Saphos: The Lakelander - 18/05/19

Dalton Bank.

 

Hard to say really, maybe from a fireman's point of view but If I'm the driver I'd rather be going over Grayrigg at 45 than starting off.

 

70000 climbing at Salterwath & 45231 passing Nethertown.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/33999539258/in/datetaken-public/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/47087392414/in/datetaken-public/

Phil

 

It appears from RTT this train took the Barrow avoider which I thought usually had a box locked out on a Saturday afternoon (Dalton Junc I think) and forced trains through Barrow. So have things changed because of extra Northern services or did Saphos pay to have it manned?

 

Another addition to the Shap shots, nice and vocal.

 

Pros and cons to a layover in the loop. Good chance to rake the fire after the run up from Crewe. Whatever they did had the desired effect as one of our mates who was on said they hit a good 75 at Tebay and he was told close to 38 at the summit board. Hope someone is going to post Carnforth to Shap Summit on here when they get time to type it up. One of those days when we'd have liked to have been on both trains.

Interestingly there was a fourth Mk1 FO in the rake. Wonder if it might be used for 'just 1st' and not for dining?

 

It did take the avoider, but no idea of how it was arranged.

 

Under the wires?

 

Very good day out yesterday. I was entertaining my better half, so abnormal behaviour not encouraged. I did stand by the window a couple of times but I think I got away with it.

On this occasion I think RTT seems about right. comparing our run with Leander's, it shows what a huge difference it makes starting from zero at Carnforth up that hill. The Brit passing at say 65 16 mins Carnforth N Jct to Lambrigg ; Leander 24 mins. Then both trains 4 mins Lowgill to Tebay. Then the Brit 6 mins to Shap Summit, the Jubilee 7.5 mins. Both very good runs.

Coming back, again we had a good run with the class five on a heavy load. I would say the schedule was impossible at the northern end with severe speed restrictions at Wigton and Maryport as well as around the coast. But by using all the recovery time and pinching a few mins off the water stops we kept in our slot, a good achievement. Yes, we went via the cut off line and were held at Dalton Jct and then again at Ulverston SB. I presume the block section is Ulverston to Arnside which is around 20 mins to a unit which was running 3 or 4 late.

Thank goodness the weather came up trumps on the coast. The scenery looking up Wasdale and Eskdale from Ravenglass was dramatically moody and the three crossings of the Duddon, Leven and Kent were superb. Mrs well pleased---result after the forecast three days ago had turned distinctly iffy. The Tullie House is a superb museum.

An impressive effort by Saphos. The train itself is best in class presentationally (hissing doors and Mk 2s aside). It was a generous offer ; I wonder how many train crew shifts that took.

 

Our footage of 70000 and 45231 on the Lakelander

 

Passing through Acton Bridge today on the return to base...



Cheers,

 

One set of crew up and one set going back plus a diesel driver. Glad you enjoyed it, quite chuffed to take a five down the North end of the Coast for the first time since 44767 in 1985!

 

Hi Mike, met you briefly at Hereford on the Welsh Marches trip with Braunton last year. Re the effort required I was thinking also of the shifts on Friday and today to position the locos. And presumably they needed looking after at Carlisle.

I must say 45231 did very well -- the noisy and smoky climb at Lindal from a standing start as captured by @sgthompson was definitely impressive. I had no idea this was an historic event!

If you wanted one rail journey to describe 'What Is Britain', I think the Cumbrian Coast, including Barrow, would be my choice.

Peter

 

I'm guessing paths for charters could be at a premium if the new mine sees up to 6 coal trains a day Mon-Sat running, even with planned signalling improvements.

Jon

 

It took some planning but worth it. I'm in training and that was my first run on the five with a load but it helped knowing the road so well having been a 12D and 12A man for the last 20 years and good instruction sorted it. Seemed to go ok I think.

 

A fellow passenger here. My brother and I treated ourselves to first class, partly because second was fully booked, but also, because the price was a steal.

Totally agree with 30567. A superb day, brilliantly arranged, and with the need for two steam locos plus the class 47, a triumph of planning needing the involvement of a significant number of staff.

First class was worth every penny. Everything spotlessly clean and well prepared, complimentary biscuits, a muffin and several cups of tea or coffee outbound, and a slice of carrot cake, and more tea or coffee on the long return leg.

It does set the standard by which others should be judged, though as other posters have said, replacing the mark 2s with mark 1s would be the icing on the (carrot?) cake!

Even so, in a sealed mark 2 though, about five coaches back, we could clearly hear Britannia doing her stuff up Shap. A real treat.

 

Been trying all this week to find out what the gradient profile is for the climb from Dalton junction to the summit near Lindal in Furness as it’s not listed in the usual books etc so if anyone knows I would be very grateful.

 

Think it's 1 in 75 up the bank to Lindal Sidings if my RTC guide is anything to go by. Not sure about the other direction from Dalton Jc.

Having had a Google, it's 1 in 100 according to this:
http://locoperformance.tripod.com/edition12/mlscarnforth.htm

 

I was thinking of doing the lakelander but the 1 on 18th may no 2nd class reservations available only 1st class, i cant afford it cos i booked last minute on the pennine L.T.D. 25th may starring 6201. I was considering going on 14th August but doubting doing that 1 incase it could be a show pony Diesel assist

 

There is a gradient profile printed in the tour brochure.

It is low res and so interpreting it is not easy, but it seems to be:

(Mileages estimated from that on the profile)

Dalton J is at about mp 24

There are a couple of short sections of 1 in 250 (or possibly 230) then 1 in 150 which finish around mp 23.5
Then it rises as follows...

23.5 1 in 97
22.9 1 in 103
22.1 1 in 267
21.75 Summit at Lindal