Compass 2012 steam dates now available to book

Just for those who are interested in these I'm starting a separate thread as they are available to book now, with the office re-opening on Monday. There's also dozens of "BOX" (aka diesel) operated tours starting from various stations in England, Wales & Scotland on the website, but I shan't annoy the hardcore on the forum by cluttering this post with those.


See www.compasstoursbyrail.co.uk for full info.

> > WEDNESDAY 4TH APRIL - SOUTHPORT to YORK STEAM THROUGHOUT
> > Via Manchester & Rochdale both ways
> > PICKING UP: SOUTHPORT (0830/2130), BURSCOUGH BRIDGE (0850/2110), PARBOLD (0900/2100), WIGAN WALLGATE (0925/2045) & MANCHESTER VICTORIA (1050/1945)
> > YORK (1315-1715)
> >
> >
> > WEDNESDAY 11TH APRIL - BARROW to YORK
> > STEAM CARNFORTH-YORK-CARNFORTH only
> > Via Copy Pit both ways
> > PICKING UP: BARROW (0630/2245), ULVERSTON (0650/2225), GRANGE-OVER-SANDS (0705/2210), ARNSIDE (0715/2200), CARNFORTH (0730/2145), LANCASTER (0805/2105), PRESTON (0830/2040), BLACKBURN (0900/2015), ACCRINGTON (0915/2005) & BURNLEY MANCHESTER RD (0950/1935)
> > YORK (1300-1700)
> >
> >
> > WEDNESDAY 18TH APRIL - HOOTON to YORK STEAM THROUGHOUT
> > Via Brewery curve & Rochdale both ways
> > PICKING UP: HOOTON (0755/2220), CHESTER (0815/2200), DELAMERE (0835/2140), NORTHWICH (0850/2125) KNUTSFORD (0905/2110), ALTRINCHAM (0920/2055), STOCKPORT (0945/2040) & DENTON (1030/2000)
> > YORK (1315-1715)
> >
> >
> > MERSEY MOORLANDER STEAM DATES
> > MONDAYS: 23RD JULY, 30TH JULY, 6TH AUGUST, 13TH AUGUST & 20TH AUGUST
> > CREWE-LIVERPOOL-PRESTON-CARLISLE
> > Steam Preston-S&C-Carlisle-Shap-Preston
> > PICKING UP: CREWE (0615/2130), RUNCORN (0640/2105), LIVERPOOL SOUTH PARKWAY (0655/2055), LIVERPOOL LIME ST (0720/2030), PRESCOT (0740/2010), ST HELENS CENTRAL (0750/2000), WIGAN NW (0805/1945), EUXTON (0815/1935) & PRESTON (0900/1900)
> > CARLISLE (1310-1610)

 

I have been wanting to do steam over the Highland Mainline for years and there have been few day trips over the route aside from the multi day excursions. Unfortunately I am up in Scotland the following week so cant justify making two trips from Wales! Hopefully this will book well and you will be encouraged to do a repeat later in the year, the Central Highlands in Autumn is simply glorious.

 

Booked on the Southport-York, but can anyone recall the last time steam ran out of Southport ?
Thanks

 

One of our older stewards lives on the Southport line and reckons early to mid 80s (maybe circa 1984), when the local newspaper ran a couple of shuttles to Manchester with a Black 5 off the museum (???). Movements to/from the old museum (now built on) weren't unknown up until the late 1990s though as well as an occasional event with stuff on display in the station so the route/area has had recent history but nothing much in the way of passenger workings to Southport (and none steam hauled) as the resort is no longer as high on the "visitor" list most of the year so less tour operators go there now, heightened more when after Steamport shut there was several years of no loco hauled passenger trains for several years. This is now lifted but subject to a form being signed and some weight restrictions so the very biggest locos would probably be barred.

 

I've a feeling it'll pop up again within a year or so, assuming its as popular as I'd hope. Unlikely to be this year as I'm not likely to want any additional dates later in the year looking at current workload and other commitments.

 

46441 ran some specials around 1995. Can't remember the year off the top of my head, but I remember seeing it!

There was a weight limit imposed on a bridge in the Parbold area, but this was lifted last year as some 67s visited Southport.

Will be booking for this on Monday, trying to collect a group of names for those wanting to join me

 

Thanks for your reply Kevin, I'll look forward to the repeat! We'l look at doing one of your other trips instead this year.

 

Last Steam to Southport ? 44932 [11/85]; 5593 [09/86]; 4472 [09/87]; 5407 [09/88] and 45596 [09/89] were the last Southport Visitors on a Sunday charter programme working Manchester Victoria - Southport; servicing at Steamport then round trip Southport - Manchester Victoria - Southport; servicing at Steamport then round trip Southport - Wigan Wallgate - Southport; servicing at Steamport then final Southport - Manchester Victoria.

The last main line steam was 46441 over the weekend of March 18/19 1995 on a Diners Special which worked Liverpool Lime St - Wigan Wallgate - Southport for stock reversal then Southport - Bootle - Edge Hill - Liverpool Lime St. Sadly on the first run the idiots at Bootle Bomb Alley threw projectiles which caused stock damage forcing the organisers to change the Sunday programme to return via the outward journey thus avoiding Bootle altogether.

