Winter CME's, February 2012.

Good perspective; no need to whinge. But in 1981 there were included in the price connections from almost everywhere on service trains, while now if you're not travelling all the way on the charter train you have to pay the full whack for your connection - e.g. Abergavenny to Crewe.

 

Yes, I would agree with that. Were the connections actually included in the price? I seem to remember that they were an add-on, albeit very good value. My first mainline tour was in 1980, with 850 from Carnforth to Skipton, then 4498 to Carlisle and included a connection from Lincoln to Crewe. Seem to remember that the electric loco failed at Warrington and we were an hour late at Carnforth, but made this up on the steam legs - just like today really!

 

The CME does have a short water stop at Appleby, so a chance I will take for a picture, on a north bound run,what is the watering arrangements (isn't the tower and crane only southbound ?)

 

Usually waters from a tanker while standing in the platform. I think you can get in front of the loco on the opposite platform (but I'm not certain about that).

 

They were indeed. I have a copy of the SLOA leaflet for the inaugural 'Cumbrian Mountain Pullman' on 2nd. May 1981 which was a southbound run from Carlisle. The 2nd. class fare varies from £11-13 depending on the joining point. As an example London or Watford were £13, Liverpool £12 and Lancaster or Bolton was £11. 5407 was the booked motive power to Hellifield with 4472 taking the train to Carnforth.

 

From the RTC website : -

70013 Oliver Cromwell will be hauling the train on 11th & 25th February

Black '5' No. 45305 will be hauling the train 4th & 18th February.

 

I'll finally get to the travel over the S and C behind Brit then after an aborted run when Britannia failed in the 90s

 

So is there any chance that the times will change or are we stuck with those on UK Steam?

 

The loco allocation on the RTC site is not 100% confirmed. A friend was at the GCR for a photo charter earlier this week. He had a chat with some members of the 5305LA, who told him that there are a few maintenance tasks for Ollie scheduled between the GCR gala and the CME runs. There's nothing major, but for example, the brickarch will be rebuilt. Therefore, it's possible that Ollie might not be ready for 11th Feb.

 

The brickarch again? I thought they did that last summer while in Crewe.

 

Re: Winter CME, 28/01/2012

was booked on the 4th feb but been asked to talk at A.G.M at our workingmans club so phoned to ask if we could go on the 18th or the 25th but no both are full the only one with seats are the 4th and 11th feb;so will have a very busy weekend with this one on the saturday and the king on the sunday12th;
all the best
jane ;

 

I think Jane meant to post here on this thread instead of this weekends trip with the black 5's Ralph or any other moderater.

 

I have a question 2. With the short talk about Ollie's Brickarch will the 2 engines still split duties? Or will 5305 pull 3 or all 4 of the trips? Just wondering.

 

That makes sense since it didn't take them more than a 4 days last time.

 

Re: Winter CME, 28/01/2012

Pleased to hear they are selling well. I wonder if there is a daylight factor coming into play here as the last two trains have filled up first. There will be the best part of an hours extra daylight for the last run on 25 Feb compared to the first one on the 4th Feb. The runs on the 18th & 25th Feb will just about get to Carnforth in daylight based on the provisional timings issued whereas the first two are unlikely to do so.

 

I note from the RTC website that an additional trip has been added on 31March.