CME 2023

Scots Guardsman approaching the throng of admirers at Salterwath.

 

A friend of Mrs W's celebrated her 100th birthday this week, she remains active and still drives (and so does Mrs W - who I hasten to add is nowhere near that old and looks considerably younger - than she is. Best stop now Oswald before you dig yourself into a hole. Anyway, it set me thinking when Elsie (not her real name) was born the LMS was only a few weeks old and theoretically could have operated a train that ran over the route taken by the WCME, but I suspect that LNWR trains still ran on LNWR metals, Midland on Midland and maybe it was only Lanky engines that ran up Wilpshire Bank - which is where I was headed. Whatever the loco might have pulled the 1923 train it wouldn't be a Scot nor would the train have been banked by a diesel.

I arrived on a deserted R&W station about 30 minutes before the train was due and it was still passably light on what had been a dull day. A check on RTT showed the train late into Hellifield. If it ended up behind the 17.21 Clitheroe-Rochdale train then it would be pitch darkness. Luckily 46115 was let out (8L) in front of the service train. [Allowing the WCME to run first caused the service train to be held for several minutes at Whalley waiting for the section to clear]. Would SG be able to claw back any of the delay? The answer was no, 8L at Clitheroe and through R&W 10L but it was a splendid spectacle.

In something darker than the camera suggests, SG blasted her exhaust skywards as she forged up the hill, the station lights shining on the smokebox door, the noise of the exhaust building to a crescendo as she passed through the platforms. Alongside now and the cab illuminated by the glow of the fire, away under the road bridge, the exhaust trapped underneath the deck, a swirling vortex of yellow and orange smoke. Then away up the hill, the carriages slipping by, the distant flickering of firelight in the exhaust before the tail light on the last carriage finally disappeared from view.

Thanks to all those (both trains) who made today such a memorable one and I hope that all those who travelled had a good day.

 

From one of the galleries on Shap today, 46115 slogs up the climb.

 

I think we must have been standing together.

 

Shap and Ais Gill

 

46115 Scots Guardsman seen from Scout Green through to Shap Summit

 

LMS 7P No.46115 'Scots Guardsman' hauling 'The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' on the 11th February 2023. Seen passing Shap Wells and Armathwaite.

Video Available Here

 

How the day went.

 

46115 Scots Guardsman seen climbing to Aisgill Summit.

 

Collaboration, not Competition.

 

Went over to Preston and Carlisle yesterday to see the 2 Royal Scots on railtour duties
https://tinyurl.com/43bzpcbe
https://tinyurl.com/yf2765we

Neil

 

Another view from Citadel as 46115 pulls forward for turning and servicing, the platforms packed and a Pendolino occupying the line where 46100 stood 15 minutes or so earlier...


46115 departing Carlisle Citadel

 

And its progression along B road.

Can I book some Photoshop lessons, Ian, please?

 

Fantastic. Raw steam power. Many thanks for that. Don

 

For anyone who wants to browse them, here's the bank climbing sections.

 

I made sure the mic was properly connected yesterday after the mess I made three weeks ago.


EDIT. That link is hanging up for some reason. Press Watch on Youtube to view .

 

Great shot skip. I was thinking about this yesterday and reckoned that London Road would be the only place where you could catch them both together. Good to see you, by the way