Vintage Trains 2025

It did feel onboard that we were being cautioned, either that or a restriction through the platform which seemed unlikely.

Still feel Bahamas did well pulling away from there though

 

Yeah you got going pretty nicely. Just a shame one bloke felt the need to spoil the party for us all on the platform.

 

45596 is seen a Docker and then at Kirkby Stephen. Footage of 45212 and 34067 included.

 

The Shap Mountaineer - Part 2 Saturday 29th March 2025


It’s distinctly blustery as we sit in Hellifield Goods Loop awaiting our change back to class 47 haulage (with the addition of a class 37 en route, we are told, to assist the 47 which is apparently a little poorly today).


We have enjoyed what might be termed “typical Settle and Carlisle weather” since our departure from Appleby - lots of wind and lots of rain.


The run from Carlisle - Appleby took a total of 44m36, of which 18 minutes was expended getting from Carlisle to Low House Summit - eight miles “against the collar” and mainly at 1/132 albeit with an easy downhill / level start out of the Border City and a brief respite at Howe and Co Siding. The section after Low House was much faster, with much running at or near the permitted maximum, save for a check of some sort down to the early 30s in the Long Meg area.


There was a brief water stop at Appleby albeit with insufficient time for passengers to stretch their legs, and soon we were off for the climb to Ais Gill.


I was not on the milepost side for this leg, and despite the kind offer of some nearby passengers to swap I decided to stay put and just record a few times and speeds at landmarks as well as enjoying the run.


The initial acceleration to Ormside was reasonable if not outstanding and we met the long climb with speed in the early to mid fifties.


As the gradient and side winds began to bite speed dropped significantly with us losing around 13mph by the time we entered Helm Tunnel at 40mph (observations from coach H so now at the rear of the train).


The Helm Wind well and truly made its presence known but our Stanier Thoroughbred plugged away, recording a minimum of 33mph at the top of the 1/100 at Griseburn.


Speed recovered slowly but surely such that as we emerged from Crosby Garrett Tunnel we had reached 45mph as the long, almost unremitting climb to mp264 beckoned.


Speed was down to about 40mph by Waitby Rock Cutting - but what was this? Suddenly speed began to drop much more significantly and braking could be discerned. The cause was not clear at this stage but speed steadily dropped down to about 9mph albeit now it was clear that an effort was being made not to stop. A nadir of 6mph was reached before speed slowly started to increase and the Jubilee clambered through Kirkby Stephen at around 8mph with the assembled galleries of photographers getting rather wet as we passed.


There then followed a courageous and impressive recovery, up to 24mph by Birkett Common, 25mph into the tunnel and 26mph at mp26 in appalling weather conditions.


The ensuing easier stretch facilitated an increase to 41mph before we encountered the final 3 miles of 1/100.


The effort continued passing the climbing summit at Ais Gill and a gallery of photographers at 34mph and 35mph by the Summit Board, passed at around 34m16s from Appleby.


Previous posts have indicated the cause of the issue at Kirkby Stephen and I won’t dwell on that, sufficed to say the recovery was very impressive.


And now, as I conclude this post, we are told we are now waiting for the 37 to arrive at Hellifield with the plan now being for both diesels to take us forward from here, hopefully also with some heating!


Thanks to VT and BLS for a great day. Unlike me, 45596 is taking a much more direct route back to Haworth, but as I sit in my study at home working tomorrow, I shall look forward to hearing once more the 3 cylinder beat of 45596 heading trains in the valley below.

 

If my son was rather unhappy about missing Bahamas fantastic ascent of Shap, he's now even less amused to hear that Tyseley's Class 37 has been attached to the front (apparently his favourite type of diesel)!
As much as the weather in the south has been warm and sunny all day - I know where I'd much rather (and should) have been...
That will teach me not to dither when booking for one of VT's unassisted steam tours in future - are there any more planned for this year?

I note Alastair appeared to be driving from Carnforth to Carlisle having watched Liam's excellent footage - please can it be confirmed who was supplying the steam and who handled the run up the S&C to Hellefield.

Thank you in advance

 

Anyone know why the hold up at Hellifield? I assume it is to do with the 37?

 

Yes, 37 didn’t arrive until just after 1800, then had to wait for the Rochdale train to clear the section to Clitheroe before we could leave

 

Alastair driving both ways. Not sure about firemen.

 

Climbing to Shap summit.

 

Harry, did you hold your tongue ?

 

Funnily enough no. A number of words were used.

Full description given to the Network Rail MOM too.

 

Full marks once again to all at Tyesley for another excellent unassisted steam run...footage of 45596 roaring past Shap Wells outbound then at Long Marton and Crosby Garrett on the return, with a shot of 34067 thrown in too.

 

Good to hear. Hopefully his public dressing down will be playing on his mind.

 

Totally agree Al, an LMS loco will always beat a SR loco . . . Only joking . . . or am I?

 

On the return run at a thankfully dry Armathwaite today.

 

45596 at Salterwath & Low Baron Wood


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/54418365195/in/datetaken-public/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/54418243573/in/datetaken-public/

Phil

 

45596 racing towards Dillicar Common this morning, I could hear the "roar" before it came into sight around the curve at Low Gill....... Fabulous!!



Cheerz,

Alan


Cheerz,

Alan

 

A fine show from the Jubilee! Captured at Oxenholme (with kind permission from the land owner) and at Langwathby:

 

Putting on a real show as it speeds through Greenholme Jubilee class No. 45596 'Bahamas' heads the northbound 'Shap Mountaineer' 1Z43 towards Shap summit and onwards to Carlisle



Horrendous conditions of howling wind and rain greets No. 45596 'Bahamas' as it works the return 'Shap Mountaineer' towards Aisgill summit and beyond. Despite the conditions there was an excellent turn out of onlookers for the steam bonanza