WCME/CME 2024

Usually with a small footnote buried in the booking conditions about all aircraft may not be in the same configuration. So as most were concerned (and except the most frequent flyers) would expect, every aircraft would be the same.
Over the years we got grief, especially regarding IFE (where others were way ahead of us), over expectation and delivery. Not sure anyone ever got anything back other than the time we despatched a flight to Sydney with all the First Class cabin with u/s IFE. I think those passengers in both directions were given something, and Engineering and Ops has a couple of tough questions to answer as well over the aircraft selection.
I did read although I have not bothered to research it that Seat Guru as flagging up severe differences in the First Class product again.

 

Is steam quite unusual Man Picc--Eccles--Wigan?

 

That's why I mentioned the use of class 67s beyond Welshpool, which I think was in the final couple of years before ETCS was introduced. They are hefty machines, known to be hard on track, and far from small in their use of the loading gauge.

I've no detailed knowledge of the loading gauge limits, but the fact that such large and awkward machines have been authorised suggests to me that it is not implausible that Tornado could be granted restricted permission to operate west of Welshpool.

 

I don’t dispute for some of the track, but Dovey Tunnel and other parts are very tight.

 

Nor do I - though given the bulk of the 67 design and the length of the 158s that work the route, I'd be a little surprised if it were that restrictive (I have also been up the line behind 37s and in an HST).

 

the RTC blurb says steam from Manchester.

But looking at the LE move at Carnforth at 1049 I wonder if it will be T and T diesel to Carnforth then steam and diesel. Or perhaps that is for the loco to take water?

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...24-02-10/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

 

Could be wrong but I thought that LE move was a Standard Path?

As I understood this trip to be worked was the steam was to water at Carnforth. But with everything up in the air with the coaches and stuff perhaps there’s been a plan change?

 

Also seems strange that arriving at Carnforth basically as the same time as a Euston originating CME, it has a later path north that involves being looped at Grayrigg. I can only assume the extra time is for watering.

 

I did think that about the Grayrigg stop and the added time. It’ll either be water or special workings planned that weekend if there’s an event or something.

 

How come we're discussing a hypothetical run with Tornado to Aberystwyth or Pwllheli on a CME thread?

While we are; what about turning the loco for the return? Hire a crane to pick it up and spin it round?

 

so what is expected to haul the CME next Saturday, will it be Tangmere?

 

Makes a change from a livery debate though doesn’t it?

 

'Old Smokey' and one of the 'twins' would be nice

 

I suppose there is a big difference between CDL'ing a short rake of mk1's for the Jacobite vs. CDL's 20-30 mk1's across the whole fleet, would probably also need balance CBA against the cost of air braking 3-4 of the home fleet especially where they mirror other loco's of the same class who have been airbraked by others and thus one assumes the spec is agreed and available for the process.

I did notice when passing Carnforth last week that the rake that had come back from Southall (which includes the stock in maroon with ladies names which always seemed to get a hell of a lot of use) was shunted away down the sidings to the extreme south where the demic RES stock was previously stored so possible just moved up from Southall for storage rather than any CDL work.

 

Potentially good news for heritage railways though if a large amount of Mk1's in running order suddenly come on the market if WCRC decide to concentrate on Mk2's?

 

Ultimately there are several facets to the market, and to be honest WCR and RTC will have a much better idea of what their customers want and will sustain. Yes there are enthusiasts who will desire what you note above, but there are also others who want to see the scenery and the steam, and get irritated by fellow travellers having the windows open in the wind and rain and the condensation in Mk1's both obscuring the view and also dripping down onto the tables.

As with all of this WCR will no doubt be doing careful CBA on what the market can and will sustain, IIRC someone noted above that actually charters don't make up a huge amount of their revenues and thus is it worth the hassles and cost, especially as IIRC its also been noted that potentially Mk1's days on the main line are time limited CDL'ed or not.

I dunno what it said previously, but I see on the WCR website both the Dalesman and Pendle Dalesman pages note 'vintage carriages' and note Mk1's or Mk2's, also worth noting that even the newest Mk2's are 50 years old next year (a feat that the youngest Mk1's only reached in 2013), so can probably be classed as vintage now!

 

just received ticket, confirmed as Tangmere