The Settle & Carlisle Spring Express (01/03/25)

This tour bears remarkable similarity to a (W)CME but is promoted by Pathfinder rather than RTC and starts in Newport before wending its way north via Birmingham. The steam leg is Carnforth-Shap-Carlisle (break)-S&C-B'burn-Preston with the usual (W)CME times.

It's difficult to see that it will be anything other than Tangmere at the head of a rake of aircons with a diesel on the rear. We live in hope that something might change during the year - other than the identity of the tail gunner!

 

Subject to caveats, Tangmere is booked


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I must admit I think we’ve gone beyond the hope stage now. I was chatting with a friend who travelled on Satueday just gone, and his opinion was less then positive. I’m beginning to regret booking a week to chase the GB now, as even the full Maroon rake of MK2s seems to have ceased to run.

 

Never give up hope!

 

I'm booked on it and I'm sure it will be up to Pathfinder's usual high standards. I was fully expecting it to be Tangmere with a rake of Mk2s and a tailgunner when I made my booking last year, so that's exactly what I'm expecting to turn up on Saturday when I board. There is an RTC tour along the North Wales coast on Saturday as well, which I assume will be a Riley Black 5.

 

I have noticed the timings have seemingly changed for this tour and it shows as changing to 60mph at Carnforth rather than 75. Is there even another Black 5 available?

I am pretty sure the Pathfinder website said 34067 at one point also, now it does not.

 

Steam is always shown as being timed at 60mph on train timings sites.

Dave B

 

That is the standard CME northbound path, 72 mins Carnforth to Carlisle. It is timed at 715tonnes/60mph to provide the nearest deliverable path the computer can create. Given that the train must climb Yealand, Grayrigg and Shap, it must run downhill at 75 to achieve that timing. So you can't draw any conclusions from that.

 

That is not true but for this particular route/timings it may be the case.

 

The Hellifield Station Cafe, Shed 24H, (which I think is owned by/linked to West Coast Railways) states "Tangmere" and is usually right.

 

Hope so!

 

Making a fine sight and sound SR BoB class No. 34067 'Tangmere' heads today's 'Settle and Carlisle Spring Express' through Firbank on the approach to Beckfoot with Mick Rawling driving and Rob Russell on the shovel, the same crew will work
the return to Preston



No. 34067 'Tangmere' drifts over Ribblehead Viaduct with the return leg of 'The Settle and Carlisle Spring Express' to Preston and eventually Newport South Wales

 

34067 seen in the hazy sunshine from Paddy Lane Bridge and Docker Viaduct then on the return from Waitby Common with a chilly wind blowing.

 

There are times in life when you feel that you are not in control of your own destiny, take today, when I might be allowed to go and watch the train was decided by Maisie, our "newish" cat, and Sky Sports. Maisie is settling in well and is confident enough but she does like someone to be around. Sky Sports decided that the kick off for Mrs W's team's home match should be moved from 15.00 to 12.30. Mrs W and Oswald Jnr are season ticket holders and MUST attend all home matches. Oswald was needed to keep Maisie company and so couldn't watch the outbound leg but, as the football finished early, Oswald should be free to watch the return. [Talking of Maisie, she likes her food but this also includes anything else she might be able to steal. One morning this week Mrs W opened a small pot of Greek yoghurt, she turned to drop the lid in the waste bin, when she turned back Maisie had jumped up onto the kitchen worktop and was helping herself to the yoghurt - Naughty Maisie!].

So football over (1-1) and the "fans" returned home. Mrs W agreed to accompany me and Maisie was left in the care of Oswald Jnr. After Langho last week, I decided to go to R&W. If we arrived early we should be able to "choose our spot." The traffic gods were kind and we arrived about 40 minutes before the train was due (17.29). The light was good, albeit the sunshine had been replaced by a layer of thin cloud. With sunset at 17.47 and the partial cloud the light would fade quickly. We gathered up our bits and pieces and headed for the station, it was deserted save for one teenaged lad with a tripod and camera phone. He was on the road bridge and was very chatty. I decided that we would go down to the Blackburn end of the Clitheroe platform (Oswald's favourite spot). The lad (YouTube, Tristan303) joined us and we, well mainly he, chatted away. In the morning he'd been to see 45212 and the ECS at Leyland and showed us the footage on his phone.

Tangmere left Hellifield 1E and Clitheroe 4E. There was not even a hint of a breeze so I was hopeful that we might be able to hear Tangmere approaching. I needn't have worried for Tristan had a "cunning plan, so cunning that . . . " Tristan's dad was down by the fence at the housing development that now stands on the site of the old Wilpshire station goods yard. From here you can see much further around the bend, Tristan's dad had a whistle which he blew when he spotted Tangmere. It worked perfectly, low tech solutions usually do!

Tangmere did all the right things in all the right places including a whistle just before the platforms, she hurried past with Rob Russell taking a break from firing and leaning on the window sill. The aircons trundled by, mainly blue and grey, and finally the maroon liveried diesel 57 314 (active). 7C, 7E & 29mph. Perhaps of interest is the recent cutting back of trees on the side of the cutting on Blackburn side of the road bridge, I wonder if the much needed work has been carried out in the infamous stretch between Wilpshire Tunnel and the old station. [Note to Oswald: investigation required!]

 

An enjoyable day out yesterday, I had a great time. I'd just like to point out that both Standard Class coaches had opening windows and were at the front going up Ais Gill. Those of you who didn't book on this because of "coffins" missed a good tour.

 

Tangmere approaching Kirkby Stephen yesterday (Sat).

 

Greenholme:




Armathwaite curve.



Richard

 

Yes Al, brings back memories of an albeit rebuilt Bulleid, when Gordon Porter had blown a cylinder end off near MP 31, and stopped at Farnborough to telephone Basingstoke shed, 'please sir can I have another one' . And then got the two cylinder Bulleid back up to speed in a cloud of steam, so as not to lose too much time. I wonder if Gordon stopped off at the shed when he went to collect his bike after his shift that day (he lived at Basingstoke), to give the fitters a hand.

But Al, as you say, 34067 is working the trains.