NOSTALGIA comes steaming back to Blackpool North Station on two Saturdays next month.

Memories of the heyday of the seaside excursion trains will be revived on July 29 when the former Southern Railway Merchant Navy Class steam locomotive Canadian Pacific rolls in with The Blackpool Belle from Birmingham.

Passengers will enjoy a few hours of sea air and fun before the 151-ton loco and its train head back to the Midlands.

North Station's platforms will already have reverberated to the now rare sound of a departing steam train on July 22 when another ex-Southern Railway engine, Taw Valley, accelerates its 11-coach train out of the resort for a round trip to Carlisle.

The northbound run will be over the scenic Settle-Carlisle line and, after passengers have enjoyed a three-and-a-half-hour stay in the Border city, Taw Valley and its train will return south on the West Coast main line to Preston where the West Country Class loco will be detached to return to its base at Bury on the East Lancashire Railway. The excursion train will return to Blackpool behind a diesel locomotive.

During the trip passengers will be treated to the sound of a steam engine working hard as Taw Valley tackles two of the steepest main line gradients in Britain -- the 20-mile climb to the Settle-Carlisle line's summit at Ais Gill which is 1,169 feet above sea level, and the final 10 miles to the 916 feet high summit at Shap on the West Coast main line. The train is a "first" for Preston-based John Fishwick and Sons Travel. Said spokesman Tony Aldam: "Most steam excursions originate in the south of England so we thought we'd organise one for people in Lancashire. We've run several diesel-hauled excursions but this will be our steam debut."

Exact timings have still to be finalised, but the company is aiming for an 8.30am departure from Blackpool North with the train calling at Poulton at around 8.40am, Preston at 9.10am and Blackburn at 9.45am to pick up passengers who have booked in advance.

A Premier First Class ticket, including full English breakfast on the outward journey and dinner on the return trip, costs £99. First Class non-dining costs £62 and Standard Class tickets are priced at £49 for adults and £35 for children.

Tickets can be booked by telephoning (01772) 421207.