A HERITAGE steam train will halt at Skipton station to commemorate 50 years since the end of British Rail steam passenger services.

It will stop in the town as it heads for the Settle - Carlisle line on Saturday, August 11, the exact anniversary of the axing of passenger services in the UK in 1968.

The "15 guinea special" as the event came to be known - it being the pre-decimal price of the ticket - went down in rail history as the last standard gauge steam hauled passenger service.

The Railway Touring Company has chosen to run the special over the Settle - Carlisle line to mirror the final route taken in August 50 years ago.

The trip is expected to be hauled by No. 46233 Duchess of Sutherland or No. 45596 Bahamas.

Nigel Dobbing, The Railway Touring Company's managing director, said: "In 1968 thousands, sad to see the end of steam, gathered along the Settle to Carlisle route to watch the passage of the BR ‘15 Guinea Special’.

“Fortunately, a number of fine steam locomotives were saved from the scrapyard and it’s wonderful to see these magnificent feats of British engineering still at work on our railways hauling steam specials."

The Railway Touring Company’s ‘Waverley’ steam service will set out from York by steam, picking up at Leeds, Shipley, Keighley and Skipton before crossing the Settle - Carlisle Line.

"The route includes steep, challenging climbs, long tunnels through hillsides, views of the Three Peaks and the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct," said Mr Dobbing.

“This rail excursion will commemorate the end of regular BR passenger steam services, but also celebrate the fact that we continue to be able to experience the ‘Golden Age’ of mainline steam travel today.

"The Railway Touring Company has a busy programme of over 65 steam trains this year, with a number of other departures from Skipton, involving around ten preserved steam locomotives, including famous No. 60103 Flying Scotsman."

Booking is necessary. For details visit The Railway Touring Company at www.railwaytouring.net or call 01553 661500 for a brochure.