Dalesman 2017 from York or Chester to Carlisle

2 shots from the return run today
First off at Armathwaite not doing much work

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45407and44871/35879563761/in/dateposted-public/

And finally at Ais Gill hammering up towards the summit

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45407and44871/36012919295/in/dateposted-public/

 

Ahhh thank you Its just that I thought the shot featured Watershed Mill which is Settle.I see there is a village up the road called Langcliffe

 

18/07/2017 - 48151 coasting through Ribblesdale towards Helwith Bridge on the returning Dalesman

 

18/07/2017 - With Pen-y-gent in the background, LMS 8F - 48151 crosses the River Ribble on the returning "Dalesman" heading towards Helwith Bridge

 

Going well up the drag approaching Selside 18/7/17

 

Does anyone know which loco will be hauling this on the S+C today please?

 

46115 went to Hellifield this morn.

 

Thank you

 

46115 at Birkett common .

 

Good stuff Steve

 

46115 tomorrow too?

 

That is the info I have.

 

Under overcast skies and rain threatening, LMS 7P Class 4-6-0 No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' works the 'Dalesman' through Selside northbound to Carlisle



A big improvement in the weather as LMS 7P Class 4-6-0 No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' speeds through Birkett with the return leg of 'The Dalesman' to York

 

My own from today of the return at Kirkby Stephen. Hopefully it won't be too long after this week that we see No. 46115 back in action!

Royal Scot No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' - Kirkby Stephen by Jonathon Gourlay, on Flickr

 

Definitely the last run for Scots Guardsman tomorrow Tuesday 8th August 2017 as boiler ticket expires 11th August 2017, not to be missed?...

 

Cheers Henry .

 

A couple from Aug 7th

 

The Dalesman (Eastern Route) 07 August 2017 – 46115 Scots Guardsman hauling 12+POB

This trip was a birthday present from Mrs W, who chose not to accompany me!? So off to Skipton to join the train, then T&T diesels to Hellifield, where I spotted the loco with more farewell appearances than Frank Sinatra waiting patiently down the Blackburn line. I understand that SG is now in the final week of the three month extension it was granted earlier in the year. I was hoping for SG (or BIL which I heard was found to need attention to its valve settings after its loaded test run) but expected the 8F – so good news!

A couple of Northern services were running late so by the time we had detached the diesels and attached SG we were 14L before Chris Cubitt assisted by Frank Chippendale got us underway. We passed Settle Jn at 58; eleven and a half coaches back the sound of SG could only be heard intermittently. By Settle we were down to 40; the train seemed heavy and we dug in at 24 past Stainforth. Despite a slight slip we battled up to 27 at Helwith Bridge and to 34 on the level beyond but as we approached Horton in R we began to slow, down to 11 through the station then crawling uphill at 2 mph before being brought to a stop at the signal a couple of hundred yards north of Horton. After only a minute we were away, 1/100r and light rain beginning to fall; without a hesitation Chris eased us up the bank and to 26 by Selside and 31 at Ribblehead (29L). Then over the viaduct, into the tunnel and then out again and “onto the roof of the world”. We were up to 61 through Garsdale but still 27L and 27L at Ais Gill (57). Some smart running saw us stop in Appleby 22L where we took water. We left Appleby 20L and with some good running reduced the deficit to 7L by Petteril Br Jn, but then we were held for 3 mins to arrive in platform 3 (11L).

Down to the Woodrow Wilson (where they had run out of fish – again!, so chicken – again!). Time for a gentle stroll round the square and then back to the station where the stock was parked up in “A road”. Soon SG and its support coach appeared and coupled up. SG had steam blowing from a cylinder draincock on the driver’s side which the driver, Mick Kelly, attempted to fix with a couple of smart taps – to no avail. A green light and SG was away south and then reversed the stock back into platform 3.

RT Mick Kelly and Rob Russell got us underway. I was now only 2½ coaches back, window open. We passed under the M6 at 30, this increased on the 1/132r to 34 at Cumwhinton. Increased yet again on the level and was up to 44 at Howe & Co (RT), fell back to 36 on the 1/132r beyond Cotehill but was up to 45 at Low House (1/132f & RT). Armathwaite 53 (RT), Lazonby & Kirkoswald 62 (2½E), Langwathby 48 (2E), Culgaith 61 (3E), Kirkby Thore 55 (4E) and Long Marton 59 (6E) culminated in us stopping at Appleby 7E. The sound from the front when climbing beyond Culgaith was splendid. Time for refreshments in a sunny Appleby; water for the loco and ice cream for me and ice cream for the driver and support crew – well deserved, 42m 14s from Carlisle.

SG was blowing off before we left Appleby 1E and we touched 55 just beyond Ormside viaduct where the 1/100r starts. We were 51 and 1E at Ormside and into Helm Tunnel at 40, down to 31 across Griseburn Viaduct, where the gradient eases to 1/166r then to 1/200r, 44 & RT at Crosby Garrett. Beyond here the gradient reverts to 1/100r and the roaring stepped up a level, 52 across Smardale Viaduct, 44 through Kirkby Stephen (2E), into Birkett Tunnel at 38 and out at 39. The gradient eases to 1/330r before Mallerstang (45 & 3½E); this was not recovery this was a full blown frontal assault. The roar was unbelievable, cinders the size of rice grains were landing on the table and still it continued, speed rose to 47. The gradient was back to 1/100r, roar, roar and ROAR again, no surrender, 43 across Ais Gill viaduct, 43 under the road bridge and then she was eased slightly, back to 41 which increased to 44 at the summit board (4E). 26m 46s from Appleby to Ais Gill with 13 “on the hook” was not too bad for a “Fragile Scot” at the very end of its ticket. By comparison the rest was somewhat of an anticlimax (and strangely quiet), Blea Moor SB (7E), a 15 mph trundle across Batty Moss (for the tourists?), Ribblehead (7E), Helwith Bridge (6E), Settle Jn (8E) and a stop in Hellifield Loop (9E).

SG off, diesels on and away 12E accompanied by a blast on the whistle from SG and back in Skipton 7E. Back home for 8.40pm. This is an excellent format for a trip and was made memorable by the superb southbound climb on what (I assume) will be my last encounter with SG before overhaul – please be quick, but don’t rush. My thanks to all concerned with operating this trip and especially to Mick Kelly and Rob Russell. This was the first time that I have travelled to Carlisle behind preserved steam (or any steam) on a Monday – that only leaves me Friday to complete the days of the week, now let me think . . .

I was reliably informed that this was the same set of carriages used for Sunday’s Waverley but for which two should have been detached. NRM’s operating protocol for FS precludes it from exceeding 11 coaches, so dragging round a couple of extra empty ones was not an option – hence the delay. As the coaches were empty no passengers were harmed in the operation of the railtour.

 

Thanks David, looks like today's run from Hellifield up to Blea Moor went a lot better, especially assuming wet conditions. I nearly went down to Leeds to try for a POYD today but having been to the Test Match yesterday thought that in the interest of marital relations better not....

So presumably the RTT entry for Skipton on the Waverley was a work of fiction?