Harrogate line steam – lack of?

Good evening,

Does anyone have a definitive answer/reason why there’s been no steam action/traction over the Harrogate line since the end of the SSE in 2008? Is it lack of paths (as WCRC cited; as well as the Church Fenton – Leeds section).

Is it that most ‘large’ engines are just too out-of-gauge for the bridge by The Stray? Or is it just lack of will on the part of tour organisers – the section is too long time-wise to be used for an evening departure from York to get to the south, or would it be the ‘faffing’ of a run-round at Leeds for specials going north.

I know there is no direct access from the old Midland line at Engine Shed Jn. onto the Down Harrogate anymore, so a reversal at Leeds would be needed.

Any thoughts gents?

Stephen Holloway

 

45690 on 9/8/10.Talls Ships tour

 

i dont recall it being any longer or faffier than the current trawl around Wakey, the lack of a pick up drop off in Leeds has put me off going for 'an evening spin ' since that change..

 

A WCR driver told me the traffic from Wakefield, Castleford etc has been better than from Harrogate and Knaresbrough.

As you imply, slots on the direct York-Leeds line and at Leeds station must be like gold dust. Another factor is that the 2000 slot from Leeds in the evening which the SSE used to run in has been taken by East Coast now.

Quite a historical route of course, I remember 60007, 34092, 92220, 777 and 60800 in the 80s. Don't think I've ever seen so many people out to see a train as the day SNG first came through (?? 1982).

 

Put bluntly, your bridges are too small according to NR.

 

Isn't there a weak bridge somewhere ,hence 20s on RHTTs's?
The bridges aren't too small but due to laziness/incompetence etc.(delete as applicable) the track may be too high.

 

No, the weak bridge is near Baildon on the Shipley to Guiseley line.

As I remember 4498 worked the Circular in early August 1979; I don’t think it worked the 1978 trips but I could be wrong. 5305 certainly worked in 1978 as it scared the life out of my 10 year old sister when it burst out under the bridge near the old quarry in Horsforth, going like the clappers up the 1:100. Such unladylike language from a girl!

SH

 

Thanks,yes, Al's message caused me to go off to Six Bells Junction where from a less than comprehensive review the only year back then when 4498 did it was 1979, when it was shared with 5305 and 35028.
An even earlier special on that line was a double header of 790 and 92220 in 1976. Anyone see that?

 

I was on the June '76 trip with 92220 & 790 from Carnforth to Leeds (should have been 1000/790, but IIRC the Compound had a tube failure). We then did Leeds-Harrogate-York with 4472. ISTR it was a brace of 31s back to Leeds, then steam back to Carnforth. Great day out.

 

I did the other one. 1306 + Black 5 Carnforth - Leeds. 790 + 92220 Leeds - Harrogate -York, Class 40 York - Leeds and finally 4472 Leeds - Carnforth. Five steam locos on one tour. What price that nowadays?

 

Thanks guys, compound 1000 there was a loco. I went on the Ian Allan excursion from KX to Doncaster Works in 1959 behind 1000 and 3440. Then when City of Truro broke down at peterboro on the way back, 1000 did it back to London more or less in even time. Those were the days! Still, who would have guessed in 1976 that main line steam could be a 500 trains a year business.

 

What price indeed. Wasn't the '5' with 1306, 44932 in fully lined Brunswick Green?
Mark

 

I can't remember but somewhere I have a picture that may reveal the identity.

 

Two tours ran that day (19 June 1976), The Fells and Dales and The Gresley Centenarian. The Black 5 involved was 45407
not 44932. Back to lack of steam on the Harrogate line, didn't 46229 once clobber a bridge near Harrogate?

 

46233 not 46229.After some track maintenance the bridge was found to have shrunk in height......

 

Memory playing tricks again, I stand corrected.

 

Thanks for the info on 45407, Alan.