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Bahamas, K&WVR - Carlisle 22/02/20

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by Paul.Uni, Dec 1, 2019.

  1. bobsungod

    bobsungod Member

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    Running along the Aire valley near Cononley D91A3660.jpg
     
  2. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

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    Bahamas Railtour 22 February 2020 – 45596 Bahamas hauling 10+POB

    This was my first trip on the main line behind Bahamas. Some people refer to today’s loco as “Bananas” – number Four-Fyffe-Fyffe-Nine-Six? I have ridden behind Bahamas on the KWVR but have always managed to miss her on the big railway – until now. The North West avoided the worst excesses of storm Dennis but heavy rain and strong winds continued for most of the week. The WCML was closed for short periods as was the Little North Western; on Friday the ECS had to journey to Keighley via Blackburn with a reversal at Hellifield.

    To keep the day shorter I chose to join at Skipton; less than an hour’s drive from home. After persistent heavy rain on Friday, Saturday was dry. The road to Skipton was clear but all low lying land was covered with standing water. Earlier than planned, I arrived at the station car park (£6 but a £2 refund from the ticket office for rail users). Out on the platform the sun was shining, there was hardly a cloud in the sky but there was a strong, gusty, cold wind blowing. Our train was due into platform 3 at 09.33, problem was NT’s service to Bradford was occupying pl3 and wasn’t due out until 09.34. As a consequence Bahamas was held outside the station (out of view) and eventually arrived a few minutes late.

    Passengers safely boarded, we were off (7¾L) with Peter Kirk driving and Danny Davin firing. I was in the 5th coach and we had NO tail gunner. As we left Skipton running alongside Broughton Rd the whole area to the left was a huge lake where the Aire had overtopped its banks. The gentle climb to Bell Busk was taken in the mid to high 30s and soon we were slowing for our water stop at Hellifield. We were held for a few seconds before running in to the DGL and stopping (16L) by the hydrant. At 10.16 NT’s Carlisle bound service passed us on the platform line (and should be clear before our planned departure time).

    Although still bright cloud began to fill the sky as we left (4¼L). We were up to 40.3 at Long Preston (5¼L). As speed built the view to the left was unreal; all the low lying land was covered in deep water, only the tops of dry stone walls were visible above the surface, wind driven waves were breaking against the boundary walls. It is an area that floods regularly but the scale was something that I have never seen before. Back to business, making use of the gently falling gradient we reached 58.6 at Settle Jn SB (4½L) and a max of 59.6 just beyond. One brave group across the aisle had their toplight partially open (and they were on the windy side) so we got sporadic bursts of exhaust barely audible above the noise of the wind. We were doing well enough with 45 through Settle (4¼L) but speed soon began to fall. Travelling through the rock cutting at Stainforth water was gushing from fissures in the rock and there was a fast flowing “stream” by the side of the ballast, at one point water covered the sleepers on the Up line but was well below rail level. We were down to 27 as we entered Stainforth Tunnel and speed fell further to 23.5 at Sheriff Brow Viaduct and to a minimum of 22.9 as we re-crossed the surging Ribble at Little Viaduct.

    Speed began to recover and we passed Helwith Bridge at 24.6 (7L). On the level we reached a max of 31.6; this was a battling run as we were continuously buffeted by strong cross winds. Into the shelter of the cutting but down to 27.4 at Horton in R (9L) on the couple of brief easing (from 1/100r to 1/200r) we reached 29.6 before Dike Green. We were still doing 26.8 as we reached the first row of cottages at Selside, down to 26.3 at the second row and 25 as we reached the hamlet. Bahamas rallied and we held 26.3 as we ran alongside the road at Selside Shaw and, as the gradient eases towards Ribblehead, we reached a max of 28.9 as we passed through the station (12L). Out onto Batty Moss Viaduct where, open to the west, we were exposed to the full force of the wind, beneath us lay a large pool of standing water. Yet, dotted about the landscape, hardy souls were waving as we passed: I’m fairly sure that “Mystic Winskill” was not one of them – he has much more sense!

    We turned away from the wind and some shelter; we passed Blea Moor SB at 23.7 (12L) and with the merest acceleration entered Blea Moor Tunnel at 24.5. It was not a day for records and none were broken or even approached; Settle Jn SB to Blea Moor SB 28m 22s and Settle Jn SB to Blea Moor Tunnel S 30m 25s – never the less a job well done!

    The 20mph TSR near Dent Head is still in force as work continues on the trackside repairs and with the usual 30mph restriction at Dent we were 15L. We remained around 15L as we ran through Garsdale (57) and out across Dandry Mire (61.6) and up to Ais Gill Summit (51.9). We gathered pace as we dropped down Mallertang with 63 near Birkett Tunnel and 61 at Kirkby Stephen (14¼L) where it began to rain. With some more quick running the deficit began to fall; Appleby (12L & 57), Kirkby Thore SB (10L & 53.8) and we stopped at Langwathby for water (9¾L). As it was still raining I chose not to get out. 15 mins later we set off (½E) and the rain had stopped. Now with the River Eden close by everywhere you could think might be flooded was; as we crossed over Long Meg Viaduct (57) the river, usually comfortably constrained to the centre 3 arches, was now occupying the full width of the viaduct (and beyond) with the water swirling and angry.

