THE FELLSMAN TOURS SUMMER 2010

Here's a couple from me,

BLEA MOOR TUNNEL

AIS GILL VIADUCT

 

2 crackers again Stuart, I particularly like the Ais Gill shot.

Thanks all for sharing the other photos on this thread, Neil.

 

Our two shots from yesterday seen exiting Moorcock Tunnel and across Lunds Viaduct then seen on the return crossing Smardale Viaduct.

Available Here

 

Excellent shots Stuart. Long time since I've been to either location. AG was always a favourite of the guys I used to phot with before video, and you could easily access by walking under it from the road. Don't think you can do that since the excellent "barn conversion" was completed.

 

Cracking videos and photos of 5690 from yesterday and here is my video and i hope people enjoy the clips . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaqV6Sw2Jpw

 

Another hugely enjoyable video and it's a good job I didn't go to Armathwaite as planned or I'd have been right in your shot! :smile:

Thanks Neil and Mike for the earlier comments, and Mike someone did actually appear from under the arch so maybe access is still available from the road.

There that's the "clucking" over for today, didn't hurt did it, just common courtesy really.
If you don't like it don't read it......seemple!

 

As regards Ais Gill viaduct, the problems are two-fold. The relatively recently installed safety rail, on top of the parapit, precludes the 'classic' shot (personally, I'd have let 5690 roll a little further, until the tender was completely clear).

More pertinently, there has been a question of access. For a while, the landowner (it may have changed hands) was very 'anti' photographers being on the bankside. As a landowner (and a frequent photographer, when not on our trains!), I sympathise but good manners and ensuring no damage is done and no gates are left open, works wonders. I'm not, by the way, implying any impropriety has taken place here, merely that, in general, polite requests can work wonders and Ais Gill is a great location.

JS

 

The land to the west of the line at Ais Gill is now designated as public access, and there's a legitimate way in over a style where the B-road crosses the railway, closer to the summit. It's a longer, and more uneven, walk than coming under the viaduct but all above board and requiring no special permission. The land between the railway and the B-road is not public access, so one must either stick to the paths or seek the farmers' permission. I haven't spoken to the folks in the house at Ais Gill myself, but I've found others in the district (e.g. at Wharton Dikes and Smardale a few weeks ago) to be friendly and obliging.

It's a shame that "Hangman's Bridge" (the wooden bridge just north of Ais Gill viaduct) has been dismantled. It wasn't particularly pretty, but somehow I've really missed it on my last couple of visits.

Great shots, Stuart. Your pictures have a very distinctive "look". I really like the silhouette on Smardale viaduct, Simon. Good use of the challenging weather conditions.

 

I wanted to include an arch or two but also get fairly close in rather than the usual more open shot of Ais Gill and I did actually take a further shot but felt the loco was too near the edge of the frame and not giving it any room to run into. It's all about personal preference I suppose.

That's the way I went.

 

There actually is a right of way from the B-road under the viaduct. Coming down the hill from the overbridge at Ais Gill, the barn conversion appears on the left in front of the viaduct. There is indeed no right of way through there (and I think that a sign states 'private' on a gate leading to this). However, if you continue a short distance, the road crosses the gill (Ais Gill tha' knows) and immediately afterwards is an iron gate, through which a track winds up the hill and passes under the viaduct's northernmost arch. This is Open Access land and a sign on the gatepost confirms this. This, if I recall correctly, is also the start of one of Wainwright's suggested routes up Wild Boar Fell. Once beyond the viaduct you are faced with the problem of crossing the gill of course, which, from experience, is not to be recommended after a period of any significant rainfall (i.e. all year round up there!). So after all this waffle, I'd say it is still better to approach the spot via the route mentioned by Steamage unless you have wellies/wish to have a close look at the viaduct.

It's a shame about the railings on the parapet; to get the classic 3/4 shot, you can't get enough height to hide them. The only way is to head up the hill sufficiently to get above them and go more side-on. Lunds Viaduct has suffered the same fate and, even worse, has horrible little extensions added at each end. There was talk of Dandrymire getting them as well but it seems to have survived thus far.

 

Thanks guys for the info re access to Ais Gill viaduct. Mike

 

Anyone confirm what will be running tomorrows trip?

I'm a little cautious as to go or not with the current winds :/

 

Don't know which loco is out, but here's the forecast for Ribblehead http://www.mylocalweather.org.uk/ribblehead/

BBC currently says light rain for Carlisle-Appleby-Settle with winds 23 - 28 mph, but hey, can you rely on the BBC?

 

5690 still had the Fellsman headboard on Saturday but that may not mean she does the tour. Steve

 

Hi Steve, met a bloke from Carnforth today, he said leander was in steam, but still not certain whats running tomorrow.

 

Leander with load 11 was in difficulties by Preston. 37685 scrambled from Carnforth about 1015 to Hellifield. I've heard nothing since.

HTH

AN

 

Video of Leander heading away from Preston under Bell Lane bridge by Faringdon Curve Junction this morning struggling in horrible conditions again with the slippery rails. A potentially nasty slips was nicely dealt with while I was changing camera positions (at 1:06) so I have left the sound running under a still shot of the exhaust. I had intended to go on to the S&C but was so cold and wet by the time she arrived about an hour late that I gave up and went home. Possibly a good decision for a change as I believe she may have been further delayed at Hellifield. I do hope all is well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPos0TS9St4

Chris

 

Well I looked out this morning and really couldn't be doing with travelling all that way to sit in the wind. We all know too well when it blows on the S&C it most certainly does blow!

Hope the tour made it to Carlisle without too much of a delay.

 

Hi Chris,great video in windy conditions . This is my footage from todayhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMTixb0FP4c

 

deleted, as not see earlier post about problems .

However, I have just been told that Leander made it north - almost 2 hours late off Appleby.