Northern Belle 2022

Times for Saturday.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U64408/2022-05-14/detailed


https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U64409/2022-05-14/detailed

 

Greengates on the return today...


Tangmere at Swallow Pot Lane

 

Distant shot of 34067 at Scout Green:

She's in there somewhere - you'll need a big screen!

 

34067 at Salterwath and Birkett .

 

34067 heading south with the N/Belle 14.05.22.

 

Breasting Aisgill summit on the lovely afternoon of 14/5/22.......

 

Done up like a kipper for the northbound Northern Belle at Benson Hall, the first time this as happened to me since starting the photting game



Happier at Aisgill as SR BoB class No. 34067 'Tangmere' heads the return 'Northern Belle' to the summit with Mick Rawling driving, Craig Togg firing and Roly Parker Guard

 

Rule of averages there Shep. Think I've only had the one full bowl so far too, so must be due another one soon. Nice result at Ais Gill though, easily making up for it.

 

Wait till it happens to you twice in one day !

 

34067 departing Hellifield & passing Gregson Lane.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/52073549499/in/datetaken-public/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/52072276002/in/datetaken-public/

Phil

 

Scott you shouldn't wish that on anybody lol

 

Question is, are you talking from experience Scott?!

 

A few of 34067 'Tangmere' today, seen crossing Birkbeck Viaduct (Greenholme) and Angerholme.

Video Available Here

 

It was a lovely afternoon, clear blue sky, hardly a breeze and feeling warm in the sunshine; a bit too nice to hang about until it was time to see the train so Mrs W and I went out for a walk. I took the short route home whilst Mrs W continued her walk. A quick bite to eat and then over to Ramsgreave & Wilpshire station. I was very early, I had my sights set on the Clitheroe end of the Clitheroe bound platform, and thankfully when I arrived (about 45 minutes before the train was due) it was unoccupied.

This week's train was booked to run in a slot an hour later than that used by the CME and, as with the CME, there was scope to run early as the Saturday service trains run at hourly intervals. The Clitheroe bound unit came and went followed shortly afterwards by its counterpart in the opposite direction. Nothing to do but wait and enjoy the sunshine. RTT showed our train through Clitheroe 3E (with scope to gain on the schedule).

After several minutes there was maybe the merest hint of an exhaust note, then again louder and a short time later Tangmere appeared from between the trees on the distant curve. I have to say she sounded woefully off-beat (some effect of the air pump?) then suddenly the sound changed to a clear rhythmic, albeit hissy, beat. The light grey exhaust was almost translucent in the warm air (19C). Her progress was "steady" as she edged up the bank towards the station. The sun was getting lower in the sky and the trackside trees cast playful shadows on the sides of the loco and carriages, at one point Tangmere moved into a patch of pure sunlight and her paintwork shone brightly. Then she was past, the carriages, one after another, slid by followed by the 47 - not too much noise from the oily one on the rear. I watched as the train cleared the station and on towards, and then over, the summit before curving to the left bound for Blackburn and finally the 47 disappeared from view. 20 mph & 9E.

As I drove home the dashboard thermometer still showed 19C, the sun continued to shine and on the radio Don Henley was singing "Boys of Summer" and I had just had an enjoyable encounter with Tangmere - what is not to like?! "But what about the going-away shot?" I hear you ask. Let's just say that it found its way onto the cutting room floor. (Oswald didn't get his finger off the zoom quickly enough - silly old Oswald!) When I got home Diego had already sneaked in.

 

34067 seen from Salterwath and Birkett Common.

 

Was this just a day trip, and if so why do they take the sleeping cars?
Also; we have been told that there are sometimes good reasons for train crew to lean out, but three heads out of windows on the support coach?

 

Big Al is far from the only one on here to mutter about the (sometimes necessary) diesel, and I don't see any mention of Belmond. Methinks the Ralph does protest too much.