Dalesman 2020

The cloud may have rolled in, but the sound of an unassisted 'Scot' with load 13, over the Settle & Carlisle was totally worth the trip north! LMS 7P No.46115 'Scots Guardsman' is seen hauling the return 'Dalesman' at Waitby Common on the 15th September 2020.

Video Available Here

 

Great shot - whilst the camera and mic relay the superb performance, the sheep test (how fast they run) is the real seal of approval; those two deserve places in the national. Coming too, after weeks of dirty diesels grumbling past; they knew this was something to truly take notice of.

 

Sunny weather and the wonderful sight and sound of 'Scots Guardsman' as it works 'The Dalesman' through Selside with Steve Chipperfield driving and Craig
Todd on the shovel.



This time under threatening skies 'Scots Guardsman' drifts over Batty Moss Viaduct with the return leg of 'The Dalesman' with Mick Kelly driving and Rob
Russell firing.

 

I can't recall a time when either Scot has been assisted o'wer the Midland.

 

That looked at about 35+ over Ais Gill, that's some going for a class 7 with 13 on the hook. These are the type of performances that us video folk crave for !

 

Even better than that, Liam. Timing between the occupation bridge at Angerholme and the road bridge (on @nige757's excellent video) gives 43mph. On 7 Aug 2017 the same loco with the same load and the same crew also ran the last section to the summit at 43mph - I was travelling on it and the sound was awesome.

 

Can't see a Castle doing that..

 

Looking again at @iancawthorne site, the performances this summer by 46115 have been outstanding for any class ever.

 

Relentless is the way to describe the phenomenal performances 46115 and her crews produced yesterday. Steve Chipperfield and Craig Todd keeping the needle hovering at a constant 43mph in the two miles leading to Helwith Bridge and a whopping 48 to well by Selside Cottages. Settle Jn-Blea Moor Box 19mins 28secs and Hellifield-Carlisle 98:22 including nearly three minutes waiting to slip into platform 3.

A frustrated Carlisle-Appleby dash caused by being checked twice by the late running Leeds service (but with a raucous shout to 49 on the rise to Langwathby) probably gave Mick Kelly and Rob Russell the incentive to absolutely let rip to Ais Gill! The soundtrack for the next 25mins or so was to die for; an unbroken, snarling, deafening roar which sent sheep in all directions, not knowing where to escape this cacophony! This is what it all looked like:

Ormside: 54
Griseburn: 39
Smardale: 52
Kirkby Stephen: 41
Birkett Tunnel: 39

The next stretch was notable for several reasons. By the time we exited the tunnel, speed had dropped back to 32 possibly due to a slip which wasn’t felt but now began a steady acceleration to 43 at Mallerstang. But, for the next mile or so we were still accelerating! 44.5 was attained and we were not prepared to concede too much below 43 until MP 260 where the absolute minimum was 42. Appleby-Ais Gill 26:39 and the Blue Riband section 21:30.

This was mainline steam theatre at its finest and thank you to all involved at West Coast and the onboard team for giving us these opportunities during these bizarre times.

 

Considering that the original design concept for the Scots was an LMS version of a Castle, I would be very surprised if the power outputs in equivalent conditions would be much different in either direction. However, as Tuplin pointed out many years ago, while a loco (any loco) can deliver extra power for a short time while the steam pressure, the water level in the boiler and the amount of coal on the grate are all decreasing, sustained power depends on how fast the fireman can shovel coal, provided only that the loco can use all that coal to produce steam.

 

5043 has the t shirt already.

 

Very true but definitely not with thirteen on unassisted I suspect

 

Hi Mick, I have sent you a private message (in your Inbox by now)

Cheers

Peter

 

Any news as to what is on The Chester Dalesman tomorrow (Tuesday 22nd) please?

Peter at the end of bright but cool day in Manchester
https://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

From Hellifield Station Cafe live streaming on Facebook, it looks Like BIL

 

Thanks for that

Peter in Manchester

 

BIL going well with load 11 passing Horton and Ribblehead Railcams.

 

35018 British India Line at Hellifield and Long Preston

 

'Twas my turn at Selside this week: