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Cumbrian Mountain Express 2022

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by 61994, Jan 8, 2022.

  1. 70000

    70000 New Member

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    Yes we had a 9 minute stand just south of Shotlock Hill Tunnel. According to the steward this was to raise steam as the brakes were beginning to drag.

    A 6 minute early departure from Milton Keynes turned into a 18 minute late arrival at Euston due to an issue at Watford. Thankfully my fears of failing to make my train from Paddington didn't come to fruition.

    All in all a fantastic day behind 45699, many thanks to all involved.
     
    3ABescot, Mick45305, Haighie and 2 others like this.
  2. walkerp1

    walkerp1 New Member

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  3. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    An interesting day so thought I'd drop a short report into the thread.

    Cumbrian Mountain Express 26th February 2022

    Our first train of 2022. Things were a bit fraught before we even got to Crewe as the M6 was closed between Jns14-15 and the displays were showing 45 minute delays between Jns 13-14 where traffic was being diverted off the motorway. The SATNAV wasn't being helpful so we resorted to a good old fashioned Road Map and decided to get off the M6 at J12 and get to Crewe via the A34 and A500. Only delayed us by 15 minutes so we still had time to join John and Judith for an excellent Full English at the Brocklebank Brewer's Fayre on Weston Road below Crewe Station.

    Standard Class was on the front so we were in Carriage 3 joining, 4 when the steam came on at Carnforth. The train was 7 down at Crewe for a reason unknown to us as it was close to time before the south junction. We weren't disappointed that we had 45699 Galatea in its guise of Sierra Leone/Alberta and not 35018. Love jubilees. We still had our 'Covid' 4+4 seating so could spread out across 2 tables and I would facing seats milepost side all day, changing sides at Carlisle and again at Hellifield. Bit disappointed there were no Covid Screens in our carriage.

    Not a bad day up north, bright and breezy; no sign of moisture. While we were in the loop, we watched Mr Hosking's Inter City Liveried train with 87002 up front and a DVT on the rear flash by. Always good to see one of the old liveries back on the main line.

    We were ready to leave Carnforth U&DGL right time and as services were on time, we did. We never know how Yealand Bank will be attacked on the day. Entertaining is a good description of what we had as with David Blair on the regulator with Martyn Soames feeding the little beast, the noise level rose rapidly and we hit the bottom of the bank at 32.8. Midway up the bank speed had only drifted down to 32 and with the wonderful Jubilee roar filling the air the little loco crested the summit at 34.6, equalling the best climb of Yealand we've had with a Jubilee and 11. Fingers crossed that the effort wouldn't impinge on the 13 mile slog to Grayrigg.

    On the mile+ of 292f, speed rose noisily to 51 as we roared past mp10 3/4, then on the we got to 63 at mp12 3/4, and onto the 3 miles+ of 173r at 62.8 past mp13 and through Milnethorpe half a mile further on at 61.3. Decent enough. Superb sound coming from the front as David really attacked the lower slopes. We passed Hincaster at 55.3 and at mp16 where the gradient steepens to 153r we were holding 54.8. Speed only fell to 54.2 at mp16 1/2 and on the 3/4m of 392r rose to 53.7 at mp17 1/2. Then we hit the mile of 111r and for the first time the bank bit as speed fell to 47.1 at mp18 1/2. On the 176r, we roared through Oxenholme at 48. Windier now.

    Over the wicked 3/4 mile of 104r speed fell significantly to 41; a speed more or less held over the mile of 1 in 213/124, 40.6 at mp21 1/4. So far so good though it must have been hard work for Martyn who still had almost 5 more miles of hard work to the summit. Despite plenty of noise, the bank started to bite and speed fell significantly over the 2 1/2 miles of 1 in 131, mp23 3/4 being passed at 30.6. The loco seemed a bit winded and made the final 2 1/4 miles of 1 in 106 a difficult prospect for the crew. We crossed Lambrigg at 31 and were down to a minimum of 28.4 at mp25 before rallying to pass mp26, the summit at 30.4.

