3 minute read
The Mancunian
Saturday 25th March 2023
This tour offers a unique opportunity to travel by a special charter train to the bustling city of Manchester. The train will be steam-hauled throughout from London Euston to Manchester by LMS Princess Coronation Pacific No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland. We will follow the route of the famous express such as the Royal Scot along the West Coast Main Line (WCML) to Stoke on Trent and then onwards via Stockport to Manchester Piccadilly.
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The “Mancunian” will leave London Euston at around 06:40 steam hauled behind Duchess of Sutherland. Initially on departure we shall hear our locomotive working hard on the climb up Camden Bank. We stop to pick up more passengers at Watford Junction and then continue through Watford Tunnel into rural Hertfordshire. We stop to pick up further passengers at the 1960s ‘new town’ of Milton Keynes. At Hanslope Junction, we leave the West Coast Main Line (WCML) and take the Northampton loop line where we will stop for water and pick up further passengers. We continue northwards and pass the Daventry Railfreight Terminal (DIRFT) before rejoining the WCML at Rugby, a further pick up stop, and the birthplace of rugby football and the jet engine. We then follow the Trent Valley Line to Nuneaton, where we will make a stop to pick up passengers. We pass through Lichfield, notable for its three-spired medieval cathedral and, soon after Rugeley, is Colwich Junction, where the line to Stoke on Trent leaves the WCML. We will now follow the former North Staffordshire line through the Trent Valley towards Stoke on Trent. This line has not seen many steam hauled trains in recent years, so this will be a new steam hauled route for many. After passing through the Potteries, we continue our journey northwards through the Harecastle tunnel and take the North Staffs line to Macclesfield at Kidsgrove junction. There is a long climb from Congleton through North Rode towards Macclesfield. Here, we now pick up the former LNWR route through Poynton to Cheadle Hulme, and then onwards to Stockport. At Stockport, we will cross the lofty Mersey Square viaduct and proceed through the suburbs of south Manchester before arriving at Manchester Piccadilly for an afternoon break. With the shops and attractions all nearby there will be something for everybody, including those who wish to shop in the Arndale Centre. There are ample pubs and restaurants for lunch, plus many museums and places of interest within easy walking distance of the city centre. After our visit to Manchester, we will return to London steam hauled this time departing from Manchester Victoria station. We will pause at Crewe to take on water before continuing southwards along the WCML. Highlight of this journey will be the long climb out of Crewe up to Whitmore summit. After passing through Stafford, we round Queensville Curve and head for Colwich Junction, where we pick up our outward route. We will set down at our earlier calling stations on the way. This tour promises to be a fitting tribute to the former LMS golden years along the WCML and its fine locomotives. Approximate Timings Outward Return London Euston 06:40 22:40 Watford Junction 07:05 22:10 Milton Keynes 07:55 21:25 Northampton 08:20 21:05 Rugby 08:50 20:00 Nuneaton 10:15 19:05 Manchester Piccadilly 13:05 ------Manchester Victoria ------- 16:00
There are three classes available:
Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat. First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam. Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four. Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.
