CME - 2019

Just had this from RTC:


Winter Cumbrian Mountain Expresses - Saturdays 2nd and 23rd February and 2nd March 2019



We are pleased to inform you that our Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express trips on 2ndFebruary, 23rd February and 2nd March this year will now include steam haulage on the return journey as far as Preston, instead of Farington Junction as was previously advised.




I was wondering what the reason for the change was? I suppose it's slightly simpler from an operational point of view as the steam loco can simply detach at Preston and proceed north to Carnforth, while the 86 comes on the other end ready to head south.

Also, no need for Preston passengers to go by service train from Blackburn.

 

Just spotted two more winter trips - both West Coast and both out and back over S&C - Peterborough to Carlisle on Sat 2nd March and Cleethorpes to Carlisle on Tues 5th March. What a great winter programme it is this year.

 

Timings are now up for 2nd Feb:

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54900/2019/02/02/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54901/2019/02/02/advanced

The return now has the reversal at Preston (rather than engine change at Farington Jn) as previously noted.

 

Had an email today offering discounts of £30 on new bookings quoting PWC for these tours..

 

Just got e ticket for 26 Jan, Leander with 11. 07.48 from Bolton (for me), no times as yet on RTT.

Man Vic d 07.18 / a 19.36
Bolton d 07.48 / a 19.13
Blackburn d 08.45
Preston a 18.36
Carlisle a 13.25 / d 15.17

Coach from Preston 07.40 to Blackburn (Northern on strike)

 

Thanks for passing the code on. Yet again I didn't get it. Had already booked the 2nd Feb and 2nd March but used it on the 23rd that I'd been dithering about booking. Saved us £60.

 

This matches the updated description on the RTC web site both in loco and route; now running north over the S&C and returning via Shap, not the originally advertised as the reverse of that, which the remainder of the RTC web site description describes and also Uk Steam (at the time of writing).

 

Does anybody have any clues to which of the three stated locos is likely to haul the WCMEs?

 

Don't know how many serviceable locos are at 10A but 2 are out on 2nd Feb at Carlisle. The WCME and West Coasts own Settle Carlisle Thunderer which is steam Hellifield - Carlisle - Hellifield.

Dave B

 

Must only have been a few travellers they sent emails to re the £30 off

 

I'm only going by what is shown on UK Steam, but there is only one steam job on the 2nd February into Carlisle. The first of the two Thunderer jobs you mention, is shown as 2nd March.

 

I received one, it starts " We have noticed that you previously joined us on our Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express tour to Carlisle and would like to offer you a special discount to take another ride on this popular train with us,
this year" I wonder it if it was for people who have not been on one recently.The last WCME I went on was in 2015.

 

I received the same and it's been a few years since I last went on one

 

So the main question for me is, will they drop the diesel off at Hellifield ?

 

My mistake, . Had something else on my mind when I wrote that. So it's 2nd of March when 10A have 2 locos going to Carlisle.

Dave B

 

Does anyone know what the latest is with the CME this Saturday, 26th January?
According to RTT it seems there is a bus service between Bolton and Chorley that day.
Could it run via Wigan NW instead?

 

Is that not down to strike action?

 

While the strike has been on, a number of the weekends have been put under possession to help complete the Electrification scheme between Preston and Manchester.

 

I can assure you that it is a strike replacement bus service. The line should be open as it was for the two previous steam tours.

 

Still no paths on RTT. Should we be worried?