WCME & CME 2025

It was always going to be dark by the time the return leg of the WCME reached Wilpshire. Common sense suggested that it would be better to watch the outbound leg or perhaps somewhere on the return leg before the Hellifield water stop when daylight would be guaranteed. The truth is I didn't fancy the drive as I've had a bad back/hip for a couple of months (very slowly improving), coupled to which we have a new cat, Maisie. Maisie is a great little cat, confident and well-behaved but as she has only been with us for a week she appreciates someone being close by. Mrs W and Oswald Jnr were planning to be out in the afternoon and that left Oswald in charge until they returned. It was agreed that they would be back at 4pm in time to allow me to get ready and head for Wilpshire - and so they were.

Mrs W joined me and we left in good time, just in case Tangmere was early, and headed for R&W. It had been a bright if not sunny afternoon, with sunset a couple of minutes before 17.00 and the train due to pass through R&W at 17.20 there might just be the last dregs of daylight. However, with the station being in a cutting I didn't hold out too much hope. We arrived shortly before 17.00 and the light was fading fast. I had hoped that Oswald's corner, the Blackburn end of the Clitheroe platform might be free. This spot gets maximum benefit from the station lighting but was already occupied. We stayed up on the road bridge, I did an approach shot using my DSLR and Mrs W did a going away shot using an I phone. (I've found that both devices are superior to my camcorders at night).

After running up to 10E over the S&C, Tangmere (and the 47) "calmed down" and eventually ran thro' Clitheroe RT. With the wind from south (gentle but cold) and Tangmere, a quiet loco, approaching from the north there was little chance that we would get a warning of her approach and this proved to be the case. There was plenty of exhaust but little to hear as she headed towards the station but then the sound grew, there was a great whistle for the station. The footplate was filled with the glow from the fire which glow flickered in the exhaust. The station lights shone brightly illuminating the trailing of exhaust as Tangmere hurried past in a swirl of steam and smoke. Up and off towards the summit. The diesel on the back "taking its own weight" and probably nothing more. 4C (but feeling cooler), 5E & 34mph.

This is Tangmere's first trip over Shap and the S&C since her major failure last autumn. Well done to all those involved in carrying out such extensive repairs in so short a time.

 

Good stuff Nige!

 

Unless something changes quickly Tangmere is in for a busy year, so makes sense.

 

A black and white video from the Lune Gorge on Saturday:

 

I don't think its really fair to compare how LSL deal with their catering staff (even if they use the term Steward) to RTC and West Coasts volunteer stewards, there may be some crossover in roles but overall they are providing a different service and the direct comparison would be RTC and West Coast catering staff. I am fairly sure that RTC and West Coast do the same for their paid catering staff if they are using ones not based locally. The number of catering staff used in each model is probably a bigger point of difference, I don't know how many each uses but I would imagine Saphos have more per head or coach on average than RTC/West Coast.

 

Memories of driving north up the M6, Lune Gorge, this is where the RAF jets sneak up on you and pass you at a lower level than you, afterburners on fire scared me witless the first time it happened, I never heard or saw it coming (I only just saw it going, I sure as hell heard it). Speed?? let's just say fast (very)

 

Wonderful -- takes me back 60 years. B&W photography --- and no M6!!

 

Many thanks Alan, the dry stone wall is ideal for hiding the M6.

 

Yes, even the weather was as I remember it...

 

Superb, David.

 

Many thanks, David - much appreciated!

 

I'm booked on my first CME tomorrow Are WCR only using the MkII aircons now? they look great behind 86259 but not 34067!

 

Tangmere was an impressive sight leaving Carnforth.

 

Yet again the weather forecast was wrong as SR BoB No. 34067 'Tangmere' heads today's 'Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' through Greenholme towards Shap and on to Carlisle with Mick Kelly driving, Robbie Welsh Ellis on the shovel and
Matt Miller Guard, they will also work the return leg.



