Northern Belle: 19/9, 3/10 & 17/10/20 + 16 & 17/12/20

See 4 posts above yours. Cancelled.

 

Another point that occurs to me is that NB's workings in northern England (in tier 3) still appear to be operating, but not from London (also tier 3).

 

I thought it had been confirmed as 45212?

 

Yes the rules are all very unclear. LSL ran that electric trip to Glasgow on Saturday. I understood non essential cross border travel was banned but maybe they were not allowed off the train at Glasgow in the 25 minutes or so it spent there, the break having been moved to Carlisle. That also seemed to have pick ups at regular CME points. I thought Preston was Tier 3 but maybe not.

 

Passengers were not allowed off in the short break in Glasgow.

 

A Worth Valley volunteer tells me that 45212 is expected at the Worth Valley on Friday so that part of the light loco movement will presumably happen even with the cancellation of the Northern Belle to Salisbury.The Worth Valley are running Santa trains.

 

As with so many other aspects of the C19 situation, inconsistency and confusion abounds. Of course, it's entirely up to individual operators to cancel what they choose, but for NB to have prominent on their web site how C19- aware and safe they are, and to say specifically that their operations from ALL TIERS (my capitals) are to continue, and then to cancel a London working (seemingly) because the area's tier has changed seems odd at best. As I said, the rules for the tiers haven't suddenly changed, just the areas that sit within each tier. As far as I can see at the monent, Belmond's London (diesel) tours are not yet cancelled for 18th and 19th, and the NB trips on 19th and 22nd are still running, as well as, for example, the KWVR's Santa workings (tier 3), so inconsistency is rife.

A mess, and one which will no doubt continue well into 2021 with the huge logistical problems of vaccinations, plus the evolution of the virus. I think the planning of medium and long term programmes will become more and more pointless and that, sadly, many operators will just abandon the effort in the face of the frequent and expensive changes to the situation.

 

Was it on its way to Norwich this afternoon then when stood at Hellifield ? (Shed24 Facebook Live)
(edited to say Yes, I found it as 5Z68)

 

NB's site now states that they expect an announcement from the government on 16 December re. tier changes. As that announcement was made on 14 December, and their site has been updated with this today, this seems oddly out of step.

 

It was on the Carnforth wheel lathe which would be rods off and that’s it.

Although often if a Riley engine is in bits one day it doesn’t mean it’ll still be in bits the following day.

 

The announcement on tiers was today?

 

Today's 'Belmond' diesel trip appears to be off (RTT shows it not activated), but RH hasn't been updated from yesterday and still shows it running. I suspect several trips will now be off, but still with inconsistencies.

 

Although rules may allow trains to be run, that's not to say there'll be sufficient staff available (with shielding or isolating) to run them or that passengers are able (for the same reasons) or willing to travel, bearing in mind they probably would be planning a journey to/from the tour start point.

Patrick

 

That's a good point.

 

Channel 5 last night (Friday 22 January) featured 6201 on the Northern Belle in their Greatest Railway Journeys series. The commentator is the excellent Bill Nighy but the script he was given (as in all previous episodes) is execrable and as he reads it he must just be thinking "Well at least the money's good".

Some lovely shots of 6201 on the Belle over Shap and Ais Gill in awful weather, not to mention our dear James looking proprietorial in full dining, and our own Stephen G T and a mate in pouring rain at Ribblehead. Worth trying to catch it on catchup.

2021 greetings to all, and let's hope there is much more for us all to write about before too long

Peter at the end of a mixed winter's day in Manchester - snow in the morning and lovely sun this afternoon
https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

 

And Mr Cubitt ....

I wonder if the uninitiated think the line runs right past Ullswater.

 

Thanks for letting me know but after some searching seems to be called, so to save others the effort search as
"World's Most Scenic Railway Journeys"

 

Link to the program.