Cotton Mill Returns

RTC online booking has 17th July down for a further Cotton Mill Express, no further details as yet on main tour page

 

Lets hope its 3rd time lucky for RTC then. Great to see they are not giving up on this tour!

 

Details now on uksteam, but still not on RTC site

Neil

 

http://www.railwaytouring.co.uk/index.php/the-cotton-mill-express---170710.html

 

And in November the Tin Bath Extra - RTC are really taking on some old and valued Past Times Tours

 

Wish it would.........

 

Rather than a Cotton Mill, wouldnt a regular summer service to Blackpool work out ?

 

The problem with running steam to Blackpool is that the loco has to return to Preston to turn on the triangle at Lostock Hall - a round trip of about 40 miles.

Alan.

 

That need not rule out Blackpool as a destination. A similar situation exists for Weymouth trains. The loco goes to Yeovil Junction to turn. Sometimes this works fine, but sometimes there's a delay and the evening departure from Weymouth is late. The fact that Dorchester - Yeovil is single line, with passing places only at Maiden Newton and Yeovil Pen Mill, tends to exaggerate any delays. Is Preston - Blackpool single or double track?

 

We've forgot Morecambe...........

 

Preston-Blackpool is double track throughout, with a moderate (not heavy service), plenty of spare paths.

To be honest... if you did a bucket and spade service from say Liverpool / Manchester to Blackpool in the summer holiday season, you could probably pick up a few passengers doing a tender first run from Blackpool to Preston (or Blackburn ?) and back as a Blackpool holidayer's day out as well.

 

How about Manchester...Calder Valley....Keighley Skipton.....onto Moecambe & return. Would make a good pick up route....

 

Could always do a very long turn around... Preston-Blackburn-Bolton-Preston

To the average person Blackpool has more appeal than any other resort in the north west

 

The last time I went there which was a few years ago I thought it was awful.............on the other hand maybe I'm just out of step with modern trends........

 

Well get there this year and get the last of a real tramway or put up with Bombardier Flexxities after next year. Just as with anywhere, the trick with Blackpool is to get out of it what you put in. The tramway, Bispham Chippy, Albert and the Lion - what else do you need? And if you don't appreciate the scenery - especially on a Saturday evening - you are probably dead!

When Past Time did it a few years ago as a three nights excursion out of Rawtenstall they made the very silly mistake of accepting a route via Golborne Junction. If they had run Victoria - Bolton - Chorley and Preston they could have substantially increased their potential market.

They could also have benefitted from a slightly later departure time - no point in being in Blackpool in September if you haven't got time for an illuminations tram tour!

 

Albert and the Lion...........just clearing out my late parents effects.....what did I find? Albert and the Lion book....you're quite right there's still bit's about Blackpool to enjoy........

 

Oh dear me yes, Without sounding too much of a snob i wouldnt want the average person who frequents Blackpool tottering around and throwing up all over my nicely kept Mark 1's thanks very much.
but a reasonably early start and early return time that would appeal to families would do very well, (chocolate on your seats and ketchup on your windows aside)

 

Like I said - Aesthetically Dead!