Dalesman 2017 from York or Chester to Carlisle

She what?!

 

Tanfield Gala 17/18 sun ordered lol

 

RTT suggests it lost a fair 20 minutes or so between Armathwaite and Culgaith. I wonder what happened there. The unit ahead of it kept near enough to time.

 

Typo sorry but would've been sick or funny depends on the outlook lol

 

A service train going in the opposite direction had been halted and not allowed to proceed until engineers had passed it fit to move. Even though we were heading in the opposite direction, they would not let us move until the service train got moving again. Strange. However, after Ais Gill, we made up all but 4 minutes of the lost time by Hellifield.

 

Thanks. Roughly where did 46115 come to a stand?

 

Line blockage, to let the fitters/driver inspect the failed train without the risk of a train coming on the opposite line.

 

Looking on Google Maps at the Houses we could see below, I think the back end of the train was stood just in Lazonby and Kirkoswald station

 

Smartphone shot at Appleby, Northbound.

 

And 13 unassisted over the S&C is not too shabby.

 

Amazingly, has also found reliability after all this time. Also, any one heard if she's going to receive a new middle cylinder block during her next overhaul, or have I dreamed that...

 

Not heard anything to that effect but likely ahead of 34016 in the queue, being a bit of a 'pet'.

 

34016 has already jumped the overhaul queue. Apparently the only work required was to jack up the nameplates and then bolt a Merchant Navy onto the back.

 

A bit late in coming but here's my report of Monday's run:

A particularly grim day, even by Yorkshire standards, greeted us as top and tailed 47s picked us up in Leeds and hastened our train to Hellifield. 46115 was already waiting on our arrival, simmering gently in the dampness. All too soon, David Blair (unfortunately didn't catch who our fireman was for the northbound run) set Guardsman and its eleven coach load about its business 2L and gradually fed in the power that saw us through Long Preston at 41 and Settle Jn 64; the six or so minutes to this point having that tremendous, snarling roar that sends the hairs on the back of the neck to a stand. Settle was dashed by at 54 and continued to gallop along around the 43 mark before reaching a minimum of 40 around Milepost 240. The brief easing at Helwith Bridge saw an increase to 45. It was on the resumption of the 1-in-100 that saw speed hover in the low 40s until well above Selside; Horton had been passed at 42 and over half a minute inside the 17mins allowed from Hellifield. An absolute minimum of 39.5 was recorded at MP246 just before being eased for Ribblehead. Blea Moor was passed 1E in 26mins 5secs, a very fine effort indeed and all with that beautiful Scot soundtrack. 'The Drag' had seen an easing in the rain but we'd soon entered it again around Garsdale where 46115 carried us up to Ais Gill at 41, to arrive in Appleby 2E. By now the rain was coming down in torrents but by the time of our departure 2E it had dissipated again, leaving a fairly pleasant afternoon in Cumbria. 46115 and her crew continued to entertain with no shortage of noise, going on to arrive in Carlisle 6E.

Now with Steve Chipperfield and Bob Bullock at the helm, the Scot departed Carlisle RT and was soon set to work on the saw tooth section to Appleby. Even nine back the roar was crystal clear as we passed Howe & Co. Sidings at 45, Low House 51, Armathwaite 54, Lazonby 59, Langwathby 48, Culgaith 56, Kirkby Thore 55.5 and Long Marton 59.5 before rolling into Appleby 7E in 41mins 43 secs. Watering was completed in just over quarter of an hour and we now set sail for Ormside which was passed at 53.5, Helm Tunnel was entered at 44.5 and Griseburn dragged us back to 36.5. 46115 built up speed to 48 around Smardale and plugged her way to 36 at Kirkby Stephen and was by now forging through some filthy weather conditions. We plunged into Birkett Tunnel at 32, doing well on this banana skin section to stay at this speed to MP264 before rallying round to 40 at Mallerstang. The rest of the climb was completed in the mid to low 30s, passing the summit board at 34 taking a second out of the 29mins allowed; a sensible yet competent climb in atrocious conditions. The rest of the run was completed in near darkness and was the usual fast running and occasional braking to keep us legal which was enough to see us into Hellifield 10E. Before long, 46115 and POB had been detached and were soon returning to Carnforth with a friendly wave from the crews.

If this turns out to be one of my last runs with Scots Guardsman, then it was in some style. Thanks to all involved for a super day out.

 

Are there any guesses about what could be hauling the trip next week on 13th? Need to decide whether to go up to the Dales or WCML and photograph she who must not be named going to Chester

 

I noticed that. Allowing a Scot to take 13 without a box riding shotgun shows that a fair degree of confidence must have returned to the locomotive and the TOC.

 

Isn't it going both ways over the S+C?