The Scarborough Spa Route

[ilovequo]

Hi

The route is finally up for the Scarborough Spa and its not good if you liked the normal route - ie via Harrogate and Leeds

The link is http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/sse/route.html

It is doing York - Normanton - Castleford - Wakefield Kirkgate - Wakefield Westgate - Woodlesford - York - Scarborough

Loads will be upset that it isnt stopping at Leeds but rumours I have heard is that Leeds HATES steam going/stopping in the station.

Even the time spent in Scarborough is less. Last year the loco arrived approx 13:15 and left at 17:55 (just over 3½ hours) but the loco arrives approx 14:05 and leaves at 16:55 ( just over 2½ hours) - which makes it approx 1 hour less but for the same price as last year.

I am not sure if I will do the tour this year.

Dave

[spartacus]

I don't know if they'll be the final timings or not, and I think WC might have chickened out of the delay minutes at Leeds if they were late more than anything else.

Personally I can't see it doing half as well as the Harrogate loop. How many people are going to want to look at the 'scenery' around Casvegas and Kirkgate.

I do wonder if they've missed a trick missing out Pontefract. Normanton's very close to both Wakefield and Castleford which will also be served, and Pontefract is seen as a decent market, at least by Grand Central.

Wonder if the water stop might be moved to Milford Loop instead of past York.

Still, it'll be funny with only one of the new stations being long enough for the SSE....

[ilovequo]

HI

I think the most common question will be---

Why have West Coast changed a popular route that people enjoyed?

Dave

[ilovequo]

Hi agian

I decided to email West Coast to see why route had change and this was their reply

The route has changed because the engines that are in the trains were actually too big to run through some of the smaller stations.

[almark]

What,so they just decided to make it the Harry Potter Ex instead....basically what they are saying is 5972 would of taken a platform with it?

[ilovequo]

Hi

Dont really think it will be a successfull Scarborough Spa this year. I usually do quite a few trips on it in a season but probably only do one this year.

[almark]

Same,i think that applies to 99% of enthusiasts.