Border Raider 13/04/19

Three specials picking up at Crewe at the same time! 86 259 to Blackpool, 70000 Britannia just leaving for Stratford and Tornado on the Border Raider.

Only load 11 on the Raider, standard at the back.

 

Too many checks to mention but some nice running when Tornado has had a chance.

55 thro Wigan increased to 58 before a sustained 56 on the 1:104 to Boars Head.

45 sustained on the 1:99/101 after Bamber Bridge.

Short steep climb after Daisyfield Jn flattened as if it wasn't there.

Now watering at Long Preston.

 

Well, according to RTT the two Black fives did it from Settle Jct to Blea Moor in 19 mins, so gauntlet thrown down. Maybe give Tornado an extra minute for starting from Long Preston rather than Hellifield, so 20 mins to beat.

 

Going well, just north of Boars Head.

 

Not a classic run up the long drag but pleasant enough in the spring sunshine.

Clean restart from Long Preston and passed Settle Jn at 59 mph, but down to 46 thro Settle and 36 mimn after Stainforth. Rallied to 43 after the Helwith Bridge easing, settling back to 38 on the 1:100 before the Ribblehead slack.

Arrived Carlisle 17 mins early.

 

Very lucky to catch a hole in the clouds at Hoghton Bottoms...........

 

A rather impressive climb to Shap.
Through Penrith in 21m 52s at 74 mph, held 60 on the 1:125 afterwards, min 58-59. Shap summit sign 34m 31s 61 mph.

Looped Grayrigg not Oxenholme, away again.

 

Nothing special at Beck Foot as Tornado was looped into Grayrigg .

 

60163 with the return Border Raider at Barrow Mill.

 

Drifting down from Ais Gill summit and later, purring along the WCML at Woodacre.

 

'The Border Raider' hauled by LNER A1 No.60163 'Tornado' on the 13th April 2019, seen passing Nappa and Sheriff Brow on the approach to Helwith Bridge.

Video Available Here

 

Putting on a fine display at Hest Bank on the return

 

Across the rooftops of England at Garsdale troughs and a golden hour glint across the Lune at Lancaster.

Over the rooftop of England by Phoenix Images, on Flickr

Golden hour at the Lune by Phoenix Images, on Flickr

Great to see many from this board today including Henry and Kenneth, Ian Cawthorne, Dave Horner and my usual travel chums Simon, Dicky and Andrew Southwell. It's been quite a day!

 

Lovely shots John, wish I could have got out for this.

 

Did any passengers board the wrong train? If past experience is anything to go by, the departure screens at Crewe shown each train simply as “Charter” and promoters sometimes shown early departure times in their ticket letters to ensure that passengers arrive in good time - a recipe for confusion.

 

It was an absolutely phenomenal day. It's not often you can see an A1, a Brit, a Jubilee and 2 Black 5s on the mainline on the same day! The southbound run over Shap was fantastic, the timer sitting on the table adjacent to me reckoned that it was the fastest southbound Shap run in preservation.

 

Does anyone know who the crews were?

 

Outward:
Driver Pete Sheridan; Fireman Tim Steadman; TI Bob Hart
Return:
Driver Tony Jones; Fireman Andy Dalton; TI Jim Smith

Tony had never driven over Shap; Andy had never fired over Shap.

 

A raider from on high

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/156568020@N05/46876033404/

A fine display as 60163 Crests Houghton summit