Saphos 2025

A few more stills from yesterday's jaunt, the last one showing Blue Peter as it ran out at Dalston. As it passed me it appeared to be just coasting, unlike Tangmere when it passed about an hour and three-quarters earlier. I'm guessing that word was filtering through about the trackside problems ahead and the imminent curtailment of Blue Peter's journey.

 

Vid now up and running.

 

A couple of clips from yesterday featuring 'Blue Peter' at Benson Hall and Low Gill.

Video Available Here

 

A little late to the party, mainly with work and a gig today but here’s my offerings from yesterdays workings, with 60532 captured at Helm Lane nr Oxenholme, Penrith North Lakes & Currock Jc

Also featuring the culprit 34067 Tangmere inbetween the A2

 

5029 outshopped today from Crewe

 

5th April 2025 60532 Blue Peter The Lakelander

60532 Blue Peter heads north, approaching Galgate

 

60532 passing Natland and leaving Grayrigg at Beckfoot.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54432768925/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54432589129/in/photostream/

 

Very glad to put a face to a name, I was with you at Natland, very pleased to see your shots from the fence turned out well, thanks again for taking me back to the station!

 

Cheers. The afternoon went downhill quickly though.

 

Bay Horse and Shap Wells

 

60532 Blue Peter Mainline 2001

 

Fine shots. The exhaust and its shadow on the first shot give good symmetry.

 

I'm sure this will be discussed at length elsewhere but I can't help thinking NR's fire risk assessment for steam operation is not fit for purpose. This spring has been intensely dry, even in the north, and I have been thinking for at least a couple of weeks that a steam (unassisted) ban was long overdue. That it took a disastrous fire to impose one is poor, at the very least. Of course, we all want to see steam on its own, but it is not good for the main line movement when things like this occur.

 

I'll be on The Lakelander on Saturday. Not on RTT yet but looks like it will be another day where there is steam one after the other up Shap. We're due into Carlisle at 12:30, the Northern Belle steam is due in at 12:40. Interestingly, both trains pick up at Coventry and Birmingham International within 5 minutes of each other, so there may well be a few people getting on the wrong one!

 

Looks like Northern Belle is now going to be diesel on Saturday, not steam, so you can ignore my previous comment about the double steam up Shap.

 

Times now on RTT for Saturday. Looks like steam northbound from Crewe to Carlisle and then southbound to Carnforth.

 

You mean Preston to Carlisle I think Oswald. That's what it normally is. Although I'd be very happy if steam came on at Crewe!

Sorry, I see what you mean. Crewe is where RTT changes the load and speed, whereas Preston is just labelled as a pathing stop. Very interesting.

 

The last Lakelander had a light engine move from Crewe to Preston. There is no such move showing for tomorrow.
The evening light engine move from Carnforth to Crewe is still there.

 

Please be advised that a 530-tonne abnormal load operation is taking place on Saturday 26 April 2025, between Heysham docks and Coalburn in Scotland via M6 northbound from J34. No specific timings have been given, apart from it is commencing in the morning. Recent movements of this nature have caused long tailbacks on the northbound motorway throughout the day.


Note to Moderators: Due to the Northern Belle declaring earlier in the week, that they are running diesel only tomorrow, and given timings for the Lakelander were not on RTT until yesterday evening, this should not be treated as a duplicate post.