On Saturday 8th March 2025, I was one of the many passengers aboard ‘The Seven Counties Rambler‘, operated by the Scottish Railway Preservation Society. It promised to be an epic and spectacular tour of Southern Scotland and Northern England, passing through Edinburgh, the outskirts of Glasgow, before heading south to Carlisle, a big loop taken around the North West, before heading east to Tyneside and north through Northumberland back to the start.
I would like to say right from the outset that the whole railtour was exemplary from start to finish, going smoothly with no drama at all, and being very well looked after by the onboard staff too. Prices for on-train food and drinks from the buffet were very reasonable (much less than many high-street outlets for similar products).
All in all an excellent tour and I would heartily recommend SRPS Railtours to anyone wishing to try one.
Well done SRPS Railtours, and all the best with your future ones, I’ll certainly be coming back when I can!
Quick Summary of the Railtour
Starting with 20132 and 20118 from Linlithgow with 37403 on the back, a change of the first two Class 20’s was due at Carlisle (being swapped for 20096 and 20107, 37403 remaining on the back of the train), then a trip south over the Settle and Carlisle, then via Hellifield and Preston, run back up to Carlisle over the West Coast Main Line. Back at Carlisle a second time meant the final change of traction with the two Class 20’s leaving, and 37409 coupling onto 37403 for the final leg along the Tyne Valley Line through Hexham to Newcastle, up the Northumberland Line to Bedlington, then across again to Pegswood via Hepscott, and taking the final miles of the trip back to Linlithgow and a finish for the day!
Early Start at Linlithgow
With a departure from Linlithgow in the wee hours (06:11, with passengers asked to arrive ten minutes before this), meant a very early departure from home in Alnwick on a quite misty and damp morning. Setting off in ample time meant arrival at Linlithgow far too early, but an opportunity to watch an episode and a bit of the excellent Toxic Town on Netflix while waiting in the car.
As can be seen from the above image, most passengers for the tour appear to have joined at Linlithgow, but some did join at Edinburgh and Carlisle too.
The First Stop at Carlisle
Upon reaching Carlisle from Linlithgow and Edinburgh, the first pair of Class 20’s (20132 and 20118) left the train, to be replaced by 20096 and 20107 for the second leg of the tour over the Settle and Carlisle Line, then back to Carlisle via Preston and the West Coast Mainline.
Below are a few photos of the new locomotives being coupled onto the train, and a few shots from my seat in Coach B.
Arriving at Carlisle Again
The second arrival of the day at Carlisle was for the second and final locomotive change of the day, with both the Class 20’s leaving the train completely at the ‘Scotland’ end of Carlisle station, with 37403 ‘Isle of Mull’ remaining coupled on the ‘London’ end, to be joined by classmate 37409 ‘Loch Awe’, for the third and final leg of the trip from Carlisle to Linlithgow via Bedlington.
Newcastle to Edinburgh via Bedlington, at last!
This leg of the tour was the predominant interest for me as founder of this campaign, as it was the first opportunity for me to actually travel the route since being inspired by seeing the ‘Bound for Craigy’ railtour on the Barrington Road, Bedlington on the 18th March 2017, a trip that inspired the idea of the Northumberland Coast Loop, almost eight years previously.
While darkness had long fallen before departure from Newcastle, it was great to actually ‘ride the route’ for myself. I did take a video from the window between Blyth Bebside and Pegswood, but unfortunately it is a very dark section of line, so it doesn’t really do the route justice, though I have uploaded it (original sound removed due to passengers holding conversations, and replaced with a generic soundtrack), should you wish to view it.
Most importantly was the actual data from the excellent Realtime Trains website, which allowed an actual recording of the timings for the ‘loop’ section from Newcastle to Pegswood.
Using rounded times, the train left Newcastle at 19:21, passed Bedlington at 20:00, so 39 minutes later, largely due to a prolonged stop at Seghill Junction (approx 12 mins). From Bedlington to Pegswood (passed at 20:18) took a mere 18 minutes, bearing in mind a near four minute stop at Morpeth North Junction to exit onto the ECML.
This gave an overall Newcastle to Pegswood journey time of 57minutes, but again has to be weighed against a heavier and slower heritage train taking the route rather than a modern, relatively lightweight unit, if the latter was used, journey times could potentially, and almost certainly be reduced further.
It is clear that a direct rail route from Bedlington to the north would offer significant time savings, as well as greater convenience and ease of use compared to travelling via Newcastle (as at present), or by travelling into Morpeth to change trains.
N.C.L. Target 2030
With the huge success of the Northumberland Line becoming apparent despire only Seaton Delaval and Ashington stations being open as of the 11th March 2025, yet the route has already carried in excess of 110,000 passengers so far; and with Newsham due to open on the 17th March, this should provide another major jump in numbers using the line.
Given this huge success, beating many of the optimists bravest predictions; it hopefully won’t take too long for the proposed route from Newcastle to Berwick or Edinburgh via Bedlington to be trialled.
I would like to see a trial implemented before the end of 2030, which allows for services to be bedded in once all stations are opened, time to work on timetabling to see what services can be run over the route, and to hopefully see the route running before turning 40 myself!
If you’d like to support this happening, please sign the petition, and if you’d like to help me out, please feel free to drop a donation in via the campaigns Ko-fi page.
Thanks, RH.
The Northumberland Coast Loop 