The fire brigade are dealing with fires on the Cumbrian Coast Line and means that all trains are currently held.
Northern say that all lines are blocked between Whitehaven and Barrow-in-Furness with service trains being cancelled or delayed by 45 minutes.
34067 Tangmere is currently running 62 minutes late at Askam (last report at 17:14).
However, 60532 Blue Peter is currently being held at Wigton whilst the line is closed and hasn’t proceeded any further.
Latest Information
20:50
With Andania now awaiting its on-time departure time, and 60532 on its way back to base, we will end our live updating of this page. However, here are some links to help you keep track of the tour and steam loco, as well as travel disruption updates.
- The Lakelander Tour – click here for tracking links
- 60532 Light Engine Movement – tracking links can be found here.
- Disruption updates can be found on the National Rail website.
20:40
D213 Andania is now approaching Preston, and 60532 is between Lancaster and Preston, having been passed by the tour.
20:15
D213 Andania has now passed Oxenholme Lake District
20:01
60532 is now on its original path back to Crewe. Currently 17 minutes late. To see how the Light Engine Movement gets on, please click here.
19:18
Class 40 D213 Andania has departed Carlisle 231 minutes late, bound for Llandudno Junction
19:05
The Lakelander is now DIESEL HAULED to Llandudno Junction
18:55
5Z34, operated with 60532 Blue Peter has departed Carlisle, bound for Crewe HS.
To see how the Light Engine Movement gets on, please click here. Note: Timings will be tracked from Carnforth onwards.
18:23
34067 Tangmere is now coming off the train at Carnforth as planned. Diesels will take the train back to York. Currently 55 minutes late.
18:00
0Z34 has just left Carnforth. We are awaiting confirmation of whether this is D213 to take over the tour. 60532 Blue Peter has come off the train and is at LSL’s Carlisle Depot.
17:50
Disruption now expected until the end of service
17:35
BLUE PETER DIVERTED
The Lakelander, hauled by 60532 Blue Peter, has now diverted and is now at Carlisle awaiting further instructions.
17:48
34067 Tangmere now passed Ulverston 60 minutes late
17:30
Delays until 7pm on the Cumbrian Coast Line
How Can I Find Updates?
For updates on 34067 Tangmere, please click here.
Regarding 60532 Blue Peter, please click here (we will aim to update both pages when Blue Peter gets back on the move.
Regarding Northern train services, please visit National Rail. Disruption currently expected until 7 pm.
Responses
Congratulations to the Rail advent team for superb coverage of this story. It was an odd story for me to read, I was also looking after passengers, although there was little danger of fire as I was in the middle of the River Irwell, on a passenger boat in Manchester . Keep up the good work!
you could have sunk
Looks like all F1 grandprixs to be banned too after the grass fires in Japan…..
We we just nest to a big fire that started at the line side south of St Bees just 2 minutes after Tangmere passed. In half an hour the tinder-dry gorse was ablaze to the crest of the adjacent hillside with fire crews in attendance.
Are the engines the cause?
34067 is the cause fir the fire starting, melting crucial signallin equipment. Just think of the fines WCR are going to recieve from: Northern, Network Rail, LSL and many more
It’s bad news all around. Fire risks a decade ago saw the end of Crewe Scarborough- Crewe specials. This could lead to a blanket ban on mainline steam.
When I travelled on the steam hauled Cumbres & Toltec railroad in the USA, the train was followed by diesel-hauled tender with a large water tank, pump and water jet lance. If a fire was spotted behind the steam train it was immediately put out with the water jet, before it could get a hold on the very dry grasses and bushes. It’s a same someting similar can’t be devised for steam excursions in the UK, but I guess Network Rail rules would preclude it