    Around Armathwaite a bit of watery sunshine began to appear as we continued to make some modest gains on the schedule (around 2E). A clear run into Carlisle saw us stop in pl3 (6E). After gathering up my “stuff” I wandered to the front and, although he had left the footplate, I managed to have a brief chat with Peter (Kirk). He commented on just how wet everywhere was and how blustery it had been crossing Batty Moss (it is easy to forget how exposed it is in the cab of a steam loco) and how Danny had a tougher job than might be usual as they battled against the elements. I had a look at Bahamas and didn’t she look splendid; superbly turned out for her day in the limelight on the “Big Railway”. As I made my way to the Woodrow a squally shower struck and the wind was so strong that several people, including me, took involuntary steps or stalled until the gusts abated. The Woodrow was packed but I managed to grab a “shelf and a high stool” and had a pepperoni pizza. I still had over ninety minutes to kill and only one small errand. Job done, I decided it was not a day for mooching around so I returned to the station for a cup of tea in the “301 Miles From London” and to think about my links with Carlisle . . .

    [I have another 3 greats grandfather, William Noble who was born in Carlisle around 1780. Probably as part of the migration associated with the Industrial Revolution he was married in Blackburn in 1798 and initially settled in Darwen. He worked as a calico printer and moved around. In 1820 he was living in Horwich (before anyone even knew what a loco works was); it was here that my great-great-grandmother was born. One of William’s sons returned to Darwen and a couple of William’s grandchildren had streets named after them; still standing and only about ½ a mile from Wistle HQ. Several generations back a very distant relative of William married an equally distant relative of Mrs W – what a co-incidence!].

    It was time to cross to platform 3 where Bahamas was already coupled to the south end of the train, a brief look at the loco and then back to my seat in what was now the 8th coach. The coach was warm and the steam heating, helped by the fact that almost all the toplights had remained closed, was continuing to keep the coach warm.

    We departed RT with Mick Rawling now driving and John Rogers firing. It was a steady start and 2 miles out under the M6 (and already into 3 miles of 1/132r) we were travelling at 23.7. We continued to climb at 24/5 and passed Cumwhinton at 24.6 with speed dropping to 22 at the summit. Next comes a brief level section but shortly before passing Howe & Co SB (34 & 3L) we commenced another 3 miles of 1/132r. Speed settled around 32/3 before falling back to 30 at the summit. Downhill now and past Low House Xng (42.2 & 5L) to a max of 53.5 just after Drybeck Viaduct then uphill to Armathwaite (49.2 & 4¾L). Down the hill again with 56.1 across Armathwaite Viaduct before we entered Armathwaite Tunnel at 53. On the 1/220r we nipped in and out of the tunnels before finally we left Baron Wood Tunnel No1 at 51.5; the gradient then tightens to 1/132r to the summit (47.4). Next comes 1¾ miles of level and falling grades where speed reached a max of 63 in the dip before Lazonby. Through Lazonby station (58.7 & 4¼L) before dropping down again to cross the swirling River Eden at Long Meg (63). The usual pastoral scene (to our right) of the Eden winding its way through the countryside was today an enormous lake as we continued our climb towards Little Salkeld (59.5). We remained 4¼L at Langwathby (52.3), this was reduced to 3L at Culgaith SB (60), 2¾L at Kirkby Thore (56.7) and 1¼L at Long Marton culminating in a RT stop at Appleby. The time from Carlisle to Appleby was 46m 06s.

    We had stopped around a coach length on to the north end of the platform and I was in need of a “leg-stretch.” I took a quick walk to the front, where Bahamas was taking water from the tower, and back again; there was no ice cream on sale – it would probably have blown away. After the brief stop we left (¼E) just as it began to spot with rain – thankfully short lived. What speed could we gain to begin the climb; we crossed Ormside Viaduct at 48.4 and reached a max of 49.2 just beyond the south end. In only half a mile of 1/100r this had fallen to 46.5 as we passed Ormside (½E) but there is another 3 miles of 1/100r before any respite. Into Helm Tunnel at 38.3 and out at 35; the task was hard and speed fell to a min of 23.7 before Griseburn then rallied to 25.8 as we crossed the Viaduct and the front of the train met the easier gradients. Now on almost 3 miles of these easier grades, we sought to build some additional momentum for the next stretch of 1/100r. We were up to 37.2 at Crosby Garrett (2½L) and reached a max of 46.1 not long after leaving Crosby Garrett Tunnel.

