Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 2016

Email from RTC just in on the WCME and Holyhead trip:


Spaces available in First class on Saturday 6th February tours!

We have just been informed that the ORR (Office of Road and Rail) have given West Coast Railways written clarification of the load which they are permitted to haul on special steam charters. This clarification contradicts the verbal information given to West Coast Railways last week and means that we do now have a limited number of seats available on both of this Saturdays trains in first class only.

Noting the Duchess had 9 + support coach last weekend I'd infer this means an extra coach is being added to the consists.

Regards

Ben

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

 

ORR making such a positive contact would seem to suggest there's no imminent threat to WCRC's licence. Time to book some WCMEs I think.

 

RTT for Saturday repays inspection. The 1421 unit from Carlisle to Leeds is advanced to 1350 and has 25 mins recovery in it up to Culgaith ( as do most of the others). The WCME stays at 1425 and is given only 2 or 3 mins recovery. It is due at Culgaith at 1504 with the northbound unit due at 1458. I wonder if they are going to path it wrong line all the way from the junction at Carlisle. It seems at least possible they will try to push it through.

 

Just for the sake of checking, can someone advise where the running of wrong line might occur, and what the speed of the engine would be at this point?

 

The wrong line running was between Howe & Co and Culgaith last Saturday. Howe & Co requires reversing, but Culgaith is straight through to get back onto the right line.

 

Thanks. Im guessing this is for some kind of engineering work because of storm damage. Im thinking speed would be reduced, it might be interesting so see, but then it risks the major fireworks on the assent to Ais Gill.

 

Yes, a landslip near Armathwaite. Northern Rail site suggested the single line working would be in operation for most of February.

http://www.northernrail.org/news/7854

 

I think that cross over appears to have been removed Al. Looking at some photos I have of Howe & Co, there is the crossover you are describing in a shot from 2005, but more recent photos it has gone. The reception siding(s?) was also well overgrown, had a sleeper and a red light of some description bolted to the rail last year.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/iancawthorne/14795428257/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/iancawthorne/18469174754

 

delays of 60 mins on line to Carlisle today, posted up at Bingley

 

Tonight the S&C is closed in both directions due to safety concerns. If this requires additional work then this must put this weekend, and subsequent ones, in doubt.

 

Has been reported that the S&C was completely shut at 1755 on orders of the Route Director, hopefully not for long !

Steven

 

From national rail.co.uk... 'While this work is taking place, one of the two lines has had to be closed resulting in a reduced train service between Carlisle and Leeds; however at the moment both lines are closed while emergency engineering work is taking place. This is expected until end of service tomorrow, Friday 5 February.'

 

So that'll be next Friday then !

 

Just posted on another forum:

Network Rail LNW state that the line will remain closed for the foreseeable future due to the extent of the landslip.

From the photos I've seen, the line appears to be slipping into the River Eden - not good.

 

So hopefully it will be Shap both ways.

 

Signalling problems at Lancaster this evening as well. Not a good day if you want to get to Carlisle!