Excursion trains *from* seaside resorts

[Springs Branch]

Many people know about the role of railways in the historic success of British seaside resorts - summer Saturday holiday trains, cheap excursions, plus fast commuter services into big cities (e.g. the Club trains & Brighton Belle).

One thing I didn't realise was during the steam era, the railways also ran regular trains from big seaside resorts, taking day-trippers to other tourist destinations.

Specifically there were trains from both Blackpool & Morecambe running to the Lake District. These gave people on their week/fortnight holiday a scenic day out away from the sands and bright lights, leaving at a civilised time after breakfast and returning in time for a fish & chip supper by the sea.

For example, in the early 1960s BR ran three trains every Monday to Friday in summer as follows:-

• 0845 Blackpool Central to Lakeside, return train departing 1820 (before closure & preservation of part of the branch from Ulverston as the Lakeside & Haverthwaite)
• 0950 Blackpool Central to Windermere, return departure 1855.
• 0950 Morecambe Promenade to Lakeside, return departure 1705.

These were not quite excursion trains in the usual sense. They ran regularly each weekday through the summer season, appeared in the printed public timetables, were available to any "normal" ticket-holder & there was even first-class accommodation if you fancied paying for it.

My question is, did any of the other big seaside resorts have similar trains?
Were these unique to the big Lancashire resorts?

 

[30907]

The one that comes to mind is the North Wales Land Cruise train from Rhyl, via Denbigh, Corwen, Barmouth, Afon Wen and Caernarfon (current spelling!). Originally steam, ISTR it became a DMU, but line closures put paid to it.
ISTR there was a Torbay - Plymouth return as well.
Were there also summer extras from Scarborough to Whitby and back?

 

[Taunton]

Western Region used to run "mystery excursions" from Torquay etc, typically on a Thursday by which time people there for the week had started to get a bit fed up with it, especially if wet.

There was more than one account of holidaymakers who took the service, only to discover towards the end of the outward journey that the destination was their home town!

 

[Springs Branch]

One after-thought to the Blackpool / Morecambe post:-

Maybe the motivation for running three separate trains to the Lakes was to bring in punters for the Windermere steamers.

IIRC the steamers on Windermere were operated by the railways, right up to BR days - I remember doing a cruise up & down the lake in the early 1970s which was free since we were all travelling on a NW Rover ticket. The boats might even have been branded "Sealink" by that stage.

 

[scarby]

There used to be a train on summer Saturdays from Scarborough to Llandudno, leaving at 09.33. It was unusual in that it stopped at Seamer but then ran non-stop to Leeds.

There was no return service as such. There was a 09.00 from Llandudno but it terminated at York.

 

[30907]

There used to be a train on summer Saturdays from Scarborough to Llandudno, leaving at 09.33. It was unusual in that it stopped at Seamer but then ran non-stop to Leeds.

There was no return service as such. There was a 09.00 from Llandudno but it terminated at York.

And I doubt it carried many day trippers from end to end, especially on changeover day.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

One after-thought to the Blackpool / Morecambe post:-

Maybe the motivation for running three separate trains to the Lakes was to bring in punters for the Windermere steamers.

IIRC the steamers on Windermere were operated by the railways, right up to BR days - I remember doing a cruise up & down the lake in the early 1970s which was free since we were all travelling on a NW Rover ticket. The boats might even have been branded "Sealink" by that stage.

Certainly would apply to the Lakeside trains,but in any case the Lakes are still an obvious day trip destination from a Lancashire coast resort.

 

[theblackwatch]

Western Region used to run "mystery excursions" from Torquay etc, typically on a Thursday by which time people there for the week had started to get a bit fed up with it, especially if wet.

There was more than one account of holidaymakers who took the service, only to discover towards the end of the outward journey that the destination was their home town!

At least they could pop home for a cuppa.

 

[Bevan Price]

The one that comes to mind is the North Wales Land Cruise train from Rhyl, via Denbigh, Corwen, Barmouth, Afon Wen and Caernarfon (current spelling!). Originally steam, ISTR it became a DMU, but line closures put paid to it.
ISTR there was a Torbay - Plymouth return as well.
Were there also summer extras from Scarborough to Whitby and back?

(Summer 1958) 10:20 (SX) Paignton - Plymouth and 16:32 return.

Cannot find anything similar for Scarborough, Whitby, Yarmouth, Skegness or any other east coast resort, although these all had a good selection of summer saturday extras to / from numerous locations.

 

[30907]

(Summer 1958) 10:20 (SX) Paignton - Plymouth and 16:32 return.

Thanks, that's the one I had in mind.

 

[Ploughman]

Mid 70s there were a couple of trains ex Southport to Barry Island.
Some of us made use of them but did not go to the beach.
Came back with a compartment full of heavy metal souvenirs though.

 

[AJP62]

I holidayed in Newquay in that scorching summer of 1976. That summer there was a TWThO return about 9.30 (nice for post breakfast) to Plymouth, coming back about 16.00. From memory it hardly called anywhere either and it was usually a Western up front. Popular with the tourists as well as the Western seekers!