30th August 1984

Steam Locomotive Operators Association
The Cumbrian Mountain Express
(Northbound)

Locos Used 85006, 86216 'Meteor' & steam: 850 'Lord Nelson' & 4498 'Sir Nigel Gresley'

Route :

Loco(s) Route
85006 London Euston - (via WCML, Weedon & Trent Valley) - Carnforth
850 Carnforth - Clapham - Settle Jn - Hellifield
4498 Hellifield - Settle Jn - (via S&C) - Petteril Bridge Jn - Carlisle
86216 Carlisle - (via WCML) - Stafford - Wolverhampton - Birmingham New Street - Stechford - Birmingham International - Coventry - Rugby - (via WCML, Weedon) - London Euston

Notes :
(1) Route confirmation south of Preston required. Advertised to run from London Euston every Thursday from June 28th to September 13th. Usually ran as either;
'Northbound' - to Carnforth with electric traction for steam to Hellifield then steam over the S&C to Carlisle; electric traction back to Euston or 'Southbound' - to Carlisle with electric traction for steam over the S&C to Hellifield then steam to Carnforth; electric traction back to Euston. A similar service was booked to run every Sunday from 1st July to 9th September from London Kings Cross.
(2) David Hull adds: My ticket says I joined the train (or a connecting train) at Leicester; The Settle-Carlisle section was hauled by 'Sir Nigel Gresley', in blue.

Sources : Ian McDonald, David Hull, Graham Southway & Brian Gooch

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Brian Gooch)

Location Booked Actual   Booked Actual
Euston 08.20d ?   22.00a ?
Willesden Junction 08/26½ ?   21/52½ ?
Watford Junction 08.35a ~ 08.36d ?   21.38½a ~ 21.39½d ?
Tring 08/47 ?   21/29 ?
Bletchley 08/57 ?   21/18½ ?
Rugby 09/23 ?   20/49½ ?
Nuneaton 09/35 ?  
Lichfield TV 09/48 ?  
Birmingham New Street   20.17a ~ 20.19d ?
Wolverhampton   20.01 ?
Stafford 10.06a ~ 10.08d ?   19/44 ?
Madeley 10/21 ?   19/31 ?
Crewe 10.33a ~ 10.40d ?   19.19½a ~ 19.22½d ?
Weaver Jn 10/52 ?   19/03½ ?
Warrington Bank Quay 10/58 ?   18/56½ ?
Wigan North Western 11/07 ?   18/48 ?
Preston 11.24a ~ 11.26d 11.41 ~ 11.43   18.32a ~ 18.35d 18.29 ~ 18.32
Lancaster 11/44 12/00   18/12 18/13½
Carnforth 11L52a ~ 12L05d 12.08 ~ 12.54   18/07 18/09½

 

Location Booked Actual
Carnforth East Jn 12/07 12/56
Wennington 12/20 ? ~ 13.30d
Settle Jn 12/46 13/59
Hellifield 12L52a ~ 13L15d 14.06 ~ 14.22
Settle Jn 13/22 14/29
Horton-in-Ribblesdale 13/39 14/44
Blea Moor 13/49 14/48½
Dent 14p00a ~ 14p34d 14/53
Garsdale 14w40a ~ 15w05d 14.58 ~ 15.27½
Ais Gill 15/10 15/31½
Kirkby Stephen 15/18 15/42½
Appleby 15p45a ~ 16p15d 15.57 ~ 16.21½
Armathwaite 16/48 16/50
Petteril Bridge Jn 17/02 17/03½
Carlisle 17L05a ~ 17L20d 17.09 ~ 17.21½
Penrith 17/35 17/38
Tebay 17/49½ 17/51
Oxenholme 17/59 18/01½

Timings continue in first table.

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