Return of the Cotton Mill Express

Any news of a confirmed route yet - i.e. starting at Lancaster and twice to Huddersfield or not? Only 3 weeks away now!

 

I sent an e-mail to RTC asking about the route as i was planning a family trip with everyone meeting up and boarding at Preston, as my grandchldren live in Blackpool. That was several weeks ago and i am still wating for a response.
No way am i booking a trip to be fobbed off with less than is advertised. Otherwise it will be lineside for me and a trip in the summer on the S&C or to Scarborough.
Regards,
John.

 

I'm in the same frame of mind. I would have liked to sample haulage behind Scots Guardsman. Boarding at Huddersfield would have been convinient for me just one train from home to Huddersfield. I guess iif the tour doesnt do 2 passes through Huddersfield it would be service train between Man Vic and Huddersfield. Half a Cotton Mill is a waste of time and money to me.
I will do the Flyer to Scarborough and S&C later in the year.

Brian

 

I'm in Sheffield, but parents live in Lancaster - so already booked a tickets for this, and tickets back to Lancaster for the weekend. Going to be mightily miffed in they to change it - and pretty shoddy customer service to not respond to mails.

 

Been there, tried it for "The Scarborough Flyer" and it was rubbish, as Ralph said it's downhill so the loco is coasting. You might have more joy a bit further down but my advice would be the other side of the "hill", maybe Diggle.

 

Not sure where this notion of "twice to Huddersfield" originated. I've not seen anything on the RTC web-site to suggest this. I read it when it was first announced and checked it again a week or so back. My reading of their description is that the steam train will stop to pick up at Huddersfield on it's (only) way through. I agree that it's not spelt out in the description (rather naughty!) but the inference has to be that return to Huddersfield is by service train, presumably from Manchester. If the tour was making two circuits of the loop, it would be very clear in the description of the route.

 

here is what it say's on RTC about the route:-

We continue through West Yorkshire to Sowerby Bridge and Hebden Bridge at Hall Royd Junction. Then it’s the difficult climb to Copy Pit Summit (749 ft). On reaching the summit we drop down through Burnley and Accrington to Blackburn, from where we head south starting the long ascent up to Sough Summit which will give the ‘Scots Guardsman’ plenty of opportunity to show its capabilities.

After Entwistle we descend to Bolton where we set down passengers who joined us there. We will then call at Manchester Victoria before retracing our steps to Huddersfield, Preston and Lancaster.

seems to suggest twice round the houses.

 

i got a brief responce from RTC last year when i asked if it was doing 2 loops

Quote 'YES' Unquote

Neil

 

The original plan was to do two loops through Huddersfield, as the post above states pick up 12.20 set down 15.20 the itinerary has now changed to just one pass through Huddersfield, meaning passengers wishing to join at Huddersfield and complete the full loop will have to travel to Manchester Vic'

 

Like Graham above, I'm travelling to Lancaster to stay overnight with my Mum and get on and off there. It definitely still goes through there according to the RTC website, but as you say on this thread, it still looks like it vists Huddersfield twice.

Confused but awaiting tickets.

Edited to add: No changes on the RTC site since I booked, but Std and 1st Class seem to be sold out. Seats are still left in the Silverwear and Soup Class, however, if you can aford it.

 

Actual times now on RYTC site:

 

Just the one loop then, and times almost identical to those published on uksteaminfo at the end of December

 

Shame they can't update the description to match the times.

 

Turning the lloco! I assume 14.43 is the arrival time at Vic (from the Bolton direction). The loco will then turn at Miles Platting before returning to Lancaster.

 

Info with my tickets says a 90 minute stop at Manchester Victoria while the train is turned. As a local (I live in Stalybridge, where the train passes straight through, but am travelling from Lancaster) I can recommend the Stout at Sincliar's Oyster Bar, 5 minutes away.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shambles_Square,_Manchester

 

Far more than they could do at Blackburn.

 

The original times on UK Steam said the train was being turned at Castleton.

My tickets still not come yet though.