WCME & CME 2026

I've spoken to railway touring company today on the phone there are enough people booked on it this year the C.M.E. on 31 January is going ahead and should be 34067 outward from man picc and ret as far as preston.

 

Now starting & finishing at Manchester Victoria

 

Times available for Saturdays tour

https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train.php/?c=U73424&d=2026-01-31
https://live.rail-record.co.uk/train.php/?c=U73425&d=2026-01-31

Water stops at Preston by the looks of things and steam off at Hellifield on return

 

Noted from another gen-site.
ECS working and consist:
47746 Chris Fudge.
3431.
3333.
1961.
3395.
3334.
3392.
1657.
5453.
5487.
9539.
34067 Tangmere.

Standard class is the Mk2b variant so might/should have the sliding window above the table which is great news for listening to the loco.
Hope all onboard have a good day.

 

Video on the "34067 Tangmere WCME 31/1/26" shows 3rd and 4th standard class coaches behind Tangmere as mk2b variant with sliding windows !

 

Tangmere passing Brock with the Cumbrian mountain express 31/01/26.

 

Oswald has been hibernating since his outing behind DoG in early November (kept indoors for several weeks by a bit of a bug that proved difficult to shake off). Apart from a few visits to the GPs, this was my first trip out. I had hoped to ease my way back with an evening visit to Wilpshire but my plans were in ruins when times showed steam was coming off at Hellifield. Domestic arrangements were such that my opportunities were limited to something before the Preston water stop.

It was not the sort of day that I had hoped for, cold, crisp, bright with a layer of freshly fallen snow. Instead it was grey, overcast with rain on and off. With the weather forecast decidedly iffy I settled on a quick trip to Leyland. Maisie, who has now been with us for a year, ate her breakfast and went out. Mrs W was up earlier than is her norm (08.15) and took over cat-servant duties, I left at 08.20.

The trip to Leyland was nothing short of miraculous, every traffic signal, at junctions, at pedestrian crossings was green, EVERY SINGLE ONE! I didn't have to stop once, for anything, from leaving home to arriving on the car park at Leyland station. Was this to be my lucky day? Or was that it, all the luck gone in a single journey. I got an indication when, after leaving the car, the automatically operated passenger-side door mirror refused to go to its folded position - mmm, could be expensive! Next, armed with a £1 coin across the the ticket machine where a regular acquaintance was struggling, the coin slot was jammed, the machine refused to accept cards and was "out of order". He decided to walk across to the other car park to buy a ticket, he later confirmed that the machine over there was working - I decided to risk it. Time would tell if this was a wise move, or not.

On the drive over, there had been a hint of a rainbow, there must be some sun but also some rain. The sun never materialised, the cloud thickened and the odd raindrop was being blown about by a cold SE breeze. With no chance of sun, but with a distinct chance of being blocked on pl 4, the wide side, I headed over to pl 3, the tight side. When a train is travelling at speed, the turbulence created can be considerable so I took my heavy tripod and put the mic down low. A few checks on RTT and Traksy showed that the train was generally running RT. Traksy confirmed that, as booked, Tangmere had been given the "fast" at Balshaw Lane. Pl 3 offers a good view to the south, I had considered my shot starting with plenty of zoom and pulling back, but arthritic fingers and cold weather persuaded me otherwise, so settled for a standard shot.

Clouds of exhaust appeared in the far distance, as Tangmere rushed forward exhaust burst from under the road bridges, she was shifting. It is unusual for power to be on when heading north on what is a falling gradient (approaches at 1/432f that becomes 1/110f thro' the station) - but no complaints from Oswald. Plenty of smoke as Tangmere approached the platform, then a whistle and 34067 sped past followed by a mixed livery train and 47746 on the back. Well, it was Tangmere, it wasn't Mk1 stock and there was a diesel on the back but it was still very enjoyable. 6C, but feeling cooler in the breeze with just odd spots of rain, 3L & 66/7mph.

Oswald's luck held, no parking ticket and with a bit of manipulation the door mirror appears to be functioning normally, at least for now. Mrs W and Oswald Jnr are off to the football (their team could do with some luck) and Maisie is in charge of Oswald.

 

Thanks for creating the thread