The final steam visitor was in February 1998 when L&Y 51218 took part in a Farewell to Steamport charter with L&Y locos but the loco arrived /departed by road after which Steamport stock moved to the new home at Preston prior to the building being demolished to make way for Mr Asda and Friends

 

Southport, Hooton and Highland tours all look tempting. Time to start saving!

 

Many thanks for the info Kevin, Jon? and Fred. Now have an idea of where to start looking thru some old slides.

 

Interesting, I'll mention that to the guy who was quoting the last workings as he'll have been talking about ones starting from there. Late 80s was only a few years out although the workings he babbled were right then. Interesting to see what engines are on that list too although doubt 4472 'll be making any appearences on such a tour in 2012 (may see it at the NRM that day though?!)

 

Presume its Malcolm G we are talking about, good friend of my familys. I too am from Burscough Bridge and remember all of those years, seem to remember some light loco crew training runs the year the Jub worked them. I was on the the first one the first year with my Dad, it only did Southport-Wigan and back. Didn't know which Black five it was now I know thanks.

As an aside not sure when probably before the charters, 'Lion' did some mainline work in and out of Southport. The guy who owned 76079 before Riley, Foster I think, I can't remember his first name, was on the footplate and he said the brake tests they had to conduct were scary in the extreme. A Jinty also did some mainline runs up and down the race track too, but I missed that for a stupid Birthday party!!! Think I sulked for weeks :-( None of that would happen now. Well done to compass for going back.

 

That's the man! I'll bet he knows your family well too (knows half the village same as his father did). Same man that also used to have his finger in (or sometimes even run) umpteen charters, footex's etc from the 80s til about 10 yrs ago.

 

I know Mr Gibbons very well, met him again last summer at Carlisle, he was stewarding for a Pathfinder job I think. Younger members of his wider family are great friends of mine. One is a well respected if not a little out spoken steam locomotive engineer. I'll tell my old man about your train, be a shame not get behind a steam loco from your own village. Presume the locos will be either 44932,48151 or 46115??

 

They'd all be contenders I should think. If you tell your dad Malcolm should be on that (along with half his extended family I imagine + members of the local church, cricket club etc etc).

 

Although I didn't move to Southport until 1982 I was quickly made aware of LION's exploits as they were part of the shakedown trials made from Steamport to Burscough in 1980 prior to its involvement in the Liverpool - Manchester 150 celebrations that took place in 1980; 47298 was also involved and also had a trial run from Steamport to Burscough prior to its appearance at Rainhill. Sadly, apart from living in London at the time, I had committed my funds to a 2-week tour of South Africa chasing the last Garratts and couldn't afford the cost of visiting Rainhill. I did buy the book though and it is now in my collection - number 1639 of the first 3000 hardback books printed.

In 1988 LION celebrated its own 150 birthday and was operated in steam at Steamport Museum during May / June / July of that year complete with period "coaching stock" for passengers - standing room only if I recall !

 

Some very good tours,particularly in Scotland. Would love to do some. Need some dosh tho'!

 

Incorrect with the latter as the train did go back via Bootle to Lime St. I took an image of it (tender first) off the bridge looking towards Ainsdale Station that day (Sunday) after taking the earlier shot's at Burscough Bridge and Southport London Road Sidings.

Not sure that is correct either as I understand that before shed finally closed, later in 1998, the lads at Steamport had another steaming with one of the industrial loco's. L&Y pug No 51218 was definitely the last L&Y (BR) loco to steam there in accompany with No19 (re-numbered as 51231, ex 27c) on 7/8th, 14th and finally 15th February 1998 as part of a "Farewell Southport (27C) Shed" charters organised by myself and Brian. I think you will agree, it was a fitting way to say goodbye - it was history in the making, the last L&Y loco in steam at an ex L&Y shed.

 

Thanks to 8A Rail for the correction re 46441 returning to Liverpool on the Sunday; it appears I was confused with the Hastings set which was operated in the area during the Open Golf Chapionships in July 1998 when the set was bombed in Bootle and alternative schedules were hastily re-arranged. I should have read my database a little more carefully as I took my shots on the Bootle line in B/W - which is a separate table from my colour images. Ta muchly for the correction.

As noted the L&Y Farewell was a fitting tribute to the end of Steamport and the steam activity later I have recorded as the steam test of HC1464 which took place on March 19 1999; the demolition gang set to in August and September 2000 and the end of Southport as a steam depot.

 

Interesting set of tours which I hope will be successful.

Just for the record there were later steam visits to Blackpool:

9/10/1999 35005 Canadian Pacific, Stratford to Blackpool and return;
16/10/1999 35005 Canadian Pacific, Nuneaton to Blackpool and return.

Photos at Moore:
http://www.farfromhome.me.uk/19991009 35005.html
http://www.farfromhome.me.uk/19991016 35005.html

Chris