Fellsman tours 2023

Great story.

For the record you missed 5305 ripping it up, nevermind. I don't remember seeing 4472 on the bottom leg but i guess we did.

 

I can sympathise, I had a 1.6 Capri that did exactly the same thing a few years later, the manifold breaking between the middle two cylinders, only really evident when the engine was cold as the gap closed as it warmed up. A replacement from the scrappy took about an hour to fit, how times have changed.
Sadly I missed that 1st March trip too, 5305 was pretty active on theS&C that spring though.

 

At least 5 shots in a day with a Carnforth to Hellifield leg and northbound stops at Dent, Garsdale and Appelby, and no diesel doing most of the work. Just a couple from 1st March 1980.

 

Wonderful.

Point of order though, the diesel was no more than 1/4 power on the way North, we were late! It was no more than 'on' on the return.
Its not pure, granted but the timetable, the fireman and the engine likes working with equivalent to 10 or 11 behind it, not 16. Even without the diesel 45231 would have been over loaded.

For the record I still wish it was 1980 too, but its not. Amazed we have steam at all in 2023 to be honest.

 

Ah, March 1st 1980, I remember it well!

 

Superb photographs. Happy days!!

Thats the roof of our Toyota coming out from under the bridge at Horton

 

Also in the 80's, no support coaches either!

 

Admittedly not every group had a support coach at that time but some were in use in the 1980s, including this classic. (1983).

 

Going back to March 1st 1980, about a month later I was in a Fish and Chip shop in Hellifield and the owner was the driver of 5305 that day.
A Skipton man whose name escapes me now after 43 years. When we showed him the photos of 5305 he was chuffed (sorry!) to bits.
I'll never forget what he said about the '5', "Eee, a wern't 'alf pencilin it"!

 

What else would you expect for such an aristocratic lady?

 

Quite something to use a former coach from the Royal Train as a support coach - certainly set it apart from the others. Made its last run over the S&C on 5 November 1983 - a one way ticket after sustaining damage at Upperby. I think, but not entirely certain, that damage was caused to one of the corridor ends, maybe someone has a bit more info on that.

 

Ah, dear old 5155, the ex-LNWR Royal Train Brake, generally known as Belwood's tea wagon. Weren't we spoiled in those days to have use of such a superior support coach?

The Friends of the NRM who operated the Duchess back then often ran with 5155 and the NRM's pair of Met. Cam. Pullmans, Eagle and Emerald, to form an exclusive dining train. This would come from York and be attached to the CME at Hellifield along with the Duchess giving a 14 coach load to work over the S&C. It would then stable at Upperby for the week and come south on the following Saturdays CME.

On Saturday 29/10/83 this format was followed to Carlisle but after servicing at Upperby the plan was to detach the two Pullmans and proceed on to Ayr that evening with just the brake. Next day the loco was on display at the depot's Open Day. Now even back in 1983 Pullman gangways were in pretty universal use and in the dark the shunter detached the Pullmans and drew them off forgetting about the gangway adaptor fitted to the LMS gangway on 5155. The result was that the Pullmans ripped 5155's gangway off and took it with them. Fortunately the depot effected a tempory repair and we were able to proceed on to Ayr via the G&SW route which was rare for steam in those days. I remember that we had a special guest with us in the person of local Ayrshire farmer and well known photographer Derek Cross.

We worked back to Upperby on the Monday and here the depot staff improved on the tempory repair to enable the coach to run in a passenger train back to York on Saturday 5/11/83, after which it was retired from "active" service. I don't recall running the Pullmans over the S&C again after this either. Our next outing with the Duchess saw us "slumming it" in a hired BSK as a support coach.... and the rest, as they say, is history.

Was it really 40 years ago?

Peter

 

I thought you meant the Talbot Sunbeam parked up for a minute!!

 

Rather belatedly, a few from me of Wednesday's 'Fellsman'.

Three from Helwith Bridge on the outward journey. As noted by @nige757, permission to access this spot should be requested from the farmhouse.







For the return, firstly the approach to Birkett tunnel:



Followed by Billington foot crossing:



And, finally, crawling towards a signal check just before Frodsham:



https://richardstevens.smugmug.com/

 

When I got up it was raining hard and the forecast was for more rain until late morning. My bad knee was "playing up";, I almost didn't bother - almost! A good rub with Voltarol and a couple of painkillers and off into the rain. I am afraid my imagination, like my mobility, is a bit limited, so off to Chapel Lane (again) to watch and hear the black five tackle Hoghton bank (and weather permitting grab some video - albeit with a phone).

I arrived in plenty of time and got a parking space close to the bridge. RTT showed that the train was running a few minutes late. It was raining steadily, nothing to do but to sit and wait. The train made steady progress along the WCML running on the "slow". 6L at Leyland became 11L at Farington Jn as the train waited for a gap to cross all the running lines. 10L at Bamber Bridge and time to get out of the car.

Waiting on the bridge was another NP member; there were only two of us daft enough to stand about in the rain. After a brief chat we could hear 45231 approaching. Into view, plenty of white exhaust, a long whistle for the crossing and away under the bridge. The exhaust was slow to clear as it hung in the damp air of the cutting. A look to the Blackburn side of the bridge and the black five continued to lay a voluminous trail of exhaust as she disappeared into the far distance. 13C and around 8L. (The copious exhaust made it impossible to "time" the coaches and estimate the speed). Was the 47 helping? A class 5 with a heavy train climbing a 1/100 gradient and running late!? Enjoyed the chat and enjoyed the train.

 

Given the weather I gave today a miss. Thank you for going out in the wet for it
FYI diesel was 47593 Galloway Princess

 

Braver man than I young Whistle

 

Seconded!

 

There is a fine line between brave and foolish. That said I suspect that both of you have ventured out when it might have been wiser to stay in.

 

In drizzly conditions 45231 is seen at Selside Shaw and crossing Ribblehead Viaduct.