SR BoB No. 34067 'Tangmere' heads the returning 'Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' towards Kirkby Stephen and on to Preston and finally London Euston. At least the Pennines had sunshine as did I after the train had passed!!

 

Crossing Whalley Arches this evening.

 

I had hoped to watch the outbound leg somewhere between Carnforth and Oxenholme but "Maisie-watching" duties prevented it. [Maisie has been with us for exactly 4 weeks and, whilst she is confident, she does like to have someone about and preferably somewhere where she can see them. A trip to the bathroom is often accompanied by a small black and white cat. She has just finished her supper but would be available to eat another - straight away!] I was due to be relieved from cat watching duties around 4pm which would allow me to watch the return leg on Wilpshire bank.

The late afternoon was forecast to be sunny. Given the timings, despite the sunshine R&W was likely to be in shadow. Langho would catch the low sun but I needed to leave home in plenty of time; another couple of miles to drive, the train is timed 5/6 minutes earlier than at R&W and the train had been running early. Oswald Jnr arrived just a couple of minutes after 4pm. I loaded the car and headed off, I would see how the journey went and decide whether to settle for R&W (again) or head to Langho.

It was a mixed journey, I started following a learner who turned off after half a mile (hurray!) but then I came up behind someone who insisted on driving at 25mph despite being on a good road with a 40mph limit (boo!). It is a good road but unsuitable for overtaking, even the yellow Ferrari behind me held back. Eventually Reginald (Molehusband) turned off and we got moving, the Ferrari eased past with a beautiful burble from the exhaust. Nearing R&W I decided that I did have enough time reach Langho, so off I went, hoping that I wouldn't regret it.

I could probably have found a parking space closer to the station but I've been caught out at Langho before - no spaces near the station! I parked in the first available roadside space even though it meant a walk of around 300yds (25-50yds preferred). I grabbed my kit from the car and headed to the station, through the underpass and up the steps onto the platform. It wasn't too busy but there was a young lad with a couple of tripods at the Blackburn end and a couple of guys at the Clitheroe end. This is why I'm not fond of Langho station - narrowish platforms and on a long straight! I asked the young man if it would be ok for me to set up halfway a along the platform. "Not a problem" came the reply. A few minutes later I found out why he was so amenable, they weren't his tripods! The tripods belonged to "Britsh Rail Jack" - a prolific "YouTuber". "Jack", a pleasant young man, came along and introduced himself and we reached an agreement. By this point "Tangy" had left Clitheroe 14E and was heading our way.

The sun was low in the sky and shining brightly and only slightly to the right of the line as it headed up the bank towards Blackburn, a pan to track the train as it headed away was out of the question. There was a gentle but cool breeze from the south, gentle it was for the most part but in such an open spot it occasionally gathered enough strength to ruffle the mic (sorry). Soon Tangmere appeared, plenty of heavy dark smoke rose high from her wide chimney. Despite "being against the breeze" there the sounds of good chatter from the exhaust, a distant whistle and steam leaking from a draincock or packing. As she came nearer the low sun hit her head on, she gleamed brightly in stark contrast the heavy dark exhaust. The noise grew louder, irrespective of what the diesel might or might not be doing, Tangmere was putting on a show. She headed past and away up the hill. I turned and squinted in the harsh sunlight and watched her power away into the distance. The breeze now carried the sound back towards the station and the sound continued and continued . . .

10C but feeling a little cooler in the breeze, 16E & 27mph. As I was packing up a photographer stopped for a chat, a guy aged around 70? He told me that he didn't like travelling in "coffins" having been in them to Derby last year. I agreed that they weren't ideal but better than nothing. He went on to tell me that he had been booked on the WCME on 8th Feb and RTC had rung to tell him that it was cancelled. He took the opportunity to tell them that he was discouraged from travelling because of the aircon carriages. "We're doing something about that!", came the unexpected reply. Read into that what you will!

 

34067 seen from Shap Wells then on the return climbing to Aisgill Summit and beyond.