THE chance to travel in romantic, old style elegance, is pulling into Wrexham next month.

A giant steam locomotive that once hauled crack expresses like The Golden Arrow and the Bournemouth Belle will take passengers from Wrexham on a luxury trip over the spectacular Settle-Carlisle line.

Tangmere, a former British Railways Battle of Britain class engine, named after war hero Douglas Bader's RAF base, will team up with the Northern Belle's 1930s Pullman-style carriages for the slap-up journey.

 

Travel in styke, the luxury Harlech carriage on the Northern Belle.

Travel in style, the luxury Harlech carriage on the Northern Belle.

 

It will be luxury all the way from the moment passengers are handed their first glass of champagne after boarding over a red carpet laid on the station platform.

First tuck into a three-course brunch as the train heads north, hauled by a vintage diesel engine before Tangmere takes over at Carnforth in Lancashire.

Then after a stop to see the sights in the border city of Carlisle, there will be more champagne and caviar before a lavish six-course dinner with wine is served during the journey through 14 tunnels and over 22 bridges, including the 24-arch, quarter-mile-long Ribblehead Viaduct, on the way to Settle.

 

House jazz band of the Northern Belle.

House jazz band of the Northern Belle.

 

A Northern Belle spokesman said: "This is one of our most popular trips - a steam-hauled journey through the Yorkshire Dales over the Settle-Carlisle is just the ticket. It's really something special.

"There are only a few tickets left, so don't miss the train because it won't be back in Wrexham again until next April."

The train will depart from Wrexham General at 8.40am on Saturday, November 16 before picking up more passengers from Chester at 9.25am. It is scheduled to arrive back in Wrexham at 8.05pm.

• For more details and to book, see www.northernbelle.co.uk