Cumbrian Coastal Explorer - September 19

The day was full of interest starting with two attendees only just making it to Tyseley before the train was due to depart. Apparently their TomTom satnav had decided that they should spend the day in Solihull town centre rather than a trip by train! Re-entering the correct details for Tyseley, TomTom insisted that they were already there, so experience suggested that modern technology should be ignored.

A leisurely ride began with heritage diesel 47773 hauling the train, with more passengers being picked-up at Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Crewe and Wigan North Western, whilst we enjoyed a full English breakfast served to our tables. At Carnforth, the diesel was replaced by Great Western Castle Class 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe for the assault on Shap, which was done with considerable ease followed by a fast run down to Carlisle, where we were scheduled for an approx. 2.5 hour break whilst the stock and engine were serviced.

Rumours began to circulate that the Castle had been failed with a hot box (an overheated bearing) and that we would have to wait for diesel 47773 to come up to Carlisle to take us back, confirmed by the station departure boards displaying that we were "delayed". Suddenly, 5043 appeared and began to shunt the carriages into our departure platform. Hopes raised that she was going to take us South, but apparently she was only allowed to do 20 mph.

47773 coupled onto the front of the train with the coach steward apologising for the fact that due to the late departure we would be going back over Shap and not around the Coast. The train pulled out of Carisle station nearly 2 hours late and the train Guard and tour manager walked through our coach confirming that we were going back over Shap. I immediately looked out of the window and noticed that we had no overhead wires above us and therefore we were taking the coast route. This was shortly followed by our coach steward apologising for his previous incorrect apology!

A short while later we were running along the Cumbrian Coast. Due to our late departure it was now approaching a beautiful sunset, which we would have missed had 5043 not been declared a failure (strange how things work out). Out of one side of the coach you could look straight down at the sea in some parts, see the coast of Scotland and the Isle of Man. On the other side, there was the glorious vista of the Lake District hills. For all around scenery I can quite honestly say that train journey around the Cumbrian Coast is now my number 1, being better than the trip along the Dawlish seawall or the line to Kyle of Lochalsh.

A fabulous 3 course dinner was served as we continued to head South, with the same stops as when we came North to drop off passengers. To put the final touch to a perfect day our almost 2 hour late departure from Carlisle had been turned into a 2 minute arrival at Tyseley. There are not many trains that can do that today.

For 2016, how about going South West…

Phil Dalton, Organizer

Whitby and North Yorkshire Trip Monday 21st September until Friday 25th September

Just about the only thing “3-star” about the Saxonville Hotel was the AA sign hanging outside. The hotel was a pleasant surprise after some of the 3-star hotels we’ve been to in the past.

Our first day was spent exploring the backstreets of Scarborough, not because we wanted to, but because that’s where we were dropped off. A few of us managed to struggle down to the seafront and back up to the coach park before continuing on to Bridlington for lunch. In the afternoon, we visited Sewerby Hall, for a tour of the house and gardens, and a cup of tea.

On Wednesday, we took a turn on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Some even went the whole way and got in some retail therapy in Pickering. A few of us stopped off at Grosmont to take a look at LNER A4 Pacific No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, which is just starting a scheduled £¾million overhaul.

The last full day was ours to explore Whitby under our own steam, or at least on the top deck of the Hop-on/Hop-off bus, whose route included the Abbey — so much easier than climbing the 199 steps up from the town, and which gave us time to have fish-and-chips for lunch.

After breakfast on Friday, we were on the road again, heading for a lunch-stop in Lincoln and a visit to the Cathedral.

Our thanks go to Tony Mancell for organising such a thoroughly enjoyable excursion. It’s such a pity that he was unable to enjoy the week with us.

You can view a few photos taken by Simon at photos from the Whitby trip.

(Organisers: Tony Mancell & Simon Barratt)