11th July 1979

British Rail
North Yorkshireman

Locos Used at least 40003 & steam : 5690 'Leander'
Stock Used 12 Mk 1's

Route :

Loco Route
40003? Blackpool North - Preston
40003 Preston - Lancaster - Carnforth - Grange-over-Sands
5690 Grange-over-Sands - Arnside - Carnforth F & M Jn - Carnforth East Jn - Wennington - Clapham  - Settle Jn - Hellifield - Skipton
5690 Skipton - Hellifield - Settle Jn - Clapham - Wennington - Carnforth
40003 Carnforth - Lancaster - Preston
40003? Preston - Blackpool North

Notes :
(1) Brian Basterfield comments: This was a new service by BR for the 1979 summer season. Passengers had a 90 minute break at Grange over Sands prior to the steam section of the tour. The changeover from diesel to steam on the outward section actually took place at Plumpton Jn, whilst passengers were enjoying their visit to Grange. The train traversed the top section of the Carnforth triangle, thus avoiding the station. There was then a photo stop at Wennington. Skipton was an interesting destination, but the enthusiast element thought that the train should have been extended to Keighley. Leander had the usual 12 coach train, and ran comfortably without ever being extended. 40003 worked Preston to Grange, and Carnforth to Preston.  Service train haulage from Birmingham to Preston and return included Electrics 85020, 86205, & 87002. The train never achieved the same loadings as the Cumbrian Coast Express, and was discontinued at the end of the season.

Source : Brian Basterfield

Timings (Advertised & Actual)
(from Brian Basterfield & Alan Taylor)

Location Advertised Actual
Blackpool North 10.20d ?
Preston ??.??a ~ 11.10d ??.?? ~ 11.26
Garstang ? 11/37
Lancaster ??.??a ~ 11.40d 11.49 ~ 11.51
Morecambe South Jn ? 11/55
Carnforth ??.??a ~ 11.54d 12.03 ~ 12.06
Arnside ? 12/20
Grange over Sands 12L10a ~ 13L40d 12.26 ~ 13.41
Arnside ? 13/48
Carnforth F & M Jn ? 13/56
Carnforth East Jn ? 13/57
Wennington (20min stop) 14.16 ~ 14.40
Clapham ? 14/58
Settle Jn ? 15/12 
Hellifield  ? 15/18
Skipton 15.24a ~ 17.30d 15.33 ~ 17.31
Hellifield ? 17/50
Settle Jn ? 17/56
Clapham ? 18/08
Wennington ? 18/18
Carnforth East Jn ? 18.33 ~ 18.38
Carnforth 18L34a ~ ??L??d 18.40 ~ 19.03
Morecambe South Jn ? 19/09
Lancaster 19.03a ~ ??.??d 19.23 ~ 19.24
Garstang ? 19/37
Preston 19.29a ~ ??.??d 19.46 ~ ??.??
Blackpool North 20.10a ?


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