Cotton Mill 22nd.

Yes

Details taken off Past Time website

2 in a row now

Neil

 

Aw that's a shame, weather was looking really promising as well! ](*,)
Hope the Tin baths OK :-k I'm getting withdrawal symptoms !

 

Time for something that isn't black if sales are to be revived, I think - or there may be a lot more where these two weekends came from.

No trains = no money made by anyone.

 

Maybe a cottonmill of sorts starting from Preston may work better ?

(connections for the WCML are better than Victoria, plus you still get to pick up in Victoria as well).


A Preston start would also reduce the costs... no diesel stock move / engine change costs and reduced ECS mileage..
just ECS Carnforth - Preston - CottonMill - Preston - ECS Carnforth, or..

one i'd like to do is the regular WCRC test circuit.. but with passengers

Carnforth - Hellifield - Blackburn - Preston - Carnforth.. No ECS at all here !

 

Start from Preston and yours truly has less to travel!

 

I've yet to do a Cotton Mill so I'd be happy with either 45407 or 76079 but I appreciate that the regular clientele in the tour's main catchment area is probably wanting something different by now.

 

I am slightly surprised that the 22nd March (Mothers Day) trip has had to be cancelled. I thought that people booked on the Feb Cotton Mill and last week's Buxton trip might have transfered to this one. Of course, the date may not have been convenient for many of them - a bit too soon to rearrange other commitments perhaps?

This year's programme looked rather ambitious when it was announced. Even without a recession, I think it would have been a bit of a struggle to fill all the proposed trains. (That's not just hind-sight - I said as much before Christmas.) I'm sure that regular trips around Manchester can work, but the problem is to find the right balance of starting-points, routes, locomotives and frequency now that the initial novelty and splash of publicity of last year's very successful runs has worn off. PTR and WCRC are the experts, and I'm sure they'll come up with a revised programme quite soon.

On the subject of pick-up/set-down choices: if the stock is coming into Manchester diesel-hauled from Carnforth in the morning and returning in the evening, could that be run as a passenger service, not ECS, stoping at places like Lancaster or Preston?

 

Now THAT is such a good idea. Surely SOMEONE has thought of it before ? I wonder how many people travel by Northern Rail Services into Vic to catch the Cotton Mill? Lancaster and Preston stops to pick up and drop off would surely pick up some of the periphery business? Four of us are travelling from Blackpool for the 18th April trip - how nice it would have been to join the set at Preston. Pathing issues? Charge more for passenger runs than empty stock ?

 

That is exactly the problem on today's broken backed British Railway

If James runs ECS from Carnforth to Voctoria he pays one price

If he runs it as a passenger movement - he pays more

Barmy! I couldn't possibly comment! and that's why the return from the West Highlands is now ECS

What a way to run a railway? #-o

 

With four other main-line options and Llangollen going on - I hope the 18th April isn't cancelled too !

 

posting from Andy Staite on "The Works"

"My first post!

Read with interest all the posts people have made both here and on National Preservation.

The cancellation of both the Cotton Mill and the Buxton trips recently has not been taken lightly by us. It is a case of simple economics - we have not sold enough tickets to meet the costs associated with running the trains. I apologise for the disapointment caused to our suppliers - both WCRC and Riley and Son, and would also apologise to our customers.

Perhaps with hindsight we have tried to run too many trains from the Manchester area in a short space of time.

We do advertise, but would be the first to put our hands up and say that maybe we have got the advertising wrong. We are working on ideas to improve our advertising for these trains. Any sensible ideas would be welcomed. You can pm or email me via the website

But I can assure you that the Tin Bath is running and that we have already got enough bookings to run the Cotton Mill on the 18th April"

 

Cheers for that Mike, glad to hear that the Tin Bath is running and that the cotton mills seem to be picking up.
Long may it continue.

 

Oh dear, Was planning to go to Wood End in Mossley for this, but no need now. It is disappointing as I've not seen a CME in action this year so far. I'am a fan of 45407 and 76079 as they are both mechanically sound engines. But would like to see other engines have a go on the Cotton Mill. 5690, 46115, 70013 would probably suit the bill?

 

I wonder if it would be possible to run a train from the south, as I am not able to get to Manc Vic for 10 am or thereabouts from where I live, so if a charter from the south could be arranged for a trip then I for one would book and am sure there must be others who would to from SE England!

 

different locos on the train, I suggested this several weeks ago and it was pooh poohed, never happen said Mr Riley, Oh we can't say MR now according to euro parliament, has to be first names. So what about it Ian?

 

I'm all in favour of 45407 / 76079 running train (in fact any engine except the bright red hogwarts express one :0)

but maybe a little less rigidity of Man Vic would work.

Out of interest.. anyone know the costs of an ECS vs a Passenger working ?

 

Arn't the 'Statesman' trains doing just that this summer (but straight to the S & C not Manchester?)