The Lakelander with Blue Peter | Birmingham International - Carlisle | 23rd May 2026

A cloudy and sunny Saturday in the West Midlands and Cumbria as we travel on "The Lakelander" Saphos Trains railtour from Birmingham International to Preston and Carlisle, and Carlisle to Crewe and Birmingham International. We begin at Birmingham Airport at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel where we take the Air-Rail link monorail from Birmingham Airport terminal to Birmingham International Railway Station. The train first hauled by a Class 57 arrives from Rugby and takes us from Birmingham International to Preston, at Preston Station the Class 57 diesel locomotive detaches from the train and steam locomotive 60532 'Blue Peter' joins the train for the journey along the West Coast Mainline and Settle & Carlisle Line to Carlisle Citadel Station. We then see some trains at Carlisle Station with passengers and freight trains including the railtour train with Blue Peter and Class 47 'Galloway Princess'. The train then leaves Carlisle hauled by Blue Peter along the famous Settle & Carlisle Line which is now celebrating it's 150th anniversary, the train also runs along the famous Ribblehead Viaduct and Settle Station, we then arrive at Crewe Station where Blue Peter detaches from the train and the Class 57 diesel locomotive rejoins the train. We then finally take the train back to Birmingham International Station by Birmingham Airport. STATIONS AND ROUTE: Birmingham International - Marston Green - West Coast Mainline - Preston - Oxenholme Lake District - Carnforth Steamtown - Carnforth - Carlisle - Settle & Carlisle Line- Garsdale - Ribblehead Viaduct - Ribblehead - Horton In Ribblesdale - Settle - Hellifield - Crewe - Birmingham International LOCOMOTIVES AND TRAINS INCLUDED: LNER Peppercorn A2 Pacific 60532 'Blue Peter' Intercity Class 47 47593 'Galloway Princess' British Railways Class 57 57302 GBRf Class 66 Freightliner Class 90 90008 and 90003 Caledonian Sleeper Class 92 92023 Northern Class 156 Super Sprinter Northern Class 158 Express Sprinter Avanti West Coast Class 390 Pendolino TransPennine Express Class 397 Nova 2 Enjoy.