Steam train lets you travel from Aberdeen to Edinburgh over the Forth Bridge in style

by XPRESS, 20 March 2019

A new train service called 'The Aberdonian' has launched between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and it lets you travel between the two cities in style, pulled by the iconic steam engine 60163 Tornado.

The Tornado is a main line steam locomotive that was built in 1994, and can reach speeds of up to 100mph. It gained fame after appearing in Paddington 2 and also Top Gear, and it's owned by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, a charitable group.

After crossing the Forth Bridge , the Aberdonian service runs along the coast for much of its route, giving you spectacular views that will surely appeal to tourists as well as locals.

The train connects with various tours when it gets to Aberdeen, including a castle visit or a distillery trip.

You can also dine in the restaurant car as you travel up to Aberdeen from Edinburgh; the menu features some seriously tasty traditional Scottish food and drink , and as in the 'good old days' of train travel, you'll be waited on hand and foot and treated like royalty.

The service launched on 14 March, and the next dates available for a trip on the Aberdonian service are: Thursday 1 August – Thursday 8 August – Saturday 31 August and Saturday 7 September.

Prices for the steam tour start at £99, and it would make a great gift for a 'golden age of steam' fan.

The A1 group’s commercial director Graeme Bunker said: “We are delighted to have run our first ‘Aberdonian’ special steam train from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, and seen so many people out to watch Tornado steam by.

“It was particularly pleasing to have a piper mark our arrival into Dundee as we headed north. We now look forward to further runs in August and September.”

The trust is currently building a new Class P2 locomotive, No. 2007 Prince of Wales , which historically hauled passenger trains between Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Article credit: Edinburgh Live