Return of the Cotton Mill Express

Here's mine for the day..

The display board at Preston sums it up

 

Bean-counter
Many thanks for your reply.

 

Second choice for Saturday!

So succinctly put, as always, Frank! Once again, it is apparent that all the usual suspects have been furiously rattling away at their keyboards, churning out the same boring trivia … especially when that old chestnut concerning alleged “freeloading” gets yet another opportunity to rear its ugly head.

Yes, naturally it was disastrous news to learn of the failure of 46115 (and its train) on Saturday and I would now join with those few who did provide the more positive (and to-the-point) comments, in wishing both WCR and RTC every success in any future attempts to run the ‘Cotton Mills’. Let’s but hope that that date is not too far away, for such an interesting itinerary really does deserve to succeed … be it from the punter’s or the “freeloader’s” point of view.

On Saturday, I wasn’t travelling on this occasion and, as regards those waiting at the lineside on what really had turned out to be such a glorious winter’s day, I was particularly fortunate in having only 8 miles to drive to the first photo location. But, “freeloading” or not (“dp266’s” terminology, not mine!), I did also feel particularly sorry for the guy, to whom I was talking near Droylesden, who had driven up from Llangollen (where he is apparently a regular volunteer) with his young son and his father, just to see the special.

So, as also I wasn’t one of those other unfortunate souls shivering for several hours on a cold and draughty Preston Platform 5, one might enquire precisely what WAS one expected to do on a January day, particularly in the eminently delightful environs of East Manchester, with nothing but a procession of Class 142s and 150s to relieve the monotony?

The solution was simple, but obvious … get back to the car and, if the latter still possessed 4 wheels, hasten to the M60/66 for the 15 min run up to the East Lancs Railway and where (almost) adequate compensations were on offer!!

“Freeloaders” or not, when the ‘jungle telegraph’ had finally done its stuff, it was amazing to observe the ‘galleries’ from the likes of Mossley and Lydgate making a mass descent from the hills and materialising upon those few square yards at the end of Burrs Cutting!

That aside, quite coincidentally the day’s such unfortunate circumstances had decreed that the final weekend of “The Great Marquess’s” operation at Bury came to be provided with an audience appropriately commensurate with the immense popularity that has been achieved during its regular use over and since the New Year.

The K4 is off to the Severn Valley now, but I feel sure I am far from the only expressing the hope that it won’t be too long before the Gresley syncopated beat returns!

 

Anyone herd when the rerun is yet?

 

Someones just sent me an email with a date..............13th February...........a week on saturday!

Don't blame the messenger.

 

Works out great assuming its the same times,go on Scot then go for a pair of Deltics on the ELR

 

its on UKsteam now, identical times, and the K4 movement to crew is provisional for later today, wrong thread but...

 

Oosh ! Wifes not going to let me do that ! I guess i'm looking for another trip on another date !

 

The KWVR gala is also on that weekend for those who don't want to see/hear Deli's doing 25MPH.I do like Deli's but not at 25MPH.Not fast enough.

 

Good. that's me for a bit of linesiding again at Brighouse. Anybody who's not too pleased with my "free loading", come and have a word.:nono::wink:

 

But it is your last chance to get GH for a little while,thats the main reason we are going there....there is also a steam diagram i have been told.

 

Cue for summat special for the following day. Not so much breakfast in bed more a weekend luxury hotel in Yorkshire !

 

Great can't make that due to it being my stag do, not sure most of my friends would be is up for it.
Two weeks is really not great notice RYTC. Appreciate them re-scheduling but doesn't give people long to plan - was talking to people on Saturday who had travelled from London and others Scotland - not got much chance to book accommodation and get cheap trains tickets with two weeks notice.

 

I like to think that I am a fairly loyal supporter of RTC... they take a lot of our money and we get a great day out! Have to say on this occasion they may have got it wrong. Not wanting to criticise for coming back with a re-run - it's what is expected - but a decent period of time to allow punters to plan would have been better PR. Really hope they run more of the Cotton Mills as I would put more money their way.

 

According to a certain Mr Riley on the other forum, the re-run is doing 2 full circuits, but not according to Uk steam & RTC website,

Whats the story here?

Neil

 

After the first circuit, leaves Vic at 15-02 for Brighouse via Diggle and back via Summit tunnel to Victoria at 17-28 for a 17-31 departure back to Preston. An excellent idea and good compensation for the disappointment of last Saturday. Well done WCRC and RTC.

A format that would bring in Huddersfield/West Yorkshire passengers if repeated in the summer.

 

Looks interesting I would consider booking on a future tour pick up at Huddersfield and drop off.
I can see on this current tour the second loop avoids the need to turn the loco when it finally arrives Man Vic its facing right way.

Brian

 

It was mentioned earlier that the train was a sell out so if anyone couldn't make the rearranged date I doubt they would have trouble reselling the seats, even at this short notice. Don't forget Past Time used to sell a lot of seats on the day. Also those who couldn't make it would no doubt have rearranged to travel on an alternative trip so I doubt RTC will have missed out too much. RTC have a lot of trains to run in the coming months, I doubt there are many other weekends when they could have run this!

 

Someone has just sent an e-mail to yorks-rail Yahoo group saying it is not now going via Copy Pit
Anyone heard if this is true?

Neil