RTC 2015

Interestingly, the Cumbrian Coast express is operated by DBS south of Carnforth and WCRC north of Carnforth.

 

Anybody on the site travelling on the CCE with details of the coach formation on their letter from RTC????????

 

Someone I know of is booked on it. As of Tuesday lunchtime he said RTC hadn't heard anything from Network Rail re timings etc, and up to this morning he had not received tickets or confirmation it is running.

 

Well, the timings are available on, RTT, so that's a positive sign.

 

Yep. But it's to be hoped that the majority of its patrons are going for the journey rather than the destination.

Twenty minutes leg stretch time in the vicinity of a nuclear processing facility and an hour in a loop at Carnforth are not your typical tourists idea of dream destinations...

 

From what I remember the loco will be way off the end of the platform at Sellafield, so those travelling won't be able to even see it except when it reverses back past the stock at Carnforth in the evening. Not my idea of a fun day out!

 

In the late 70s Sellafield was the destination for the CCEs out of Carnforth and nobody cared as we'd all had fun window hanging en route. In the 80s a stop at Seascale was introduced by way if variety. I've been to more exciting places though.

 

I'd have thought Ravenglass would be the place, but of course that depends on a schedule which gives three hours or so there and on being able to turn the train/loco at Sellafield.

 

I did do one tour that called at Ravenglass but that wasn't one of the CCE series.

 

Years ago WCRC still operating as Steamtown ran a one off with 48151 to Sellafield. Option 1 was to get off at Ravenglass with time for a round trip on Ratty. Option 2 was to go to Sellafield with a trip around the Visitor Centre while the loco was serviced. I recall it was a good day out. Got to be knocking on 20 years ago.

 

Yes, I'm not sure if it's the same thing, but I do recall a series of trains running under the name, "Sellafield Sightseer" which had that itinerary. A number were hauled by 4472 IIRC?

 

It certainly won't be hauling the June 13th Cotswold Venturer. I've just received an e-mail from RTC stating that 34067 will be working the train.

 

Your memory is correct: http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail...afield-sightseer-leaflet-news-photo/138603134
Bookings were arranged through Bernard Staite's Pullman Rail with initial departures planned from London, Bristol, Nottingham and Coventry I think.
On 4th April 1987, John Farrow's Hertfordshire Railtours organised the "Morecambe Bay Express" from Marylebone via Sheffield and Leeds to get 4472 to Carnforth. I'm not sure of all the dates but the 25th April Sightseer started from Euston with 4472 Carnforth to Sellafield and 34092 on the return. I seem to recall turning of locos, within the Sellafield compound, had not been approved at that time. Even though Sellafield's triangle radius was quite severe, loco turning (plus watering and bringing forward coal) was allowed eventually - but under the strict control of their armed police!
Two types of aluminium headboard were carried with the first one being an unusual design of an almost semi-circle having polished letters on a bright red background. This has come up for sale recently [2013?] through Hansons Auctioneers I believe. Later on a 'normal' headboard with polished lettering on a blue background was used.
This was a fairly busy period for 4472 as between 1st and 5th June 1987 it hauled the "Cromwell Pullman" between Dorridge and Wigston [alongside the Cromwell Industrial Tools factory] for it's stockists/customers. It then moved, with it's support coach, down South to participate in Salisbury Steam trips organised by Area Manager Gerry Daniels and his team.

 

The End of SR steam special on 9th July has now been removed from the RTC website. I guess 34067 is unavailable? So now there is only the SD special to Weymouth on 9th July this year.

 

Is there enough demand for two trips ? I do not think there has been more than one trip to Weymouth on this date. SD have been to Swanage instead twice and once the day after.

 

Bare in mind there is only one locomotive available at Southall being 61306 which as previously pointed out
is doing every West Coast trip in the South. It's only a question of time that she will be overtaxed and then have failures as we have seen with previous tours.
Mike M.

 

In another thread someone advised that 34067 is available, when the motive power for this Saturdays tour to Worcester was changed to 61306.

 

Oh well at least we now know there is a back up loco ready available at Southall then.
Mike M.

 

When we used to go on the Santa specials in the early 80's it used to be steam Carnforth to Seascale with the loco going up to Sellafield to turn/service.

There was a reasonable pub at Seascale where there were carols etc - now demolished. Don't think there is much there now!

 

I did the Santas in '78 and '79 and on those occasions it was one loco out and another back. In '78 (4498/4472) it went to Sellafield with a 45 mins turn round and in '79 (5690/4498) it went to Seascale with an 80 mins turn round but my recording notes showed that we stayed on to Sellafield so would appear that Seascale was an option rather than the destination.