West Coast Santa trains 2017

Just seen what appears to be a nice afternoon jaunt in Santa trains by west coast, Lancaster-Carnforth-Hellifield-Blackburn-Lancaster- Carnforth on 3 Saturdays in December. Would think could be popular at £30 adults £20 children, with seasonal fare

 

Sincerely hope this proves a very successful venture and leads to more trains at other times of year on the route too.

 

Excellent news, they've even provided a full route description:

"
The trip is a circular route starting in Lancaster and picking up passengers in Carnforth (famous as the outdoor location for the film 'Brief Encounter'. The train heads east along the Keer Valley crossing the Lune Valley and into the hills towards Wennington. From here we travel along the edge of the Forest of Bowland and through the unmanned Bentham Station. Continuing easterly we head for Clapham, through dramatic scenery with the Yorkshire Dales to the north and the Forest of Bowland to the south we continue up through the Valley of the River Wenning before heading south to Giggleswick and down to Settle Junction. Following along the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park we arrive at Hellifield before turning to head along the Ribble Valley and on to Clitheroe.

From Clitheroe we continue south across the 48 arch viaduct at Whalley towards Blackburn. Leaving Blackburn on a westerly route we head along open countryside through Cheery Tree, Farrington Curve and Bamber Bridge and on to Preston. From Preston we head for Lancaster then on round past Morcambe Bay to Carnforth."

 

and why put all that, route was on original post?

 

I can't seem to see where the original post mentions the Keer Valley, the Lune Valley, Wennington , the Forest of Bowland, Bentham, Clapham, the Yorkshire Dales, the Valley of the River Wenning, Giggleswick, Settle Junction, the Ribble Valley, Clitheroe, Whalley, Cherry Tree, Farrington Curve, Bamber Bridge, or Morcambe Bay?

 

All between the places mentioned

 

Ralph some people have to much time on their hands Sad, just comment for the sake of it Pete was showing initiative

 

The train part Santa special and part Luxury Diner

 

Booked on this - first opportunity for the young un to have a proper run out behind steam, the confirmation email seems to suggest some diesel haulage, but not sure really where that would be.

Not sure mulled wine and hot pot really constitutes luxury diner?

 

A great idea, at a excellent price, deserves to be a huge success for all concerned, is @RalphW going to be santa?????

 

I'm booking on this with the little un, I think its a great idea well that's well priced, I hope its a huge success for WCRC

 

The Luxury Diner is the other end of the train and would cost you £179 a ticket

 

Ralph is way too slim to be Santa!

 

Diesel between Lancaster and Carnforth at the start from what I can make out on the West Coast web site. Presumably steam from there onwards?

 

That's what I wondered but seems a faff when they could just drag the stock down from carnforth with the steam on the back? We shall see....

 

Ah, I had assumed that the trains were two different trains i.e. a morning and afternoon one, but running together is an even better idea then.

 

My information is that a diesel will drag the train to Lancaster and will drop off the train at Carnforth before the train heads for Hellifield