60007 Sir Nigel Gresley - The Festive Cracker 12th December 1997

I'm trying to work out the movements of this tour back in 1997 as a few sources don't match up. Did anyone on Nat Pres travel on it that can remember? It's unlikely anyone would have photographed it, as it ran at night.

UK Steam lists the tour as only going Carnforth to Hellifield:
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs97.htm

Six Bells Junction details it went Carnforth - Preston - Blackburn - Hellifield - Carlisle, returning by the same route, but suggests in the notes that 60007 only ran the initial Carnforth to Hellifield.
https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/90s/971212wc.htm

Maurice Burns' new book "A Passion for Steam on the Settle & Carlisle Line" includes a photo of the tour at Horton in Ribblesdale station, with the station sign clearly visible.

I've also been informed by one traveller on the day that 60007 definitely operated both north and south over the S&C and was possibly removed at Hellifield on the return.

My interpretation of the details available is that Six Bells has the route correct, but 60007 did the tour throughout northbound and was removed at Hellifield on the return.

 

I was responsible for organising that one, as the first ‘official’ spark-arrester trial, to prove to Railtrack that steam could steam operate effectively, after a very dry and fire-prone summer, which resulted in a blanket ban for steam. The trial itself was pretty much a waste of time, as the arrester mesh burnt through, fairly early in the trip, but the point was made.

The train itself was great fun, as it conveyed most of the ‘great & good’ of main line steam, at that time, and arrived back at Carnforth, very early the following morning. No.7 cleared the tender of coal by Lancaster and burned packings and pallets for the last few miles.

To answer the question, it was steam-hauled throughout, the long way round.

JS

 

Many thanks for the details James.

 

What's the photo Ian? I seem to recall seeing one many years ago, probably in one of the mags. I have a feeling it was under the wires though. It may have been on the return as I seem to recall the spark arrestor didn't look too effective!

 

Maurices' photo is from the north end of Horton in Ribblesdale Station with the headboard "Festive Firecracker" on 60007.