Thee last chance to ride on a mainline steam train from stations in Cheshire could be on Sunday (August 2) as stylish excursions from the golden age of travel are squeezed off the network.​

​This final opportunity could be when the North Wales Coast Express, headed by the 1936 Crewe-built Jubilee class locomotive No 5690 Leander calls to pick up passengers at Warrington Bank Quay (11.40), Frodsham (12.14) and Chester (12.38) en route to Holyhead and return.

The steam train will also make a rare diversion down the Llandudno branch line to drop off passengers at the resort, before reversing to continue on the mainline to Bangor and Anglesey (later returning to pick them up).

Rising costs of running these one-off steam excursions are a factor in their likely demise, plus increasingly stringent regulations about using the class 1950-60s vintage coaches for these trains, which are a great more spacious than modern rolling stock.

The trains also originate in Liverpool where recent electrification of the line to Manchester means it is difficult to fit the steam-hauled excursions into schedules as they have a slower acceleration than electric trains.

Last year no mainline steam train excursions ran from Liverpool due to the fire-risk caused by sparks from the locomotives setting alight the dry lineside vegetation.

However, the summer steam train programme has proved popular since it was started by the operator, Railway Touring Company, in 2008.

On Saturday August 1, the final Cumbrian Mountain Express will depart from Liverpool Lime Street at 06.35 for a trip over the spectacular Settle & Carlisle Railway, to Carlisle, with pick ups at Broad Green, St Helens Central and Wigan North Western. Very early birds can join the train at Runcorn at 05.48.

The Cumbrian Mountain Express will be hauled by Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive, No 6233 Duchess of Sutherland, built at Crewe in 1938.

Passengers have a choice of three classes of travel with prices starting from £74 Standard Class adult for the North Wales Coast Express (£79 for the Cumbrian Mountain Express), giving a reserved seat at a table for four.

Passengers in First Class coaches receive coffee, tea, pastries and cakes during the trip (£115/125) and those in Premier Dining Class are treated to Pullman - style steward silver service with full English breakfast outbound and four course dinner on return (£189 both trains).

Child fares and family discount fares are available for both trains in all classes.

Nigel Dobbing, managing director of Railway Touring Company, which organises the trains, said: “This could be the last chance to travel on the steam trains which are so special to the North West as it’s where the world’s first passenger trains started in 1840.

“I urge people to take the chance while they can to experience these magnificent locomotives.

“It would be such a shame if we could no longer operate these mainline steam trains which have played such a part in our country’s history and mean so much to people in the city of their birth, but that’s the way it’s looking at present.”

More details and bookings at the Railway Touring Company on tel: 01553 661500; or website: www.railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips/