Steam trips Query

Its just a few queries that am needing.

Why is it that the Settle to Carisle trips from London, always start steam at Carnforth, and not start from Crewe or even Manchester, as its not giving us a chance to either see steam nor be on it from these areas?
It just looks like the Carnforth based locos like the scots do not seem to be used apart from around Carlisle, during the season.

Lack of North West steam in winter,yet plenty of tours down South? There seems to be a shortage of steam trips that run in this area after September.

Is it the end of steam trips to Scarborough using the Standedge line,due to gauging by network rail?
Are Network rail ever going to re-gauge this line for steam.

I just like to put my mind at ease,

 

In addtion what Martin has said, If steam came on and off at Crewe the earlier start and return times would make it more diffcult, and in some cases impossible, for those using public transport to join it at Esuton, to travel on it and back within a day.It would mean 1 or more nights hotel accomodation. When running late back (due to 45699 not steaming well) I ended up lookling up the last tube times for a number of passengers.
Crewe to Carlisle via Shap both ways is possible with start and finish times that can be reached by those using public transport to reach Euston and has been done before usually with the Duchess.

 

This year there are engineering works on the S & C and some other lines at weekends. The Hadrian on the 8th March goes Bolton to Preston via Wigan due to engineering works.

 

When the gauging issues start affecting services trains Network Rail will have to do something about it.

 

Well considering that is was July when first found out, NR never did much to rectify it, and do anyone know if it has been gauged still,as no mention on RTC website of the Scarborough flyer.

Understand that Paul but its in general that the North does not get the trips that the South have during autumn and winter,and those that run are mostly booked up in advance.
Would be nice to get trips by steam to places from the the North West to places Southwards like Stratford and other places of interest

 

If it only stopping charter trains it will not be done until it affects service trains. When a bridge near Sherborne Dorset restricted the use of certain steam locos( in one direction) because the track had moved, the track was not moved until it affected service trains.

 

I think you'll find that the market isn't there. Whilst there is a large demand from the south to visit northern climes such as Carlisle, the Cumbrian Coast and the S&C I doubt there is sufficient demand for train to go south from these areas. The nearest service that meets this would be the WCRC trains that operate to Chester but that is more a personal operation undertaken on behalf of local community interests in the Carnforth area; there is nowt on the public tourist programme yet.

Again as noted by others the market being for visits up north then the logistics - in crude terms - is get to the steam locale quick and have time to savour the steam with a relatively reasonable return to London. If you look carefully at the forthcoming RTC programme there is no southern stop at Preston as the loco change takes place at Farington Junction whilst the Preston passengers join a local train at Blackburn; this saves time as a run-in to Preston for a loco change could cost a further 30-45 minutes delay reaching London with consequent delays once the train competes for paths with London's suburban services.

However just to be a little optimistic I have wondered if there is a market for a Lancaster - Birmingham (Tyseley) service with either steam or diesel haulage that allows a cross-platform change at Tyseley onto the Shakespeare Express with a possible dining option - given the current marketing liaison between Virgin Trains and WCRC.

Any thoughts on this ?

 

Thanks Fred and others for the info, but there are more trips that could be done in the North West if the rail operators tried them, Like Scotland to Blackpool, London to Blackpool, ( as they have visits to Carlisle on the Settle services ) The said trip to Stratford, even Leamington spa. Visit to the KWVR, or other railway centres by Steam from the North or South. Its train operators experimenting ( the Scarborough flyer is becoming a no go at the moment, but again why does RTC or others let people experience steam via the main line, than just giving up on people up here, just cause they say there is no market. There would be if they tried it. Sorry for being over powering , but I see the same on the buses, the bus company are taking off services cause they feel there is no passengers, when its them who drove them away due to lack of transport.