High demand for ‘Northern Belle’ outings

TWO issues ago, we reported news that LMS Stanier 8P 4-6-2 No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth had been booked to work six trips with the ‘Northern Belle’ from Carnforth to Carlisle, via Shap, returning via the Settle and Carlisle line.

Such has been demand for seats on board the top-of-the-market luxury train that another seven outings have been arranged with ‘Lizzie’ in charge, to the delight of the locomotive’s owning group chairman Clive Mojonnier.

A late additional date for the train – October 23 – means the 4-6-2 is now committed to heading a total of 14 ‘Northern Belle’ excursions between now and then.

Clive said: “This is as busy as we have been for many years. These trips will see us through the year, which is very pleasing”.

North and south

The ‘Belle’ will be diesel-hauled from various departure points, with ‘Lizzie’ taking over at Carnforth for the steam leg. For example, the first ‘Belle’ on May 27 starts from Liverpool Lime St, calling at Newton-Le-Willows at Manchester Victoria with diesel haulage. In a variation on August 8, the train runs direct from Glasgow to Carlisle, steam coming on for the return journey over the Settle and Carlisle.

The final steam-hauled ‘Belle’ on October 23 runs from Liverpool and take the same route as on May 27.

As remarked recently, a steam-hauled ‘Northern Belle’ is booked to run from Victoria to Bournemouth to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the original all-Pullman ‘Bournemouth Belle’ on July 5.

Further steam-hauled ‘Northern Belle’ trips are being considered for the run-up to Christmas.