Stanhope to Edinburgh in an HST

[Egg Centric]

Step aboard a truly historic journey with the first-ever direct train from Weardale to the magnificent Scottish capital city, Edinburgh. Travel in style aboard the iconic InterCity 125 High-Speed Train (HST), a true British legend, and be part of a groundbreaking experience that will take you from the heart of Weardale all the way to the Scottish capital without any transfers.

This exclusive direct route will leave from Stanhope station, winding through the stunning landscapes of Weardale calling at Frosterley, Wolsingham and Witton-le-Wear before joining the Bishop Line at Bishop Auckland. The journey continues with calls at Shildon, Darlington and Eaglescliffe then joins the Stillington Line to Durham (a fitting tribute to the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway) before picking up speed on the East Coast Mainline towards Edinburgh Waverley, with stops at Chester-le-Street and Newcastle.

Excursions by Rail are running the first ever direct train from Stanhope to Edinburgh to celebrate the 200th rainbow of the Stockton and Darlington railway. Apparently first class sold out in under 10 hours but there are still a reasonable number of second class seats available (with a seat selector!)

Hope this is of interest to someone. I'm dithering about it myself. For those who haven't done the Weardale railway before this is probably the way to do it!

 

[Gwr12345]

London to Stanhope by HST is also possible this year. If anyone wants to scratch the connecting line between Bishop Auckland and Weardale, this year is probably the time to do it, with 5 railtours heading up! I do wonder why there are quite so many.

 

[DanNCL]

This trip has been planned for a while. It’s been heavily marketed to locals in Weardale, I would expect a lot of the passengers to be ‘normals’ from Weardale using it for an afternoon out in Edinburgh, which along with the usual enthusiasts, is why it’s sold so well so quickly.

London to Stanhope by HST is also possible this year. If anyone wants to scratch the connecting line between Bishop Auckland and Weardale, this year is probably the time to do it, with 5 railtours heading up! I do wonder why there are quite so many.

Railway 200. The Bishop Auckland branch was part of the Stockton & Darlington Railway as was the first mile of so of the Weardale Railway. If you’re running a charter to Bishop Auckland you need to run it through to Weardale to avoid interfering with the regular Northern service on the branch. Iirc the inbound charters will all offer passengers the option of alighting at Shildon for Locomotion instead of travelling on to Stanhope.

My understanding is that assuming this years tours go well that Weardale will try to attract more next year.

 

[800001]

It is also routed via Eaglescliffe and then the Stillington Branch, joining East Coast Mainline at Ferryhill.
Last time I did that line was on. GNER mk4 hauled by RES 47s!

 

[Egg Centric]

This trip has been planned for a while. It’s been heavily marketed to locals in Weardale, I would expect a lot of the passengers to be ‘normals’ from Weardale using it for an afternoon out in Edinburgh, which along with the usual enthusiasts, is why it’s sold so well so quickly.

That's a good thing overall although a bad thing for me - I was hoping that there'd be some couples getting on at Chester le Street or Newcastle and I could nab a couple of tickets from Stanhope to one of them to do the enthusiast bits (been on the ECML north of Newcastle on HSTs countless times before they were withdrawn and no interest in an Edinburgh day trip). Still I've emailed and will feed back their response.

 

[NER1621]

At no point does the booking website give any indication of timings. Any idea anyone?

 

[Gwr12345]

At no point does the booking website give any indication of timings. Any idea anyone?

As a rough indication, based off what I can remember half 7 ish off Stanhope to arrive in Edinburgh about 12 I think are the aims, but don't take these as anywhere near exact!

 

[800001]

Nearly a sellout! Only 6 standard class seats left.

 

[DanNCL]

Now sold out.

At no point does the booking website give any indication of timings. Any idea anyone?

Entirely dependent on Network Rail but I’d expect it to be an early morning departure from Stanhope and a return probably arriving by 21:00.

 

[7522]

What HST set is this?

 

[43096]

What HST set is this?

How many options do you think there are?

There website may give a bit of a clue...

 

[DanNCL]

What HST set is this?

The 125 Group set. Ex EMT Mark 3s plus an ex GWR TGS, and either two VP185 powercars or 1 VP185 plus 43159.

