Cotton Mill Express 2020

Four days away and no tickets yet. Has anyone else got theirs yet?

Could it be that the recent floods have caused problems on the route?

And any info about the likely traction?

Peter on a grey Manchester morning
https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

 

Just received e -ticket. 45699 plus load of 10. A to H listed plus kitchen car and support.

 

I’ll also be in F (13B).

 

I suspect a fair few of the usual crowd are in F.

 

I am also in F 21B

 

Steve Brass (YouTube) is also on the tour but not sure which carriage.Update , Coach F seats 13 and 14 .

 

When did a Jubilee in green last pass through the Calder Valley?

 

Tricky one that. Has Bahamas ever done it in preservation? Otherwise any advance on 7/10/67 with the real Alberta?

 

Shortly after this, and “to”, rather than “through” the Calder Valley, 45562 visited the Yorkshire section of the Calder Valley route some three weeks later – 28.10.1967. As detailed on Six Bells Junction, the occasion was a very comprehensive rail-tour itinerary under the aegis of the then Manchester Rail Travel Society and the Severn Valley Railway Society. Originating in Birmingham, the tour is simply described as the “Preservation Special”.

With steam from Stockport, the excursion was handed over to Alberta (by 70013 Oliver Cromwell) at Normanton. Its contribution to the day was a circular leg along the Calder Valley route via Mirfield and Brighouse to Halifax, and thence completing the circuit via Low Moor, New Pudsey, Ardsley and Wakefield back to Normanton. 45562 with Load 8, according to a contemporary account, completed the 47.8 mile circuit in almost exactly 110 minutes. A full log of the day’s events is held in the Railway Performance Society’s excellent database.

It seems that this outing was significant for much more than just the visit to the Calder Valley route – there is a footnote on Six Bells Junction that records that this was probably the very last working of 45562, the locomotive having been out of use for three weeks prior to the tour (i.e. since the “South Yorkshireman No 8” trip on 7th October), and due to be taken out of service after the tour.

 

Confirm Galatea, still running as Alberta. No diesel. AN

 

Good to know. Currently on my own LE move to Manchester.

 

Standard at the front.

 

Through Brock in the rain.

 

Made a fine sight passing Luddenfoot....sun in the wrong place for a decent photo....now hailing

 

Fantastic noise up Copy Pit. Well worth the ticket price on its own. Now in the Adelphi, Blackburn.