Northern Belle 2024

Not seen a thread for this so apologies in advance.
34067 attacks Yealand Bank with the 1st NB .

 

Sounding good there Steve

 

1Z86 at Preston and Oxenholme 30/03/24.

 

34067 with the return Northern Belle 30.03.24.

 

Looks like there's still a TSR here Howard?

 

I thought I'd read somewhere that it had been lifted but I'm not too sure. It certainly wasn't throwing it out as it usually does.

 

Scotby Shield.


Tangmere at Scotby Shield

 

With my own personal cloud turning up at the wrong time, SR BoB Class No. 34067 'Tangmere' working today's 'Northern Belle' through Benson Hall on the climb to Grayrigg with Mick Rawling driving, Rob Russell on the shovel and Matt Miller
Guard, same crew on the footplate south with Steve Adams Guard



'Tangmere' working the return 'Northern Belle' over the magnificent Artengill Viaduct back to Preston

 

34067 through the stunning Lune Gorge what a stunning place to be on a Saturday morning.

 

A sunny day on a holiday weekend, just what has gone wrong with the weather? It was too nice a day to stay in until it was time to head over to Wilpshire, time for an earlier start and saunter over to Long Preston. I know that the loco won't be working but it should be lit nicely with the sun in the west. I left home just before 3pm, the roads were quiet, probably too late for those setting off for a day out and too early for those returning but just right for Oswald. The sun was shining, the grass was growing, the hawthorn bushes were filling with leaves and the trees were coming into bud, lambs played in the fields and birds sang in the trees. What could possibly go wrong?

I parked at Long Preston station and checked RTT, Tangmere was scheduled to pass thro' Long Preston at 16.19, the northbound Leeds-Carlisle at 16.15 but Tangmere was running a few minutes early. I had to be on the "wide" side platform for the sun and the curve - bowled, surely not! I readied myself and waited (with fingers crossed). A couple more people wandered down onto the platforms, the sun went in. A few minutes passed, Tangmere could be due anytime (and so could the service train). The sun came out and stayed out, the rails began to sing and Tangmere appeared. A short whistle as she approached the platforms, under the road bridge and the sun caught her side on, a wave from Rob Russell taking a long and well-earned rest from firing. The carriages shone as they eased past. 12C, 6E & 34mph. The service train sped north some 5 mins after Tangmere had gone.

The Northern Belle had a booked 33min stop in Hellifield and a further 10mins at Clitheroe giving plenty of time to relocate to somewhere on Wilpshire Bank. After a long wet winter the land was sodden, best to stick to station platforms or road bridges and the like. I had decided to try the over bridge at Mytton Fold that carries a track over the line a little under half a mile north of Langho station. Whilst driving on the A59 I noticed how stunning Whalley Arches looked in the late afternoon sun and almost stopped in the layby, but traffic noise is an issue when filming from the busy roadside. Mytton Fold it was, and I was soon there.

RTT revealed that the train had left Hellifield 5E. As it was still very pleasant I made my way onto the bridge and prepared. The sun was shining and still reasonably high in the sky. As the minutes ticked by the shadows lengthened, still nothing on RTT for Horrocksford Jn or Clitheroe; it looked like it was a gentle trundle from Hellifield. Eventually RTT updated with Clitheroe arrival and departure times (together); the train should be with us in 10mins (us being me and a "local" photographer). A few minutes passed, then a shrill whistle in the distance (Billington foot crossing?), a couple more minutes and the distinctive 3-cylinder exhaust beat began to grow louder. Tangmere rounded the curve, working hard, sounding good. With plenty of noise she drew nearer and with a snarl and a hiss disappeared under the bridge and out the other side. Now on a long straight she climbed away, a blast of exhaust from 57.601 Windsor Castle to show that she was helping with the climb. A whistle for Langho station and the hiss of the exhaust continued as the train became a dot that was almost obscured by the low sun. 12C, 2L & 30mph.

Thanks for the entertainment and thanks for the sunshine.

 

Tangmere seen from Scout Green and Garsdale today:

 

Missing the light at Ais Gill with the planned shot it was a quick turn to my right to fire off some shots where the light was still reaching the line. 34067 makes for Lunds with the returning Northern Belle.

 

A bit late to the party but as a follow-up to Oswald's post,the man himself can just about be seen as Tangmere passes Long Preston with the Northern Belle of 30/3/2024

David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

And Oswald was quite right,the light on Whalley Arches was rather nice !
34067 crossing the viaduct with the Northern Belle of 30/3/2024

David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

Saturday was the first steam-hauled run for the recently "CeeDeeLd" Northern Belle rake. Running thro' Long Preston in afternoon sunshine clearly showed off the new CDL lights. As expected, only the passenger carrying coaches have had CDL fitted; excluding the POB 6 of the 11 coaches. The CDL lights on the 6th coach, Glamis are fitted in a slightly higher position than the others and the leading light on the 7th slightly lower. (The video is slowed down to 1/4 speed and is silent).

 

I am sure they all felt so much safer whilst necking their champagne.

 

A couple of excellent photographs, I prefer the one without the idiot at the end of the platform. I'm glad that someone captured Whalley Arches in sunshine and with some lovely dark exhaust from Tangmere. Thanks

 

Presumably CDL is not required on the coaches that (should) only carry staff, but what is the function of the ninth coach, Duart? It's a Mk I, without CDL, but it has table lamps.

 

Indeed, but if so I'm a little surprised by the table lamps.