The Royal Scot, Thursday 6/11/25

I mentioned the Carnforth Jubilees. The best I had was on 17th February 2018 when 45699 did Carnforth to Carlisle in 69m 53s with 11 for 405/435 tons on the CME . 35.5 Yealand, the same at Grayrigg, 72.5 before Tebay and 28 minimum up Shap but then 29.5 at the top and speed almost held at 30 for the last half mile. Driver Mick Rawling and fireman Chris Holmes, that master of how to fire Jubilees. Without doubt this run in is my top few I have ever recorded with steam. What a shame that the Carnforth Jubilees no longer work on the main line. Uncontested at number one is of course 35012 on the up Belle on 4th April 1965 when it produced 3,000 IHP at Roundwood doing 76mph. The fireman told me he kept the exhaust injector on all the way up the climb and we streaked away to 83 mph once over the top. Full regular all the way and 27% cut off for the final 8 miles.

Don

 

Looks like hard work from Fireman Fletcher on Beattock

 

Yes Al quite right I was writing from memory. What Brian Smith actually said was ‘ I had to put on the second injector for a while’

Don

 

The gift that just keeps on giving. Using my GPS data I took a look at the horsepower figures for the northbound climbs of Grayrigg and Shap. Before I started I finally got round to comparing the NR gradient data (as measured) with the much published gradient profiles. The gradient for the overall climb of Grayrigg is identical, (despite some variations along the way). Shap however, is not as steep as shown on the profiles, the 1/75r is measured as 1/76r, there are other differences. Using my GPS data, the NR gradients and the RPS spreadsheet gave the following EDHPs. [Caveat; although the RPS spreadsheet performs a calculation, a warning is given that the calculation contains some approximations and the answer is rounded to the nearest 25hp and adds that 50 or 100hp may be more realistic. Any inaccuracies/uncertainties in the data entered will introduce further uncertainties in these figures. But it is the only thing we've got!]

Grayrigg (MP13-MP26) - Average EDHP = 1350 (Duration 13m 30s, av speed 57.7mph)

Shap (MP31.5-MP37.25) - Average EDHP = 1750 (Duration 5m 30s, av speed 62.7mph)

Both figures fully commensurate with Mike's statement on how 71000 was driven. A couple of cracking climbs.

No firemen were harmed on this journey - nor should they ever be

 

Hmm, think I have that on video somewhere. If I can find it, I shall try to post it...

 

I have video of that run at Elmshore, near Holme, Shap Wells and Plumpton.

 

Here's a YouTube one I noted years ago.


Edit. I just looked up the tour details on Six Bells. Quite a marathon!
https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/100906rt.htm

 

Had a couple of appointments at Bristol Eye Hospital since the train so a bit late finishing the spreadsheets of the timings.

Here are the on the day timings in pdf form. The thread has raised many interesting points, not least about the high standards pf mechanical excellence locomotives need to have to run on the serious mainlines. Last Thursday we really did 'no more' than kept to time. To do this as well as the superb climbing, on the outward run in short or longer stretches 71000 covered close to 56 miles at 70mph+, and that was non-rounded as there were miles done in the high 60s. The return was 'quieter' but still had 35 miles at 70mph+.

Not fond of autumn/winter trains as the returns are in the dark. Might have got Carlisle to Shap posts with the originally quoted departure time; but not at 1714. My GPS does have a Trip Odometer with 1/4m divisions up to 99.99 miles so I used that and anything visible lile loops and Penrith station. The readings were very close to the actual mileposts.

I've added the full outward; then bite sized sections. Only included Carlisle to Shap Summit for the return.

 

I might as well continue the digression, or is it now considered an infraction?

Anyway, @Big Al could have been in this shot at Wimbledon footpath, but I haven't heard that you were there that day Al.

It's 35012 running ten early at Wimbledon on the amazing day that big brother Don was onboard timing it. As per his quoted post above.

Bryan - fully paid up member of Dinosaurs-Are-Us - B

 

Not quite what I was looking for, but here are 3 shots of 5690 Leander that didn't make it onto the final disk: at Ais Gill on 1st Sept. with The Fellsman and then at Greenholme and Plumpton (near Penrith) on Fri 3rd Sept with The West Highlander. I'll need to do a little cutting and reformatting to get the section I want onto YT.

 

Footage of last Thursday’s (very) special run:

 

The full day's footage from 3rd Sept 2010 is loading to YouTube at the moment. Eventually, you should find it here:

It's nearly 21 mins long, so if you just want to see the climb of Beattock, skip to 10:12. You can go back to see Milnthorpe, Greenholme/Shap, Plumpton and Ecchilfechan later ;-)

 

Many thanks, Al, a day that belongs to 71000 and the Trust. One of those runs you want to see from the lineside but also be on – sounds like you and everyone else on board had a wonderful day. If this was 2006, Ralph would no doubt have got a great on-board video, those were the days.

 

Lovely sequences, superbly filmed.

Is that using a nice heavyweight fluid head tripod - or is it the anti shake in the software - Maybe a combination of both because the pans are so smooth.

Plus a steady hand of course.

Back in the days of my BBVP filming South African steam (then German etc ng ), once I had got going and purchased Sony Pro gear I used a Vinten 5 tripod. Very large and heavy, and it was vital to get my feet in the going away shot position to keep everything steady and to avoid tripping over one of the legs during a pan!

I used that for my last four week trip to SA. And as it was a vital part of my filming gear I literally ran onto the B747 at LHR with it after check in, and, very thankully it was a one of the latest 747s with big overhead lockers. And I had very quickly got it up in the locker above me before the staff caught up with me, asking what was all this about a massive piece of hand luggage? And I just sat in my seat with a smile, and said no problem, it's hardly taken up any space in the locker. Whilst between my feet and forced partly under the seat in front was my adapted over size bag with my cameras etc in it.

But it cost me £80 excess baggage to bring the tripod home from Jo'burg. I was exhausted after driving nearly 10,000 miles on mainly dirt roads, and the layout of Jan Smuts airport was such that if I had tried to make a dash for the plane after check in, the snipers would have had a clear shot at me!

Bryan - dinosaurs now use Nikon DSLRs just for still photos - B

 

Many thanks, much appreciated – a bit of both, as you say. My tripod is far too heavy really but I’m used to it so I don’t mind. Even then, a good wind will always move it, much as with traffic lights and street lights etc.

 

It was watching videos such as yours, of such superb quality that made me give up my attempts. I realised that no matter how much I might spend on kit, (not that I did spend much ) I'd never get close.

 

That's very kind, Rob, but also sad to hear, I say get out there this weekend with that video camera again!

That being said, when AI starts generating mainline steam videos en masse, we’ve all had it.

 

I've not given up entirely on recording steam, but have swapped back to how I started, with still photography