winter cumbrian mountain express

rtc are running this tour again on the 30th of December, identical to last year although this time 5690 leander joins 44871, instead of 45407. probably going on this as it looks like a good tour to finish an excellent year of tours.

 

Typical. Normally I wouldn't be working the week after Xmas but this year I will be so bang goes the chance of me doing this one. This just about guarantees Winter Wonderland conditions on the S&C. :-(

 

I will be booking on this soon. Miss it last year, so have to go on it this time round. And also the chance to see two LMS stalwarts at their best on 2 of the steepest railway lines in England.

 

Is this as well as, or instead of, THE CUMBRIAN MOUNTAIN EXPRESS shown on UKSteam.info as running Manchester - S&C - Shap - Manchester on 29th Dec, hauled by 45407 & 44871?

 

UK Steam info have now updated the tour of the Winter CME, which now states the tour will run on Thursday 30th December, not the 29th as originally planned. And the motive power will now consist of Ian Riley's other Black 5, 44871 and Jubilee 5690 'Leander'.

The route remains un-altered.

 

Love to book on this but away in Scotland for the New Year! Sod.

 

Typical, I've not put any Christmas/New Year leave in either.....

 

Times now on uksteam.

 

A heads up on possible logistics problems, from "someone who knows", posted on another forum:

"With the continued cold weather, we are in discussion with WCR and the Train Planners at N.R., it is our belief that the column at Appleby and bowser at Hellifield will be frozen solid by then, if not already!.

It is very late in the day to re-time the train for a tanker water stop, but everybody is doing whatever they can, but there will be some 'tweaking' of the train and times once the train leaves Carlisle.

Watch this space................."

 

Anyone know condition of roads Tebay, Greenholme etc
Henry

http://elliottsteam.fotopic.net/

 

Roads in the area were fine when I headed south on Christmas Eve. Minor roads were icy and white, but passable. Major roads were black. I headed from Edinburgh and there was not much more than a dusting all the way to the Midlands. Assuming this is in preparation for the tour, I expect there will be very little snow left by the time it runs as the thaw looks like properly setting in over the next few days. Given the amounts of snow, I would expect it to disappear quickly.

 

Plenty of snow up there today with major roads closed on the traffic news. Hopefully will thaw in time, but better check with the weather service/local posters nearer the time.

 

Nothing showing as closed on the Highways Agency site as at 10pm this evening? Weather station at Shap doesn't report any snowfall today either? Some snow forecast overnight, but turning to rain as it passes through. Agree with the comment about checking nearer the time, but the forecast suggests there's unlikely to be a problem.

 

Finest railways in England maybe??? Certainly not the steepest, try South Devon, Weymouth, Bromsgrove for those.

Pedant like I know, sorry.

 

Just been out for my papers. There is a lot of black ice on the roads, temperature hovering around zero. This is in the Pennines. Now for tea and toast mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

Think i will use the train for this, catch the first S&C sprinter north from Keighley, should arrive in Carlisle about 15 mins befre the CME, then the 2pm sprinter south to either Appleby or Kirby Stephen to watch them , then the following sprinter home - got a dalescard it will only cost £6 return!, lot easier than driving up in the fells at this time of year.

 

And VERY much cheaper too

 

Should be a good blast over Shap and Ais Gill, hoping the weather holds out.

 

Foggy/misty seem to be the predominant terms flying around forecasts so far. Complete thaw here on the low ground, higher may well be different of course.