46115 the Settle and Carlisle Santa Special 18/11/23.

Scots Guardsman is seen earlier being dragged to Carlisle at a soggy Oxenholme.

 

Early start for you then.

 

46115 on a fast assisted climb to a deserted Aisgill in dismal conditions, also an issue with a sticking whistle.

 

Up at 4-45 but thankfully I relocated to the station once it opened.

 

I doff my hat to you Nige being out in that weather

 

The first of 3 steam charters to arrive at York today was 46115 Scots Guardsman York with the S&C Santa special 18th November 2023
https://tinyurl.com/bdff8umj

Neil

 

And me !

 

That sticky whistle must have been driving the crew nuts.

 

I was thinking the exact same as a few years back I spoke with Gordon Hodgson after a run he did with the same issue and he said it was slightly annoying

 

Following morning rain the day gradually improved . . . slightly. Would it be dry enough for Oswald to venture over to Gargrave to attempt to video the return working? Who knows, certainly not Oswald. Unprompted Mrs W offered to come along, a bit of company and another pair of hands is always welcome. As we left home light rain began to fall - oh, b*gger! On the journey, it rained, it stopped, it rained again and finally stopped. We parked in the darkness that is Gargrave station car park at night.

RTT showed that the train was running RT or a little early. Around 15 minutes before the train was due we gathered up our necessary bits and pieces and set off along the road to the bridge at the end of the platform. As the road is unlit Oswald had his head torch and was wearing a hi viz waistcoat. It is a quiet rural location, the night was dark and the station lights down on the platform provided the only illumination - but would it be sufficient? My experience is that a modern camera phone always copes better with very low light than most camcorders. Positioned side by side we were about to find out. As we waited the lightest rain could be seen swirling beneath the station lights, just enough for Mrs W to put up her hood and to coat Oswald's specs. There was a moderate breeze blowing diagonally from left to right and towards the camera.

Checking behind, suddenly and with no sound the headlight of an oncoming train rounded the curve and approached at speed. A bit of a rush but I remembered to take off the lens cover as I started the cameras. A few seconds later SG burst out from under the bridge and headed through the station, not much lift on the exhaust. It swirled and caught in the lights and wove itself around the signal as it flicked from green to red. Then came the 47 with plenty of push. As SG moved away into the distance there was not the hoped for roar and only the occasional flash as the fire flickered beneath the smoke. Then gone. 2L & 11C but feeling cooler in the damp breeze. The camcorder footage was sharper but darker, the iphone footage was brighter and more watchable and that is what I used.

 

Very brave Nige! You came away with some unique footage!

 

46115 at Dent yesterday morning: