WCME/CME 2024

34067 on the latest Cumbrian Mountain Express .

 

SR BoB class No.34067 'Tangmere' speeding the late running 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' through Beckfoot towards Tebay and on to Carlisle with Mick Rawling driving, Maretryn Soames firing and Steve Adams Guard, the crew will also work the
return.



Standing majestically above the pretty hamlet of Stonehouse No. 34067 'Tangmere' works the return leg of the 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' over Artengill Viaduct back to Preston

 

Scotby Shield...


Tangmere at Scotby Shield

 

Some great stuff from you guys North of Watford, many thanks.

One slightly disturbing point under Matters Arising if I may please.

Those coaches that form the majority of the consist - are they what I will need to prepare for in future steam trips on the main line down here in the South? Starting with the RTC End of Southern Steam run behind Clan Line on 9 July?

If so, please break it to me gently . . . . . . .


Bryan B

 

If/until West Coast sort out their mk1's/metcam Pullman's, yes I'm afraid that set of air con mk2's is all there is.

 

Although it's been said it's not viable to run said stock in the hot summer so, fingers crossed something gets sorted.

 

34067 seen from Paddy Lane and Docker Viaduct then on the return at Smardale Curve and Waitby Rock Cutting.

 

The day dawned damp and drizzly, Oswald dusted down his can of WD40; despite an optimistic forecast it's better to be prepared. We had visitors coming round after lunch so when the the train picked up a 60 minute delay on the outbound run Oswald reluctantly accepted the inevitable and settled back in his chair. (Even with a slick loco change at Carnforth the train was likely to be at least 30 minutes late. Say around noon somewhere south of Oxenholme, add 70-90 mins to pack up and drive home then Oswald would need to be fed - just not enough time.)

The weather improved, the delay had been reduced to 42L leaving Carlisle. With a quick water stop at Hellifield then pick up say 10 mins from there to Clitheroe and with a big gap between service trains this could be down to less than 30 mins at Wilpshire . . . or so I thought. The 42L became 53L but this was reduced to 41L leaving Hellifield and 36L off Clitheroe, perhaps 30L at Wilpshire? And maybe it was, the thing was I didn't go to Wilpshire. After looking at a sun position app, and fancying a change of venue, I decided that there might be some sun in the cutting approaching Chapel lane at Hoghton, so that is where I went - idiot that I am! Despite the sun shining and being high in the sky, the tall trees that lined the cutting sides cast shadows across much of the line - an hour later and it might have been fine. It was now too late to head anywhere else.

I checked RTT and Tangmere was held at Daisyfield Jn to allow a couple of service trains to pass, away 45L and through Blackburn, Mill Hill, Cherry Tree, Pleasington then us. I say us but there was only me, the sole occupant of Chapel lane bridge. (And after our visitors left I had been the sole occupant of Wistle Towers, Mrs W and Oswald Jnr went out for a walk and my furry friend, Diego has gone on holiday for a few days). The train appeared at the bend and headed along the straight and onto the final 1/2 mile of 1/110r to the summit. Now and again Tangmere was bathed in the odd ray of sun that had sneaked between the trees, a whistle for the crossing, more noise as she approached then away under the bridge. 17C, 44L & 53mph.

I don't really know why I went to Hoghton and should have gone to Wilpshire or Langho or Billington or Whalley!

 

Thanks for the responses guys. If they are not good in hot summer weather that is bad news for me. I don't do heat and have a 'safe room' at home, my main bedroom, where I have a Meaco portable aircon unit with a much bigger output than suggested for the room size. Plus another of the same unit as a back up. I can manage some linesiding in moderate heat as I've got decent aircon in my car to retreat into - but once into the high 20s and above it's just my safe room at home!

I'll just have to keep a very close eye on weather forecasts for my planned main line steam hauled trips now.

Thanks again.

Bryan B

 

I live in Harrow and can easily drive to Watford Junction, but a trip would have to be very special indeed to get me there so early in the morning.

 

I do wonder is there a market for shorter trips that don't include an early start, or if the ticket could include travel by scheduled service to a pick up point such as say preston, and return ? there must be routes out of London that can be easily worked out, for a days tour, east anglia, Oxford, Canterbury, that get you back to london late afternoon, even Sussex, is do able, out via Tonbridge, back via Ashford,

 

Travel by scheduled service to and/or from a pick-up/set-down point is always possible. I have done it sometimes either on the day or using a hotel for the night before and/or after. However I can't see including service train travel in the railtour fare making sense in many cases, though WCRC do sometimes include Watford Junction to Milton Keynes when pathing prevents the railtour train from stopping at Watford Junction in the morning.
Some railtour promoters do offer mid-morning to mid-afternoon trips from London, though with either no break or only a short one at a destination.

 

34067 at Beckfoot & Armathwaite.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/53808670569/in/datetaken-public/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/53808670919/in/datetaken-public/

Phil

 

Where is the value proposition for a TOC (ie the DfT which means the government) to offer subsidised travel for railtours? Otherwise it is just something you may choose to do yourself, or a tour company has to add some mega expensive amount to a tour that is basically going to cost us much to operate. As an example the cheapest fare from Euston to Preston next Saturday would cost around £80 and the last train leaves at 20:00. The tour company has to get you back to your start point, as would a TOC, but if the tour misses your booked train then you are screwed.
The only financial viability of a short tour appears to be mini tours during a layover somewhere. Like SD at times for places like Portsmouth or some of the diesel tours do. As much of the market appears to be dining it needs to be long enough for one (or two?) meal services as well.
You also seem to assume people only want the train ride. You do not get back to London mid afternoon if you give them a couple of hours in Canterbury.
Even Swanage this week is 08:00 to 22:09 with only 3.5 hours in Swanage. (Although I understand it is almost fully booked).

 

The 20:00 Avanti from Preston left 3 late and arrived at Euston 87 late at 00:37, same time as the tour.
It was just bad luck in the morning (as I understand it) someone was threatening to jump off a bridge near Leighton Buzzard.
I agree it is unclear why normally the start time keeps creeping earlier when the Carnforth departure does not move. Yesterday of course the trundle through Northampton had to be factored in due to the engineering works.

 

34067 Tangmere at Hairdrigg with the CME of 22/6/2024

David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

That Artengill shot is s real cracker

 

44871 on the return leg at Kirkby Stephen .