WCRC Scarborough Spa/Dalesman/Spirit of the Lakes/normal tours 2022

2nd August 2022 35018 Pendle Dalesman - YouTubere edited video of 35018 on Pendle Dalesman

 

A couple of hours before the train was due through Blackburn it was raining heavily at Wistle Towers and Oswald had almost decided not to venture out. Then, around an hour before it was due, the heavy rain changed to fine drizzle - I suppose I could give it a go. If I was out watching then I might as well see BIL working, so off to Chapel Lane and the top of Hoghton bank. Thankfully I got a parking space very close to the overbridge. Looking out of the car window, the drizzle continued to fall; not for the first time Oswald doubted his sanity.

I sat and waited until RTT showed that the train had left Bamber Bridge before getting out of the car. Armed with only an i phone and mini tripod I headed for the bridge just as BIL could be heard whistling for the distant crossings. The breeze came from behind my left shoulder gathering the drizzle into band after band. BIL could be heard chattering away in the distance, then exhaust in the trees and she appeared from beneath the arch of the occupation bridge, moving quickly, a spluttery whistle for the crossing then under the bridge. The exhaust lingered in the deep cutting before clearing enough to see only the last 4 coaches dash by. 40/42mph, 1E, 18C (but feeling warmer) and heavy drizzle. No merit to the video clip, simply a record of the event on what was (or at least used to be) a typical summer's day in Lancashire. Was it worth it? Of course it was!

 

A soggy, blustery morning at Hoghton and Helwith Bridge:

Chris

 

A nice set of climbs today in some horrid (but much needed) weather conditions. The climb to Blea Moor was frustrated by a signal check resulting in a ten minute stand just north of Horton, the restart producing a confident increase to 29mph at Milepost 246. The Blue Riband section producing a time of 21:20 with 54 at Ormside and 34.5 at Milepost 260.

 

35018 with the return Pendle Dalesman, 2nd August 2022.

 

35018 seen by Crag Hill Farm crossing in very blustery conditions and Kirkby Stephen Station.

 

Yes, though the Scarborough Spa this week is much fuller!

 

Finishing off with a low 20s start from Whalley Station to passing Wilpshire Station at 28.

 

they have had to resend new tickets out for some reason for this weeks SSE I was originally in coach k now in coach F

 

Bit late with the homework (again). The rain stopped around lunchtime but it was very humid with the occasional flurry of very light drizzle. By late afternoon there was even some intermittent sunshine that was soon replaced by a covering of sullen, grey cloud; not quite thick enough for rain but not far off.

Ramsgreave & Wilpshire (again). The ramp down to the platform was still wet from the earlier rain. The platform was very well sheltered from the blustery SW wind. Encouragingly there were only a couple of others on the station. The Pendle Dalesman had a booked stop at Clitheroe and, despite its early departure from Hellifield and generous allowance to Horrocksford Jn, was unlikely to run early. [It was booked to run behind the 19.10 departure from Clitheroe to Rochdale].

As I waited the platform filled up, the shrill voices of excited children filled the air - school holidays!! RTT and "my man on the train" (@RalphW) confirmed that our train was running to time. The Rochdale bound train came and went and cleared Daisyfield Jn 1E; our train was clear to leave Whalley. With only 9 coaches BIL would surely gain time up the bank; she was booked through R&W at 19:43 whilst the Clitheroe bound service train, after stopping in the station, was due away at 19:39 - it could be a close run thing. The service train arrived RT and the guard joked with those waiting but had his train away "quick time." Surely now only seconds to wait, and then BIL came into view, well almost, save for the waiting horde who shuffled towards the platform edge whilst those behind them shuffled even further. Eventually BIL forged towards the platforms, her exhaust beat crisp and sharp as she made light work of hauling her "light" load up the bank. It all seemed too easy, the kids shrieked, Ralph waved and BIL forged past and up to the summit. 28mph, RT, 22C but very humid and feeling warmer.



Did you spot Ralph's wave (middle of 4th coach).. Thanks Ralph and thanks for the updates.

 

Thanks for the time. It is ONLY the fourth fastest of those posted for year but it is THE fastest following a stop at Appleby.

 

David of that ilk?

Looking quickly at RTT, if they had carried straight on into Lancaster arr 2050 and arrived Carnforth GL at 2105, I don't see how they would have delayed anything.

Unless the GLs at Carnforth were full. It looks like there was a lot of disruption yesterday.

 

It was once said to me, and I have no it is if true or not, but if a signaller sticks to the plan then there will be no comeback. Making decisions that perhaps lead to issues elsewhere can lead to more problems for the person making them.
Having reviewed the RTT times for all the trains around Reading when the recent WSE had to sit there for 30 minutes (and chatted to a steward) there appeared to be a couple of big slots where the train could have run early and still achieved the Slough stop without impacting anything that was running that evening.
I guess it is just the downside of charters the normally it will be the time it says in the box.

 

Very true. But when there is no train on the line for 40 mins..... It's not as if the Euston-Glasgow was delayed at Preston, it was half an hour late much further south. When everything has gone wrong anyway, sometimes the decision might be 'Let's get this b......y thing out of the way while there's a gap.'

 

Same happened to me a few years back on the old Fellsman tours with Galatea with us being held for a similar length of time Ralph. At the time I couldn’t think why and still don’t to this day .