22nd March 1980

Steam Locomotive Operators Association
The Cumbrian Mountain Express
(Southbound)

Route : 1L20 throughout

Notes :
(1) This repeating tour made extensive use of service trains to/from Preston, from many locations. Ed Grummitt comments: We travelled on service trains Leicester-Nuneaton and Nuneaton-Carlisle (I think). My mate travelled Euston-Carlisle. 'Black Five' 5305 took the CME from Carlisle to Skipton, stopping at Appleby for around half an hour I believe (anyway we had time for a pint of Pedigree at the Midland Hotel). The train then proceeded to Garsdale, stopping for water. This was also for about half an hour  - must have been as everybody detrained and there was at least one run-past. I cannot recall how we got onto a service train back to Nuneaton, but don't remember going to Preston! I suspect we somehow swapped trains at Carnforth. Whatever, a shot exists of us in a 1st class Mk III somewhere near Lancaster, and we didn't pay a supplement.

Sources : John Cowlishaw & Ed Grummitt

Timings (Booked Only)
(from John Cowlishaw)

Service Train Matrix (to/from Preston)

Back to "The Railtour Files"