Saphos: Blue Peter to Carlisle - 12/02/26; Sir Nigel Gresley - 11/03/26; Britannia - 8/04/26

We all know what went wrong but I think it's worth noting that everything was definitely going very much 'right' from the outset and clearly the crew of Chris Page and Jack Gresty were planning on putting on a great show.

Leaving Crewe with 8 on for about 300 tons gross we were away quickly before catching up the Birmingham - Liverpool service that called at Winsford and Hartford, so it was only by Weaver Junction that the Brit was able to really wind up. Mid sixties through Warrington and a lovely climb to Boar's Head from Wigan only dropping 2 mph from 68 through the station. Onwards into the seventies and we were only a couple of minutes outside of even time by Farington Junction when we were brought down for the Preston approach. She sounded beautiful as the Brit bark echoed off the shed roof of the station and then onwards for water at Barton. The usual late running TPE made us five late away from the water stop when the acceleration out of the loop and away was electric - six and a half minutes to Garstang and 70 mph. The booked 25 minutes to Carnforth were reeled off in 22.5 minutes with 75 ish after Lancaster only dropping to 66 at Yealand. However, after the tsr at Milnthorpe things didn't pick up as quickly as previously and the stop at the loop signal at Oxenholme brought to a sad end a great three hours.

Let's hope that all is well soon with Britannia once she has been recovered from Oxenholme Loop. Thanks must go to all the on-board staff especially the train manager for keeping us informed and arranging an extra stop homebound at Preston to guarantee that those travelling south of Crewe had options.