Saphos 2025

It would seem not. To be honest some of the routes are a bit strange, and the steam haulage is a bit minimal.

 

Friday. 20/6. 5Z21 10:17 Crewe HL to Bishops Lydeard via Bescot and Kidderminster.

Realtime Trains | 5Z21 1017 Crewe H.S. to Bishops Lydeard | 20/06/2025

Diesel + steam + support coach. [BJ]

 

Saphos Trains | The Lakelander - 5 July 2025

Realtime Trains | 3Z61 0349 Crewe H.S. to Hereford | 05/07/2025

Realtime Trains | 1Z61 0558 Hereford to Carlisle | 05/07/2025

Realtime Trains | 5Z61 1242 Carlisle to Carlisle Upperby Tmd Lsl | 05/07/2025

Realtime Trains | 5Z62 1451 Carlisle Upperby Tmd Lsl to Carlisle | 05/07/2025

Realtime Trains | 1Z62 1532 Carlisle to Hereford | 05/07/2025

Realtime Trains | 5Z64 2356 Hereford to Hereford Diesel Sdgs. | 05/07/2025

Realtime Trains | 5Z65 1135 Hereford Diesel Sdgs. to Crewe H.S. | 06/07/2025

 

Looks like steam on at Crewe, leaving the front diesel on, directly behind the tender again. :-(

 

Still red fire risk so no real surprise there

 

Isn't it 220 or so steam miles over Beattock and back? That's not bad. The problem for me is more the seventeen hour day and the £270 with no knowing which loco or what the fire risk status will be.

 

A2 tomorrow, diesel tucked inside.

 

Peppercorn Class A2 4-6-2 No 60532 Blue Peter approaches Hartford station with the outward leg of Saphos Trains 'The Lakelander' excursion on Saturday 5th July 2025.



The two diesels in the formation were, hopefully, only adding weight to the train at this point in its journey!

Cheers,

 

Passing Brock

 

Originating in cider country, LNER Peppercorn A2 class No. 60532 'Blue Pete' brightens the gloom as it works 'The Lakelander' 1Z61 Hereford-Carlisle through Hincaster and onwards towards Oxenholme

 

It started to rain late yesterday afternoon and continued for around 12 hours. The rain was moderate and sufficiently heavy to deter Maisie from venturing out, she spent a couple of hours sitting on the doormat looking longingly through the open front door. This morning she ate her breakfast and then did go out, hunting in the long wet grass. She returned an hour or so later decidedly damp. She is not amenable to being dried. Diego avoided getting wet but if, by chance, he had done he would stand patiently whilst he was dried with sheets of kitchen roll. Morty didn't mind getting wet and after a night on the tiles would often return looking like some half drowned punk rocker with his fur spiked in all directions. Drying him was essential (before he sat on your knee) but he regarded the act as some sort of elaborate game where after a few seconds of drying he moved just out of reach - fond memories. So we've had 'em all from soggy moggies to merely moist pussies.

It seems to me that NR's regional manager for the NW has assumed direct control of the fire risk level, choosing not to rely on the data. Perhaps having his assets burnt has forced him to take a stand. Disappointing but maybe understandable. What will it take in the north west to restore normality? Perhaps of equal interest, is there a common sense clause in his edict that allows a steam loco to contribute if running in falling rain? I suspect not. On that basis, with a red level in force I decided against making a 100+ mile round trip in the (forlorn) hope of seeing Blue Peter under power. However, "swings and roundabouts", with the current fire risk precautions LSL decided to add steam to the front at Crewe rather Preston, so several more locations that were closer to home became available.

I chose Leyland, its the closest point to home, convenient parking and I can get "under the wires", I'm not a big fan of filming down through the OHLE, but hey ho. The rain had stopped, it was dull and grey but just as I was leaving home there was the odd glimpse of sun. The drive to Leyland was a dream, if only mid-week drives were the same. There were more empty spaces on the car park than there were cars, if only mid-week etc.

Our train was due to head north on the fast line, platform 4 offered the better angle and would be the right side if we got a glimpse of sun. However, there were two southbound trains timed to head south around the same time as 60532 headed north. I chose platform 3, the tight side but with no potential blockers. As I was preparing the northbound Tesco train flew past with plenty of turbulence, a timely reminder to keep everything secure.

A lady joined me, she is a regular at Leyland sometimes taking video and sometimes with a stills camera, today was a stills day. We checked progress as BP headed north, ticking off the locations until it reached Euxton Jn - almost here. I remembered to switch on the mic which was clamped low down on a leg of my tripod, all systems were go. There was some chatter amongst those waiting on the platforms, then a distant rumble followed by a a blast on that wonderful whistle and Blue Peter hurtled through the station. Directly behind was 57311 in non-offensive black livery, the coaches followed with D1935 on the rear - plenty of power. 18C, 4L & 67mph.