Northern Steam services on the Settle and Carlisle

[Trainfan344]

Well since you don't like us talking, then I'll stop. That also means the inside gen from me stops too!

Anyone else feel free to PM me and I'll be more than happy to provide inside information about it.

Don't let one miserable sod get you down. Many as like myself will never have travelled over the S & C, and would welcome some information about the line! Considering that this service is normal fares then this is a welcome addition!

 

[johnr57]

+1


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[LeylandLen]

Im not familiar with Facebook as mentioned in #13.Can someone please inform me of the relevant link ?Thanks in advance
(Still waiting for info on Northern Trains website, nowt there this week.)

 

[robbeale]

The settle Carlisle railway website now has times; http://www.settle-carlisle.co.uk/tornado-on-the-sc/

Preliminary timings are:

• Appleby (depart 0830) to Skipton (arrive 1009) calling at Kirkby Stephen, Garsdale, Horton and Settle
• Skipton (depart 1045) to Appleby (arrive 1216) calling at Settle and Kirkby Stephen
• Appleby (depart 1507) to Skipton (arrive 1640) calling at Kirkby Stephen and Settle
• Skipton (depart 1710) to Appleby (arrive 1841) calling at Settle and Kirkby Stephen

These timings can be downloaded and printed here.

 

[LeylandLen]

Thanks a lot for the link info posted today . Obviously nice to see something 'official' , not that I doubted the original info in #1.

 

[djpontrack]

I was looking at the times on Realtime Trains earlier for the steam services on 14/02 but they seem to have disappeared now. Only the ECS movements at Appleby are on there now.

 

[infobleep]

Well since you don't like us talking, then I'll stop. That also means the inside gen from me stops too!

Anyone else feel free to PM me and I'll be more than happy to provide inside information about it.

I'd rather you didn't stop as I find the info on here interesting.

Im waiting to see what the ticket arrangements are before booking anything, in case I book something and then find my ticket isn't valid on the trains.

 

[LeylandLen]

In the preliminary timings, she leaves Appleby ( the current northern end of the line ) at 0830. Presume she , and the stock work up ECS that day or maybe the day before? Any place to stable overnight near Appleby ?

 

[robbeale]

Could they not keep her in the other platform at Appleby, or at Armathwaite. It is effectively the end of a long siding with no through traffic?

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[class387]

The website now says regarding reservations:

Details have not yet been released about ticket prices and how to buy tickets. It is anticipated that some tickets with reservations will be sold in advance. Holders of rail tickets who do not have a reservation may not be able to board.

Might be a good idea to start keeping a close eye on it.

 

[robbeale]

Hopefully be alright on the early run from Appleby. Fingers crossed!

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[70014IronDuke]

Although I applaud the overall idea of these 'ordinary specials' (IYSWIM) I do wonder

a) if they are a bit too early in terms of advertising the re-opening of the full S&C - surely a month later would have been more appropriate? and

b) yes, I know this seems a bit churlish, but somehow a bit of me says it's a pity they have not decided to use a Scot or, even better, a Jubilee, as these were indigenous to the line. And in particular, use of a Jubilee would be very fitting, given that it is 50 years ago this year that they were last used on ordinary express trains - across the S@C.

Indeed, the relatively unsung Jubilees were the last three-cylindered express steam locomotives to work in Britain in normal service conditions - you could argue that that is largely the result of geography-happenstance, but it is a feather in the cap of the Stanier 5X.

 

[Deepgreen]

Although I applaud the overall idea of these 'ordinary specials' (IYSWIM) I do wonder

a) if they are a bit too early in terms of advertising the re-opening of the full S&C - surely a month later would have been more appropriate? and

b) yes, I know this seems a bit churlish, but somehow a bit of me says it's a pity they have not decided to use a Scot or, even better, a Jubilee, as these were indigenous to the line. And in particular, use of a Jubilee would be very fitting, given that it is 50 years ago this year that they were last used on ordinary express trains - across the S@C.

Indeed, the relatively unsung Jubilees were the last multi-cylindered express steam locomotives to work in Britain in normal service conditions - you could argue that that is largely the result of geography-happenstance, but it is a feather in the cap of the Stanier 5X.

I don't understand - ALL UK steam locos had at least two cylinders.

 

[Deepgreen]

The settle Carlisle railway website now has times; http://www.settle-carlisle.co.uk/tornado-on-the-sc/

Odd to have Garsdale served in one direction only.

 

[70014IronDuke]

I don't understand - ALL UK steam locos had at least two cylinders.

yes. you are correct. I shall edit that - three-cylindered (or more).

 

[30907]

Odd to have Garsdale served in one direction only.

