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Northern Belle 2023

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Oswald T Wistle, Jan 4, 2023.

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  1. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

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    The Northern Belle website currently shows 13 steam hauled trips are planned for the S&C.

    They appear to follow last year’s formula with steam on at Carnforth for the run north over Shap and then south over the S&C. The website is not explicit where steam will be detached. (It probably depends on the route back to the day’s boarding stations – see below. Last year steam came off at Preston, Blackburn or Hellifield. RTT should clarify nearer the date.)

    Something to note in the blurb: trips before June will provide ample time to explore Appleby, whilst trips after June provide ample time to explore Carlisle. (Not sure what happens in June).

    01 April boarding from York thro’ to Wakefield
    22 Apr Telford/Chester
    29 Apr Coventry/Crewe
    27 May Darlington/Newcastle
    17 Jun Leeds/Manchester
    24 Jun Coventry/Crewe
    29 Jul Coventry/Crewe
    12 Aug Leeds/Manchester
    19 Aug Lincoln/Wakefield
    02 Sep Hull/Wakefield
    16 Sep Liverpool/Preston
    23 Sep Telford/Chester
    28 Oct Nottingham/Sheffield

    There could be dates to be added, deleted or which are already fully booked and not shown?

    The marketing blurb also includes the following,

    Flying Scotsman, Princess Elizabeth and Tangmere are just three of the famous steam engines that have operated this route with the Northern Belle. [My emphasis]. I hope that prospective customers have read this carefully as, unless something has changed significantly, the big red loco, featured in the marketing photos, will not be heading their train.

    More seriously, patrons will get a grand day out for £495pp (with £30pp refund or £75pp voucher if a steam loco is unavailable), whilst “we” get to watch a steam locomotive (and a tail gunner) for free. I hope that the trains load well as it is this end of the market that keeps “our” end of the market in operation and at more modest prices.
     
    Oswald T Wistle, Jan 4, 2023
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  2. Will RL

    Will RL Member

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    Works relating to Carstairs remodelling will leave capacity at Carlisle from April until the summer at a premium. Charters during this time will be amended to suit.
     
    Will RL, Jan 4, 2023
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  3. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Hope all those operators using Appleby (not just NB) have some oxygen on standby for those members of the Grey Pound Brigade walking back up that hill.
     
    Gladiator 5076, Jan 4, 2023
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  4. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    Is it Tornado or Tangmere for the steam ones?
     
    neildimmer, Jan 4, 2023
    #4
  5. sgthompson

    sgthompson Part of the furniture Friend

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    Probably Tangmere as West Coast won’t want to pay other fees for loco hire I would say.
     
    sgthompson, Jan 4, 2023
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  6. osprey

    osprey Resident of Nat Pres

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    Grey Pound Brigade...that's a new one to me..love it..
     
    osprey, Jan 4, 2023
    #6
  7. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Isn't there a vintage bus in the area that I believe can be organised as a shuttle to get passengers back to the station?
     
    RalphW, Jan 4, 2023
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  8. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    A one-off trip with Flying Scotsman from York to Edinburgh will run on 14th September. A glorified positioning move to get it to the Strathspey Railway to where it will continue light engine from Edinburgh.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2023
    Sam 60103, Mar 13, 2023
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  9. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

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    Do you know who the tour operator will be for that trip? TIA
     
    pete12000, Mar 13, 2023
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  10. Sam 60103

    Sam 60103 Member

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    Northern Belle are the organiser and West Coast Railways will be the train operating company. As for tour operator I don’t know what you mean?
     
    Sam 60103, Mar 13, 2023
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  11. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Paul42, Mar 13, 2023
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  12. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Just looked at this year's list for Northern Belle trips, and there are 106 planned. OK so some are lunch or afternoon tea or evening dining, sometimes with two in the day, or with one start point and two destinations on the same day, but nevertheless, that's some work. o_O
     
    RalphW, Mar 13, 2023
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  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    This looks very much like the normal pattern of luxury Pullman trips that Belmond runs with its own train - I.e. around 20 trips with steam but the vast majority with diesel.

    If anyone has any doubt about the attraction of upmarket catering in posh trains at premium prices then this suggests the money is there to support the business. And actually steam is just a frill and not the core business.
     
    Big Al, Mar 14, 2023
    #13
  14. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

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    A good example of a tour operator or promoter is RYTC, or Pathfinder, it all gets a bit blurred when the toc and Northern Belle are part of the same 'group' either way £695 York to Edinburgh is way outside my budget !!!
     
    pete12000, Mar 14, 2023
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  15. 30910

    30910 Member

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    DUFF info.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2023
    30910, Mar 31, 2023
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  16. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

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    Does anyone know if there is any steam allocated to today's Northern Belle
     
    Bodorganboy, Apr 1, 2023
    #16
  17. DOH46229

    DOH46229 New Member

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    No steam today,running with diesels today
     
    DOH46229, Apr 1, 2023
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  18. sunstream

    sunstream Member Friend

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    Diesels from York to Carnforth but why no steam from there?
     
    sunstream, Apr 1, 2023
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  19. Bodorganboy

    Bodorganboy Member

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    34067 Tangmere not available
    and no other air braked locomotive available
     
    Bodorganboy, Apr 1, 2023
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  20. sunstream

    sunstream Member Friend

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    Thanks for clarifying.
     
    sunstream, Apr 1, 2023
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