24th February 2007

Railway Touring Company
The Cumbrian Coast Pullman

Route:
1Z71 : Manchester Victoria to Carlisle
1Z72 : Carlisle to Manchester Victoria

Notes :
(1) 17041 only in consist when 71000 was on train.
(2) 47826 on rear.
(3) Was booked via WCML however the derailment the previous day of a Virgin Pendolino 390033 on 1S83, 17.15 London Euston - Glasgow Central (apparently on the facing points of the down-to-up crossover at Docker, shortly before the head of Grayrigg), meant the line between Oxenholme & Carlisle was closed.
(4) Due to late running it was decided to swap back to diesel traction at Carnforth as this would save time with the train otherwise booked to take water at Carnforth anyway.

Mike Harries comments: The train was scheduled to return from Carlisle to Preston via Shap, and some of the passengers, at least, on hearing the news wondered whether it would run at all. In the event, it ran outwards essentially as planned, but was delayed on the final stretch to Carlisle, and thus was unable to get away at the booked time. The decision had been taken that the train would return “as outward” – clearly involving a much later return to the various pick-u/set-down points – but in fact the Barrow by-pass was effectively closed, so that on the return we ran through Barrow station. Because we were so late, it was decided to take steam off at Carnforth, and proceed with diesel power, as being quicker than taking a water stop there. A water stop had been made at Seascale on the return journey. There are thus no “booked times” for the return between Carlisle and Carnforth. Most passengers seemed very pleased that this tour was run. Although it became a long day (since we had to return by the longer and slower route) and we did not get a run over Shap, most people seemed to look on the bright side: it could so easily have been cancelled; we did see the whole Cumbrian Coast (although the southern section was very wet and murky outbound, and it was dark all the way on the return); and we even got the route through Barrow on return. Admittedly, in the dark. I understand that 47 826 assisted on the bank up to Lindal on the outward journey; I do not know if it was used at all on the return leg.

Sources : Mike Harries, Richard Rooker & Neil Edwards

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Mike Harries, Richard Rooker & Neil Edwards)

The NR TRUST system showed altered "booked" return times that included the diversion with a later arrival back at Manchester Victoria, these are in the column "TRUST".

Original WCML timings:

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