All aboard for train heading to the Dales

It was a picture that captured just what the Tomlinson family wanted from the inaugural Walk For All festival – a charity event that involved anybody and everybody.

The festivities continued on board Northern Rail’s new specially branded Jane Tomlinson train, the first of several put on for the event with ticket sales going to her appeal.

More than 120 excited passengers tucked in to an early breakfast as the train left Leeds along the picturesque Settle to Carlisle line, watching the sun slowly rise above the hills racing past.

Others merely dozed, conserving their strength for the gruelling walk ahead.

Beverley Peel, 52, of Morley, was one of the Walk For All early-risers, heading out to Settle with friends Jean and Alan Haywood and their daughter and grandchildren, to walk the 14-mile route in memory of her nine-year-old niece Taylor Louise Sheldrake who died of leukaemia one month ago.

“It is a bit early but the train is a great idea,” she said.

“We all really wanted to take part and this is a great way for us to get to the festival.”

Leeds business consultants Sharanjit Singh, 26, and Ankit Grover, 27, who were taking on the 26-mile route, had more reason than most to stay awake.

Both had never been to the Dales before and stared wide-eyed at the countryside as heads elsewhere on the carriage nodded to sleep.

“We have done the 10k runs before but we wanted to do something different,” said Sharanjit.

“We have also never been to the Dales before and that is something we are both very excited about.

“We both wanted to do this walk out of a sense of responsibility to raise money for good causes and to take up an exciting challenge.”

Drew Haley, stakeholder manager for Northern Rail, said: “When Mike Tomlinson approached us with this idea we thought it was fantastic and we are delighted to support the event and have Jane’s train.”