Northern Belle 2022

Lambrigg.

34067 "Tangmere", 24/09/22.

 

34067 at Greenholme and Kirkby Stephen yesterday:

 

This week has not been a good week at Wistle Towers, one after another we have all contracted Covid. Thankfully the vaccine proved effective and we are all recovering. It did mean that the two midweek Dalesmans had to be missed and so by Saturday I was ready for some steam. Still operating at 80-90%, tempted though I was, the CCE with its "new" Black 5 was out of range but the Northern Belle was well within reach.

As I was still "testing positive" I needed somewhere where I would be away from others; not Wilpshire bank or a station but Chapel Lane, Hoghton would do. After the curve at Pleasington Golf Club there is a long straight (1/210f) that ends with a short climb (1/110r) with Hoghton summit reached just before the road bridge. I was alone on the bridge and all seemed fine except that on a dull evening and with a heavily tree-lined track there was precious little light.

A check on RTT showed that the train was running a little early and it was at this point that a farmer decided to use his biggest noisiest tractor to reverse a long trailer laden with heavy farm machinery into the lane directly behind me - "Get out of the way!!" (I thought). Tangmere appeared in the distance, the farmer engaged forward gear and drew slowly away and over the bridge behind me - "Please don't stop" (I muttered under my breath). He didn't. Thank goodness for directional microphones (hopefully). After the roar of the tractor had faded all that could be heard was the hiss/roar of steam shooting from Tangmere's safety valves. Steam shot skywards for the entire time that Tangmere was in view (and beyond). The diesel was working hard as it passed under the bridge - perhaps so hard that it was squeezing the steam out of the Bulleid's boiler.

A cool 13C, 3E and with speed in the low to mid 50s - "Fast Food with a Tang!"

All I had to show for my efforts was 60 seconds of grainy, noisy video but at least it got Oswald out of the house and no-one died!

 

34067 seen from Salterwath.

 

Cowperthwaite...


Tangmere at Cowperthwaite

 

I know the feeling Oswald, the wife and I have returned from the NYMR Gala where we have both contracted the dreaded Covid, so that's this week out of the window. I was looking forward to seeing Britannia again on the S&C

 

Easily done. Hope you both recover quickly.

 

Will Tangmere be the expected loco for the Nottingham (from Carnforth) to Carlisle tour Sat 29 Oct?

Thanks in advance.

 

More than likely.

 

Many thanks

 

I would imagine with the recent derailment this won't run now.

Nottingham (from Carnforth) to Carlisle tour Sat 29 Oct (Tangmere).

 

Is the Bulleid gauged for the coast?

 

Braunton has been round recently so assume Tangmere will fit.

Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk

 

It could come back over Shap I suppose as that’s happened before when the S&C has been closed. Would it still be able to turn though?

 

Looking at the outward times on RTT, there’s only an 8 minute stop at Carnforth, so doesn’t look like it’ll be steam northbound (doing 2+2 here, I could be making 6!)

 

I did think that myself although RTT has done that before so who knows.

 

Timings in for the return, diesel to Carlisle
Return via the Coast https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U14189/2022-10-29/detailed

 

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U14194/2022-10-29/detailed

Loco move, including turn via Bog Jct