WCME/CME 2024

Saturdays runs at Shap Wells & Carlisle for the departures.

 

Better without sound to be honest...

 

CME by Henry Elliott, on Flickr

 

44871 approaching Shap Summit and later on at Crosby Garrett. Does anyone know why 44871 stopped about half a mile North of Shap Summit with the Southbound trains also at a standstill.

 

Text book exhaust today:

Climbing to Grayrigg



Mallerstang




Richard

 

The warm weather puts paid to any exhaust but IR's No. 44871 puts on a fine sight as it works today's 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' through Greenholme and on to Carlisle with Mick Kelly driving, Andy Simkin on the shovel and Steve Adams Guard who will also work the return



Almost caught out by the early running No.44871 about to clear Aisgill summit

 

44871 seen from Shap Summit footbridge and Shap Summit then on the return from Crosby Garrett.

 

Well, what a week it has been (and still is)! First, and definitely most important, last Saturday Mrs W's team won at Leicester and so avoided relegation - Mrs W opened a bottle of the fizzy wine to celebrate. Another reason to celebrate, it has been dry and warm for much of the week and especially today, "Whew what a scorcher!" Finally, today in terms of heritage mainline steam is possibly unique; 4 different TOCs operating 5 trips using locomotives representing all of the "Big Four" railways.

Today was forecast to be hot and sunny - and it was. Oswald Jnr and Mrs W went out for a walk leaving just me and Diego. Diego had come in around 9am, had a drink and a light snack, presumably having breakfasted at his "other home", he then went upstairs and found himself a comfy spot and fell asleep. It was a little over six hours later when he reappeared, after much stretching and yawning he left - not a word of thanks! After a brew I gathered up my things, loaded the car and headed over to Billington; I needed to set off a little earlier than usual as it is further to drive and the train would be 10-15 mins earlier than at R&W.

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, I was glad of the aircon in the car, but how would the passengers fare in the Mk2 "coffins"? I arrived and parked near Neddy Lane, gathered up my stuff and headed down the footpath that leads towards the south end of the viaduct. I organised myself, camera on a tripod and a camera phone clamped to a fence post. (Had Mrs W been with me we could have had 2 cameras, 2 tripods and 2 locations - but she wasn't, so the wind noise on the camera phone footage is all "somebody's" fault).

A check on RTT showed that the CME had left Hellifield 4E but wasn't yet showing at Horrocksford or Clitheroe. As it was running in front of the 17.21 "Rochdale Flier", it could easily be early. At the very mention of its name, the Rochdale to Clitheroe service which would form the Rochdale Flier, appeared from the right and trundled over the Arches towards its stop in Whalley. Very shortly afterwards 44871 nosed from the trees that obscure Whalley station and eased across the speed-restricted viaduct. It was so warm that only a grey haze came from the chimney but there was steam aplenty as the safety valves clearly showed. As the loco left the Arches the regulator was opened and the sound increased, this was followed by a blast on the hooter for Billington foot crossing. 23C & 10E. A lovely scene for a lovely afternoon. If only the horses hadn't wandered away from the gate . . .

 

The coach I was in was on the tour was unbearable all day no Air Con whatsoever just glad of the breeze every now and then that came down the train. The lights also went out at one point!

 

Langwathby...


44871 at Langwathby

 

Not good to hear, I noticed that all the drop lights appeared to be fully open as it passed. It can be stifling even in mk1s with all the windows opened, I can’t imagine how hot it became. David Smith is already on record about the suitability of the mk2s during the summer, I guess yesterday proved the point.

 

44871 at Smardale with the returning CME on a very warm 11/5/2024

David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

Nice.

Is there any more info on the potential denial of access at Shap Wells? I need somewhere to go in a couple of weeks.

 

Not sure Alan as the fence at the North End didn’t have a sign saying no access plus yesterday folk ignored the fence anyway and got over it . Plenty of folk at the South end across from the monument so who knows what the heck is going on .

 

Thanks Steve. I should be across there on the 23rd. Not certain where yet, though.

 

Looks like a deer fence to me Steve.

 

Probably right David.

 

I’ve never seen a deer anywhere around Shap Wells or near the summit but I suppose that doesn’t mean there aren’t any .

 

Only when there’s a Duchess on the front

In all seriousness, yes quite a lot in the Shap area, especially the open moorland. The UK deer population has risen sharply in the past few decades.