Northern Belle 2026

The regular list of fully booked or limited availability with RTC’s day trips says otherwise. That’s not forgetting their extensive world tours programme; your evaluation of them heading in a downward trajectory just doesn’t hold water.

 

I'm going on the number of tours they cancel and the number of empty seats I see on some of their regular UK tours. I do agree with you though re foreign offerings on which I've travelled a few times - They are much more successful from an enthusiast point of view.

 

Is the train tomorrow scheduled to be steam hauled? Reason for asking is that 'Tangmere' was reportedly the requested loco for the S&C 150 train on Monday so is it likely to be used twice in 48 hours? Maybe 5407 on one?

Edit: NB steam looks like on at Carlisle then southbound S&C to Preston 23/5.

 

I've heard that it's 45407 on the Belle tomorrow, and Tangmere on Monday, because the S&C Dev Co actually requested Tangmere for some reason. A Black 5 on Monday would have been far more appropriate for an S&C 150 special.

 

Thanks. Couldn't agree more!
At the time the S&C train was booked I suspect the "choice" was Hobson's....

 

Well around 300 arrived here on Swanage on a virtually full train on Wednesday, an extra standard coach has been added to the ACE tomorrow, and is still fully booked, the Royal Duchy next weekend has only 3 seats left (in dining) according to the website.
The NB is a totally different market (as is Statesman which is always diesel, or Belmond).
Just because the market was once mainly enthusiasts, many who will now have died or too ill to travel, before you get to the economic situation for many, does not mean it is now, the market evolves.
Using your logic airlines would not be flying long haul flights with flat beds in Business and First, and we would not have "jam them in" low cost carriers.
Anyway what is wrong with what you call "Corporate jolly and Sunday lunch type customers". If that is where the money is chase it.
Mr H obviously thinks it is a good market otherwise The Chairmans Train would not be up for hire or Belmond adding that Brighton Belle car to the back of their trips.

 

I don't disagree with what you say about corporate, Sunday lunch or Belmond users. I've aleady said that in terms of doing what they aim for they successfully hit that brand of target audience.

However my point about the decline in enthusiast support for such tours remains. A diesel pushing up hill and even down dale puts off many enthusiasts and it has been those supporters who have always been repeat passengers.

Make money from the well heeled by all means because revenue is increasingly needed. Just don't neglect those who have been core patrons over long periods of time and should still be catered for.

 

45407 seen charging through Stockber.

 

Making a fine sight and sound, Ian Riley's Class 5 No. 45407 'The Lancashire Fusilier' works the return 'Northern Belle' through Kirkby Stephen and onwards eventually to Darlington with Mick Rawlings driving, Cameron Overend on the shovel
and Steve Adams Guard

 

45407 with Northern Belle at Forton

 

Another view of 45407 at Kirkby Stephen, this time from the footbridge stairs.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/55289297459/in/photostream/

 

45407 on Smardale Curve on 23/5/2026

David Price

 

I assume Saturday's Northern Belle will be Tangmere hauled?

 

I'm really late with my homework, but it is half term, and no the cat did not eat it! On Monday it was Maisie's birthday; as Maisie was a stray we don't really know her true birthday, but the vet at the rescue centre estimated that she was 18 months when she was "taken in" and that was 18 months ago (on Monday), making her 3. She didn't want a fuss but as a special treat she got to stay out all night; she slept most of the following day.

Back to business, with the NB scheduled up Wilpshire at around 4pm, on a sunny day, in late May and consequently the sun high in the sky I decided to go to the bridge on the Blackburn side of Wilpshire summit where the sun would reach the bottom of the deep cutting. I was the only one there. As time ticked by, a steady trickle of photographers arrived swelling the total number to five. All choosing the location for the position of the sun but bemoaning the chance of any exhaust in the warm conditions.

There were no service trains to get in the way and RTT showed that 45407 had left Clitheroe 1E. There might not much chance of any decent exhaust but there should be some bark from the Black 5. 45407 appeared, minimal exhaust and minimal (no!) bark - how sad! A pull on the hooter for the station but no exhaust as the loco cleared the road bridge; whatever 45407 might have been doing it certainly wasn't doing it now. On the rear 57313 Scarborough Castle was at it! Up the 1/86r then as the train dropped down the 1/73f, just after the summit, the loco encountered a dip in the rail that caused it and the tender to sway from side to side. The sway continued down the train ensuring that any cocktails would be served "shaken and not stirred!" Well the loco was 454007

19C, 3E & 32mph

 

So with Tangmere on the NB what will be on the Coast to Coast on the 6th June? if both Black 5’s are in Scotland?

 

34067 being assisted with the not so Steamy Steam Special.

 

Almost bowled, SR BoB class No. 34067 'Tangmere' approaching the site of the old Holme Station with the northbound 'Northern Belle' from Liverpool to Carlisle with David Blair driving and Rob Russell on the shovel. They will also work the return.



After this mornings blue skies its back to Garsdale gloom for the return working of the 'Northern Belle' 1Z67 to Liverpool Lime Street. The River Clough showing signs of the recent hot weather

 

Tangmere on the front of a Northern Belle steam special is hardly the hottest ticket in town, throw in a week of hot, dry weather and Oswald began to wonder if it would be worth the effort. I took him to one side and gave him a bit of a pep talk, "warm, sunny evening, all mainline steam is good steam!" - you know the sort of thing. Anyway the old lad pulled himself together and decided to head out. Little point in heading to Wilpshire Bank so, after a bit of head scratching, Oswald chose Pleasington.

Mrs W and Oswald Jnr returned from their afternoon jaunts, Maisie returned a few minutes later. We all had a bite to eat, Maisie first - of course! I left the three of them watching the Champions League final (well, two watching and one sleeping) and headed over to Pleasington. It's been 2 or 3 years since I last drove to Pleasington via the "back road" and the changes have been phenomenal, where there was once open farmland there are now, no exaggeration, hundreds of houses. The road remains little changed, narrowish with some bad bends and more pothole than road, that's progress (as we now know it).

I arrived with plenty of time in hand and wandered onto the station to "pick my spot" - it'll never heal! The sun was shining directly down the line (towards the approaching Tangmere), the wide side offered the better angle but with a Preston-Colne stopper due in the station around 5 mins after Tangmere I settled on the tight side. I went back to the car and gathered up my camera and tripod.

Once set up I checked RTT and Traksy, all was good. What a boon it is to have Traksy coverage. The York-Bpool N service sped through and Tangmere should be following directly behind - and it was. A distant whistle then Tangmere came into view, now around the site of the former Cherry Tree Jn where the line branched off to Feniscowles and the steep climb over towards Chorley. A dip in the line, I decided would be the viaduct across the river Darwen. There was a grey haze above Tangmere's wide chimney but nothing to indicate that it was being anything but a well-behaved loco. 34067 sped past, when seen from close quarters locos are impressive when travelling at speed. The coaches whizzed by, decorated by reflections of the trackside rhododendrons. 57313 brought up the rear and hurried off into the distance, tranquility returned.

19C, 2E & 50mph.

 

6th & 13th June, Northern Belle still showing as Settle & Carlisle Steam Special, I guess at least the 6th will go to diesel hauled with 34067 on RTC duties.

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