If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Northern Belle 2023

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Oswald T Wistle, Jan 4, 2023.

  1. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2013
    Messages:
    1,332
    Likes Received:
    5,380
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    ESI Eng Manager (Retd)
    Location:
    NE Lancs
    The Northern Belle website currently shows 13 steam hauled trips are planned for the S&C.

    They appear to follow last year’s formula with steam on at Carnforth for the run north over Shap and then south over the S&C. The website is not explicit where steam will be detached. (It probably depends on the route back to the day’s boarding stations – see below. Last year steam came off at Preston, Blackburn or Hellifield. RTT should clarify nearer the date.)

    Something to note in the blurb: trips before June will provide ample time to explore Appleby, whilst trips after June provide ample time to explore Carlisle. (Not sure what happens in June).

    01 April boarding from York thro’ to Wakefield
    22 Apr Telford/Chester
    29 Apr Coventry/Crewe
    27 May Darlington/Newcastle
    17 Jun Leeds/Manchester
    24 Jun Coventry/Crewe
    29 Jul Coventry/Crewe
    12 Aug Leeds/Manchester
    19 Aug Lincoln/Wakefield
    02 Sep Hull/Wakefield
    16 Sep Liverpool/Preston
    23 Sep Telford/Chester
    28 Oct Nottingham/Sheffield

    There could be dates to be added, deleted or which are already fully booked and not shown?

    The marketing blurb also includes the following,

    Flying Scotsman, Princess Elizabeth and Tangmere are just three of the famous steam engines that have operated this route with the Northern Belle. [My emphasis]. I hope that prospective customers have read this carefully as, unless something has changed significantly, the big red loco, featured in the marketing photos, will not be heading their train.

    More seriously, patrons will get a grand day out for £495pp (with £30pp refund or £75pp voucher if a steam loco is unavailable), whilst “we” get to watch a steam locomotive (and a tail gunner) for free. I hope that the trains load well as it is this end of the market that keeps “our” end of the market in operation and at more modest prices.
     
    osprey and pete12000 like this.
  2. Will RL

    Will RL Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2017
    Messages:
    714
    Likes Received:
    1,060
    Location:
    Midlands
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Works relating to Carstairs remodelling will leave capacity at Carlisle from April until the summer at a premium. Charters during this time will be amended to suit.
     
    Mick45305 and Oswald T Wistle like this.
  3. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    6,074
    Likes Received:
    4,889
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Hope all those operators using Appleby (not just NB) have some oxygen on standby for those members of the Grey Pound Brigade walking back up that hill.
     
    osprey and Oswald T Wistle like this.
  4. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    Messages:
    8,345
    Likes Received:
    946
    Is it Tornado or Tangmere for the steam ones?
     
  5. sgthompson

    sgthompson Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2008
    Messages:
    3,861
    Likes Received:
    9,238
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Tobacco manufacturing
    Location:
    Kendal
    Probably Tangmere as West Coast won’t want to pay other fees for loco hire I would say.
     
    26D_M and bobsungod like this.
  6. osprey

    osprey Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2007
    Messages:
    9,356
    Likes Received:
    2,313
    Occupation:
    semi-retired, currently doing R&D for my patents
    Location:
    Halifax
    Grey Pound Brigade...that's a new one to me..love it..
     
  7. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,445
    Likes Received:
    9,143
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Isn't there a vintage bus in the area that I believe can be organised as a shuttle to get passengers back to the station?
     
  8. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Messages:
    926
    Likes Received:
    342
    Location:
    Kirkcaldy
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    A one-off trip with Flying Scotsman from York to Edinburgh will run on 14th September. A glorified positioning move to get it to the Strathspey Railway to where it will continue light engine from Edinburgh.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2023
  9. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    914
    Likes Received:
    327
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Do you know who the tour operator will be for that trip? TIA
     
  10. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2019
    Messages:
    926
    Likes Received:
    342
    Location:
    Kirkcaldy
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Northern Belle are the organiser and West Coast Railways will be the train operating company. As for tour operator I don’t know what you mean?
     
  11. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,921
    Likes Received:
    3,827
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
  12. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2005
    Messages:
    35,445
    Likes Received:
    9,143
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired-ish, Part time rail tour steward.
    Location:
    Northwich
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Just looked at this year's list for Northern Belle trips, and there are 106 planned. OK so some are lunch or afternoon tea or evening dining, sometimes with two in the day, or with one start point and two destinations on the same day, but nevertheless, that's some work. o_O
     
  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,064
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    This looks very much like the normal pattern of luxury Pullman trips that Belmond runs with its own train - I.e. around 20 trips with steam but the vast majority with diesel.

    If anyone has any doubt about the attraction of upmarket catering in posh trains at premium prices then this suggests the money is there to support the business. And actually steam is just a frill and not the core business.
     
  14. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2006
    Messages:
    914
    Likes Received:
    327
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    A good example of a tour operator or promoter is RYTC, or Pathfinder, it all gets a bit blurred when the toc and Northern Belle are part of the same 'group' either way £695 York to Edinburgh is way outside my budget !!!
     
  15. 30910

    30910 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2006
    Messages:
    940
    Likes Received:
    1,009
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Wirral
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    DUFF info.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2023
  16. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2017
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    1,221
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Lancaster
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Does anyone know if there is any steam allocated to today's Northern Belle
     
  17. DOH46229

    DOH46229 New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2016
    Messages:
    58
    Likes Received:
    161
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Garstang
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    No steam today,running with diesels today
     
  18. sunstream

    sunstream Member Friend

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2007
    Messages:
    529
    Likes Received:
    136
    Location:
    York
    Diesels from York to Carnforth but why no steam from there?
     
  19. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2017
    Messages:
    522
    Likes Received:
    1,221
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Lancaster
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    34067 Tangmere not available
    and no other air braked locomotive available
     
    Oswald T Wistle and sunstream like this.
  20. sunstream

    sunstream Member Friend

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2007
    Messages:
    529
    Likes Received:
    136
    Location:
    York
    Thanks for clarifying.
     

Share This Page