WCME & CME 2026

Shap Wells 28th March 2026. Tornado followed around five minutes later.


Tangmere at Shap Wells

 

28/03/2026 - SR Battle of Britain Class 4 6 2 Pacific - 34067 "Tangmere" crossing Whalley Arches on the returning "Cumbrian Mountain Express" from Carlisle

 

SR BoB Class No. 34067 'Tangmere' heads 1Z86 heads 'The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' through Greenholme on the climb to Shap and onwards to Carlisle with Steve Chipperfield driving and Rob Russell on the shovel, they will also work the return.



Having put up with snow flurries, hail, rain and a chilly wind N0. 34067 'Tangmere' puts on a show for the gallery approaching Aisgill summit with the return 'Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' to London Euston

 

On a day where all four seasons kept appearing in rotation Tangmere is seen at Salterwath and climbing through Waitby cutting with the CME.

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Does anyone know the reason for 86259 Les Ross travelling from Carnforth D&U GL to Oxenholme before crossing over and heading south to Preston yesterday.

 

34067 Tangmere at Stockber on the S+C with the WCME of 28/3/2026

David

 

Couple of shots of Tangmere at Carlisle yesterday. She was definitely looking a little 'work worn' with even some rust around the cab roof - bit of change from the exhibition standard of many mainline locos!

 

Inbetween shots of 60163, 34067 Tangmere is seen battling up Shap at Salterwath and charging up the climb to Ais Gill at Greengates with the WCME yesterday

 

The growth between the tracks makes Carlisle Citadel look almost pastoral. It'll be getting an SSSI designation before long.

 

Having spent the last few weeks toad patrolling around our local lake I didn't think to check the station, but I doubt Network Rail would be too happy if we turned up a Great Crested Newt - or perhaps someone already has at Citadel station?!

 

That would stiffen them. There's nothing stops a job like a great crested newt.

You could be right though, it might be why they've given up on the housekeeping. Those old station masters from the 50s and early 60s with their flower borders on country stations and not a stray weed or blade of grass to be seen must be spinning in their graves.

 

I think the reality is now a desire to keep humans and track as separate as possible, so if it can't be done by machine it gets left. 'Gardening' doesn't justify a track possession - until it becomes a problem of course.
Like it or not, that is the modern railway.

 

As Acorb says, lineside access is very restricted these days. Nearly all lineside vegetation clearance is done in subsidiary worksites in a possession for something more technical. ( Unless it's green zone working over 2 or 3 meters back from the track with a barrier separating workers from the track, which shouldn't be a possession.)
Weedkilling is often done using the Multi Purpose Vehicles used for railhead treatment in the autumn and de-icing during the winter. Although the modules are easy to change with a forklift truck and plenty of space, I suspect there is some caution over being caught out without any deicing capability. Plus the MPV's are over 25 years old and pretty well worn out, that's why the rail head treatment trains are often loco hauled flat wagons with the water cannon tanks and pumps.

Cheers, Neil

 

The Cumbrian Mountain Express for 9th May is no longer on RTC's website. I would assume it's been cancelled.

Also the 16th May Edinburgh Flyer has been again rerouted from Newcastle via Carlisle, with Steam from Carlisle & Return.

 

It might be sold out?
[Also there's a Lakelander by Saphos (60532?) same day which has now effectively become a CME due to the coast road being shut at Bransty.]

Edit: as pointed out there isn't a Lakelander on 9th May, first is 23rd May. My error.

 

A friend still had it as his next steward trip earlier in the week and there is an STP path in RTT for the outward leg. If canx must be very recent.

 

First Lakelander isn’t till the 23rd

 

Looks like engineering work, buses replacing trains that day

 

CME late cancellation due to engineering work on S & C

 

CME 1Z86 hauled by 86.259 dep Euston 76 mins late after late arrival of stock. ECS departed Southall on time but passed Willesden over an hour late. <BJ>