Tornado & Flying Scotsman Over The S&C - 20/10 - 21/10 - 27/10 - 28/10

With just over a week to go I thought I'd get the thread started. I've got my fingers crossed for pure steam on these trips as it looks like a rather simple changeover at Preston, electric off and diesel off ? But after what happened on Saturday a few doubts still remain. Doubts which include Stainforth northbound and the much talked about last half a mile through Ramsgreave & Wilpshire on the return. Thoughts......

 

I didn't book on one of these trips, much as I would like to have done, because I was very doubtful that FS would turn out on the S&C, especially in October, without a diesel. For the sake of those who have booked, I hope I was wrong.

 

I'm booked on the one from Birmingham on Thursday. Still nothing on RTT but I note the provisional times on the A1 website have been updated and are now surprisingly exact (eg 7:29 rather than 7:30). It also now starts at International which makes it easier for me as I can drive there instead of into the centre of Birmingham. Will be a very long day though!

 

Update to my previous post. Timings now confirmed by email as follows:

Birmingham International PLATFORM 1 Depart 07:10 Arrive 00:16
Birmingham New Street PLATFORM 8 Depart 07:31 Arrive 23:44
Wolverhampton PLATFORM 1 Depart 07:51 Arrive 23:12
Stafford PLATFORM 6 Depart 08:12 Arrive 22:32
Crewe PLATFORM 11 Depart 08.48 Arrive 22:06
Warrington PLATFORM 4 Depart 09:37 Arrive 21:34
Preston PLATFORM 6 Depart 10:51 Arrive 20:46
Carlisle Arrive 14:31 PLATFORM 4 Depart 17:10

 

Return journey in the dark! Hope that's not the case on the 27th which I'm booked on.

 

My guess is the 27/28 will be in the York Dalesman slots on the S and C (Carlisle arr 1420/dep 1635) so the last of the light will be looking to the south west as you cross Ribblehead.

 

Does anyone have a link to timings for Ribblehead and Hellifield on both days; to date the best times I can get are Preston arrive 09:00 / 20:30 depart 09:30 / 21:00 which vary from those noted above. Thanks in advance for assistance.

 

Times for today on RTT now. 1210/1238 Hellifield ; 1300 Ribblehead. Poor day weatherwise, tomorrow looks much better.

 

60163 has run from Steamtown to Preston to work the northbound leg. AN

 

No sign of Tornado on RTT at Hellifield?


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In the GL at 1206 on RTT

 

Finally some times appeared on RTT, the departure from Preston was two hours later than the usual Pendle Dalesman slot. The weather forecast was grim, a band of heavy rain was forecast to cross the region from around 10/11 am. At 10 am it began to spot, not too bad but it was decision time, "To go or not to go? That was the question". GO! By the time I set off the sky had darkened and the rain was steady - ah well. I thought of forgetting about Chapel Lane (for once) and heading for the possibly more sheltered Pleasington station - but where's the fun in that?!

Off to Chapel Lane, but even 30 minutes before the train was due all the parking spaces had gone and 2 hardy/foolish individuals were already waiting on the bridge. I turned the car around and parked up a couple of hundred yards along the road and waited until RTT showed that Tornado had passed through Bamber Bridge. In now steady, tending to heavy, rain it was a brisk walk back to the bridge and thankfully only a couple of minutes until the train could be heard in the distance.

The sound grew louder, quickly! and Tornado burst from under the distant bridge and fairly rushed towards us barely having time to whistle for the crossing. There was not even the hint of a breeze and the white exhaust lay over the coaches hung in the tree lined cutting; the leaves on the trees wet and shining in their autumnal colours. Despite Tornado's best efforts for a complete "white out" the exhaust cleared revealing the last 3 coaches, their wet roofs shiny, and finally the class 47 diesel that was "not being unhelpful." Running 2L and at 48 mph - that is certainly the fastest that I have seen steam approach the summit (and having to drag a diesel as well - tongue firmly in cheek).

 

Full leaf fall season up here now. A fair proportion of leaves down in the last 48 rainy hours.

 

Hopefully with the better conditions tomorrow there won't be the need for any heavy rear end assistance.

 

60103 & 47848 dep Carnforth 1311 to Carlisle for return leg. AN

 

Went over to a very wet Preston today to see Tornado

A1 Steam Trust Tornado & Flying Scotsman S&C trip Preston 20th October 2021

60163 Tornado at Preston (in the dry) after running down from Carnforth 20th October 2021

https://tinyurl.com/b399pbsz


Neil

 

I wouldn't BANK on it!

I'll get my coat.....

 

Cotehill foot crossing, not long before sunset...


Sunset on an A3