West Coast Railways, is a railway spot-hire company and charter train operator based at Carnforth MPD in Lancashire. They operates and leases special trains for charter operators, filming, company or group travel, and train operating companies.

The Settle–Carlisle line is a 73-mile-long mainline railway in northern England. The route, which crosses the remote, scenic regions of the Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines, runs between Settle and Carlisle. The historic line was constructed in the 1870s and has several notable tunnels and viaducts such as the imposing Ribblehead. West Coast Railways Mainline Steam fleet along with over steam locomotives work over this famous line every year.

Carnforth Station and Visitors Centre is on the West Coast Mainline from London Euston to Glasgow Central. It was the location for the 1945 film "Brief Encounter". It is a good spot to view train movements from West Coast Railway Company depot there and a starting point for mainline steam test runs via Hellifield, Blackburn, Preston and back. Its also the starting point for mainline steam specials along the Cumbrian Coast and part of the West Coast Mainline over Shap Fell to Carlisle.