Dalesman and Pendle Dalesman 2021

Footage of 46115 at Horton curve, Horton cutting , Barrow Mill and leaving the loop at Eden Valley .

 

Putting on a delightful sight and sound, No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' works the 'Dalesman' away from Langcliffe and onwards to Carlisle with Mick Kelly
driving, Rob Russell on the shovel and Roly Parker Guard



Royal Scot class No. 46115 'Scots Guardsman' working 1Z54 the return leg of 'The Dalesman' through Shapbeck Gate with Mick Rawling driving, Craig Todd
on the shovel and Roly Parker Guard

 

Link to my footage of 46115 at Horton station

 

Cracking shots Shep especially the 1st just hope they don’t get removed

 

46115 seen at Horton Curve, Horton Cutting, Barrow Mill and departing Eden Valley Goods Loop.

 

Report on the Dalesman 22nd June. A successful and enjoyable day, with fine and dry weather throughout but somewhat cloudy in places. The two 37s delivered us on time at Hellifield where 46115 was waiting; with the support coach load was 13, around 474 tons tare 495 gross full as far as social distancing allowed. We left 4 early with a quiet start but 36 mph by Long Preston by which time the Scot was working well, accelerating to 58 mph at Settle Junction. Speed only fell gradually on the first part of the long drag, 47½ through Settle, and a minimum of 35 at Helwith Bridge. Engine was opened up on the easing of the gradient after this with a superb thrash to 41½ through Horton and an acceleration on the subsequent broken stretches of 1/100 to 42½ at post 243, 44 at post 244 and a minimum of 43½ before post 246 where the loco was eased for Ribblehead. After a minimum of 23 before BLea Moor the tunnel was entered at 30 mph. Not a lot to say about the run on to Carlisle with slacks between Garsdale and Moorcock Tunnel and again between Mallerstang and Birkett and a brief signal stop at Kirkby Thore, presumably because of something ahead. After another slack at Cumwhinton two signal stops on the way in put us into Carlisle around 6 late.

Return departure was on time. Not sure what happened about the booked stops at Plumpton and Oxenholme as the trains behind us were on time at Carlisle according to the screens, but the only stop was in the loop at Eden Valley Junction where three overtook before carrying on to Carnforth to arrives 28 minutes early. Steady acceleration up the initial 1/132 from Carlisle to 33 mph at Wreay, then 44 at Southwaite, 55 at Plumpton, 62½ through Penrith passed in 28 minutes (I was near the back of the train in this direction) and 64 at Eamont before going in to the loop with a long crawl to stop alongside post 47½ in 35 m 46 s. This is certainly not the easiest place to get away from, right at the bottom of the long 1 in 125, a slow but sure acceleration managed 35½ at Harrisons sidings with the loco blowing off before Thrimby Grange, subsequent speeds 43½ on the easing of the gradient after Shap station, minimum 36 after post 38½, past the summit sign at 40 mph 20½ minutes from the start and continuing to arrive in Carnforth loop 59m 24s after a stop on the main line beforehand for a train in the other direction. I can't help thinking that it might have be better in the long term to have gone into the loop at Plumpton and taken a run at the gradient...
Many thanks to West Coast and staff for running the train.

 

46115 Scots Guardsman at Barrow Mill on the WCML with the Dalesman of 22/6/2021

David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

Armathwaite...


Scots Guardsman at Armathwaite

 

It was sunny but cool as I left the car on the car park next to Hellifield station and made my way up onto the platform. Through the underpass, a swerve to the right before the door of the café and onto the platform. Part way along the AGM of the “10A Tea Tasters on Tour” was taking place; Roly Parker was at the head of 3 tables of West Coast’s finest. Roly was clad in his (what may have originally been) orange suit and the 8 or 9 others had much cleaner orange waistcoats – you can see who does all the work! The lads were enjoying a morning brew, an essential prerequisite for the work ahead.

A smile and a nod before I made my way further along the platform to check out 46115 waiting in the up loop; a handsome engine, looking powerful and purposeful and already coupled to the north end of its support coach.

