Great Britain XVIII: 18/4 -25/4/26

That’s X-rated stuff.
If she was a horse she’d have been put out of her misery long since.
Remind me just how much people paying to be part of this? I suppose at least for those in the Mk2s their ears are spared the agony.

 

Is there money to complete the overhaul now then?

 

The route of this year's Great Britain appears to have taken some considerable trouble to avoid setting foot (wheel?) in Lancashire. Day 3 with its roundabout but interesting journey from Chester to Carlisle offered my best, and only chance to see it without travelling too far. The morning was dry and sunny with little or no wind but the forecast was for showers in the afternoon. The long layover at Hellifield allowed for a before and after shot. Rumour had it that Tangmere's recent issues would not be fixed in time and as Eddystone had just completed a couple of days it appeared to be a highly unlikely/impossible contender. 5407? Those at 10A had only been teasing Tangmere was available. (Please note, I didn't say "in ex-works condition").

First stop Gargrave where I arrived 25 mins before Tangmere was due. RTT showed 1Z10 was running RT. Out onto a quiet station where three regulars were waiting at the west end of the platform, I joined them and readied myself. The morning sun had gone - hey ho! A few minutes later and Tangmere had left Skipton, another few minutes and a distant whistle to herald that the train was approaching a Wistle of a different kind. She appeared from round the bend and hurried towards the station, a whistle, under the bridge and past. All over in a few seconds. 12C, RT & 52mph. I was the only one venturing further north - the "Tangmere Factor"!

The train had a booked 60 min stop in Hellifield DGL for water and it turned out for coal. Tangmere had to be detached to access a little used siding to take on coal. There was plenty of time to make my way to Horton in Ribblesdale. I arrived 45 mins before the train was due. The station reputedly now has a cafe, but not today, a cup of tea and a cake would have passed the time nicely. I returned to the car for a Frusli bar and a drink of water - a poor substitute. I had a mooch around the station and, as it was so quiet, decided to video from the footbridge. Oswald was in position all we needed was Tangmere. There appeared to be little/nothing happening on RTT - Tangmere was still at Hellifield! I might have called it a day but for some texts from Ralph who was on the train; the moves for coal and water took longer than planned and the train had lost its path. (Thanks, Ralph.)

The Leeds bound service headed south and a few minutes later the Carlisle service headed north (RT). The section was clear, Tangmere could now pass Settle Jn. Except the section wasn't clear as a northbound stone train had just headed out of Arcow Quarry on its way to Blea Moor - Tangmere stayed put! By now I had wandered down onto the platform to sit on a form. I heard the 66 approaching and although I hadn't planned to video it I grabbed my phone and did (sorry, a bit wonky - like me!) but part of the story. The lads at the quarry and the signaller had got their acts together and the loaded train passed through the station 10E - great stuff. Once it had passed out of the section (the signal is just north of the station) then Tangmere could leave Hellifield and a few minutes later it did.

With, I suspect, plenty of help from the rear it must have charged up the bank and had to slow approaching Horton in R (57L) as the signal still showed red. The train slowed and crawled up to the signal hoping it would change - but it didn't. The stone train needed time to complete its moves at Blea Moor before the line was clear. After a few minutes the signal flicked to green and Tangmere (and helper) moved the train north. 9C (and feeling cooler in the easterly breeze).

Not the best of days for those on board or for Oswald, but he is on a free pass. Home an hour later than planned, at least the traffic had gone. Maisie was pleased to see me - probably!

 

Think a bit of preservation history was made this morning - several have mentioned that there has been no steam through Barrhead in the preservation era.

 

No steam, they'd be wrong !. I certainly photographed Number 9 at Barrhead on 23/3/1991 on a Perth to Carlisle SRPS train, I'm sure 45407 (?) came south that way too (4/1/92 https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/920104sr.htm). Can't be altogether sure about northbound trains that way though.

 

Good to know! Think 46229 was supposed to have headed north in 1996, but little evidence beyond Six Bells, which also queries the routing. Still, very rare.

 

My understanding from a recent conversation at the lineside is that something of that sort has already happened.
Whatever the diagnosis and proposed rectification work, unless it is very straightforward, the loco can't really be spared from traffic.
Equally, one gets the sense of a feeling that a major spend might be considered by the owner as "good money after bad", considering the last overhaul was reputedly the costliest in 10A history on top of the £1/4m fine that is associated to that loco. All in all it seems like a rather unloved, albeit vital, member of the fleet. Certainly a far cry from when it was the main VSOE loco in the Riley/Bunch EWS operational era 20+ years back.