46115 Scots Guardsman "The Hadrian" 24 Oct

No wonder there were problems looking at the state of that cutting, chainsaw urgently required, no coincidence leaf fall wasn't as a big a problem when lineside vegtation was properly maintained.

 

Scots Guardsman on the Hadrian 24 October 2009

LMS Rebuilt Scot No 46115 Scots Guardsman made its first run on the Hadrian route for Railway Touring Company, heading from Hellifield via Settle to Carlisle, then over the Tyne Valley route and the East Coast main line to York.

The wet and windy weather, combined with the heavy Autumn leaf fall, did not promise well for the climbing ahead, but the Scot charged away from Hellifield, reaching line speed (60 mph) well before Settle Junction and the start of the climb. Speed had dropped to 49 by Settle, and to a minimum of 22 in the Stainforth area, where rail conditions are notorious at this time of year. Speed rose to 35 on the level stretch after Helwith Bridge, and she slogged up from Horton to Ribblehead at between 25 and 30. A lively run down from Ais Gill to Appleby and a short water stop at Appleby saw us early at the outskirts of Carlisle.

We departed Carlisle on time, closely following an NXEC HST and a stopping train. This was to be our undoing, as a signal check on the 1 in 107 between How Mill and Brampton brought us to stand in a heavily forested cutting. Linesider's YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54xxot-37qw shows the manual sanding of the line and the painfully slow restart, which left us half an hour late at Brampton.
However, we were only 15 minutes late leaving the water stop at Low Fell. After a gentle start up the East Coast main line, the sparks really began to fly after Durham, with several impressive bursts of speed followed by braking on reaching the 75 mph maximum. There was clearly plenty of power in reserve! South of Darlington, the running was more restrained, but we hit the maximum again near Tollerton, bringing a fine end to a dramatic day's running.

See 12 pictures at http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

Peter, on a grey Manchester morning
http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

 

Excellent video, Linesider! I hope you don't mind me having linked it from my post above.

When your Helwith Bridge shot started, Scots Guardsman was doing around 25 mph. She accelerated to 35 on the straight flat stretch, then dropped back to 30 at Horton. Your video clearly brings to life the wild conditions the Scot was battling against - well done!

Peter, on a grey Manchester morning
http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

 

Really enjoyed that video, thanks for posting it. I'm going to point a few folk at it to show them how to do it properly!

 

Thanks very much Peter - and I'm always pleased when people link to my videos . Thanks for the info too - it was quite an impressive display of acceleration in those cruel conditions.

Many thanks Ian - glad you enjoyed it .

 

this must be the most unreported, in terms of pics and vids, in recent memory for such an important trip. due to weather i did not turn out nor i fancy did many others. Those who did deserve a pat on the back, well done, those.

 

http://henrysgallery.fotopic.net
46115 2 pics here

 

groannnnnn, here we go again

 

I think this needs a Form 1.
Please explain?

 

Eh? whats that about? If it's a joke, we've missed it.:smt102

 

Well Victor my friend i will give you an abridged version.

Some forum members think it is acceptable to photograph or video from the wrong side of the fence. They seem to have some divine right!!!

When you point out the error of their ways, they become all aggresive, and shout you down, remember they are getting a free shot, and your enjoyment of mainline steam is being Jeopardised by them.

 

Whoa, keep of of this Victor, dangerous territory..........in more ways than one. :smt001

 

Nothing wrong with a bit of admiration, mutual or otherwise, when it's deserved!
And it was an excellent video, particularly Helwith Bridge.

 

Yes I was standing next to Linesider at Cowran, it was good to see Mr Shuttleworth out there helping with his bucket of sand.

 

And what else would you be expecting me to do with it??

I am part of the support crew, anyway, and, on occasions like that, it's "all hands to" - even for your entertainment!

JS

 

We could say, James, we could indeed ................

 

You all did a cracking job to get her going again. Good on you.