Waverley 06/09/20

Bit late to ask, RTT is indicating a loco change along the way, I thought it was steam throughout, does the steam come on at Hellifield or York?
Thanks.

 

Just seen "Alberta" shuffling around at York on Railcam so all as normal by the look of things

 

thanks.

 

Just left York behind "Alberta"

 

45562 at Risehill Tunnel .

 

45562 exiting Blea Moor Tunnel & entering Dentdale.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/50312223547/in/datetaken-public/

Phil

 

My pic of alberta in carlisle reversing up to the upperby triangle but it had a bit of a slow struggle up the long drag with 11 carriages on but on time into carlisle well done yet again to R.T.C. and W.C.R.C. for doing a good tour in these uncertain times.
Davo 56F

 

Link to todays footage of 45562 Alberta on the Waverley

 

A good climb from Appleby to Ais Gill - full report of the day to follow later...

 

North bound approaching Rise Hill:



South bound at Waitby:






Richard

 

Passing Greengates, just in time for the cloud to clear...............phew!

 

Very nice Steve - that's where I was going to go but I wasn't sure it would clear......

 

Thanks Richard. We weren’t sure either, a big gamble!

 

Very good Richard especially the Waitby shot and we were very unlucky at Risehill with all the lovely gaps in the clouds but obviously when Alberta appeared no sun

 

Approaching Kirkby Stephen with the return Waverley

David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

David having seen yours,Richards and Steves excellent shots this was obviously the area to be in for the return.

 

Approaching Langwathby for its water stop, No. 45562 'Alberta' heads the 'Waverley' rail tour from York to Carlisle with Chris Cubitt driving and Clive Gault
on the shovel


In lovely evening sunshine, 'Alberta' works the return 'Waverley' through Birkett Common with Mick Kelly driving and Rob Russell on the shovel

 

The Waverley 6th September 2020 – Part 1

The last rail tour I had been on pre-lockdown was with 45596 Bahamas from Keighley – Carlisle and back. My first foray back into the rail tour scene also featured a green Jubilee from Keighley to Carlisle and back, a rake of maroon mark ones, and climbs to Ais Gill summit in both directions. There were, however, a number of differences. First, the weather. Secondly, the train would not be departing from the Worth Valley side. Thirdly, I would be driving to Keighley station. Fourthly, it was to be a single chimney variety – my first ride behind 45699 Galatea disguised as 45562 Alberta. Fifthly, the load today was twelve coaches as opposed to eleven in February.

One point of similarity as well as difference is that I had heard or viewed the empty stock movements for both tours from my bedroom in Haworth. On the February tour, I saw and heard the exhaust from Bahamas on the rear of an empty stock movement to Oxenhope, assisting the Worth Valley diesel from the rear to get the eleven coaches up the 1 in 68 to Oxenhope. On today’s tour, I viewed Alberta on my phone through the York ROC1 webcam, backing the ECS into York (with the Minster in the background), before setting off right time with the train I would soon be boarding.

Final preparations complete, I drove down to Keighley and had strolled down to platform 2 for the first time in many months (I have fired 43924 for four round trips a few weeks back in the meantime). I was expecting to wait at least 10 minutes, but was slightly surprised to hear an announcement straight away heralding the arrival of a charter train in platform 2, and even more surprised to see RTT showing it about to arrive in Keighley, which it duly did. The train waited time at Keighley while I boarded and got settled down and departure was as booked at 1114.

Driver Chris Cubitt eased the green machine out of Keighley. Once out of the suburbs a wondeful Jubilee roar could soon be heard. 50mph through Steeton, about 6m20s from Keighley, 51mph through Kildwick, about 8m15s from Keighley, and the lovely three cylinder music could be heard from the open window at my seat at the front of the fourth coach (J). Looking forward to the Dales, there were patches of sunlight but also significant clouds. We maintained 51mph through Connolly, about 10m 5s from Keighley, with scores and scores of Canada geese in the fields before Skipton.

We stopped in Skipton almost exactly 15 minutes after leaving Keighley; Skipton being the final pick up stop.

Driver Cubitt made a determined start from Skipton, doubtless aiming to make good progress before the start of the first significant climb which would beckon around milepost 224.

By milepost 223 the driver had worked Alberta up to 38mph and soon the gradients began to bite on the climb to Bell Busk and beyond. We met mp224 at 37mph. Half a mile further on speed had decayed a little to 35mph but with a determined roar from up front as leaves and twigs began raining down from overhanging trees. A mile further on (mp225.5) and speed had only decreased to 34mph, as Alberta set flocks of sheep running as she ploughed on. The minimum speed I recorded on the climb was 31mph at mp226.5, with the temporary respite to 1/300 between mileposts 227 and 228 causing speed to increase from 35mph to 37mph with the roar getting steadily louder. The steeper gradients resumed at Bell Busk and speed gently declined before settling down at about 32 mph up to the summit. The nine miles or so from a standing start at Skipton had taken around 15 minutes – not bad for a 5X with 12 on the hook.

TO BE CONTINUED…