Home»All Photographs»Year Albums»2021»July»2021_07_17 Cumbrian Mountain Express

Why is it that Network Rail apparently go to enormous lengths to create a timetable for a steam special then, on the day, it is ignored by either the signalling staff or the locomotive owners? Saturday 17th July 2021 was just such a case. On the down run eight minutes late was transformed into ten minutes early by missing out a booked stop. Then, on the up run a fifteen minute late departure was converted into a twenty minute early arrival by missing out a pathing stop. Finally, completely unexpected, the train continued from Carnforth to Crewe hauled by the same steam locomotive and without a diesel attached at the rear. I suspected a cunning plan to replace the booked privately owned locomotive on the next day's train with a WCRC example. However that did not turn out to be the case. I think there was business politics involved! In spite of all these shenanigins it was a very good day out - thanks for an enjoyable trip.