KEIGHLEY, England — Steam locomotives puff through Yorkshire’s wild landscapes on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, a preserved five-mile route from industrial Keighley into Brontë Country. Officials at the heritage line now offer Afternoon Tea experiences aboard the trains, blending 19th-century British tradition with vintage rail travel.

The specials let passengers relax in restored carriages while savoring tiered trays of finger sandwiches, mini Victoria sponges, red velvet cakes, macarons, buttermilk scones with jam and clotted cream. Steam or diesel engines pull the trains on round trips through the scenic Worth Valley, passing moors that inspired the Brontë sisters’ novels.

Afternoon Tea traces its roots to Anna, Duchess of Bedford, who started the custom in the 1840s to bridge the long gap between lunch and a late dinner. Railway staff note the practice gained popularity as grand homes hosted formal servings with fine china and silver. Today, the Keighley & Worth Valley revives that elegance amid the clatter of wheels on tracks laid in 1867.

Bookings opened for upcoming dates. On March 14 and 15, Mother’s Day weekends, trains depart with a welcome glass of Prosecco or fresh orange juice plus canapés. The journey ends at the historic Old Parcels Office, where diners enjoy a two-course lunch in the stone-walled building once used for freight handling.

Tickets include a Day Rover pass for unlimited rides along the full line. Visitors can hop off at stations like Oakworth, famous from the 1970 film The Railway Children, or Haworth, home to the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Families often spend hours exploring the Victorian-era platforms and signal boxes.

“It’s a chance to step back in time,” a railway spokesperson said. “The steam hiss, the valley views, the tea service — all create lasting memories.”

The line operates year-round with specials timed for holidays and seasons. Regular fares start at £20 for adults, with Afternoon Tea upgrades from £35 extra per person, according to the booking site. Diesel-hauled trains run alongside steam for variety.

Brontë Country draws 800,000 visitors annually, many seeking literary trails and rural charm. The railway, volunteer-run since 1968, carries 150,000 passengers a year. Recent upgrades include new catering cars to handle demand for food services.

Interest spiked after similar events sold out last summer. Bookings for Afternoon Tea fill quickly, especially for weekends. The railway advises reserving online well ahead.

Travelers praise the sensory mix: coal smoke scents, whistle blasts echoing off hills, and the rattle of tea cups. One recent rider called it “pure indulgence on rails.”

For Mother’s Day trips, families plan full days. Start with the special train, lunch in the parcels office, then rover rides to lesser-known stops like Ingrow West, with its locomotive museum. The package suits multigenerational outings, officials said.