    Bit of a challenge now to get as close to 70 as possible before Tebay. Over the 2 1/2 miles of 204f/777f speed rose to 55 past Low Gill then David used the 425f to take 65 onto the level to Tebay. The approach to the Mighty Shap saw speed fall over the 1 3/4m of 146r to 62.5 at mp32 3/4. Just a mere 4 1/4 miles of 1 in 75 to mp 37 1/4 to go....

    The Jubilee's roar could still heard 4 back despite the gusty wind which had changed direction and took the smoke away from us towards the M6. Despite best efforts up front, speed fell rapidly and our estimates in the Carriage's Shap Summit Challenge of 27-28 had all but disappeared as we passed Scout Green at 31.6. All chances had gone by mp35 1/2 where speed was down to 24.9. The final 1 3/4 miles was going to be a struggle but the Jubilee dug in with the speeds over the final 1 1/4 miles being: mp 36, 23.6; 36 1/4, 23.8; 36 1/2, 24.2; 36 3/4, 24.1; 37, 24.5; then the Climbing Summit at 37 1/4, 24.3. Just after we passed under the bridge there was quite a long slip and we passed the summit board at mp 37 1/2 at 22.7. Interesting that David managed to find a 'sweet spot' on the locomotive to hold if not slightly increase speed over the last mile to the summit.

    Always interesting the climb of Shap as Galatea on 3rd February 2018 was slower at mp 37 1/4, 23.5, after passing mp36 at 30.

    A bit of fire management was probably needed after the exertions on Grayrigg and Shap. Then we had one of the better runs down the 'other side'. We passed mp41 at just over 70 and hit 75 on the 125f less than a mile later. Speed was held at a good 75 until slowing a bit for Penrith and North Lakes, 69.5. A good 75 was attained by mp58 and held most of the way down to mp66. We rolled into Platform 1 in Citadel a minute early after a better than even time 29m 18s descent from Shap Summit. More than 3 minutes of that was taken to cover the last mile into Citadel. Total time from Carnforth U&DGL was 75m 34.66s.

    We're still not doing crowded pubs at present so we spent a convivial hour and a half in the 301 miles from London Pub on the station concourse. Always interesting beers, Muddy Duck, a dark mild and a gorgeous Loweswater Gold Ale. Fun place as the interesting Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Mrs S tried was called Waddling Duck!! The ham and cheese toastie was a meal in itself.

    What of the return? We got back to the station with no sign of the locomotive. Bit of blame was thrown at Control for delaying the shunting movements. The result of this had the knock on effect of us leaving at 1452, 30 minutes down, but right behind the 1450 Leeds Stopper. Cloudy and windy weather wise and we were half way back in Carriage 9 so probably wouldn't hear a lot from up front.

    No great rush with the Service Train in front and consequently on the 132r it took almost 13 minutes to get to Cumwhinton, 28, only 4 miles from the station. Then things changed and the Jubilee made itself heard. Speed rose to 40 a mile further on at Howe and Co but that was it for a high speed and the brakes came in on the approach to Eden Brows, 15. Not sure if it was a signal check. No sign of a TSR. We rolled over Low House Crossing at 32. Got a bit noisier after on the 132f and we ran through Armathwaite at 44 then dived into the tunnel at 51 on the 220r. Really noisy climb of the 220r to roar into Baron's Wood Tunnel No.1 at 53; No.2 at 51. We seemed to be running under Amber Signals and slowed to 16 then 18.5 through Lazonby. Things picked up a bit though downgrade to Long Meg, 44. Got noisy again but we only passed through Langwathby at 37 the top of two miles of 1 in 132r/110r/131r. The run to Culgaith was a bit disappointing with a max of 48.5. Bit better over the 1 in 132r/220r/490r to pass Kirby Thore at 58. We passed Long Marton at 55 and then lost a bit of speed over the 120r to 50 at 278 1/2 in sight of Appleby Station.

    A stop at Appleby was obviously off the cards and on the 440r speed rose to 51 through the station. Pity as we were looking forward to the legendary ice cream off the Friends Stall. Weather was OK with low weak sunshine around intermittently. At least running non-stop saw speed rise to a decent 62 at Ormside and we passed mp275, the start of the Blue Riband Section at 61.2. If all was well up front that should ensure a good climb to Ais Gill with a speed in the high 30s a distinct possibility. Ever the optimist!!

