The first timetabled passenger steam train in the United Kingdom for over 50 years has been made possible with more than a little help from DB Cargo UK. It transported huge amounts of stone to the world-famous Settle-Carlisle route, as part of the line’s major repair programme.

A series of steam-related events marking the 50th anniversary of the end of steam in the south of England will see DB Cargo UK involved throughout. The festivities are all part of celebrations marking the re-opening of the Settle-Carlisle line, which was closed in February 2016 after a 500,000 tonne landslip severed the line.

Stone

A major engineering project costing around 23 million Pounds was put into operation, with national infrastructure manager Network Rail shoring up the landslip using stone transported specially by DB Cargo UK.

Richard Corser, DB Cargo UK’s Account Manager for Charters, Special Trains and Resource Hires, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with our industry colleagues on these momentous services celebrating the restoration of the Settle to Carlisle line following last year’s landslip.

“It is poignant that the last railway in Britain to be built by pick and shovel has now been restored through a significant project using modern engineering practices.”

Experienced

“The steam services in February pay tribute to the line’s history and future and we are pleased to be providing a highly experienced train crew for 60163 Tornado, who have a combined experience of approximately 80 years working on steam locomotives.”

DB Cargo UK is one of only two freight companies still able to operate steam locomotives, and its specialist staff includes the UK’s youngest mainline steam driver, Jim Clarke, who is 35 years young.

The company traces its ability to offer steam hauled services nationwide back to the days of British Rail and has operated many hundreds of steam charters across Great Britain through Rail Express Systems (RES), English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS) and now DB Cargo UK.