Rob Russell was on the footplate; he was giving the fire a good work through with the irons – a tender first run from Carnforth followed by a long layover is not the ideal preparation for the task ahead. Once satisfied he wrestled the irons back into the tender and put several shovelfuls of coal “all round the box”. He scooped the loose coal from the floor and it too went into the firebox. A final hose down of the footplate and all was ready.

The others had made their way back and were assembled on the far side of the loco. All this time the “pipe” had been in the filler and the tender began to overflow. One individual, who’s name escapes me, clambered up on the back of the tender and, after the water was turned off, dragged the end of the pipe onto the top of the coal. Water back on and the coal was given a thorough, and I mean thorough, dousing. The coal, that is an unusual silvery colour, turned a more usual black, and black water began to cascade from the footplate. [From the safety of the platform] I asked Rob if the coal was particularly dusty – Not especially, just a case of every little helps in keeping the dust down. I said that the coal appeared to be in large cobs – This is a good thing as small coal can be sucked off the firebed before it has a chance to burn, especially if the loco is being worked hard. At this exact moment Mick Kelly climbed onto the footplate – “Cometh the hour, cometh the man.”

Mick checked over his “trusty steed,” and the blower went on. A brief chat before I said that I was off to Helwith Bridge to watch his progress. Around 10.25, just before the train from Chester was due to arrive, I set off for Helwith Bridge. Not far north of Settle the cloud thickened and by Helwith Bridge the sun had all but gone. Same as for Leander’s run, I parked at the bottom then walked up the quarry road, under the railway and off to “Billy-no-Mates Corner”.

Time for a check on RTT and SG had left Hellifield 3E, was 3E at Settle Jn and so should be here in about . . . 3 minutes – perfect! After a couple of minutes there was a distant roar from the south, I scanned the sky half expecting to see a Spitfire or maybe a Lancaster Bomber, but this was a bomber of a very different kind. This was low flying in extremis, piloted by Mick “Biggles” Kelly assisted by Rob “Ginger” Russell, SG flew past, almost touching the ground, gathering speed, roaring louder, curving to the right, a brief silence as the cutting absorbed that glorious sound then roaring again and so it continued for the next 2 minutes. “Oh, to be on the platform at Horton in Ribblesdale now that SG’s here”. (And by the miracle of your posted videos, I was – thanks guys).

A very enjoyable morning out and by Settle the sun was shining once again. I arrived home just before one and just in time for some salmon quiche and salad. [Remember, if Victor asks, I had beef and cow heel pie with a suet pastry crust served with boiled, mashed and roast potatoes (3 of my 5 a day) followed by steamed jam roll and custard. Last time I mentioned salad he gave me a bit of a ticking off for not eating real man’s food.]

Thanks for all the videos, photos and the write ups (@Mick45305 and @Bill2) – I do like a few numbers. It was nice to have an all too brief word with Rob and Mick and my thanks to them and all the others at WCRC for providing such spectacular entertainment. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to travel again, but this will most certainly do for now. There is an unconfirmed rumour that next week Mrs W may put in her first trackside appearance of the year.

 

How great to see both Scots out on assignment in the last week. Thanks for all the great photos and videos… anyone know if they're likely to be seen together at any point? I can't off the top of my head seeing the two of them side by side…

Simon

 

"Biggleskelly" isn't that a station somewhere ?

 

Oh, Mr. Porter!

Buggleskelly:

 

aka Cliddesden on the Basingstoke & Alton Light Railway

 

Scot today, Tues. AN

 

As the RTT been activated for today's pendle dalesman for the ECS and outward journey from Lancaster 08:09 I'm boarding it at preston 08:40am i see its 46115 scots guardsman today if so?

 

46115 blows a smoke ring as it passes Brock.

 

Looking and sounding wonderful (not that you can tell from the chimney!), when outbound at Ribblehead this morning.

 

Footage of 46115 Climbing out of Lancaster , Shotlock Tunnel and Cumwhinton.

 

46115 0n the return Dalesman 29.06.21.