://svr.co.uk/ I may be biased but I think it might be just what the hubby might want. If you go when tea is served onboard you could really enjoy it too. By the way, exceedingly beautiful scenery as you go too - it follows the Severn river for most of the route with clear views of the river for much of the trip.

Thanks, Nigel! Since we are in London first, we could perhaps do a day trip into Shropshire and enjoy the natural beauty while steaming along. This might be just what I'm looking for if it is accessible. I read somewhere that there's a connection from London Euston to Shrewsbury, which would get us in the neighborhood (and also be quite interesting to walk around in). We really need much more time to see everything we'd like to see, but extensive travel isn't in the budget, so getting tempting little bites of things that would best be consumed in a leisurely way are what we've got. I'd be sadder about that, but we do get the bites, after all.

The Kidderminster mainline station is in the same carpark (mostly brick and sets on the SVR side, asphalt on the West Midlands Trains side) as Kidderminster SVR station.

By accessable do you mean mobility impaired (like my wife)? If so it is a bit steep up from the platform to the road overbridge arriving from the Birmingham area. On the way back it it completely flat. The trains have a couple of small steps up but the SVR has specially converted carriages, usually one per train, which have a ramp and are wheelchair friendly. The stations along the line are period so were not built to be accessible but have had some adjustments made. The museum at Highley is accessible.

The walk between the mainline and SVR stations in Kidderminster is about 2 minutes.

the route from London wouldn't be via Shrewsbury.

London Euston to Birmingham New Street by either fast and sometimes more expensive Avanti West Coast or a little slower but usually cheaper London Northwestern Railway. Either walk through the shopping mall to Birmingham Moor Street station to Kidderminster on West Midlands Trains OR change at Birmingham New Street onto a local service going one or two stops to Smethwick Galton Bridge where you take a lift/elevator to the intersecting line to Kidderminster (that's the same train that comes from Moor Street). Off at Kidderminster, up and over and walk into the SVR station.

Hi, Nigel. Many thanks for all your advice. I hope to learn more about the British train system as I dive into the minutia of our trip, but at this point am pretty clueless. We are not (so far) mobility challenged, though by no means spring chickens. By accessible I meant from London via train, and you've set my mind at rest about that with your very clear directions. I love the web page for the SVR and look forward to booking an excursion with them in late August. I think this is the same railway that was shown in The Victorian Farm, which we much enjoyed watching a few years ago. (We won't, however, be wearing Victorian outfits ourselves.)

If on the Severn Valley railway, you should also visit the Bridgnorth Cliff Railway, about to reopen after a lengthy closure for rebuilding.

One thing the train buff must do while at Keswick is to go and eat at Bassenthwaite Lake Station. The former station building has been rebuilt from ruins. But more importantly the steam engine and train cars from the remake of Murder on the Orient Express are there, and you can eat in the train cars. Sir they are movie props, but lovingly and faithfully made. And the food is top notch.
To get to the Ravenglass and Eskdale railway the best way is the X4/X5 bus to Workington, then walk down the hill or catch a bus 30 down the hill to the train station (Maryport bound). This is the best way because the local transport heritage group have installed heritage features at the station. Also lots of information boards about the industry and history of the town, and the complex history of the railways of the area.
It is superbly well done.
Then train to Ravenglass.
You can book through tickets to the steam train, which give a good discount over the separate fares.
There is also a little tuck shop at the station open 10 to 2 most weekdays.

PS- at smethwick galton bridge, the connecting walk between Low and High level platforms has very shiny tiles.
This morning is very wet and it is like an ice rink. Very difficult. One member of staff is constantly mopping the floor currently, to very little effect!!
From New Street to Moor Streer most people walk down the street, not through the shopping centre.
Very well signposted in New Street station and on the street.

accessible

ah, same word, different meanings.

When disabled, like my wife, "accessible" is a magic key with a very specific meaning, especially in public transport.

Thank you so much, Nigel and isn31c. I am learning so much, although not yet at the point of my head exploding. So many wonderful train options, so little time! Love the idea of the Bassenthwaite Lake Station, and I see they also offer murder mystery dinner theatre performances. At the very least we must have tea there. I'm exploring the best SVR itinerary for our day trip there. The worst thing about making travel plans is having to make very hard choices between wonderful things to do, but instead of a year or so to experience the British Isles, we have 3 weeks. I am making a "save for next trip" folder which will console me when I have to leave something out of this trip. You are very generous to share your time and expertise, and I really appreciate it.

By the way the Loch Katrine boat I mentioned above- the weakness for the last 20 or 30 years has always been that there is no effective bus service to the Loch. Well 2 days ago McGills East Scotland launched a new route- the Trossachs Explorer. It runs from Balfron (connections from Glasgow) to Callander (connections for Stirling). A system wide all day bus ticket costs £10.55-

https://www.mcgillsscotlandeast.co.uk/services/MBLB/TE

The Jacobite Train is now back running, but all tickets are currently sold for the entire season. This may change, but that seems unlikely.

Another steam train option in the Lake District is the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. The stylish way to get there is from Ambleside (Waterhead) or Bowness on Windermere on one of the old Steamers (now Diesel driven)- https://www.lakesiderailway.co.uk/

Both are easy to reach from Keswick by bus

At Lakeside the railway and steamer piers are next to each other, and it really feels like a step back in time to when the boat trains ran from as far as London Euston to Lakeside- long since closed between Haverthwaite and Ulverston.

These are main line trains. From Haverthwaite there is a fairly regular bus back to Windermere or hourly to Kendal for the 555 back to Keswick.

Many years ago I took daughter on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. Like good train buffs we went to see the loco at Lakeside and watch it run round - only to find we'd missed the steamer and had to wait for the next one.... SO be warned!

That is hardly the fault of the steamer company. The primary task of both the railway and the boat company is to provide effective transportation, in a seamless way. The connection times are realistic and each will wait for the other if there is late running for any reason.

Anyone who misses the Steamer in that way has really dawdled, which is not their responsibility. Apart from anything else there is normally a line up for ticket checks to board the steamer, and there is a 10 to 17 minute connection time, which is more than ample. Train to joining the steamer ticket check line is 1 to 2 minutes.

But you do have to be sensible about this. You will have plenty of chance to be a "gricer" at Haverthwaite. There is a picnic area there where you can watch the comings and goings, also visit the Engine Shed, and there is a lovely Refreshment Rooms.

I don't see where anybody is blaming the steamer company.

I wasn't blaming the steamer company - more myself and daughter for being gricers and not being aware of the departure time! We still laugh about ourselves.

Thanks very much for the updates on connections. The helpfulness of the British steam and rail enthusiasts is much appreciated!
However, the sad news is that our trip is now postponed until next year, since Spouse must have shoulder surgery to mend a torn rotator cuff and shave bone spurs, etc. He had this in the other shoulder a few years ago so we are already familiar with the required down time, which is lengthy. Sadly his surgery is scheduled for 4 days before our departure, and he will instead be in the recliner using a lot of ice packs and feeling pretty terrible. It will be months before he is comfortable using that arm (his dominant side) to lift anything, and since I can't lift anything very heavy, train travel heaving suitcases on and off is on the wait list. I have performed the depressing job of cancelling everything already booked, and am only consoled by my fat folder of information that will make it easier next year when I have to rebook everything. Forum members' help and assistance has been most welcome, and rest assured all your good suggestions are in my folder for next time! And everyone, take care of your shoulders and don't go contorting yourselves into tiny spaces and weird positions because you just have to do that wiring job yourself!