Steam locomotive racing through a green countryside, billowing thick white smoke

The Edinburgh Christmas Market

Saturday 21 November 2026

Join us on board this special train for a memorable journey from York to Edinburgh and back. Hauled by a locomotive from the Carnforth pool, you can sit back and enjoy the varied scenery as we travel north over one of Britain’s most scenic main lines.

Our journey will commence diesel hauled from the historic city of York, with its long association with railways, including the location of the National Railway Museum. Heading north away from York, we will travel down the East Coast main line through to Northallerton. From here we head to Durham to pick up further passengers, before heading towards Tyneside and over the river Tyne to Newcastle.


Leaving Newcastle, we head west along the scenic Tyne Valley line via Hexham to Carlisle, following the course of Hadrian’s Wall as we pass through some of the North East's most attractive countryside.

At Carlisle our steam locomotive will join the train to take over the journey to Edinburgh. You can sit back and enjoy an forgettable steam hauled run north through the open landscapes of southern Scotland, travelling via Lockerbie and climbing to the summit at Beattock - one of the most famous stretches of railway in the UK.



We expect to arrive into Edinburgh, the Capital of Scotland, where time will be available for you to visit the city and its Christmas market, located in Princes Street Gardens, whilst our locomotive is serviced for the return journey. Apart from its numerous shops and restaurants along Princes Street, there are many sights to see and visit, including the Palace of Holyrood, the Castle on the Royal Mile, Galleries and Museums and Princes Street Gardens.


For the return journey, steam haulage will continue from Edinburgh back to Carlisle, following the same scenic route. At Carlisle, the steam locomotive will be detached, and a diesel locomotive will take over for the final leg of the journey, returning via Newcastle and Durham before arriving back in York.


Look out for Father Christmas who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. If you have children with you on the trip, please let us know your child’s name and age when booking.

Please Note

    Destinations Route

    Map of England with place names marked and a red route line running north-south.
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    Approximate timings shown

    Station Outward Return
    York 07:00 22:25
    Northallerton 07:30 22:00
    Durham 08:00 21:25
    Newcastle 08:35 21:05
    Hexham 09:10 20:35
    Carlisle 10:30 19:30
    Edinburgh 13:00 16:40
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