Blackpool Wakes Excursion 09/08/2009

This was brought up in the North Wales coast thread so I had a look round but no thread anywhere else.

Steam hauled Carnforth-Hellifield-Blackburn-Preston-Blackpool one way, £12.35, the return price by normal service train is £12.70. I have just booked on for the family, £32.

Link:-

http://www.visitblackpool.com/site/whats-on/wakes-week

The airshow is also on and starts at 3pm.

Link:-

http://www.visitblackpool.com/site/thea ... ws-p543120


May see some of you about,

Neil.

 

The website says this is a one way fare - is it????

 

When I phoned up to book it they said it was a one way trip only. The single fare from Blackpool Nth to Carnforth is £12.70 on the service train. I looked at the prices for travelling from Wigan to Carnforth and then Blackpool back to Wigan and it worked out over £30 per adult so I decided driving to Carnforth was the cheapest option as a family.

Neil.

 

I believe the engine to be Scots Guardsman looking at a thread on the Unoffical ELR webby

John

Edit - Im B*******y working at that day as well - me wonders if my clients fancy a day in blackpool :-k

 

If the loco and stock are returning to Carnforth, even if it's via Lancaster, I wonder why they don't offer a return fare?

 

It will have to reverse at Preston so conceivably 46115 could work it to Carnforth from there.

 

Tender first back to Preston and either change ends and head north, or turn at Farington, seems a perfectly valid answer.

I can't see the point in a one way trip as logistics and cost make it difficult for other than us nutters.

 

The following website suggests it is tender-first from Blackpool to Preston, then run round and head north back to Carnforth via Lancaster...

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~brads ... n/gen.html

 

If the tour has a decent size rake of coaches say 10/12 is there that many seats available on regular service trains to get people back? I'm not sure the size of regular trains to Blackpool. Just a thought... :-k

Brian

 

I suppose the official full timings, although supposedly initially circulated to a few 'in confidence', will soon enough become common knowledge, so, to minimise any further woffling by those who really haven't a clue what they're talking about, here they now are:

Sunday 9th August 2009
Private charter with 46115 Scots Guardsman and 8 vehicles (1Z15).

Carnforth 11.00 (Chimney-first ... obviously!)
Hellifield 11.47
Blackburn 12.37 - 13.19 Water
Preston 13.45 - 13.57 Chimney-first
Blackpool North 14.26

Blackpool North 15.25 tender-first
Preston 16.27 Run round and water
Preston 17.12 Chimney-first
Lancaster 17.38
Carnforth 17.46


As reported elsewhere, the RTC Holyhead trip the same day, supposedly also with 46115, is now 'caped'. Various reasons have been suggested for this, but many, including myself, feel that the organisers of said tour had not done sufficient homework in advance and that the Scot was never officially in the frame anyway.

P.S. Apart from being a useful source for railtour timings, the website that "Malc" mentions is really worth a second visit, as it is absolutely crammed with info about the railways in the Preston area! Amongst a whole host of totally absorbing reading, I particularly appreciated the loads of steam-days pics and the passing times of present day freight workings. Well done to whoever created it!

 

Thank you Whitehouse West for the info on 'Stealth Guarsdman'.
I agree with your PS too - an excellent site.

 

Glass half empty again huh ?

 

Al booked up for this one 09.20 ex Blackpool North, change at Preston for Carnforth and home behind steam =D>

 

Booked it, packed it ! My first run with 46115, not sure if Joshuas more excited about the scot or the red arrows! (if he can see them through the fog and rain) !

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

 

I didn't say there was anything 'stealth' about the trip; it's just my pet name for the loco.