LE movements, ECS and test runs 2025

Passing Brock.

 

Nicely done Nig

you planning on heading out for the Jacobite ECS next Friday (4th)?

 

Thanks Harry, Yes I’ll be out somewhere for whatever moves even if it has the usual diesel pilot.

 

Late sunshine as 60163 passing Gregson Lane


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/54412236394/in/datetaken-public/lightbox/

Phil

 

This was a run not to be missed, Tornado on her loaded test run and I think only her second climb of Wilpshire bank. Tornado has passed thro' Hellifield many times and similarly thro' Blackburn, but for several years she was barred from the Clitheroe line because of a clearance issue thro' the tightly curved platform of the former Daisyfield station. NR carried out some work and Tornado was then cleared for the line. On 16 Oct 2021 and she hauled the returning Northern Belle up Wilpshire bank (12+Diesel).

It was a lovely sunny day and arrangements were made, Mrs W would return early from her afternoon walk and supervise Maisie. (Maisie likes to go outdoors but for now one of us accompanies her as, although easily spooked by sudden noises, she likes to explore even some distance from home. So far, a call or the shake of a cat treat bag encourages her swift return). Today my ambition stretched no further than the usual jaunt to Ramsgreave & Wilpshire, but when to leave home.

WCRC drivers have many times in the past managed to run early, very early on the return leg of a test run. Today's path was later in the afternoon and the chance of running (very) early was blocked by the path allocated to the Chirk-bound log train and the log train was running. I could have stayed at home for longer but decided to set off early, grab a good spot and watch the log train. Not long after I had set up a young lad arrived with his tripod and phone, I'd met him before and he told be that he had come out of school and caught the bus to Wilpshire in the hope of seeing the log train followed by Tornado. We chatted, the log train appeared and the class 70 loco made light work in hauling 22 loaded wagons up the hill - nice horn from the driver. The service trains came and went, crossing in the station. Tornado had already left Clitheroe and once the Rochdale train cleared Daisyfield Tornado could pass Whalley and begin the climb of Wilpshire bank.

Tornado was due to pass R&W at 16.59. A couple of minutes before 5pm there was the distant swoosh of exhaust and the loco came into view, plenty of white exhaust billowed from her chimney. She was moving well with a swoosh-swoosh-swoosh. But before the loco reached the platforms the regulator was closed, the noise stopped and black smoke streamed back from her double chimney. The driver was confident that he had enough speed to cruise over the summit - and he was right. Tornado was carrying a wreath on her smokebox and the A1SLT headboard and looked splendid in her brand new livery (that didn't take long). 11 coaches (don't mention the liveries), there seemed to be plenty of "brumming" sound coming from the last coach? but NO diesel. 12C, 1E & 30mph (cruising uphill). The gang at 10A have gained a really useful engine.

 

With Ingleborough Fell in the background and looking resplendent in her new livery, A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' works 5M52 away from Clapham heading for Hellifield during the loaded test run with Peter Walker driving and Craig Todd on the shovel.



Once again my own personal cloud turns up just at the wrong moment as 'Tornado' works 5M53 over Whalley Viaduct during its loaded test run on its way back to Carnforth

 

Lovely human "treat bag" that footage....

 

Passing bay Horse at sunset.................

 

Bravo, that's a stunner!!

 

60163 Tornado at Kettlesbeck with the Test run on 26/3/2025

David Price
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

60163 TORNADO on loaded test run. Seen at Bentham and Lancaster Castle

 

Great report. Thanks.

I had a Preston - Carlisle - Hellifield - Blackburn - Preston run with 60163 about 2014, IIRC, so any barring must have been after that? Following some relaying, perhaps?

Good news about the generator coach too - no tailgunner might help attract the 'pure steam' traction aficionados back.

Mark

 

ECS move to York tomorrow for Saturday's Edinburgh trip: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U42743/2025-03-28/detailed

In the absence of any other movements I assume there will be one steam and one diesel on the front of what should be the mainly maroon set. But probably diesel leading, I expect.

 

I wasn’t convinced it was a generator car. Looked like a kitchen when I watched the video. Happy to be proven wrong with that!

 

Definitely a kitchen car - Buffet Restaurant written on the sides is the biggest giveaway! Most/all of WCRC's kitchen cars have small generators underneath to provide power for the appliances. I think the noise was more the sound of heavier Commonwealth bogies rather than the B4s under the Mk2s.

 

Thanks.

I had a bit of a search (possibly incomplete) and couldn't find a run in 2014 but did find 2 in 2010: Wed 14 Apr - Cumbrian Coast Tornado, and Thurs 24 Jun - Border Raider, and 1 in 2012: Thurs 31 May 2012 - Cathedrals Express. All involved a southbound climb of Wilpshire Bank. I have no recollection of watching any of them, possibly on holiday or being midweek I couldn't get out or, hopefully less likely, failing memory. On 13 Apr 2019 there was a Border Raider that involved running in the opposite direction (from Blackburn to Hellifield).

Many years ago, when Daisyfield Junction was re-modelled and the Clitheroe line was made single track for several hundred yards before becoming double again, NR chose to leave the former Down line in situ. After leaving the junction the line passes thro' the defunct Daisyfield station on a very tight left hand curve. Whilst the up platform has been removed the down platform remains. IIRC the line had "moved" causing a clearance issue (to Tornado). As the line is single presumably the clearances were still ok on 13 Apr 2019, but subsequent NBelle trains hauled by 60163 had steam off at Hellifield. Following pressure from WCRC, NR carried out some remedial work (turning back some edging stones?) and on Thurs 07 Oct 2021 60163 ran thro' from Hellifield to Blackburn. I have a vague recollection of seeing this but not videoing it. So there have been several climbs, thanks for the nudge in the right direction.

Edit: Not sure what the last car was, supposedly a Buffet.
Edit: 2012 date corrected.

 

Changed the livery to match the support coach then...

 

And the red cantrail stripe to help give the game away .

 

I had seen that, but then not being totally up to speed on coaches I didn’t know whether it was a Genny Car dressed up as a Kitchennif you get me

 

I wasn't sure what the sound was, the track at that end of the station is a bit noisy and the acoustics can be a bit weird but it did sound like a motor of some kind. Not loud enough for a large motor/generator setup but could have been a small generator - but why would it be running at the very back of a test train? I wasn't wearing my hearing aids, but my hearing is not bad apart from watching TV (and hearing what Mrs W says.) The simplest answer is often the correct answer - bogie/track noise!