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Mersey Moorlander: Every Monday in August (Compass Tours)

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by acorb, Jan 10, 2011.

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  1. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    Received an email from Compass Tours today and tucked in at the end is this series of tours, circular north over S&C and return via Shap from Crewe & Liverpool. More interestingly though is that these are steam hauled (from Lime St) in association with West Coast and marks a departure for Compass away from it's traditional diesel hauled days out. No mention of motive power, though I would expect it to be Carnforth based! Not bad value at £69..but in direct competition with Railway Touring Co who are promoting the same trip in opposite direction on August Saturdays but at £79...(with no Crewe pick up!). Granted northbound up Shap is more of a draw and wouldn't mean booking time off work!
    Details: http://www.compasstoursbyrail.co.uk/
     
    acorb, Jan 10, 2011
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  2. Jeff Albiston

    Jeff Albiston Member

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    Never heard of Compass Tours before. As the two previous posters have put it does give RTC some competition in the summer.
     
    Jeff Albiston, Jan 11, 2011
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  3. Steamage

    Steamage Part of the furniture

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    Since the trains all start from Crewe (as shown on UKsteam.info), it looks like a way to get more use from the "Crewe Pool" locos and stock, thus reducing overheads for everyone. 4 days out of 7 for 5 weeks is not bad, provided there are enough loco support crew and train stewards, not to mention footplate crew and guards.

    Monday: Mersey Moorlander
    Wednesday: Fellsman
    Friday: Scarborough Flyer
    Saturday: Cumbrian Mountain Express
    Sunday: Waverley and (sometimes) North Wales Coast Express.
    That's quite a programme. Just waiting for the Scarborough Spa Express programme for the full summer picture "oop North".
     
    Steamage, Jan 11, 2011
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  4. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Looks like being a busy time in the Crewe area, 4 trips a week for 5 weeks with 3 a week for a lot more. I would imagine the locos would perhaps do two max as the support crew will be pushed to do more, train staff, now that's another story.
     
    RalphW, Jan 11, 2011
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  5. mattspencer

    mattspencer Well-Known Member

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    Before this they have run diesel hauled charters and have been going for a few years now. They have also changed TOC this year from DBSchenker to WCRC.
     
    mattspencer, Jan 11, 2011
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  6. acorb

    acorb Part of the furniture

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    My dad has done several diesel trips with Compass and was very impressed. Seem to be very good if you want a day out in Dundee this year! From the way the website reads it suggests WCRC providing a Carnforth loco & stock (like the Statesman operation) rather than a private hire Crewe engine, so perhaps 46115, 5690 or 44932 if they aren't on Scarboroughs. Crewe pool looks to be 60019, 6100 & 6201 for RTC. Good point on unhappy Liverpool based RTC customers...
     
    acorb, Jan 11, 2011
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  7. Mike Wylie

    Mike Wylie New Member

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    Compass arn't tied to a particular TOC. We DRS have worked a few of their trains with class 47' ow'er the Midland for example.

    Have just looked at their web site, they are indeed tied up with WCRC next year. Apologies. No more blue 47's on blue and grey stock, hey ho.
     
    Mike Wylie, Jan 11, 2011
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  8. Jeff Albiston

    Jeff Albiston Member

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    And there is also the Monday to Friday summer steam service over the Cambrian Coast again to add too. This could be a very busy, exhausting but exciting summer this year :)
     
    Jeff Albiston, Jan 12, 2011
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  9. tfftfftff86

    tfftfftff86 Member

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    Ooo err! Could it be a case of "this town ain't big enough for the both of us?" Four trips a week on the S&C in at least one direction. Yes I know they're on different days but is the market large enough to fill all trains? And if it isn't, will it stick with the established brands or move to the slightly cheaper New Kid on the (steam-hauled) Block?
    I foresee an interesting summer with perhaps one or two dates cancelled for lack of bookings, and some very tightly crossed fingers about the availability of advertised motive power. Hope it all comes off in the end though.
     
    tfftfftff86, Jan 18, 2011
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  10. 6:05 special

    6:05 special Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    and Tuesday [well at least 3 Tuesdays] features "The Welsh Mountaineer" Note this runs Tuesday not Wednesday in 2011.
     
    6:05 special, Jan 18, 2011
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  11. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Just had information that the Mersey Moorlanders will not be steam hauled out of Lime Street. It appears that NR are not allowing this to take place. So it means, train top and tailed by diesel Crewe to Lime Street and then Preston. Steam light from Crewe, turning at Lostock Junc then joining train at Preston to go outward via Blackburn and S&C. The return, via Shap, will detach the steam and Preston, attach diesel and proceed back to Crewe via Liverpool. Steam will run light back to Crewe.

    Now since RTC were to use the steam hauled in reverse procedure on their Saturday CMEs as the Moorlander was planned to be, are they going to have to do the same thing, or is it only a weekday restriction?

    Less that 2 weeks to go and the rules are altered. :frusty: Is this becoming a habit.
     
    RalphW, Jul 20, 2011
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  12. 6:05 special

    6:05 special Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    As I understand it this has nothing to do with Network Rail. The Mersey Moorlander is to be worked by locos from the Carnforth pool as has been advertised all along and the change is to reduce the cost light engine running between Carnforth and Crewe where the steam loco would need to be attached. The signalling does not allow a steam loco to be attached at LIme Street. I also believe the steam loco will come off at Carnforth on the return journey. The Crewe pool has been paid for by RTC solely for use on their trains and RTC trains will run with steam out of LIme Street as per 45305 this Saturday. However time will tell!
     
    6:05 special, Jul 20, 2011
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  13. daveannjon

    daveannjon Well-Known Member

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    Interesting about not being able to attach steam at Lime Street, does that apply to other types of motive power?

    Cheers
    Dave
     
    daveannjon, Jul 20, 2011
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  14. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    It is an interesting point as Vintage Trains are taking 5043 to Liverpool Lime St in October steam hauled throughout.
     
    Pete Thornhill, Jul 20, 2011
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  15. 6:05 special

    6:05 special Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    No. I was referring specifically to the Mersey Moorlander which sorry I did not specify. I think it is a maximum of 12 vehicles including locos which can be accommodated.
     
    6:05 special, Jul 20, 2011
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  16. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    But I have seen the timing sheets which show the loco travelling up from Crewe to Preston, 5.42 out of Crewe, 7.00 at Preston, then running back out of Preston to turn at Lostock junc.

    The restriction does not seem to apply to the RTC runs via Liverpool on Saturdays.

    daveannjon, Steam is not attached at Liverpool, it comes in on the back of the train from Crewe.
     
    RalphW, Jul 20, 2011
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  17. Cambrian55

    Cambrian55 Member Friend

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    I cannot see how RTC can stop the loco owners taking on other work in the area on days when not booked by RTC.
     
    Cambrian55, Jul 20, 2011
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  18. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

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    What prevents a steam loco from being attached? A diesel is able to, and I've seen it done when a 47 was attached to the rear of 6201 last year. So long as the total consist does not encroach onto the track circuits past the starter signals it should be ok surely?
     
    lil Bear, Jul 20, 2011
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  19. 6:05 special

    6:05 special Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    see post #15
     
    6:05 special, Jul 20, 2011
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  20. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

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    Ah right, missed that post!
    Cheers.
     
    lil Bear, Jul 20, 2011
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