And Horton. Presumably they think it might attract a few punters who would return by service train? The times are quite convenient.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I wonder if they might consider running an all stations service to Appleby as a regular thing if the February trains prove to be a success.

 

[Houghj40]

I note the steam service is now up and tickets buyable as per normal services but no option for reservations. Have spoken to my local ticket office and as it is a Northern service they have no idea how to reserve seats. Anyone know more?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

I note the steam service is now up and tickets buyable as per normal services but no option for reservations. Have spoken to my local ticket office and as it is a Northern service they have no idea how to reserve seats. Anyone know more?

Northern staff had been promised that a briefing on tickets and reservations for these services would be sent out early this week, but as yet there is nothing.

 

[infobleep]

I note the steam service is now up and tickets buyable as per normal services but no option for reservations. Have spoken to my local ticket office and as it is a Northern service they have no idea how to reserve seats. Anyone know more?

Does anyone know if it's possible to get an advanced purchase ticket from Kings Cross to Carlisle via Settle that will allow travel the steam service? I can find services that would connect with it but not certain if it would be possible to get a reservation for the train itself, as part of the average purchase ticket.

I'd hate to buy a ticket only to find I must travel on a DMU all the way to Carlisle.

 

[Deepgreen]

yes. you are correct. I shall edit that - three-cylindered (or more).

Ah, I'm with you. The 'Jubilees' only narrowly beat the Bulleids as three cylinder locos in front line service. How many 'Jubilees' survived past July '67?

 

[infobleep]

If I put London to Appleby the 7.35 comes up but theirs no advanced purchase tickets available and the price is £130.50. Advanced purchase tickets exist for trains either side of that.

If put in Skipton I can get an advanced purchase ticket so the issue seems to be the steam part of the service is not currently being allowed for advanced purchase tickets.

If I put Carlisle as my destination then even going via Settle doesn't bring up this service.

 

[46223]

If I put London to Appleby the 7.35 comes up but theirs no advanced purchase tickets available and the price is £130.50. Advanced purchase tickets exist for trains either side of that.

If put in Skipton I can get an advanced purchase ticket so the issue seems to be the steam part of the service is not currently being allowed for advanced purchase tickets.

If I put Carlisle as my destination then even going via Settle doesn't bring up this service.

Don't forget the line is not due to open through to Carlisle until the end of March.

 

[class387]

When I run a search in the VTEC website for the steam service it says 'reservations possible' on the train, but when I get to seat reservation it tells me that the service is full. Is this the case?

 

[infobleep]

Don't forget the line is not due to open through to Carlisle until the end of March.

Thanks for the warning. As it so happens I'm aware of that.

Whilst I'm doing the journey to travel on the steam train, I only want to make the journey if I can use a regular through ticket as I like the idea of reaching my destination using a regular train ticket, where part of the journey is hauled by steam. However I can't justify the full price anytime single, which at this stage would allow me to do that provided I got a free separate reservation.

Hence I'd like to do it with an advanced ticket if such a thing will be possible.

It seems reservations aren't available yet so it's not possible.

It seems that Northern staff will be briefed. Hopefully it will be fairly straight forward to get reservations if not living in a Northern area.

 

[Houghj40]

I don't think the steam service links with the onward bus service to Carlisle so you would have to look at the next DMU service for Carlisle bus link and earlier DMU service for return to bus back to meet the steam train and I am not sure if it will work tbh.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Ah, I'm with you. The 'Jubilees' only narrowly beat the Bulleids as three cylinder locos in front line service. How many 'Jubilees' survived past July '67?

I honestly can't say for sure. At a guess, I'd say about half a dozen. After the summer extras stopped over the S&C in September? 67 - the number got whittled down slowly until the last one - was it 5562? - was withdrawn in November 67 or so?

I think it is interesting that whoever was in charge in late 66 or early 67 opted to keep the Jubilees in service at Holbeck, as opposed to asking for 2-cylinder Brits, which surely were spare and could have been transferred there and in theory, would have had lower maintenance costs. Whoever that manager was must have believed the Jubilees were the better choice of motive power. Rational, or just emotional? I suppose we shall never know.

 

[class387]

Even though the website now says that reservations have started, on Northern it still says "reservations not available". What does that mean? Is the train full?

 

[infobleep]

I don't think the steam service links with the onward bus service to Carlisle so you would have to look at the next DMU service for Carlisle bus link and earlier DMU service for return to bus back to meet the steam train and I am not sure if it will work tbh.

OK thanks for the. Be a shame if it doesn't link to the bus service because it is billed as being a regular train in the timetable to encourage use of the line.

 

[robbeale]

Virgin office at Oxenholme just now wouldn't even entertain looking to see if reservations were available because it's a Northern service!

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