    All such thoughts rapidly receded as speed fell rapidly on the 2 3/4 miles of 100r to Helm Tunnel, 42.7, and worse, down to 33.1 just over a mile further at mp272 1/2. We passed mp272 at 30 ish and surprisingly didn't pick up any speed on the mile+ of easing 166r. All the indications of a poor steaming locomotive probably due to the coal in the tender. Then we were surprised by the change in note from up front and a proper Jubilee roar as on the lesser 200r to Crosby Garrett speed rose to 35; then on the 1/2m of level track before the tunnel close to mo269, to 40.6. very short lived though as when we hit the 100r again the Jubilee was struggling to pas mp268 at 29.8 and mp267 at only 23.6. we ran through Kirkby Stephen at 23.7 and only picked up to 24.1 on the easier 1/4m of 264r at mp266 1/2 at the Signal Box.

    Bit of a pickup on the 100r to mp266, 26.7, then back to a sharp loss of speed to 23.3 at mp265. We struggled into Birkett Tunnel at 21.4 and then passed mp264 at 21.7. We got the feeling the regulator was pushed into the roof as the roar echoed around the hills as David tried to rally the Jubilee on the 3/4m of 330r to make sure we got over the summit!! It worked but speed topped out at 35.7 and the 100r dragged it down to 31.7 as we passed mp262. Still 2 miles of 100r to the Climbing Summit at mp260. By Ais Gill Viaduct speed was down to 22.5 and we struggled over the summit at 19.1, picking up to 24.5 at the plateau summit board at mp269 3/4. Think that was the slowest speed we've ever passed the summit.

    Despite charging through Appleby Station at 51 we'd taken 30m 12.27s to get from mp275 to mo260; 30m 54.26s to the Summit Board. All was very much not well up front and we weren't surprised when we came to a stand between Shotlock Hill (37) and Moorcock tunnels. Not sure why but we got the feeling it was to refill the boiler more than tend to the fire as we were only at a stand for 7 minutes. No doubt someone will know.

    Hooter up front and we were on our way again, fortunately on a falling gradient, 165f. We crossed Dandry Mire at 38 and swept through Garsdale at 36, now some 50 minutes down - but 30 of those were down to our delayed departure from Carlisle. Speed rose and there was even a decent roar from the Jubilee on the 330r, max of 46, 44 into Rise Hill Tunnel. Uneventful run down to Batty Moss viaduct, 34; then down the 100f to Horton-in-Ribblesdale, 63.6; Helwith Bridge, 61; Taitland's Tunnel, 57; Settle 62. No great speed across the bottom, Settle Jn 60, Long Preston 31.4. We arrived in Hellifield Goods Loop 53 down.

    The worry from Hellifield is always the Rochdale Flier at Horrocksford Jn. We left 55 down which should have been OK provided there were no serious issues up front. It's a 45mph track and uneventful running saw us reach Horrocksford Jn at 1747, well before the Flier was due in Clitheroe. Bit slow crawl to Clitheroe while the level crossing gates were dropped. Few miles of 104f/260f/127f to Primrose viaduct, 46, held on the level/203f on Whalley Approach. Green signal and through Whalley station at line speed. No restriction on the close to 4 miles of 81 1/2r climb that starts on the Arches, close to mp17 3/4. We left them roaring loudly at 47 and passed mp17 at 41. Speed fell steadily to 33.1 at mp16. We roared through Langho at 31.5; passed mp 15 at 28.7; mp14 1/2 at 25.9 and entered Wilpshire Tunnel close to mp14 on an easing 88r at 22.9. Didn't think we had much left up front. We left the tunnel at 23, bit of steeper 68r to mp13 1/2, minimum of 19.5; then onto 1/2m+ of 86r to pass mp13 1/2 at 21.7, and mp13 1/4 on Wilpshire and Ramsgreave Station at 21.7. Too dark to spot the summit marker but speed was a solid 21.7.

