Heritage rail tour operators pray for rain as steam loco faces diesel replacement

A steam‑hauled luxury rail tour planned from Shropshire later this month may be forced to switch to diesel power as Britain’s summer heatwave continues to raise fears of further wildfires.

The historic Tangmere locomotive was due to pull the opulent 1930s Pullman‑style Northern Belle over the famous Settle–Carlisle line from Telford and Shrewsbury on Saturday, September 19.

But amid the parched conditions of this summer, Network Rail has temporarily prohibited steam operations on the mainline amid concerns that sparks from engines could ignite fresh blazes.

The ban does not apply to heritage lines that are privately run, with several operators already having resumed steam operations following the recent rain.

A spokesman for the Northern Belle - once part of the Belmond Orient Express portfolio - said the team remained hopeful for rain but acknowledged the likely need for a heritage diesel substitute.

“It will be a pity if Tangmere can’t run,” he said. “But it will still be a delightful nostalgic trip in our gleaming umber and cream that passengers will remember all their lives.”

The luxury journey will see passengers served a three-course brunch en route to Carlisle, followed by a six-course dinner on the journey to Settle.

The Northern Belle was named the fifth greatest train in the world by readers of Condé Nast Traveller last year, and it was dubbed “the Grand Duchess of luxury travel” in Channel 5 documentary series ‘The World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys’.

The train is not scheduled to return to Shrewsbury until 2027, though other departures run from stations across the UK.

Fares on the train start at £445. For more details, see northernbelle.co.uk