Pathfinder Cumbrian Fells Express: 03/09/22

During the afternoon the cloud thickened to a point where rain looked very possible. It remained warm, 21C and feeling warmer. Waterproof coat or not? I put one in the car and headed over to Wilpshire, on the M65 it began to spot with rain, then stopped. I had decided on the roadbridge at the Blackburn end of Ramsgreave & Wilpshire station. Mrs W was at the football (don't ask, again!) so it would be an approach shot only. The CFE was booked to run before the 17.19 Rochdale train from Clitheroe and RTT showed Tangmere had passed through Clitheroe 6E. With a diesel on the back there was a distinct possibility of gaining more time on the climb from Whalley.

Not many minutes passed before Tangmere rounded the curve and headed towards the station. The rapidity of the approach coupled with the sounds coming from the Bullied's chimney showed that Tangmere was more than pulling her own weight - her own weight and a fair proportion of the train! She hurried through the platforms, giving a quick whistle before passing under the bridge. The coaches zipped by followed by the diesel; that was also taking more than its own weight. 11E and 33 mph.

I hope that the passenger who was taken ill makes a full recovery and well done to the ambulance for such a quick response. Thanks to all on board who kept us up to date throughout the day and best wishes to the "Birthday Boy".

 

34067 seen from Salterwath and Aisgill from the eastside.

 

34067 passing Shap Wells and Kirkby Stephen:

 

Hopefully the pax will be OK, as if it works the same up there as down here an ambulance will only attend for life threatening injuries. My dad (96 in 10 days) fell and broke his hip in the B & Q car park in Poole. It was only due to the efforts of the store manager and one of his staff that they eventually decided to send on within 2 hours.
Great support from the B & Q staff although I guess does not look great for business having some old guy laying on the floor in the rain.
Still at least he did get a new hip the next day.

 

No sign of problems when leaving Carnforth but being less powerful than 35018 a less dramatic departure was experienced

 

A grand day out, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Yes there was a bit of shovage up Shap, but given that we were out of path and had already delayed a Euston-Glasgow express, it was the responsible thing to do. The trip over the S&C was delightful and I even enjoyed the trip home from Preston with the gleaming, freshly-painted 57s.

As a side note, it was one of the busiest days I've seen for charters. We passed the Saphos charter twice, the Statesman charter three times, and the BLS charter once.

WCR were operating 5 trains yesterday, LSL were operating 2, DB were operating 1 and GBRF were operating 1. Just goes to show how big WCR really is. 5 separate trains - all with their own locos and crew, and associated movements.

 

I travelled on Pathfinder Railtours 'The Cumbrian Fells Express' on Saturday 3rd September 2022, joining and leaving at Preston,
Sadly a lady in my coach became unwell and a unscheduled stop at Oxenholme to await a ambulance, which arrived from Penrith pretty quickly, don’t know how the lady is but wish her well.
We left Oxenholme at 12:14pm 21 minutes late, and was looped at Grayrigg, leaving 30 minutes late now, 57313 shoved all the way to Carlisle, understandably, as there was limited time for servicing before return journey, which left about 5 minutes late from Carlisle.
At Preston Tangmere and 57313 came off , and newly painted 57010/012 came on for the trip back to Bristol, not sure of the reason for this.
https://tinyurl.com/exuvfpwt
https://tinyurl.com/ythevhta

Neil

 

As I understand it the 57s were just outshopped and had done just one test run so this was there first time used in anger (a loaded 'test' I guess) There was a fitter on board who had the task of resetting the TPWS after it self-activated on the approach to Wolverhampton. I videoed them departing Worcestershire Parkway and they are LOUD. The Northern Belle 57 took 34067 back to Carnforth.