    Safely over the summit we rolled down to Blackburn, 32, then hit a max of 66 at Mintholme LC on the 101f. By Lostock Hall Jn we were only 40 down, and only 10 of that was due to running. No reds coming off Farington Curve and arrival into Preston at 1831, 37 down. Les Ross was on the line next to us just south of the station.

    Not a lot of trains about and Les was on the train in no time. The brake changeover took a bit longer than usual but not long after Galatea left for home, we were allowed out at just before 1911, 21 down. Decent running up the WCML saw a Crewe Arrival at 1942, 13 down.

    Didn't go up front as there were too many people around the locomotive but we did hear there were no complaints from the crew about the quality of the coal. You have to work with what you've got was the comment that got back.

    Looking at the day objectively, it wasn't a great one for locomotive performance; but we had 176+ miles of proper steam haulage. The characteristics of the climbing all day suggested the coal wasn't the best. But we only lost 4 minutes to schedule to Grayrigg Summit; and were only 3 down at Shap Summit. We got to Carlisle a minute early. Still possible to run proper steam on the steep grades of the WCML in the north.

    On the return things were worse. It was fortunate we were able to cut out the water stop at Appleby as on the long climb we lost 6 minutes to schedule on the 6 1/2 miles run between Kirkby Stephen and Ais Gill; and then had to stop for a short time once we were clear of the summit. After our water stop at Hellifield we lost nothing to Wilpshire Bank time wise, aided by the restriction free Whalley Arches.

    Thanks to: Kelly for running the train; West Coast for facilitating the train; David and Martyn for a very professional day on the footplate; West Coast's Support Crew; the Volunteer Stewards and Les, our regular Train Manager; and Network Rail for letting us out on the Big Railway. Control had a bit of mixed day causing us problems with the shunting at Carlisle, but then did a fine job turning the train around really well at Preston.
     
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  4. LMarsh1987

    LMarsh1987 Part of the furniture Friend

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    45627 is seen At Greenholme and topping Ais Gill with no shortage of effort.
     
  5. Karlh

    Karlh New Member

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    Video of the Whalley Sunset.

     
  6. Crawley Ben

    Crawley Ben New Member

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    Some fantastic images and videos from this latest CME. Thanks to those who captured them and shared them in this thread. Been a pleasure to look at/watch this afternoon.

    Ben
     
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  7. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Agreed.
    Unfortunately, Shap is too far away from me to video/photograph, so all I can offer is this picture of a poster from my calendar for March…
    C45D1F8D-E4D0-4829-B355-AD4264ADA73D.png
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2022
  8. Britfoamer

    Britfoamer Well-Known Member

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  9. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C34549/2022-05-21/detailed
     
  10. Britfoamer

    Britfoamer Well-Known Member

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  11. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    The Staycation in its Skipton to Appleby/Carlisle guise is off this year. I wonder what that path is for. It doesn't fit with any of the LSL sub brands current offerings as far as I can see.
     
  12. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Looks like 2 steam trains over Shap on the day - given that 4498 in wartime black is set to work a Members' Charter from Crewe to Carlisle on the same day.
     
  13. Steamie Boxes

    Steamie Boxes Member

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    Last edited by a moderator: May 3, 2022
  14. Romsey

    Romsey Part of the furniture

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    On a different thread (LSL?) they have become WTT "Q" workings instead of Special Traffic.
    It gives the TOC, charter company and loco owners a greater degree of certainty and means that the TOC and NR have more control over keeping consistent timings.
    It also saves a lot of train planning work.

    Cheers, Neil
     
  15. Britfoamer

    Britfoamer Well-Known Member

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    Any suggestion of the steed for this weekend yet?
     
  16. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Possibly 46115.
     
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  17. neildimmer

    neildimmer Resident of Nat Pres

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    just received ticket which states 46115 Scots Guardsman for Saturday
     
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  18. 1020 Shireman

    1020 Shireman Part of the furniture Friend

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    Guardsman with 12. 10 passenger carrying plus Kitchen Car + POB. Should be entertaining.
     
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  19. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    30L and counting leaving Carnforth according to RTT. Any news?
     
  20. steamvideosnet

    steamvideosnet Well-Known Member

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    86259 on the back, away 43L

    Pantograph up!

    James
     

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