2020 Cumbrian Mountain Expresses

CMEs (and similar) starting from Man Vic seem to have settled on the anti-clockwise route. The trip of 25 Jan was advertised in the clockwise direction but RTC and RTT confirmed that it would run in the opposite direction. Looking at the paths on RTT, the ECS heads south behind a diesel with the steam on the back, picks up at Man Vic pl3 then reverses - steam in lead (there is no run up to Brewery Jn to lose the diesel) so diesel stays on the back. There is no stop between Farington Jn and Lostock Hall Jn (where a diesel is sometimes left behind). After watering at Chatburn it is straight through Hellifield so no chance to drop the diesel there. Things can change but it looks, to me, as though the diesel stays (as was the case last year - and we needed it when Leander had temporary TPWS problems). I had some, albeit limited, optimism that had the train run in the advertised direction we may have left the diesel at Carnforth - but hey ho!

So this does not appear to be one for those who want/need pure steam. I have sympathy with them trying to find rail tours that satisfy their requirements; especially one offs, over rare track only to find late in the day that a diesel attached. I do avoid booking trips where a diesel WILL or is very likely to be involved (Santa Specials excepted); I neglected this years FS Xmas Dalesmans (premium fares, short daylight hours, 3 out of 4 ran with a tail gunner and no promise of an Appleby ice cream stop). If a trip ends up with a diesel on the back I just get on with it; only 4 of my trips in 2019 succumbed to the addition of a tail gunner and for 3 of these the steam loco put on an excellent show. On some trips I have been seated with or near so-called enthusiasts (sadly lacking in enthusiasm except perhaps for moaning) who, from the comfort of their seats, can determine that, "the steam is doing nowt", or that "the diesel is pushing/on full chat".

Perhaps I aim too low, I like to think that I am a realist who makes the most of a bad job - but the job is not always as bad as some might like to think. In my earlier post, I tried to demonstrate that even with a diesel on the back the steam loco can and does provide most of the power and that noise and exhaust from the diesel does not always mean that it is doing all the work. However, I am not in the group who may choose to believe that a steam loco suddenly becomes turbocharged and can power its 12 coach train plus a 120T diesel up a bank as fast, or faster than it can power the same train without the diesel. I am in the group that believes that the steam drivers and fireman are, besides being professional, enthusiasts who take a pride in their job and enjoy "making 'em go."

So less than a week to go, BIL on the front, a diesel on the back (so what), new batteries in the GPS and the finest scenery in the north west - bring it on! Thanks @Big Al, Oswald has every intention of enjoying himself.

 

E-ticket arrived, already confirmed but confirmed again as BIL + 11. Steam - Man Vic/ Bolton/ Chorley/ Blackburn/ S&C to Carlisle and Carlisle/ Shap/ Carnforth loop. Times as posted earlier in the thread linked to RTT. I’m on at Bolton coach H/5B.

 

I'm in G, hope the connection ( Northern) makes it from Preston.

 

Just had an Email from RTC. The 1st February has been Cancelled due to lack of bookings. Seriously?????

 

I noticed in a previous issue of Steam Railway's there was a 25.00 discount code for any 2020 RTC day trip ! Are we now witnessing the downside of an overcrowded market ? Could we see the same issue with when the Cotton Mills runs with the WCME too ?

 

And they chose Holyhead?????

 

Well if the cotton mills express is worked like the south yorkshireman on 4 nov 2019 apart from going up through guide bridge and up through stalybridge via the diggle tunnels through to blackburn on the calder valley line to man vic and round again through diggle and back eastward via rochdale on to man vic and back to preston. With a water stop at brighouse and maybe op stops like in the diggle loop But yes i agree there is alot of competition from saphos and vintage trains doing similar tours originating from crewe going via warrington B.Q. and wigan going up to york via man vic or to carlisle via blackburn and even vintage doing a few S.A.C. runs steam on at hellifield but diesel motive power from birmingham, the only other T.O.C. not operating north as far as i can see is steam dreams who keep there operations more in the southern reigons.
Davo 56F

 

The first one has always seem to have slightly lower loadings I have noticed from previous years, maybe due to the shorter daylight hours. But I agree why would anyone choose Holyhead over Shap and the S & C? Carlisle also has many advantages over Holyhead (ie things are open).
Having had to bin the GCR Gala this weekend for an unexpected reason, and now my steward trip on this, it is turning into a couple of low cost weeks.

 

It's the day after Brexit.

Also; the WCME from Manchester this weekend coming now appears to be watering at Hellifield rather than Chatburn according to RTT, which has updated.

 

Of course in 9 days time we could all be wearing masks and London in lockdown to avoid coronavirus. (Always thought corona was a soft drink when I was a kid!)

 

Possible explanations :

The Saphos trip is a one off ; the WCME has a choice of four or five dates, far more capacity. Given a choice of dates, Feb 1 might be the least favoured.

This year the range of pick up points for Saphos seems quite impressive in coverage.

I could imagine some of the market has 'done' Carlisle but not Bangor or Holyhead. They may not know yet what you know already!

By the way, re this Saturday, the 158 I was on yesterday slipped half the way from Settle to Ais Gill. Definitely slick conditions. NR are working on stabilising the landslip near Arten Gill.

 

Well spotted, saves the cost of the tanker. Looks like we are watering in the platform at Hellifield (big gap in traffic). I doubt that we will be allowed out - long train, long platform but only the middle bit is considered safe for passengers (previous experience). WCRC usually run Hellifield to Carlisle without watering; but with a water stop at Chatburn a loco with a smaller tender would almost certainly need water before Carlisle. With the reported access problems for the tanker at Appleby, Langwathby has been the chosen venue. Now reverted to watering at Hellifield, BIL's large capacity tender and a tail gunner "doing all the work" (tongue firmly in cheek) I wonder if, on the day, we might get a recreational stop at Appleby instead of the planned stop at Langwathby.

 

Me too, can't transfer as I'm already booked on them (except 29th Feb when I'm on the Cotton Mill) so I'll just have to have a refund - now what can I spend it on?!

 

Steam Dreams usually do one or two over the S&C each year following the same format as the RTC jobs originating from Euston. There's one in April on the same day as Clun this year

 

Surprised to find no updates or pictures from today's tour so far - or am I just being impatient!

 

Looks like it was ice creams at Appleby.