Dalesman 2017 from York or Chester to Carlisle

Fair point as I had not seen that ! Bit odd that uksteam is not showing the Dalesman run tomorrow as it's on Realtime plus West Coast's website .

 

Stunning and under used section of line by charters, some compensation for no Shap too. Wonder if the load of 13 is deemed too great to keep time over Shap so switched to a less busy route? Good that business is so brisk to need 13!

 

Speculation?

 

With 10 plus cm of rain to come in the NW over the next couple of days there will be decisions for train operators and photographers alike! The train will run--- what the visibility will be like, who can say?

 

But it's summer and we do get dry rails in Britain!

 

Won't stop me going out rain or shine as 46115 is close to the end of her ticket

 

A bit puzzled by a couple of replies to Post 95 when I mentioned the timings on RTT for the Chester Dalesman via Clapham.
However,just to clarify,way back last year on the thread for Fellsman 2017,James Shuttleworth advised there are some midweek daytime blocks on the Ribble Valley line which is why the Fellsman are reduced in number this year and also why the Chester Dalesman is not going via Clitheroe.Presumably the block will have been removed for the return from Carlisle.Hope this helps !!

 

Indeed I did and it remains so. The blocks apply on the days when the Chester Dalesmen run but come off mid-morning - too late for the outward but allowing the return working to go back via Blackburn.

The Dalesmen have, in the past, always been S&C, both ways. Shap initially seemed a suitable alternative but the only way to cope with the increased demand was to use the 8F, which in turn would not have been compatible with the timings issued, over Shap - hence reverting to the S&C.

JS

 

The popularity of the offer (Shap + S&C) perhaps being the very thing that undermines it being achievable - catch 22?

 

There are several answers to the problem of overpopularity ;
-Viable train length x run more often and/or charge higher prices..
-Increase train length and use a bigger loco, or Double head, or stick a box on the back.
Given that availability of carriages and Diesels is good and availability of steam crews and big Locos is not we can see where this ends up going...

 

For the record, 46115 with 11 on stormed up 'The Drag' with a minimum of 39mph above Selside. Still have the grunting roar running through my head!

 

Very good. I was going to say 27 mins from Hellifield to Blea Moor was a decent time but then thought that depended on the traction. Load 11 definitely good news, presumably same again tomorrow.

 

When does the ticket run out

 

Railway Magazine says August.

 

46115 at a very soggy Birkett Common .

 

Unlucky Steve bet the sun came out as you walked back to the car lol

 

The sun shines on the righteous