 

[JKF]

This reminds me of the old Merrymaker type rail tours from the 80s, with excursions from branch lines marketed locally. I did a couple as a teenager from the Severn Beach line (Shirehampton) to York & Edinburgh, costing £4 & £8 respectively as a half fare! Doubt this is the same level of affordability…

 

[DarloRich]

How many options do you think there are?

There website may give a bit of a clue...

Is it the one at the Plym valley?

 

[43096]

Is it the one at the Plym valley?

Looks like it will be ready in time!

(Photo of the last rites of 43161)

 

[sprinterguy]

This reminds me of the old Merrymaker type rail tours from the 80s, with excursions from branch lines marketed locally. I did a couple as a teenager from the Severn Beach line (Shirehampton) to York & Edinburgh, costing £4 & £8 respectively as a half fare! Doubt this is the same level of affordability…

Hertfordshire Railtours used to do a good job of taking Intercity 125s well off piste on similar trips in the late eighties/early nineties, also: I can't recall that they ever pushed a set down Weardale before, though perhaps they did, but I seem to recollect that one made it down the Wensleydale branch at least.

 

[Wandering Pom]

Hertfordshire Railtours used to do a good job of taking Intercity 125s well off piste on similar trips in the late eighties/early nineties, also: I can't recall that they ever pushed a set down Weardale before, though perhaps they did

Yes, they did: the "Tyne & Wear 125", on Saturday 27 February 1993. Timings and other details are available at Six Bells Junction: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/930227hr.htm

 

[D6130]

Yes, they did: the "Tyne & Wear 125", on Saturday 27 February 1993. Timings and other details are available at Six Bells Junction: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/930227hr.htm

I was on it....and - if I remember correctly - we went to Redmire and back on the Wensleydale line either the previous day or the following day, using the same set. I joined and alighted from both tours at York, but ISTR that they worked through from and to Kings Cross on both consecutive days.

 

[43096]

The 125 Group set. Ex EMT Mark 3s plus an ex GWR TGS, and either two VP185 powercars or 1 VP185 plus 43159.

Not necessarily.

It could be two MTUs… Or one VP185 and one MTU…

 

[sprinterguy]

Yes, they did: the "Tyne & Wear 125", on Saturday 27 February 1993. Timings and other details are available at Six Bells Junction: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/930227hr.htm

Ah, thanks for that.

 

[DanNCL]

Hertfordshire Railtours used to do a good job of taking Intercity 125s well off piste on similar trips in the late eighties/early nineties, also: I can't recall that they ever pushed a set down Weardale before, though perhaps they did, but I seem to recollect that one made it down the Wensleydale branch at least.

Yes, they did: the "Tyne & Wear 125", on Saturday 27 February 1993. Timings and other details are available at Six Bells Junction: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/930227hr.htm

This’ll be the third HST visit to Stanhope (there’s also a charter in May from London), and the first/second visit for whichever powercars work this charter as the pair used in 1993 aren’t part of the 125 group fleet.

Not necessarily.

It could be two MTUs… Or one VP185 and one MTU…

43159 is the only MTU powercar that the 125 group has used on a mainline charter. Unless 43025 returns to traffic before then, I think it’s a reasonable assumption that at least one VP185 powercar will be in the formation for this trip.

 

[43096]

43159 is the only MTU powercar that the 125 group has used on the mainline. It is therefore a reasonable assumption that at least one VP185 powercar will be in the formation for this trip.

Evidently you know more than 125 Group’s engineers do, then.

 

[DanNCL]

Evidently you know more than 125 Group’s engineers do, then.

No need for that attitude. I’m not always right but I contribute in good faith. However, in this case I am correct and I have double checked my information again now. 43025 is their only other MTU engined powercar. Whilst it is operational, it has not appeared on any of the 125 Group’s mainline charters. Therefore what I said about 43159 being the only MTU powercar they’ve used on the mainline was correct.

 

[rower40]

My family (2 adults, 2 well-behaved (though I say so myself) kids) are booked on this. Rather than driving from York to Stanhope in time to catch the train (and then a late-night drive home), I'm contemplating getting train/bus to Stanhope the night before, and staying in hotel or B&B. Any suggestions/recommendations?

 

[Egg Centric]

An update to this - on August 17 the HST will be continuing its visit, doing 3 rounds of the line from Stanhope to Bishop. Timed to connect with national Rail at the eastern end. More details and time table at https://www.weardale-railway.org.uk/hst-running-day