WCRC Santa Specials 2018

Brightening up the gloomy conditions 'British India Line' heading the inaugural 'Santa Special' through Hincaster to Carlisle, Steve Chipperfield driving, Chris Holmes firing and Roly Parker with the Carrot!!

 

It does look very gloomy!

 

That's why I was counting on cloud!

 

Cloud. you should have been with Sam the Sham

 

35018 at Salterwath and Bessie Ghyll .

 

Good point Al especially in the last shot as the 47 was working a tad but think it was not doing much if anything in the 1st shot so 13 and a class 47 on idle must be some load .Must be the video warrior in me ( edit on the load )

 

Two things sprung to mind from sgt;s excellent video.
1) The train looked very full, if not sold out, which is great so far off Christmas.
2) How innocuous WCML masts are compared that junk that has destroyed the GWML, and has been visible on the videos of the trips with No 9 in the past few days.

 

It was leaving a big cloud of oily fug behind when working up to Lancaster with the stock!

 

Bahamas has a loaded test run, Tyseley to Leicester and back on December 11, then up to Keighley on the 17th for running in on the Worth Valley. It's first mainline run is February 9th Oxenhope to Carlisle and back.

 

Todays Santa special on the outward leg at Shap Summit.

 

Todays Santa Special on the return leg through Bessie Ghyll.

 

Fair point but my late father who worked Scout Green box in the 40,s often told me he viewed many a Duchess ( class 8 ) with 16 on with no banker all year round unless it was steaming badly . Modern times are obviously different.

 

As someone who was on the train, if there was diesel assistance then it was very subtle - nothing like other trips I have been on, where you accelerate out of loops like an HST. This was my first experience of BIL and it was very impressive today, but today wasn't so much about performance. I travelled with my wife and 6 year old daughter - from the moment we arrived on the platform at Lancaster we were treated like royalty by West Coast. The elves were amazing and created a fantastic atmosphere. Waiting on the table was a personalised lunch box for our daughter, who was then given an activity book. Within 30 mins we had been served mulled wine, mince pies and the most delicious hot pot. Santa then visited and handed out very good quality toys, again personalised. All children were then given the option to visit the grotto, before elves then handed out another soft toy, a reindeer. A little while later a magician visited who did individual tricks with all tables, he was excellent. On arrival at Carlisle there was the option to see the loco, while the elves led songs and dancing on the platform. On the return there were further festivities, a chocolate bar for every child and unlimited sweets. Numerous activity sheets, games and individual attention were given to all kids - the elves went out of their way to be friends with all of them, including games of hide and seek!
Couple this with 140 miles of mainline steam, Shap both ways plus the rare track of Upperby curve this must be the best value trip you could think of, for just £30 adults and £20 children. It was completely sold out and imagine next year's will be too, as I should think many will return (and perhaps see what else West Coast do?). I suspect a large percentage of passengers were new to mainline steam as well.
11/10 for West Coast, today they were quite simply brilliant. My daughter is positively buzzing (not just down to all the sweets!) and my wife was very impressed too. Special thanks to 'Papa Elf', 'Holly' and 'Glitter Balls' - plus all the other elves who made coach H a magical place to be today!

 

Brilliant show from West Coast by the sound of things then

 

First class, can't praise them more highly. They did themselves and the rest of the industry a lot of credit today - best of luck to them. My wife is already asking if we can go again next year!

 

Makes me look forward to the trip next week even more!

 

Mind you keep away from "Glitter Balls" though!

 

Sounds very much like last year, they really pull out all the stops for the kids! We happened to be at Lancaster waiting for a train home when you got back yesterday which our daughter loved seeing the train and elves spilling out onto the platform.

Roll on 16th December when we have this year's adventure, cannot wait.