CME 2023

The other issue I should have mentioned on letting passengers remain on board at Appleby is that it makes it more difficult, although not impossible, for the train to be cleaned by the stewards and the tables relaid in Dining and First Class if there are people sitting there, or worse still moving around the train whilst it is all trying to be undertaken.
Now if it is a day of true "Cumbrian weather" I could see why some my find that a preferable option to walking down to the town or waiting under Appleby's vast overall roof for the stock to reappear.

 

Those times confirmed
Received ticket myself today

 

In 85 minutes?

 

The walk yes definitely. The cafe definitely. Possibly not both!

 

Not too many pleasures to be found on Blackburn station at that time (or at any other time come to that!) Hope that you have a good trip (Mrs Waterbuck permitting).

 

I wonder if the 13 May CME will indeed head for Appleby and not Carlisle. The National Rail Enquiries website shows the works at Carstairs (and hence the hiatus at Carlisle) running from Sat 04 Mar to Sun 16 Apr so Carlisle should be back in action. WCRC appears to know this as the GBXV use the station on Tues 18 Apr and Thurs 20 Apr. However, the N Belle website gives Appleby as the destination until June. Perhaps N Belle and RTC (CME 13 May) require updating, we will wait and see. If like @BigAl you want to do the Upperby curve then the March trip may be your best bet.

Two other trains promoted by Steam Dreams 25 Mar and Pathfinder 08 Apr may need to have their routes changed or be re-scheduled.

 

The Pathfinder tour has always been advertised as to Appleby anyway. (Am booked on it as it starts just down the road!)

The Steam Dreams info seems somewhat muddled, with one part of the tour info saying it's steam hauled from Crewe-Carlisle via the S&C, and electric/diesel back via Shap.
Yet another part of the text refers to going out via Shap and back via the S&C!
If it's steam one way only without the need to wait for the loco to be serviced, could they get away with using the station at Carlisle?

The Vintage Trains trip on 22nd April is showing the destination as Carlisle on the website, but the virtual 'brochure' received by e-mail just now shows Appleby.

 

Good luck with the weather in Appleby and hope that you have a good trip. If we wait long enough no doubt the plans for the other trips should become clearer.

 

Thank you, I'm sure we will. I've joined and left trips there myself but am already on my best behaviour

 

I’ve heard that 44932 is on tomorrows train as Scots Guardsman failed its FTR exam.

 

Have seen reported elsewhere as being 44932 from a reliable source

 

will be a bit of shovage then

 

Plenty

 

Not necessarily ! I recall travelling on the Waverley over the S&C in 1961 behind (unassisted) 44852 with 10 coaches from Leeds - which kept to time between Leeds and Carlisle. Many underestimate what a Stanier 5 4-6-0 is capable of - especially one from the WCRC stable.

 

Yup reality bites. Just looked at a couple of short clips on YouTube. Load is 12+Cl47.

 

It was bitterly cold, the sky was clear and there was not the hint of a breeze and Oswald had spent over 10 minutes scraping the heavy overnight frost from the car - would it be worth it? I had decided on a new location - that used to be an old location before it became overgrown - the climb out of Blackburn towards Brownhill (and then onto Wilpshire summit. A recent housing development has opened up the vista again and the line can be seen for around a mile after it leaves the curve beyond Daisyfield Crossing.

Despite being there 30 minutes early there were already three hardy souls with video cameras set up and ready, there was room for another. Once prepared there was nothing to do but wait, chat, check RTT (and shiver). The dashboard thermometer showed -3.5C, the forecasts estimated a "feels like" temperature of 3 or 4 below this. Thankfully there was no wind and the sun was heading up above the horizon, but contributing nothing. After a few minutes a thin sliver of cloud, just wide enough to completely obscure the sun decided that it would do so.

The train was running around 3L at Cherry Tree, a few minutes wait and then in the distance the unmistakable sound of a steam locomotive as in drew its train INTO Blackburn station where it was due to pick up passengers. A couple of minutes wait and then a distant blast from a Stanier hooter - not long to wait. The cloud decided to move away and the sun, although on wrong side, did its best to brighten the wintery landscape. Some steam appeared over the trees to the right and then the loco appeared at the far end of the long straight. The exhaust filled the cold, still air as 44932 headed towards us. As she drew nearer the sun caught under each fold of steam producing a golden glow. She was moving at a pace and all too soon curved away and on towards the summit, 12 coaches following and the 47. 5L and 42mph (nothing from the diesel then - he joked!) It was worth it!

 

Running late at Blea Moor but sounding superb with little assistance if any from the 47 .