Open Golf , Birkdale near Southport

[LeylandLen]

I assume this charter is being run for the Open Golf at nearby Birkdale as it returns ECS to Preston for a few hours before leaving Ormskirk at 1907.Does someone know who the charter is for, please ??

 

[Ploughman]

Ormskirk is a bit far out and an awkward routing to be connected with the Open at Birkdale.

 

[peter166]

This appears to be the Outward journey from London Victoria on Friday 21

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10602/2017/07/21/advanced

and this is the Return

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10605/2017/07/21/advanced

With ECS to & from Preston.

Belmond British Pullman as its from Victoria??

Can only think it must be for the Open at Birkdale but it would probably have been quicker ( and easier ) to bus direct from Preston ?

Appears it could be the Belmond Northern Belle set on a Private Charter (see link below)

http://imperial.events/event/britishopen-orient-express/#event-4288

 

[LeylandLen]

Thanks for the above information. I did suspect it is the Belmond Northern Belle as it starts from Victoria.We dont get many special trains on the single line Preston - Ormskirk.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Ormskirk is a bit far out and an awkward routing to be connected with the Open at Birkdale.

The nearest station to Birkdale is Hillside, so to get there from Ormskirk, you would need to change at Sandhills.

 

[markindurham]

The nearest station to Birkdale is Hillside, so to get there from Ormskirk, you would need to change at Sandhills.

Very true - but for the Northern Belle clientele, I fancy that there will be a fleet of coaches to whisk them to/from Royal Birkdale...

 

[peter166]

There is also a Charter Train from Euston direct to Southport on the same day .

Arrival at 11.08

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U62801/2017/07/21/advanced

Return at 18.05

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U62802/2017/07/21/advanced

The Great Briton Coaching Stock + Class 67's T & T.

https://www.galahospitality.co.uk/corporate-hospitality/open-golf-2017-the-great-briton/

 

[38Cto15E]

A little too expensive for me at £594 inc VAT.

 

[CosherB]

There is also a Charter Train from Euston direct to Southport on the same day .

Arrival at 11.08

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U62801/2017/07/21/advanced

Return at 18.05

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U62802/2017/07/21/advanced

The Great Briton Coaching Stock + Class 67's T & T.

https://www.galahospitality.co.uk/corporate-hospitality/open-golf-2017-the-great-briton/

It must have been planned a LONG time in advance as 'The Great Briton' coaching stock no longer exists in that form, with a number of coaches being bought by Hosking and painted in 'blood and custard', with the remainder of the Riviera stock being painted in BR blue and grey!!

 

[L+Y]

Seems as though the Southport train stays in Platform 6 at Southport station throughout, and Northern are diverting into the electrified Platform 3: when did this last happen? I certainly can't remember ever running into Platform 3 on a DMU.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Seems as though the Southport train stays in Platform 6 at Southport station throughout, and Northern are diverting into the electrified Platform 3: when did this last happen? I certainly can't remember ever running into Platform 3 on a DMU.

The DMUs at Southport have used all sorts of platforms from time to time. At one point they even had a dedicated entrance outside the barriers, but at others they have used P3.

 

[AntoniC]

Southport has 3 DMU Platforms available ( 4,5, and 6).

There arent that many DMU`s waiting at Southport as after all its the end of a branch line from Manchester via Wigan so why would they use an EMU platform ?

(Merseyrail use P1, P2 & P3) and the EMUS run every minutes normally.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Southport has 3 DMU Platforms available ( 4,5, and 6).

There arent that many DMU`s waiting at Southport as after all its the end of a branch line from Manchester via Wigan so why would they use an EMU platform ?

(Merseyrail use P1, P2 & P3) and the EMUS run every minutes normally.

Is 3 the only platform accessible from both Wigan and Liverpool routes?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Cross platform connections are a good reason to use three. Merseyrail shouldn't need more than two platforms, at other termini on the same frequency they only have one.

 

[AntoniC]

Is 3 the only platform accessible from both Wigan and Liverpool routes?

Yes, P3 & P4 have a connection via points.

 

[6Gman]

Very true - but for the Northern Belle clientele, I fancy that there will be a fleet of coaches to whisk them to/from Royal Birkdale...

Almost certainly what they will do. Recent Charters for the Grand National have, I think, used Runcorn as it's easier to coach them a few extra miles than mess about going into Liverpool.

 

[sluf]

dont know if this the right thread, but does anyone know what locos are on these 2 charter trains to the open? Think the one via wigan is 2 class 67's but I am wondering what is on the other one.
Might nip down to preston station tonight if it is worth it for the return journey.

 

[peter166]

Ormskirk Charter arrival on time

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10602/2017/07/21/advanced

Southport Charter arrival 12 late

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U62801/2017/07/21/advanced

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Ormskirk Charter arrival on time

This might be the last opportunity to run such a charter down this single line branch as the frequency is to be improved to 1 tph SuX from May 2018 (unless you got them to open the line specially on a Sunday).

 

[Brian1947]

dont know if this the right thread, but does anyone know what locos are on these 2 charter trains to the open? Think the one via wigan is 2 class 67's but I am wondering what is on the other one.
Might nip down to preston station tonight if it is worth it for the return journey.

T n T Class 68's.

 

[LeylandLen]

T n T Class 68's.

68028 at front into Ormskirk with 68025 at rear. The train has to stop at Midge Hall LC to collect single line token ? Very impressed with the 68s with Northern Belle Pullman train. I assume its the first time the stock as visited the single track line ?

 

[L+Y]

68028 at front into Ormskirk with 68025 at rear. The train has to stop at Midge Hall LC to collect single line token ? Very impressed with the 68s with Northern Belle Pullman train. I assume its the first time the stock as visited the single track line ?

It came down with T&T 67s back in 2008: there's a good number of photos on Flickr!

I wonder if anybody will capture some shots of DMUs in an electrified platform at Southport- surely even rarer than LCHS down the Ormskirk branch!

 

[Ploughman]

There was a time not so long ago that about 10 excursion trains could be accommodated in Southport.
I take it this is not the case any more.