WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE S&C ‘PLANDAMPF’…
Paul Barnfield, Regional Director - East, Northern
“Northern is proud to be delivering steam trains to the Settle-Carlisle as we support the communities in the period before the line reopens throughout. This is a ground-breaking operation - the S&C is a fantastic railway and a key part of the East Region and, indeed, our network. “We’re very much looking forward to being able to offer services over the full route once again from the end of March, but in the meantime it’s our aim to make sure that one of Britain’s most famous railway lines stays very much ‘on the map’.”
Richard Corser, Account Manager - Charters, Special Trains & Resource Hires, DB Cargo
“We want to support our fellow group company, Northern, to get passenger numbers back up after a long period of the line being closed - and we’re proud to be able to support this pioneering venture. It helps keep the door open for other DB steam operations in that part of the country too.”
Graeme Bunker, A1 Steam Locomotive Trust
“It’s wonderful to be involved in something as special as this. Being approached to develop the idea was great, and getting it to this point even better. It’ll be a big moment for the ‘A1’ when we haul that first train from Appleby - not only an historic occasion in terms of what it is for the railway, but the first time Tornado will ever have hauled a public service train.’’ “We have carried regular passengers to help out, such as the winter of 2009 to Maidstone. This is a first though. I’m sure some people will need to see it to believe it, and we hope that this brings a welcome boost to the local economy.”
Mark Rand, Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line
“This is a tremendous opportunity to experience scheduled steam again, and on the Settle-Carlisle line especially. Everybody loves the railway. “It has been a real privilege to be involved in this and to see people in the industry making the seemingly impossible actually happen. “I expect we shall be putting our volunteer guides on the trains, to give a commentary to those who are interested. Our plan is to have a friendly face on each station. “We have a ‘can do’ attitude. We’ll be there - and ever so grateful that there’s still so much interest and that the line’s still there after all the fuss of the 1980s. “Frankly, we’ve fought a losing battle to press that point in the last few months - that the most spectacular bits are south of Appleby. The Eden Valley is spectacular too, but in a different way.”
Nigel Harris, Editor, RAIL
“Former Steam Railway Editor Tony Streeter and I first suggested this to Northern MD Alex Hynes a couple of years ago, but with the old franchise in its last days, it just wasn’t possible to pull it all together. Severance of the S&C gave us the opportunity to finally run a German-style ‘Plandampf’ operation, and it was fantastic to see how everyone at NR, Northern and DB took the idea and ran with it. “Northern MD Alex Hynes and NR Route Managing Director Rob McIntosh deserve special thanks. They proved how devolved decision-making and regional collaboration at ground level really works. We need to see much more of that!”
Nick Brodrick, Editor, Steam Railway
“There’s a real sense of history about putting steam services back on the S&C after nearly half a century, and I’m delighted we’re able to do it. “Charters are great, and we’re lucky to have so many. But steam on proper, real trains has always been a bit of a taboo. I’m thrilled we’re able to break through that - and that’s only possible thanks to a unique industry partnership that’s come together to make it work.”