Dalesman and Pendle Dalesman 2021

Is an extra hour at Hellifield really better than at Carlisle? I agree about Upperby, but chances to do that are rare and I haven't managed one yet.

 

Just in case there is anyone here who has not been to Carlisle : OK it is not in the same category as York as a destination, but it is in the next category down along with Shrewsbury and Chester. It has

One of the nicest small cathedrals I know with associated buildings in the Cathedral Close.

The Tullie House Museum

The Citadel

At least one large second hand bookshop in which it is not difficult to spend an hour.

Quite a lot of shops, cafes etc, though I don't know how well that has stood up to Covid.

I'm pretty sure the average punter would not prefer an extra hour sitting at Hellifield GL. Can we not knock it.

 

From the postings here three things come from the Tuesday trip to me.
1) As long as you keep people informed most will accept this situation. I have seen this both as a railtour steward and in times of disruption working in an airport terminal. But it does need the truth, if you do not know say so, do not make things up or give "optimistic" updates not fact based.
2) As you said earlier helps to operate near one of your bases.
3) Have to hope this was an "on the day issue" only and not NR deciding they want a diesel on all S & C or CME type trips during the non summer months.

 

.... and all far better destinations than Holyhead. <BJ>

 

...unless you are boarding a ship to Dublin!

 

Edited footage of 35018 at Gisburn Coates just before she stalled . Not brilliant editing but you get the idea .

 

On the eve of the 2022 Dalesman season I took a look back at a very busy year in 2021.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the 2021 Dalesman* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)

WCRC’s Dalesman trains are targeted at the northern market and not readily accessible for our friends in the south and as such can slip under the radar. Here are a few facts and figures about the 2021 operation.

Under the general banner of “Dalesman” there were three separate itineraries.

The Dalesman starting at Chester (CD) running up to Preston (rev) then via Blackburn to Hellifield, with steam from there over the S&C to Carlisle. Returning via Shap with steam off at Carnforth and diesel haulage back to Chester. 140 miles of steam haulage; there were 6 CDs.

The Dalesman starting at York (YD) with steam from Hellifield to Carlisle (and return) then diesel haulage back to York. 154 miles of steam haulage; there were 8 YDs.

The Pendle Dalesman (PD) starting at Lancaster, with steam throughout, running via Preston, Blackburn and Hellifield to Carlisle (and return). 269 miles of steam; there were 10 PDs.

In total 24 trains giving 4762 miles of steam haulage. Add to this the miles of diesel haulage, ECS workings and LE and brake movements, a very big operation.

Following the Covid restrictions the season did not start until 17 May, around 3 weeks later than in previous years and ended on 23 September.

The loadings varied between 10 and 13 coaches (including POB). The average train lengths were, CD - 12.17, PD – 11.5 and YD – 12.25. [The PD included 2 early season trains of 10 coaches that lowered the average.] The train lengths are not intended to be a measure of the number of passengers carried but WCRC did vary train lengths – presumably in line with tickets sold.

There were 4 steam locomotives used, 45690 (CD1, PD1, total 2), 45699 (CD1, PD3, YD1, total 5), 35018 (CD0, PD4, YD3, total 7) and 46115 (CD4, PD2, YD4, total 10).

The loads allocated to each locomotive varied.
45690: 10(1), 11(1) average 10.5.
45699: 10(1), 12(2), 13(2) average 12.
35018: 10(1), 11(3), 12(1), 13(2)* average 11.6.
46115: 10(1), 12(3), 13(6) average 12.4.

[*21 Sep. on a PD, following problems with slipping on rails made wet by a heavy overnight dew, NR required the addition of a diesel on the back northbound from Hellifield. The diesel remained in place for the rest of the trip. A diesel was also provided on the rear for the YD on 23 Sep.]

From the multitude of excellent photographs and videos that were posted, most of the trips ran in dry and often sunny conditions but, thankfully, fire risk never became a problem.

Many of us will have a favourite memory, mine is the climb of Wilpshire Bank by Galatea on the 10th August with the returning 13 coach Pendle Dalesman. She blasted through Ramsgreave and Wilpshire station at 19 mph, exhaust shooting skywards and making the most glorious, ear-splitting sound imaginable. There were reputedly cries of protest from the south regarding the mistreatment of locomotives, but we couldn’t hear atop that wonderful cacophony as Galatea roared past. Crank up the volume, here it is again.



My thanks to settlecarlislesteam.co.uk

 

My thanks to @MellishR who spotted that I had typed the wrong figure for total miles, it should have been 4762 miles. 2690 was the total for the PDs. Apologies, post now corrected.