Dalesman and Pendle Dalesman 2021

Like a scene from the film Zulu the Covid Police lined the hilltops around Blackburn preventing any residents from leaving the Indian Variant infested borough. I was prepared, I had donned my hi-viz coat and hard hat and when my car was flagged down at the border a brief, " 'Electrics off in Hoghton" saw me waved through.

There were a handful of others already on Chapel lane bridge. Thankfully the rain from earlier had stopped but it remained overcast. After a couple of minutes the sound of a Stanier (Caledonian) hooter could be heard. The brisk and cold north wind swept ever louder pockets of sound towards us - no mistaking the exhaust note of a Jubilee. Alberta was working hard, now into view as she passed under the occupation bridge and curved towards us, a blast on the hooter and then passing beneath us to the summit and away towards Pleasington. No sanders, no plume at the safety valves, no sound as she headed down wind. Around 2L - a joy to behold

 

I was on the bridge at Chapel Lane with video to follow later.

 

In other times I would have stood with the video “crowd” and it may have dawned that it was you. As always looking forward to the video.

 

Alberta at milepost 297

 

Very good Ian and looked like you avoided the heavy rain I could see over Appleby from high up at Crosby G .

 

45562 @ Lazonby 25 May 2021

 

Footage of 45562 in fine form at Houghton , Gisburn Coates, Horton in Ribblesdale and Crosby Garrett .

 

A heavy shower had just passed through and it was getting brighter by the minute. Galatea was sounding superb today. Perfect job for her with load 10.

 

Alberta at Horrocksford and Stainforth Cutting this morning:

Anyone want to buy an 11 year old Peugeot 3008 - I managed to break it on the way home today!

 

Do you think she will be off to York for the season tomorrow?

 

No. 45562 'Alberta' works todays 'Pendle Dalesman' towards Ribblehead with Mick Rawling driving, Martyn Soames on the shovel and Roly Parker Guard



With storm clouds all around, a fortunate break in a downpour just as No. 45562 'Alberta' approaches Ais Gill summit with the return leg of the 'Pendle Dalesman'
with Steve Chipperfield driving and Rob Russell on the shovel.

 

45662 seen at Chapel lane, Gisburn Coates, Horton cutting and Station and Crosby Garrett.

 

Ais Gill, only minutes after a sustained downpour of biblical proportions.

 

The Ais Gill shot is superb. Thanks for treating us to this wonderful picture.

Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk

 

Great videos again Steve, you must have put in some mileage today, and a couple of different locations certainly last two ?? A good watch for us 'southerners' !

 

On the climb.

A bit of an atmospheric shot. By my reckoning (and Google Earth) it's 1.6 miles from the camera.

 

Finally, two northbound at Lunds.

 

Despite needing to cross the border (into Ribble Valley) I had planned to watch the return around Langho. My plans firmed up during the afternoon when the Covid Police evaporated as quickly as a politician's promise - "all a misunderstanding" says a No 10 spokesperson.

Still at home, I saw on RTT that Alberta had left Hellifield 39E, obviously looking for an earlier path. No time for Langho now, a quick dash to Wilpshire summit. There were three of us ready and waiting. Some quick calculations confirmed that there was plenty of time before the Rochdale service (and not after as per the booked path). This view was not shared by the Horrocksford signalman / control. We watched as the service train headed towards Clitheroe and waited, and waited until it reversed and returned and then cleared Daisyfield Jn.

Just before the booked time the exhaust could be heard in the distance growing louder, then silence (Wilpshire Tunnel). Then a sudden burst of noise, steam in the trees and Alberta came into view. The exhaust blasted skywards as she heaved her train up the bank, nearer and nearer, louder and louder, over the summit and power remained on as she passed under the bridge and curved towards Blackburn.

Despite the dry conditions the sanders were on; the tunnel and site of the old Wilpshire station can be problematic and there had been showers on parts of my journey home. Was it worth waiting for an hour and a bit? Of course it was, an ear bashing from a Jub takes some beating.

 

45562 on the climb to Ramsgreave last night. As is always the way, if it was a few minutes earlier, the scene would've been lit by a very intense light that would've been rather spectacular!

What you also can't see is the Northern service to Clitheroe that I've cropped out that bowled half the gallery...



James