Dalesman and Pendle Dalesman 2021

35018 sat in Hellifield goods loops after arriving from Carlisle this afternoon

 

The light went from not great to bloody awful just before the return arrived.

 

35018 seen at Selside Shaw and a lonely Birkett Common under threatening skies.

 

SRMN Class No. 35018 'British India Line' heads 1Z63 'The Dalesman' towards Selside with Mick Rawling driving and Martyn Soames on the shovel




With a deterioration in the weather, 'British India Line' appears out of the murk with the returnleg of 'The Dalesman' 1Z64 towards Ais Gill summit with Chris
Cubitt driving and Rob Russell on the shovel

 

Welcome to the S&C

 

Climbing north to Ais Gill under leaden skies

 

Coincidentally found myself driving through Kirkby Stephen (on my way back from Barnard Castle, can confirm my eyesight is fine!) around the time she was heading north so popped onto the station to see here through, she seemed to be losing time as I waited, but she fairly rattled through!

 

Probably due to the speed restriction at Garsdale.

 

You say, "Billy no Mates", I say, "Responsible Social Distancing". Sorry, I missed the wave - I like a wave - but my attention was drawn to the magnificently presented loco, gleaming in the sunlight. Perhaps next time we could re-enact the scene from "The Railway Children", you could be the Old Gentleman waving from the train and I could be the three children . . . mmm I think that I may have spotted a problem.

 

Most of the time I find it difficult to do otherwise. Mrs W says, "Make that ALL of the time!"

 

BIL working south through Brock.

 

This morning was a tale of two billies; BIL hauling today's Dalesman and me, Billy no Mates (again) - the sole occupant of Chapel lane bridge at Hoghton. Despite the efforts of some temporary lights and a farmer out for a morning run with his tractor and trailer I parked with a few minutes to spare. The sun was yet to burn away the thin wispy cloud, but it was still pleasantly warm tempered only by a gentle, coolish breeze that tousled the leaves on the tops of the trees.

A Bullied whistle, then another, another as BIL whistled for the series of crossings on this part of the line. Another whistle and then a sound from behind as a Preston bound unit approached - "Get out of the way!" I needn't have worried and the rattle faded away to be replaced by the sound of BIL's exhaust, crisp and busy. Some exhaust in the trees. As BIL passed under the occupation bridge I pressed the button on my stopwatch. BIL looked splendid, gleaming in the watery sunshine, light exhaust from the chimney top that was soon gone. BIL slid under the bridge and I pressed the button again.

Hoghton summit (gradient marker) is about 50 yards beyond Chapel lane. At this point the the line is climbing at 1/101 - so the speed was . . . . 28mph. Not spectacular but perfectly respectable considering the long day ahead.

 

One thing that stood out to me on the outward leg was the approach to the S&C. In order to minimise the inevitable loss on schedule due to the various TSRs still in place and the added advantage of BIL’s increased water capacity, we climbed the drag not with aplomb but a real respectable effort nonetheless and we dropped the Langwathby stop. Quite the masterclass in water conservation.

 

Milepost 297 on the return:


British India Line at Low Baron Wood

 

Going well through Kirkby Stephen on the Railcam.

 

35018 at Bamber Bridge and Helwith Bridge on the outward leg this morning:

Take care - Chris

 

The southbound run certainly quashed the oft repeated quote that Bulleids are quiet! Sounded as if I was in the second vehicle rather than the eighth! One of my quickest times posted from Carlisle-Appleby, completed in 41:49. Quite something when this includes the Armathwaite TSR. Then a raucous assault on Ais Gill with a time of 18:25 on the Blue Riband section and a minimum of 42.5 at MP 260.

 

SRMN Class No. 35018 'British India Line' works 1Z52 'Pendle Dalesman' through Selside to Carlisle with Mick Rawlings driving and Martyn Soames on the
shovel



Up and over the summit, 'British India Line' works the 'Pendle Dalesman' towards Garsdale with Mick Kelly driving, Craig Todd on the shovel and Roly Parker
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