Settle Carlisle steam round up 2019

With Flying Scotsman closing the year of tours over the Settle Carlisle and a web site full of information, I thought I'd share a few useless figures for one and all...

• 50 railtours
  Slightly down on 2018, which was 54 + 1 loco movement
• Total locomotives:
  14. Can you guess them all without looking? I think 2012 could be the the record year with 16.
• First timers:
  61306.
  Bringing the total steam locomotives post 1968 which have traversed the S&C to 55.
• Returnees:
  45596, 46115, 6201
• Most used locomotive:
  48151. Closely followed by 35018.
• Diesel involvement:
  8 tours. All at the rear. In this respect, much better than 2018, but the weather does what it likes.
• Noteworthy, subjective I know, but I will try to name a few:
  - 61306 + 35018 double header in the snow
  - Return of Bahamas
  - 46115 + 35018 double header
  - Saphos first year doing the Fellsman
  - Perhaps a less likely one to highlight; 30th July 2019 when the landslide occurred at Shale Cutting in Dentdale, 35018 having departed Carlisle getting as far as Appleby, had to work light engine to Kirkby Stephen in order to run round it's train to return it to Carlisle and divert via Shap.

What to look forward to in 2020?
Easy.. that single chimney Jubilee in BR green, not seen since October 1967. But also Clun Castle, also not seen since 1967! In addtion with 70000 out of ticket, there is a good possibility 46100 may make it's preservation debut on one of the Fellman's.

My thanks to the contributors who have allowed their photos and videos to be included on the web site, many of whom are members on Nat Pres.
Special thanks to @Oswald T Wistle who has provided gps data for 15 out of the 50 tours this year. Does this gentleman get the award for the most travelled of the year?

For anyone interested, the web site can be viewed here: https://settlecarlislesteam.co.uk/

 

I'd like to echo Ian's thanks to all those who provide such consistently excellent pics and vids despite at times challenging weather. Ian is quite correct I submitted GPS data for 15 trips out of 50 tours; 30% - hardly a pass mark unless it’s the Eton Entrance Exam. Your special thanks is gratefully accepted, but on another thread it can be seen that my efforts pale in comparison to @1020 Shireman; I promise to try harder in 2020. (Ian has made his count, as he states, on submitted GPS files; I did another run, Dalesman (W) on 25 June, southbound behind 48151, where it was decided not to publish data and yet another run on 26 Jan (WCME) but with a “tail gunner”. So I claim 16 or even 16½).

I have listed my favourite bits (date order) from my 2019 travels; most include the S&C.

23 Feb (WCME, 11 coaches) – 63106 & 35018 with a superb northbound climb of Grayrigg and Shap with sunshine and lying snow followed by an even better climb of Wilpshire Bank [Carnforth – Carlisle 63m 14s, and 51mph at Shap Summit Board. Whalley – Ramsgreave & Wilpshire 5m 44s and 42.7 at Wilpshire Summit].

03 Mar (The Auld Reekie, 11) – 60163’s return to the main line, on a spring-like day, with a run down the ECML to Edinburgh. The joy of the day was tempered by D9009’s failure on the return working.

13 Apr (The Border Raider, 11) – Tornado’s monumental assault of Shap (southbound); very fast and wonderfully, almost scarily, noisy. [59.8mph at Shap Summit, 61mph at the Summit Board].

30 Apr (Dalesman East, 12) – Lizzie’s long awaited return to the main line.

11 May (The Mad Hatter, 12) – Tornado’s recovery from a TSR at Cornholme (22mph) whilst climbing towards Copy Pit summit (31/32mph) with 12 coaches. Also a very rapid eastbound descent of The Hope Valley Line.

18 May (CME, 11) – An outstanding all round day with Leander, all the climbs were as good as it gets with a Jub. [Carnforth D&UGL – Shap Summit Board 42m 10s (31.4mph), Appleby (start) - Ais Gill SB 28m 58s (33.5mph), Whalley – Ramsgreave & Wilpshire 8m 07s (27.5mph)].