    Next comes 5 miles of 1/100r to Mallerstang with only a very brief easing to 1/264r south of Kirkby Stephen. Already on the 1/100r we crossed Smardale Viaduct at 45.1 but despite Bahamas’ efforts the wind and the gradient pegged us back to 30.9 through Kirkby Stephen station with a min of 30.4 at KS SB (4¾L). On the 1/264r speed improved to 32.7 but fell back to 26.2 through Birkett Tunnel (at least we were out of the wind). Soon onto the 1/330r, we passed Mallerstang at 33.1 (6¼L) and reached a max of 38 to take onto the final 3 miles of 1/100r. The tops of the hills and the sides of the cutting were speckled white with hail or snow. We were now in the shelter of the hillside and out of the wind. I don’t know if it was this or the proximity of the summit that gave Mick the confidence to open her up a bit more but Bahamas dug in. We passed Angerholme at 33.4, across Ais Gill Viaduct at 32.4 and under the road bridge at 30.9. Would we stay above 30? Almost, but no cigar; there was a min of 29.8 (MP260) before I passed the Summit Board at 32.4 (7L). Appleby start to Ais Gill SB 32m 53s and from MP277.25 at Appleby to Ais Gill SB 32m 01s.

    We dropped down the hill; there was a glorious golden sun as we ran through Garsdale (55.2 & 8¼L). By Blea Moor the deficit had grown to 10½L. Some fast running down the hill reduced this to 5L through Long Preston and we stopped in Hellifield UGL (6¼L). Bahamas took on water and I took on a piece of Christmas cake – remember when the Christmas cake runs out the ice cream begins. 47.746, Chris Fudge was attached to the rear and the perfectly warm steam heating was boosted by ETH – thankfully someone opened a window. An announcement confirmed that the train would stop at Skipton to drop off passengers (Oswald amongst them) then run non-stop to Kirkstall Loop before returning on the Down line to allow those who boarded at Keighley to leave. Passengers for Haworth and Oxenhope were to transfer to a K&WVR train hauled by Big Jim.

    We arrived at Skipton and I stayed on the platform to watch the train depart; the 47 was pushing. As I left the station there was a perfectly timed, but thankfully brief, squally shower. There were no problems on the drive home and I arrived at 19.31 (14E). Mrs W was watching the football (Leicester-Man City) post match interviews on the TV. Earlier in the day there was a televised match featuring her team; playing away from home against a fancied team higher in the league they had taken a taking a 2 nil lead (hurray!) but then had been pegged back to 2-2 (oh no!)

    My thanks to all who planned and operated this trip; it must have been touch and go whether the infrastructure would hold out. The K&WVR stewards were resplendent in full uniform complete with white roses. In standard class orders for bacon butties etc were brought to your table. In addition to the usual buffet car a trolley service made regular visits. The tour booklet was high quality but may have benefitted by including times and a gradient profile (comments from the couple sitting opposite who were infrequent travellers). Sitting next to me was a member of the Bahamas Locomotive Society who was looking forward to cleaning the loco’s wheels as soon as it returned to Haworth (10pm Saturday?). It is that sort of dedication that keeps main line steam running.

    As always, it was good to have a chat with @torgormaig who was guard on the outward leg. We said that fifty years ago who could imagine that a Jubilee would ever again haul a train over the S&C, yet 5 years ago it was almost commonplace. 5 months ago who could envisage, that only 10 days apart, two different, green Jubilees would grace this magnificent route. Now we were hoping for a train double-headed with green Jubilees; unlikely but now possible. Long may main line steam continue to surprise and delight us.
     
    acorb, Haighie, 30567 and 26 others like this.
  3. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    Great shot and a perfect example of a flood plain doing its job.
     
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  4. sgthompson

    sgthompson Part of the furniture Friend

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    Second that Ralph. Also the flood plains at Settle Junction show just why houses should never be built on em :)
     
  5. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    yet when you go over Whalley viaduct, there are quite a few there which have probably been flooded recently.
     
  6. Victor

    Victor Nat Pres stalwart Friend

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    Just a personal opinion.............I don't think a Jubilee looks right with a double chimney..............much prefer the single variety.
     
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  7. Waterbuck

    Waterbuck Member

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    I Love the look, it adds variety too.
     
  8. Kylchap

    Kylchap Member

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    Maybe because it's different to what we are used to seeing. I always think the double chimney Castles look a bit ungainly, but I would never offer this as a criticism because they are such superb machines. What about the 9F? They look strange with a single chimney. My favourite loco, the V2, looks and sounds better with a single chimney, but with a double chimney it rivalled the pacifics. Priorities I suppose, aesthetics or function.
     
  9. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

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    I’ve just taken another look at all the photos and vids posted by those who turned out when the weather promised little and travelling was problematic; your efforts do you proud and provide a permanent record of the conditions - thank you. I did wonder if someone might capture the scene around Sheriff Brow and I spotted who must have been Macko by the water’s edge; cracking shot.

    We have had sleet, snow and hail showers today with heavier rain forecast for Friday. So fingers crossed for Saturday’s three trips and I hope that things improve rapidly for those suffering from the floods.
     
  10. 68923

    68923 Member

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    Seconded 100%. As good a record as your (usual) excellent log.
     
  11. Oswald T Wistle

    Oswald T Wistle Well-Known Member Friend

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    Thank you.
     

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