The Waverley Tours 2024

I imagine the poor little thing is homesick. Plenty of TLC waiting down here in the south.

 

Note that 44871 will be on the rear leaving York.
The train reverses at Leeds and 44871 should lead from there.

 

Note that 44871 will be on the rear of the Waverley leaving York on Sunday.
The train reverses in Leeds and steam should lead from there.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U19797/2024-08-04/detailed

 

44871 seen passing Arcow Quarry.

 

44871 approaching Ribblehead station and crossing Ribblehead Viaduct .

 

44871 with the down Waverley charter on 04.08.24 - following a short time after a late running Northern service train.

 

Ian Riley's class 5 No. 44871 heads 'The Waverley' away from Helwith Bridge towar5ds Horton and onwards to Carlisle with Chris Cubitt driving and Fraser Birrell on the shovel



Making a fine sight and sound No. 44871 works the return 'Waverley' rail tour towards Aisgill summit and onwards to York with David Blair driving, Craig Todd on the shovel and Mike McPeake Guard

 

44871 seen climbing to Aisgill Summit and beyond in strong winds and light rain.

 

Bye 'ell, that's a grand shot.
And Shep has got a couple of crackers as well.
Thanks to all you fellas who get out and about with your cameras, what you produce gives a lot of pleasure to an old man who's mobility is not as good as it used to be.
Thanks again.

 

34067 approaching Ribblehead.

 

No stone train today but done by exhaust, SRBB class No. 34067 'Tangmere' works today's 'Waverley' on the approach to Helwith Bridge with Chris Cubitt driving, Martyn Soames on the shovel and Peter James Guard



With Great Knourberry Hill as a backdrop and for a change sunshine and lovely light 'Tangmere' works the return 'Waverley' over Denthead Viaduct back to York with Mick Kelly driving, Rob Russell on the shovel Steve Adams Guard



Off Denthead and on to Blea Moor Tunnel

 

Nice one Steve and an appropriate whistle , I wasn't out today but it was four years to the day that West Coast Railways sadly lost their fireman Mike Middleton RIP while on footplate duty.

 

Four years wow . Like you say very appropriate. RIP Mike .

 

In the late afternoon the clouds that had filled the sky for much of the day thinned and the sun shone, conditions that merited a trip out to see the returning Waverley, but where to go. I restricted myself to "bottom section", Settle Jn to maybe Skipton. The restart from the Hellifield water stop was tempting but I'd recently been to the Malham road bridge a couple of times and I can never find anywhere to park for the Haw Grove foot crossing, so somewhere else. Almost everywhere else east of Hellifield is downhill; I chose the easy option, Gargrave station with good parking less than 100yds away.

A leisurely drive on quiet roads saw me park a couple of minutes after 6pm, with the train due at 18.41. A check on RTT showed Tangmere had cleared Settle Jn at 18.04 (10E) and with nothing "in front" a quick stop at Hellifield could see an even earlier arrival at Gargrave - Oswald needed to be about it! I had thought to do both directions from the road bridge but the low sun and blustery wind persuaded me otherwise. With nothing due west after the Morecambe train I settled on the westbound platform. I had just prepared when the aforementioned train rolled into the station where about a dozen people got off, a surprising number considering the station's rural location and the fact that there was only one car on the car park. A guy with a bike came along for a chat then moved across to the other platform to await the next train back to ?

The sun dipped lower, still on the "right side" but increasingly more directly into the lens. Not much action on RTT until suddenly 18.31 (4E) appeared for Hellifield and at the same time 18.391/2 appeared for Gargrave although it was only 18.33 and the train was nowhere to be seen. (A similar thing happens with westbound specials a time appears for Gargrave at the same time as the Skipton time appears. Perhaps this is an issue regarding how the data is entered.) Around 10 minutes after Tangmere reportedly left Hellifield she appeared in the far, hazy distance. Like a wizened, old gunfighter she came out of the sun and was certainly approaching at speed along the (down hill) straight and in very little time she charged thro' the station. The coaches sped by and hanging onto the rear was 57.313 Conwy Castle (no push required and none given). 16C, RT & 58mph. Bill, the bike rider, was impressed by the speed (and so was Oswald, not so much by the flare from the sun - hey ho!) No-one on my platform (hurray) and only 4 on the other.

In other news, Diego has gone on his holidays, he never says when or where he's going, sends a postcard or even a text - but what do you expect from a cat?! He'll probably be back on Friday, hungrier than ever. The much anticipated wimberry pie failed to materialise, Saturday's wimberries had been promised to an elderly friend of Mrs W's. Mrs W has set off this morning for what she thinks will be the final pick of what has been a very poor year, fingers crossed for a pie. Finally, the football season is underway, Mrs W's team has won 2 drawn 1 and sold their best player - again!

 

34067 seen on a grim outward leg from just below Selside Shaw and in between showers.

 

Nice one Nige , sounded sweet in the gloomy weather .

 

Definitely not the day for being out too long.

 

34067 on a grim return leg from above Birkett Tunnel.

 

Dismal weather on the S&C today as SRBB class No. 34067 'Tangmere' seen crossing Marshfield Viaduct with the northbound 'Waverley' rail tour 1Z67 from York to Carlisle with Mick Kelly driving, Clive Gault on the shovel and Matt Miller Guard



Horrendous conditions greet No. 34067 'Tangmere' as it emerges out of the mist rolling up the valley heading over Denthead Viaduct with the return leg of the 'Waverley rail tour 1Z69 from Carlisle to York with Chris Cubitt driving, Matt Souithwell
on the shovel and Harry Harwood Guard. Autumn colours now starting to show.



Approaching Blea Moor tunnel

 

What a superb shot to conjure out of a foul day.