Winter CME's, February 2012.

Footage from today at Shap Summit and Birkett Common . Steve LMS 44932 & 45305 on The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 18-2-12 - YouTube

 

Arriving at Ais Gill in gorgeous winter afternoon sun, with a chilly breeze, who would have known that 45 minutes later I'd have been witnessing two black fives thrashing up in a blizzard?! Awesome performance and an atmospheric spectacle, although the usual disappointment of people talking and their kids running even when the train was approaching was quite apparent, again... Great day out though, video and pic to come!

 

Back with electric power now past the WCML webcam at 18.51 so about 15 mins late. Steam reported to have gone back up to Lostock junction.

 

Footage of the return leg at Ais Gill.

[video=youtube;EKCj79gZT7o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKCj79gZT7o[/video]

Hope you enjoy.

 

Deleted

 

Oh for Christ's sake - it's not some private party. These are the potential future loco crews, stewards, guards, maybe even photters etc etc and should be encouraged, not pilloried by a bunch of sad old men.

 

Three photos from today at Shap Wells (in gorgeous winter sunlight), Newbiggin and finally Gallansay near Crosby Garrett (with a snow storm passing through).

44932 & 45305 at Shap Wells | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
44932 & 45305 at Newbiggin | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
44932 & 45305 at Gallansay | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

I know everyone wants thiongs to go how they would like them, But I do actually agree with Sheff. with Tornado recently stopping at Twyford, I was really quite happy to see the number of kids marvelling and being briefed by their Mums and Dads. and it certainly was a party atmosphere. Lets hope they keep coming as you say, Sheff.

 

Was working today ( if you call taking one of my service users to Ribble Steam Railway Gala Work) until 5.00 pm and rushed down to Whalley afterwards to catch it returning in the failing light on the viaduct.
Put up 3 pictures here - Cumbrian Mountain Express - 2012 - DSC 11591 - Steaming Around the North

John

PS - he loved his day out !! - the staff were great with him also

 

Pacelweb only said he was disappointed, it wasn't a tirade or an outburst.

I don't think that justified blasphemy on this site.

 

Of course we all want to encourage younsgters to enjoy steam but they can also be educated by their parents to appreciate the courteous way in which to enjoy it without detracting from the spectacle for all concerned. Take care Sheff - you have no idea how young or old posters on this forum are ......

 

I agree, total over reaction.

Iswise is correct, good parenting involves consideration for others around you.

 

He said it was the 'usual disappointment' which to me suggests an ingrained objection to normal people and their offspring spoilling his exclusive enjoyment of the passing of the train. I'm not aware he has paid for that exclusivity? As for blasphemy, I wouldn't know anything about that. I manage to be tolerant of others without a religion, which appears to be more than can be said of the OP.

 

Matters not a jot how old in age they are, it's the attitude. When I was a kid the sight of a steam loco passing by was something to get excited about, not a funeral procession (that came later when they went for scrap). You stop them expressing their enthusiasm and you risk turning them off steam and sending them back to their Playstations. If you don't like the sounds of their glee, then don't film from public places, as they tend to be frequented by the public. And oddly, they don't know you're supposed to shut up when a train passes.

Anyway, I'm rapidly becoming disillusioned myself. This place seems no longer to be a forum for all shades of the movement, but more a photters, spotters and rivet counters love-in, with little regard for those who provide their entertainment, or the vast majority of their customers, the 'normals' who pay the bills.

 

Many thanks for the positive posts.

[video=youtube;lGkzAuuh3dc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGkzAuuh3dc[/video]

 

My lady Dees shot of the 5s at Salterwath

 

I'm with Sheff.
if my daughter decided to be vocal when I was videoing a train... She comes first every time, same goes for other peoples kids, they are just kids.

Just like being bowled out by a passing train, having a plane or car or roadworks disturbing your video, or some other photographer talk or walk in your shot.. Those a facts of life and risks you take, frustrations you face, it is after all only a photograph, video.

 

Very nice Henry

 

I agree 100%, i usually find the enthusiasm of other people, especially those caught by surprise, actually adds to the moment.

Chris

 

The Winter CME for George 18 February 2012

George Hinchcliffe, who died late last year, was one of the pioneers and stalwarts of British steam preservation. Right hand man to Alan Pegler in preserving Flying Scotsman, he will be best remembered by many northern fans as the supremo of Steamtown Carnforth in the halcyon days of the 1970s and 80s.

So it was fitting that his memorial special should be one of the new Winter Cumbrian Mountain express series, with scheduled loco Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 No 45305 joined by sister loco No 44932, a long standing member of the Carnforth stable. They took 13 ex-BR coaches from Carnforth over Shap to Carlisle, then back south over George's beloved Settle - Carlisle line.

They made a rousing start from Carnforth, reaching their maximum of 60 mph by Burton & Holme and maintaining speed around this figure until the start of the climb to Grayrigg. Still blasting through Oxenholme at 47, they powered on up the hill in the 40s, speed only dropping to 39 just before the summit. Back at their maximum through the Lune gorge, they tackled Shap with similar vigour. 50 at Greenholme, 42 at Scout Green and 35 at Salterwath were respectable figures, and they went over the summit at 31 before a rollicking run at maximum speed all the way down to the outskirts of Carlisle.

Returning over the S&C, they blasted out of Appleby to reach 58 at Great Ormside, but then slowed to only 38 at Kirkby Stephen and 33 at Birkett. Then, amazingly, they accelerated up the 1 in 100, reaching the mid forties and maintaining this right up Mallerstang, dropping only to 41 just before the summit.

On their final climb from Whalley to Wilpshire, they crossed the viaduct at 42 then plugged away through Langho in the mid thirties, only dropping below 30 near the top of the climb with a minimum of 27.

So ended a fine day out with two impressive engines on excellent form with a full train of 13 coaches over two of the best lines in Great Britain. George would have been happy, and proud.

See 16 pictures at Zenfolio | Peter Hewitt's Transport Pictures | The Winter CME for George 18 February 2012

Peter, on a lovely sunny Sunday morning in Manchester
Zenfolio | Peter Hewitt's Transport Pictures