Northern Belle 2023

34067 seen from Shap Wells as Storm Betty blows in and Crosby Garrett.

 

The first question of the day was would Tangmere run, and the answer was yes. After what appeared to be a successful northbound run, the shunt moves around Carlisle did not appear on RTT. Then after a lot of searching on RTT and head scratching the train finally "popped up" in platform 1 at Carlisle and set off 49L.

There seemed little scope for regaining much of the lost time, but after dropping more time en route, it finally reached Hellifield loop but still 47L. Always a bit of slack between Hellifield and Horrocksford Jn, but no chance of running before the 17.21 Rochdale Flyer. I was resigned to the train being anything up to an hour late (or possibly more if things took a turn for the worse).

Once again I went to Ramsgreave & Wilpshire; I didn't have a video of Tangmere from "Oswald's corner" - today would be an opportunity to remedy that. I left home early enough to miss the football traffic. (Mrs W and Oswald Jnr went to the match - we are not talking about the result. Mrs W has asked me to point out that although she is named Mrs Wistle she is not, nor ever has been, a referee, assistant referee or VAR official. In fact she takes great pride in questioning and criticising almost all decisions made by referees.)

Again RTT was proving difficult to access as the usual 4G became 3G and then GPRS. The Rochdale Flyer arrived in the station then went on its merry way. Eventually 4G returned in time to confirm Tangmere had left Clitheroe 36L. The Clitheroe-bound service train came and went - time for some steam, methinks! Although it was sunny the sun had dropped lower in the sky and the bands of sunlight that had peered between the trees had now vanished. Then "hiss-hiss-hiss", the unmistakable song of a 10A loco (usually a Stanier, but maybe "it's catching").

Although Tangmere was putting down the power, the train was moving rapidly, far too rapidly for it to be "all her own work". She was through the station before there was time to take in the detail. The coaches whizzed by and then the reason for the haste, 57.601 giving it "plenty of welly" as the train tried to regain lost minutes. The train was moving so fast that there was a big wave of turbulent air as Tangmere "squeezed" under the road bridge at the end of the station. There was another swirl of air when the 57 passed under same bridge. 20C, 31L & 44mph. Perhaps not what I was expecting, but it made a nice change. I still need a video from "Oswald's corner" of a non-hissing Tangmere travelling at a sensible speed.

 

Hard to believe it’s three years yesterday that West Coast fireman Mike Middleton passed away on the footplate of 46115 . God bless him .

 

Time accelerates as you get older, I was sorting through some images this afternoon and came across one of Paul Kane on the footplate of the K1, It will be 13 years in December since he passed away on the footlpate of No 9

 

Sadly time seems to go so fast

 

Tangmere on the climb towards Shap and at Waitby Rock Cutting on a very windy day:

 

Video from Saturday August 12th with 45212 at the head.

 

34067 at Docker.

 

Tangmere with the return Northern Belle, 02.09.23.

 

34067 at Paddy Lane, Docker Viaduct and Stockber.

 

34067 Tangmere with today's Northern Belle on Carnforth level

 

With a moody looking Howgills backdrop SRBB class No. 34067 'Tangmere' works the northbound 'Northern Belle' through the Lune Valley towards Tebay and on to Carlisle with Mick Kelly driving, Martyn Soames firing and Roly Parker Guard



Putting on a show, No. 34067 'Tangmere' heading the return 'Northern Belle' towards Aisgill summit and back to Hull with Mick Kelly driving, Martyn Soames firing and Roly Parker Guard

 

Didn't realise it was you standing up there at Stockber Steve..sorry about that. Excellent videos.

 

"The weather here has been as nice as it can be. Although it doesn't really matter much to me. For all the fun I'll have . . . going to Langho!" Perhaps not quite what Carole King sang - but Oswald was off to Langho for a change. Thank goodness for that I hear you say, the silly old sod has flogged Ramsgreave and Wilpshire to death! (And, I'll have you know, I may continue to do so.) Mrs W had gone for a walk so I was a "one man band" - one tripod, one camera, one camera phone, one working phone, one Oswald.

Arrived in plenty of time, enough time to do a recce. There was red and white plastic tape tied across the hand rails of both stairways leading to the platforms. The yellow paint on the edge of the first step of each flight looked very fresh; I tentatively touched some with the back of a finger - fresh but dry. Presumably it was NR taking advantage of a strike day to do a bit of painting. Once up on the platform I found that one guy was already there, like me he was undecided where to set up for a video. He finally decided on the Clitheroe end of the platform - good choice. I settled on the Blackburn end.

Another guy came along and we agreed that I would move forward allowing him to go behind me, where he would be able to pan round. I clamped a camera phone to what looked like a strong and rigid metal fence and pointed it in the direction of Blackburn. It was very pleasant waiting in the sunshine. A photographer and his partner arrived and stood in front but to the left and just out of shot. I wandered down for a brief chat and he assured me that he wouldn't move into shot - thanks. Young Philip arrived with his mum; they must also have felt like a change. [Philip and his mum are regulars at R&W]. She knew the guy standing behind me and we all chatted away until the train had left Clitheroe (8E). Philip and his mum then went further along the platform but keeping to the side. We were all in position and hopefully all ready.

Tangmere appeared in the distance but there was no sound. A grey/black haze rose from her chimney. Nearer and nearer she came but still no sound. Then a feint chatter, growing louder. The sun was shining almost directly towards the approaching loco, striking the smokebox and she looked a picture. Martyn Soames was standing at the window and spotted Philip and his mum - smiles, waves and a whistle as 34067 passed by. On up the hill, now almost directly into the sun. 57.601 was pushing, I expected nothing else - this is a posh dining experience, not an enthusiasts' bash around the northern hills. 21C, 8E & 36mph.

Another chat with Philip and his mum; they'd been on Thursday's Scarborough trip and thoroughly enjoyed it and have arranged a trip on the Jacobite at half term. I was late home, Mrs W and Oswald Jnr had already eaten. Today's treat was blackberry and apple crumble made by Mrs W's fair hand with blackberries picked by Mrs W not half a mile from Wistle Towers. It was delicious. (Oswald did help, he bought the apples from Sainsbury's).

(The fence was not as substantial as Oswald had thought!)

 

34067 seen from Paddy Lane Bridge and crossing Docker Viaduct then on the return at a breezy Stockber.

 

You been at the juice young Whistle?

 

No problem David.

 

Very nice indeed Nige! Good to have a chat!