Vintage Trains 2024

I think a short trip to Salterwath is in order as the sun has put in an appearance up here for once.

 

Incident on board . Train not going anywhere for a while ..

 

Fingers crossed the diesel comes off.

 

5043 certianly sounded the part on the climb to Shap, load 9 unassisted!

 

Being worked beautifully, not too hard. Lovely stuff.

 

Way back when the 2-day Plymouth trip was first announced, I speculated

More recently the website was updated to show "Diesel hauled Paddington-Birmingham". I am still undecided whether to book on this trip. I was on both the Pathfinder and VT trips on 9/10 May 2014 with Castles unassisted over the Devon banks (both ways on 9th, one way on 10th).

 

1Z48 is planned to be unassisted Bristol-Plymouth-Bristol-Paddington, then diesel led back to Bham probably with 7029 following later. What more do you want?! If you hesitate longer you may well find the train sold out

 

Oswald does not usually travel to watch trains over Shap, but two "northbounds" within an hour (and one a Castle) was too good to miss. Thankfully the day was dry with even some intermittent sunshine. I made my way to Greenholme and arrived early, very early, almost 90 minutes before the Earl was scheduled to appear but there were already about 10 cars parked at the roadside. As the minutes ticked by RTT revealed that the VT train was "stuck" in Preston, this was an on board incident (thanks for the NP post). My very early had become very, very very early - anyway if the delay was of a medical nature then my best wishes. Eventually the VT train was on its way; it was going to be a testing time at 10A and in the loops at Carnforth.

After much checking of RTT, the Castle was heading north (47L). Just a couple of minutes before midday steam was spotted in the distance and 5043 headed towards us, a good lift on the exhaust and a bark becoming ever louder. I'm not a big fan of all things GWR but she looked and sounded spot on as she hurried past, unaided, on this the final stretch towards the summit. 6C (but feeling cool in a brisk SW breeze), 46L & 58mph. 3 minutes later came the shadowing VT diesel and 10 minutes after that followed the TP Manchester Airport - Edinburgh service train.

20 minutes after the Castle steam appeared in the far distance; at one point it had looked that the two "steamers" might only be 10 minutes apart but Tangmere was looped at Grayrigg to allow the TP train to overtake. Not making quite as much noise as the Castle, Tangmere put on a fine show as she approached (assisted by the tailgunner) and as she drew level she gave a lovely long whistle. Around 22L & 60mph.

Not quite as planned but well done to all those involved in keeping the show on the road, wonderful entertainment - long may it continue!

 

And that's what they got over the fells with the Castle today.

 

5043 and 34067 today

 

5043 leaving Carnforth, passing Millhead........

 

Sadly one of my cameras was unreliable. So I only have camera 2 footage

 

5043 approaching Shap Summit, Shap Summit and South of Penrith on the return .

 

The Earl on its return 16.03.24.

 

About to pass the Shap summit board, GWR Castle class No. 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' puts on a fine sight and sound with 'The Shap Mountaineer' heading for Carlisle, Driver Kev Cronin, fireman unknown and Alex Fowles Guard



Brightening the gloom, No. 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' heads the return leg of 'The Shap Mountaineer' away from Tebay and on to Crewe

 

Footage of 5043 blasting up Shap outbound then at Shap village and Catterall on the return, along with a 'for the record' shot of 34067 being pushed up the 1 in 75.

 

Is that fence at Shap summit new?

 

Docker - Missing out on sun!




Low Borrowbridge - before the steam blew down, but its ok - Shep got the shot!! (NO cars photoshopped out today!)



Richard