Steam Dreams: The Lakes Express 27 & 30/9/22

Day one of this tour starts tomorrow with reportedly Braunton from London to Crewe and 70000 from Crewe to Oxenholme via the Settle and Carlisle .

 

Day 1
34046
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U14157/2022-09-27/detailed

70000
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U14160/2022-09-27/detailed

Day 4

34046
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66097/2022-09-30/detailed

 

A welcome return to the S&C for Britannia. Shame I'm working and won't see her. Sure they'll be some excellent videos to watch tomorrow night though.

 

Any idea of the stock ?

 

This will be the second trip in a few days cutting the corner at Upperby instead of going into Carlisle. I'd like to do that some time but it's not always obvious far in advance that a trip will go that way.

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U66101/2022-09-25/detailed#allox_id=0 This I guess was the stock move, Braunton stayed at Southall after the Chichester tour. That was the Statesman set but that went back a few days afterwards leaving Braunton behind.

 

Should be the Saphos set.

Andrew

 

Just seen it through Kensington, is indeed the Saphos Stock

 

Braunton at Apsley this morning...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/52388057308/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/52388242925/in/dateposted-public/

 

That the first time SD have had the Mk1s?

 

Any one know why they lost 30 mins around Rugby?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Believe so. I think now they've had a good couple of months since the move to LSL that they've been able to plan with Saphos when the coaching stock can be available.

Believe that was a water stop, maybe took longer than expected.

 

Braunton through Kensington Olympia and Harrow & Wealdstone:

 

It was 9 late arriving so 23 min lost. Everything seems to overstay the water stops now, probably missing Bells and TwoTones with their fast pumps. There is another outfit now using an ex fire pump, based at Maidstone. Both Clan Line and Bahamas have used them.

 

Awful weather but for some reason I thought it was worth the three mile drive to get it going through Leighton Buzzard. It was doing a good 75 with no diesel shovage.
Just one record shot complete with exhaust blowing down Bulleid style.

 

Went out for both, got one, got soaked and gave up. Classic Lakes weather !

 

Suns out at Garsdale so fingers crossed they pass here .

 

It seems only this morning that I had convinced myself not to go to Chapel Lane. Well, I changed my mind. A Brit, make that THE Brit, working hard at the top of 4 miles of 1/100r and a certain CHIME whistle before the bridge - too good to turn down. We hadn't had a shower but as the day progressed they appeared more likely and a blustery (and cold) NW breeze had increased in strength.

Braunton had got the train to Crewe and now it was 70000's turn. The departure was delayed, seemingly by late running service trains (24L) but such was the schedule and good running that by Lostock Hall Jn this had been reduced to 2L. The brisk wind kept the clouds scudding across the sky and we (there were 3 of us on the bridge) waited in almost uninterrupted sunshine.

There were a couple of distant chime whistles followed by the heavy exhaust beat of the Brit, audible for over 2 minutes before she appeared under the occupation bridge. Inevitably a cloud passed in front of the sun but the Brit forged on up the bank, her safety valves lifting then the sun broke through again lighting the top of the boiler. A proper "full-blown" chime whistle for the crossing. A wave to the driver who waved back and gave the thumbs up - thanks, the icing on the cake. Under the bridge with a wonderful cocktail of sounds; the heavy exhaust beat contrasting with the hiss of steam. The coaches slipped by almost silently and followed by the diesel - merely ticking over. Over to the other side of the bridge as the train picked up speed towards Pleasington and the safety valves re-seated. 12C, around 28mph and RT. Lovely stuff!

 

Spoke too soon as 70000 shut off approaching Garsdale after passing 35018 at Dent station.

 

Britannia at Hoghton this afternoon: