RTC : The Buxton Spa Express - 14/03/26

Moves to the KWVR on the 14th, leaves again on the afternoon of the 17th and then returns late evening on the 18th.

 

thanks
Neil

 

Any timings available yet?

 

only whats on RTC website at the moment

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U76456/2026-03-14/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U76458/2026-03-14/detailed

 

Buxton spa express passing Brock 14/03/26.

 

45407 "The Lancashire Fusilier" with 47813 On the Rear.
Hauling the Buxton Spa Express, passing Bamber bridge 14/3/26.

 

45407 speeds through Littleborough.

 

45407 at Walk Mill on the climb to Copy Pit on 14/3/2026

David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

Lovely stuff,David, much more fun when its in the sun. Shame about the West Coast stock.

 

Thanks Henry,great conditions today.Yes,it looks like we are stuck with the mixed stock !

 

Yesterday was grim, we even had a few flakes of snow before the heavy rain set in. Today was much better, dry and sunny with little or no wind but cool - a good day for "puffering". My original plan to watch the train at Entwistle, on the direct route from Bolton to Blackburn, was shelved several days ago when a path through Darwen could not be found. I could go to my usual spot on Hoghton Bank but I felt in need of a change, besides which I might risk the "Wrath of Winskill" - "same old videos from the same old locations". I decided to go somewhere where no man has been before - well I have, and have some video footage to prove it, but I ain't seen another shot from this particular location.

It was "Drone Day", WistleAir was to take to the skies again, and with Captain Oswald at the controls what could possibly go wrong?

I made my way to Whitebirk Retail Park which stands on the site of the former Whitebirk power station. The line is on a high embankment and climbs at 1/118r towards Rishton - excellent! Except, yesterday afternoon I had a brief recce and from the Blakewater Road bridge (site of the former Great Harwood Junction in the vid) looking towards my intended camera position and I could spy a yellow speed limit sign. It was too far away to read 30? 50?? Ah well, 50 wouldn't matter and possibly 30, providing the diesel didn't get too pushy.

I parked on an empty part of a car park, near the line and the canal. I checked Traksy and 45407 was already in the loop at Blackburn. I waited a few minutes then set up the sound recorder and launched the drone. A few more checks on Traksy and 45407 was on her way, drone camera recording - check, sound recorder recording- check. Staring at the screen I spotted the wisp of white exhaust as the loco left Blackburn Tunnel, then the slow, steady progress as the train made its way nearer and nearer. Just before it crosses the A6119 the loco is alongside a building on the left. In the 60s I worked for several years on the top floor of the building in an office with windows that looked out on the line and were level with the rails - a treat!

As the train drew nearer it became possible to hear the steady beat of the exhaust above the traffic, nearer still and the Black 5 drowned out all other competing sounds. As 5407 drew alongside me and crossed the canal bridge it gleamed in the late morning sunshine but all too soon it had gone and the mish mash of carriages followed behind. 47813 was certainly "taking her own weight" but nothing ridiculous. 8C and feeling warm in the sunshine but the air was cool, RT and 30mph (maybe the speed limit was 30?!)

Next outing the LE move from Crewe to the Worth Valley, except . . . I made an appointment with the vet, no not for me, for Maisie to have her annual injections at lunchtime on Monday (carefully avoiding Tuesday, the day of the LE move). The vet rang back to say there had been a mix-up and Maisie had been booked in for lunchtime on Tuesday - such is life, but Maisie comes first - she told me!

And I did manage to land the drone without it hitting a building, getting stuck up a tree or me falling into the canal.



(Apologies for the long (self indulgent) video, but this is the line that I travelled most in the 1950s and then worked alongside)

Edit: The distance from leaving Blackburn Tunnel to crossing the canal is 1.25 miles.

 

Trying to hide the stock (1). Copy Pit summit



Trying to hide the stock (2). Barmoor Clough tunnel.



https://richardstevens.smugmug.com/

 

Overall, a great itinerary - reminiscent of the Cotton Mills - with scenery to suit everyone. There was a stop made at Holme, Burnley side of Copy Pit, allegedly due to animals on the line and trespass. Nevertheless, it was also great to see the former Midland route in sunshine rather than greyness! Thanks again to the organisers.

 

45407 seen at Holme Chapel before shutting off coasting along then opening up again before finally coming to a halt just short of the Tunnel, apparently due to lambs on the line then after a short while setting off again.

 

Between about the 8 minute and 9 minute points on that video we hear the air pump working but see no sign of its exhaust. Some locos air pumps exhaust up the chimney. Where does this one exhaust?

 

14/03/3026 - Stanier Black 5 Class No. 45407 "Lancashire Fusilier" on 1Z45 Hauling the Buxton Spa Express (Railway Touring Company) Preston to Buxton running through Rishton station.

 

Combs...vanishing sun (but at least the soundtrack started long before the 5 came into view)


Buxton Signal Box after watering


Heading ECS back into Buxton.


Return journey at New Mills

 

A slowed approach to Chapel en le Frith station and the return train drifting across the viaduct at Chapel Milton to follow a service train down to New Mills.

 

When we left the train at Wigan it seemed the brakes would not realease as they had 4 attempts to move off the engine slipping violently before getting underway.