29 May (The Fellsman, 11) – 70000 stormed up to Blea Moor then matched it on the return up to Ais Gill. [Settle Jn SB – Blea Moor SB 18m 19s. Appleby (MP277.25) - Ais Gill SB 23m 24s minimum of 43.8mph].

13 July (CME, 11) – Leander equalled and bettered her performances of 18 May; full roar in evidence for much of the day. [Carnforth D&UGL – Shap Summit Board 39m 54s (33mph), Appleby (start) - Ais Gill SB 27m 25s (31.5mph), Whalley – Ramsgreave & Wilpshire 8m 23s (26mph)].

20 July (CME, 11) – Lizzie made a terrific climb up to Blea Moor in a downpour of Biblical proportions. [Settle Jn SB – Blea Moor SB 20m 20s]. Just as we were leaving Carlisle, heading south along the WCML, Tornado could be seen to our left just starting from a signal stop as it hauled the North Briton north into the platform we had just vacated. Slight slip, bathed in sunlight – memorable!

01 Aug (The Aberdonian, 11) – My first run to Aberdeen (and with 60163) plus the added bonus of a very late change of route that included the climb through Dunblane.

20 Aug (Dalesman East, 11) – BIL showed just a glimpse of her power with a splendid climb to Ais Gill. [Appleby (MP277.25) – Ais Gill Summit 24m 44s (41mph)].

10 Sep (Dalesman East, 12) – 46115 marked her return to the main line with a quick and very noisy ascent to Blea Moor and then a terrific climb to Ais Gill. [Settle Jn SB – Blea Moor SB 19m 15s, Appleby (MP277.25) – Ais Gill Summit 24m 39s (42.6mph)].

09 Nov (The Citadel, 12) – Ian Riley’s 5s (44871 & 45407) made excellent climbs up to Blea Moor and from Eden Valley to Shap. [Settle Jn SB – Blea Moor SB 19m 41s, Eden Valley loop (start) – Shap Summit Board 15m 49s (47.6mph)].

24 Nov (Santa Express, 13+47.746) – Grandson got his first taste of main line steam and he liked it (and the first appearance of “Alberta”).

07 Dec (The Pennine Moors Christmas Explorer, 11+D1924) – Shame about the 47 but good to get back behind 46100.

My special thanks to Ian for all his efforts in producing and maintaining his excellent website.

 

This has made for some enjoyable reading, made me take a step back and realise just how blessed we’ve been on the motive power front on the S&C this year. 2020 is also shaping up to have its fair share of highlights. I wanted to list my S&C highlights to complement Oswald’s listing, still suspect he’s the S&Cs most travelled passenger!

Managing to travel with all three operational Jubilees in both directions. Leander being quite some way ahead though with that stunning 18th May effort, but all showing that they very much ruled the roost on this line this year.

Scots Guardsman’s very welcome return in late summer, demolishing both northbound and southbound climbs with that heavyweight, 12-coach, 10th September ‘Dalesman’. Mick Kelly, Steve Chipperfield, Martyn Soames and Rob Russell really got the best out of this roaring, snarling beast on that day with a substantial load.

BIL doing what has become common place, treating the banks with some disdain. But still with the air that there could be more to be had. I have still not managed a northbound run with her yet.

My thanks go to all those who ensure the regularity of steam on this beautiful and interesting route and Merry Christmas to you all.

 

After so much negativity written about the future of mainline steam, this is a wonderfully positive review that shows just how blessed we are, 51 years after the end of steam. There can't have been many days which didn't have something steam powered moving on the mainline!

My highlights: the MN/B1 run in the snow, southbound climb of Shap by Tornado, Aberdeen with number 9 and a wonderful Jacobite run in high summer with clear blue skies.

A big thanks to all the groups, crews, owners and support staff who continue to make it all possible.

 

Steam on the mainline isn't going end at any point.

 

Not anytime soon, however, there are challenges ahead with resource issues in the South already apparent. Future coal availability and the ongoing concentration of motive power among a smaller group of organisations present a higher risk.
For me they heyday was the early 2000's, with the exploration of open access, Severn Valley, Mid-Hants and Didcot still providing variety of motive power and trips far more affordable.
But, we are still doing very well now, remember back then the advertised 'final' runs over Shap!?!