A GIANT steam locomotive that started its life in Bradford almost 90 years ago is set to haul the Northern Belle, Britain’s most luxurious train, over the spectacular Settle-Carlisle line.
The Black Five class engine, Number 45212, was based at the city’s Low Moor railway shed from November 1935 until 1947.
It operated passenger and freight trains throughout Yorkshire and Lancashire.
More recently it has been pulling the “Hogwarts Express” Jacobite train, filmed steaming over Scotland's Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Harry Potter movies.
The locomotive will be on the move again tomorrow (Saturday, August 12).
A sold-out 1930s Pullman-style train will be hauled by a heritage diesel loco when it sets out from Leeds at 6.52am before Number 45212 takes over at Carnforth.
Champagne-sipping passengers will be served a three-course brunch after boarding at Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester, followed by a slap-up six-course dinner with wine.
The Northern Belle was described by actor Bill Nighy as “the Grand Dame of luxury travel” on Channel 5’s The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys.
A Northern Belle spokesman said: “We transport people back to the golden days of rail travel – an era when nothing was too good for pampered passengers.”
The train will make a similar journey on August 19 but pick passengers up at Doncaster and Wakefield.
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