Here’s when historic steam locomotive will pass through Peak District and Buxton
The Buxton Spa Express steam locomotive is heading back to the High Peak on Saturday March, 14.
While the journey may be starting in Preston those who love nothing more than watching trains on the rails will be able to see the LMS Stanier class Black 5 No. 45407 locomotive as she arrives at 1.36pm at Buxton Station.
The Buxton Spa Express is organised by The Railway Touring Company and a spokesperson said: “Our train leaves Preston diesel hauled and we head south up the West Coast Main Line to Wigan North Western, where we stop to pick up more passengers.
“We then travel eastwards to Manchester Victoria and a further stop is made here to pick up passengers.
“From Manchester we will be steam hauled by LMS Stanier class Black 5 No. 45407 locomotive, which will require a reversal of our train to run northwards to Bolton. Here we will travel via Chorley to Blackburn to pick up passengers.”
From Burnley, the steam locomotive will tackle the severe climb graded at 1 in 68 to the summit at Copy Pit.
This will be hard work for the engine all the way to the summit before it descends steeply towards Todmorden, where it will now take the Manchester line by means of the reinstated Todmorden curve.
Running via Rochdale, the Buxton Spa Express will skirt the suburbs of Manchester and take the Brewery Curve through to Ashton Moss North Junction, where it will then head for Denton for a water stop.
The spokesperson said: “After Stockport, we will head through Hazel Grove and onwards towards Buxton via the LNWR route through Whaley Bridge, our destination for the afternoon.
Passengers will have a couple of hours in Buxton while the steam locomotive is serviced for the return journey.
The train will be leave Buxton station at 3.36pm.
The Railway Touring Company said: “We will return from Buxton via the Peak Forest line through Dove Holes tunnel and Chinley to Stockport, with a water stop at Denton to replenish supplies for our steam locomotive.
“From here we return to Manchester Victoria, Bolton, Wigan North Western and finally arrive at Preston after an unforgettable day out in the spectacular scenic Peak District.”