WCME/CME 2024

Tickets arrived and its stated as Tangmere from Manchester to Preston on the return, diesel back to Manchester

 

I mostly agree with you, painful as that is.* I wonder how the SRPS are getting on with their refit. Their rake of Mk1s when done could be a valuable asset to WCR if available for seasonal hire. Any updates from our Scottish correspondents, SRPS website is a bit silent?

* Sorry i meant painful for the reasons given by @Big Al

 

Does this mean that Tangmere will be tailing the ecs to Manchester Picadilly

 

i would imagine so

 

yes. 9mins turnaround time at Man Picc p13. Eccles dep 0752 inbound.

 

Particularly when they are five mins behind a train from Liverpool calling at Eccles, Deansgate, Oxford Rd and Man Picc P13! NR have done them proud there given the block on the Bolton line.

 

“And now for something completely different.” For a variety of reasons, Saturday’s WCME has only a few similarities with previous years’ trains that have started in Manchester.

It is running 2 weeks later than has been the norm and, because of a block on the Bolton line, it now runs out of Man Pic rather than Man Vic. NR and WCRC have worked a minor miracle and found a path, however this is significantly later than in previous years, resulting in the train passing Euxton Jn at 09.29 (08.34 in 2020).

In 2020 the train ran outbound via B’burn and the S&C (as has been the norm), arriving at Carlisle at 13.19 (2020); a whopping 4h 45m after passing Euxton Jn (and included scheduled water stops at Hellifield and Langwathby). If this year’s train were to follow the same route and schedule, then it would not arrive at Carlisle until around 14.15 with a consequential later return.

WCRC have taken the sensible option and chosen to run north via the WCML. Even allowing for a 30 min pathing stop at Preston, a 60 min watering stop at Carnforth and a brief pathing stop at Grayrigg, the train is scheduled to arrive at Carlisle at 12.56 (only a few minutes later than the standard CME timings). If the train were to run with T&T diesels from Man Pic to Carnforth with steam coming on there then, as Tangmere would not need to be watered, it could have continued in the standard slot. Well done to WCRC and RTC, it was perhaps tempting to reduce Tangmere’s mileage (and to avoid the need for a second steam crew).

Watering at Carnforth loops has usually been accomplished from a tanker parked on the adjacent WCRC access road. This time Tangmere and support are to be detached and run into 10A (worth noting that the move has head code 3Z87, rather than the usual “5”).

Mostly, but not always, the train has been headed by a Stanier (or two), but not Tangmere but it often has a diesel on the rear (ETH). Oh, and the stock is different – but we won’t go there (again)! Although not to everyone’s taste I hope those travelling have a good day out – I’ll be watching!

 

Young Whistle, you can please some of the people some of the time, most people most of the time, BUT not all of the people all of the time.
I look forward to the ‘Grumpfuttocks’ Saturday evening to see if they can out grump the first WCME

 

If the mist clears OK the winter scenery might be pretty good though I guess not blue skies.

 

Good to see there is plenty of wriggle room in the timings of the ECS down to Manchester, there would be a lot of scope for disruption and subsequent hassle with a late arrival at platform 13 at Piccadilly, even on a Saturday morning!

 

I did ask one of my steward friends on the first CME if he had spent the day placating unhappy passengers regarding the stock. He said no one had mentioned anything to him, and none of the other stewards had mentioned comments either, at least to him.
Be interesting to hear any feedback after this weeks trip.

 

Be assured the usual complainers and DOTBB will keep us bored to tears on Saturday

 

I like your optimism! One thing I have learnt from my apparently 16 years on Nat Pres(!), you do not actually have to be on a train to feel you have licence to complain about it...

 

Any sign of Tangmere? Seems to be stuck somewhere between N Jct and the depot.

 

Problem at Carnforth with water pressure 15 minutes late and Tangmere not hooked up yet

 

Looking on traksy it seems Tangmere is backing onto the train .