Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 2016

Agreed by me too, although her closing words "on board the Flying Scotsman" weren't quite right.

 

Running in dire conditions LNER A3 No.60103 'Flying Scotsman' is seen making its mainline debut hauling 'The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' on the 6th February 2016. Unfortunately as the day progressed the weather deteriorated further with strong winds and persistent rain.

Video Available Here

 

!l

And after all that effort the train was only 6 late arriving in Euston and FS 33 early in York . Not many would have banked on that in the circumstances.

 

Did you mean to do that ! Very clever ....

 

Does anyone know who the drivers were on both steam legs, Carnforth to Carlisle to Farington Jct?

 

Anyone got any timings and speeds? Amazed not to see an on train report. Did everyone's GPSs fail 'cos the weather was so bad?

 

The GPS wasn't affected but the idea of it failing occasionally popped up in my mind the weather was that bad, especially on Mallerstang. Carnforth to Carlisle was completed in 20 seconds over 82 minutes after a very competent tackle of Grayrigg and Shap; the former was disrupted by the need to visit the loop but before that the climb was handled well with 47mph recorded at Oxenholme. After a wait of seven minutes the A3 was soon on the tail of the 09.30 ex-Euston and was soon hitting 67 at Tebay, 56 Greenholme, 44 by the site of Scout Green box, 40 Salterwath before sailing over the top at 38; that three-cylinder beat was an absolute delight to listen to, Ian Riley and team deserve our never-ending thanks for what they have achieved. Onwards to Carlisle, speed rarely dropped below 70 with the highlight being the baring down on Penrith at 72. An unchecked run into Platform 3 25 mins down saw a sea of people greeting our arrival, it did bring a lump to the throat seeing Scotsman back where she belongs surrounded by thousands of well-wishers.

Departure from Citadel was 11 down and we were soon arriving at Howe & Co Sidings ready to run single line again to Culgaith, this time there wasn't as much waiting around and we were soon arriving at Appleby 48 down. Sterling work with topping up meant we were underway in ten minutes and 60103 was soon at Ormside after a very vocal departure; the 63 at Ormside suggested fairly substantial diesel assistance but this was a day where it was wise not to attempt any heroics and it was understandable that the A3 was allowed to go gently on the 'Drag'. We had 55 at Helm Tunnel, 49 Griseburn, 56 Crosby Garrett, 60 Smardale, 10 Kirkby Stephen, 39 Birkett Tunnel, 50 Mallerstang with 48 achieved at Ais Gill in 24 minutes. Now we were making our descent through the gathering gloom with more crowds coming to watch Scotsman, it could have been 1968 and 1T57 all over again at Ribblehead with the B6255 lined with cars! Arrival at Hellifield was 37 mins down with departure being made 40 mins in arrears but like with the Duchess, Clitheroe was clear for us but we were checked at Whalley station to around 10mph before setting off for Wilpshire, with 38 at the summit. Farington Junction was reached 32 minutes down after a very successful day for 60103.

Performance aside, the 6th February 2016 must surely go down in history as one of steam preservation's most unique and special days. To have Flying Scotsman and Royal Scot making their inaugural mainline railtours in one day and to see the gremlins that had previously plagued them were well and truly out of the picture goes to show the outstanding work that has been done on them. Seeing 46100 depart triumphantly out of Crewe before I set off to Carlisle was an added bonus. And with Tornado hauling one of Britain's most prestigious trains and The Unknown Warrior becoming a 4-6-0, it doesn't get much better than this.

 

Ron Smith to Carlisle, think he was on as far as Appleby but don't know from there to Farington Jct.

 

Thanks.
As an ex Copley Hill (Leeds), loco depot, engine man, he may have been on the footplate of FS in BR days from 1961, so it was good to see that he was rostered for this first main line passing carrying FS run.

 

So according to icons of steam Royal Scot shall be doing WCME on March 5.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Excellent news!!!
Hate to say this, but wasn't the 5th March WCME suggested as a Royal Scot working in the Beano some months ago

 

This cracking Footplate video of 60103 from Saturday has been uploaded by the NRM on YT. 60103 sounds very good indeed from the footplate:

 

Landslip at Appleby has now closed the S&C line completely. Part of the embankment slipped into the Eden. Network Rail claim the line will be closed for "many weeks" with rail replacement buses operating between Appleby and Carlisle. Not looking promising for remaining WCME's now. Assume that they will be cancelled or postponed as a key part of the route is not accessible.

 

Or return via Shap with steam on/off at Crewe.

 

It's nowhere near Appleby - it is at Eden Brows. Please see my post earlier today in ;What's Going On' for a fuller report.

 

Can't understand why the various announcements from Network Rail are describing it as "the Appleby landslip", when it's some 25 miles away from there!

 

Quite agreed. But Eden Brows, Cotehill or even Armathwaite are probably too meaningless to most that they have chosen to say it's near the nearest town/city, which would actually make it Carlisle. I can only assume that they have gone for the second nearest on the line, in Appleby, so that undue interest/concern from passengers on WCML services is not raised.

 

Ah yes Eden Brows - that well known tourist attraction that everyone on the planet knows about... Centre of the unknown universe!

 

Rivet counter!

 

Just got this from RTC. Don't think the Duchess will make it round the coast, Royal Scot please (not 8F and not a 47). Good info - well done RTC!

NEWFLASH


The line between Settle and Carlisle has been closed with immediate effect, by Network Rail, for emergency repairs following landslides caused by the recent bad weather in the area.


Currently the anticipated date for the line to reopen is 8th May. We have therefore made arrangements for our Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express trains and other trains which use this route to return via the very scenic Cumbrian Coast line.


For our Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express trains we expect the departure times will remain the same as advertised with an approximate departure time from Carlisle on the return of 14.10. The final timings will be issued to you with your boarding pass. For Preston passengers this change will mean that there will be no service train required as the train will now be routed via Preston in both directions.


Please accept our apologies for any disappointment thischange may cause due to a situation outside of our control.


Kind regards


The Railway Touring Company