Saphos 2025

Note to @BigAl. They may not be. Once Northern Belle declared diesel running only, I (and no doubt others as well) would have stopped looking at that thread, as that would not interest me in the slightest. OK it is still running, but that is all, and is certainly not what I would be turning up to watch. How in my case would I know, about a major road delay? For your and everyone else’s information, recent ones have been very lengthy. I would not.

If both were steam hauled, one posting would have most sufficed, but that is not the situation, and you are potentially looking at two different sets of linesiders turning out, one set who would not necessarily receive the information for reasons already stated.

 

Diesel on the inside, either saving a LE path or fire risk evaluation has changed. Definitely not worth the 6.30 alarm.

 

From Crewe 60532 leads 47593 with 57311 on rear

 

Think it’s still Amber/Orange risk around the Coast so understandable they’ve gone with help.

 

Update - I’m sure that I wrote some descriptive text above this image when I posted it, but as that seems to have disappeared, here it is again.

Ex-LNER Peppercorn Class A2 4-6-2 No. 60532 Blue Peter approaches Hartford station with the outward working of Saphos Trains’ The Lakelander charter to Carlisle on Saturday 26th April 2025.

Cheers,

 

Well said. It’s a forum for posting on, and you’ve posted it in all the right places. ‘Big’ Al did the same to me the other week and move a post relevant to mainline steam away from the mainline steam section. He doesn’t actually care about relevance, just likes to exert his authority over the rest of us.

 

Nicely capatured. Good to see the A2 getting some more use, hopefully it carries on that way

 

Reminds me of the days of SLOA and Ethels.
Was that really over 40 years ago?

Dave B

 

Blue Peter passing Brock.

 

26th April 2025 60532 Blue Peter plus 2 x diesels The Lakelander

The Lakelander seen at Bay Horse

Apologies for the traffic noise from the M6

 

Good tour so far. Expected the diesel assist so no issue there. Looking forward to trip around the coast. Only one Non Dining coach, 39 passengers. Used to be three. One will be the norm from now on apparently. Buffet coach that used to be Standard will be going on Statesman.

 

The day dawned dull, the early morning sun did its best to find a way through the high grey cloud, but the best it managed was a pale yellow glow. The cloud grew thicker, any hint of the sun was gone and gloom pervaded. Sunny day after sunny day and what do we get on "Steam Saturday" wall to wall gloom.

This is the final home match of the season for Mrs W's team and, weather permitting, Mrs W and Oswald Jnr intended to walk to the match. This meant leaving earlier than when they drive, this in turn meant Oswald needed to be home earlier to tend to Maisie ("Don't mention the cat, Oswald!"). It would be much simpler if I was home early enough so that we could all eat together - and it was to be a bacon butty - mmm, drool, drool.

Steam coming on at Crewe increased the possible options to say, Coppull to just south of Lancaster. I could go to the bridge at Charnock Richard where I had seen the two LE moves earlier in the week. As the train was heading up the slow line Euxton Balshaw Lane might work but with a service train scheduled to stop within 1 min of the Lakelander, perhaps best avoided. Leyland would probably be busy, the train was stopping at Preston, another no! Seduced by the promise of lighter cloud around Lancaster, I finally decided on Forton, just south of Bay Horse (a 40 minute drive).

I headed off along the M65. The M65 now has a couple of bright orange wind socks (well, there were three that I saw). The wind socks drifted lazily in the southerly breeze. Off the M65, a short run on the M61 and then up the M6, once clear of the M55 junction traffic thinned and Oswald engaged ACC and the car almost drove itself. The sun glowed in the eastern sky casting pale shadows (fingers crossed). Off the M6 just after Forton services, back down the A6 and off to the left and there we were. I parked up and checked RTT after a slick loco "change" at Crewe the train was on its way and was 4L at Leyland. I ate the snack that I had brought along, a Hobnobs Flapjack, gathered up my stuff and headed to the over bridge. There has been a considerable number of houses built to the west of the line in the last couple of years. I set up my cameras on the flat tops of the outer sections of the bridge parapet walls; the wall to the north side is slightly higher and it is easier with a step (luckily I keep one in the car).

From time to time, a few people wandered past and enquired what was coming. A couple of lady dog walkers were especially keen and said that they hoped to be back in time to see it on their return. A couple of trains passed, all hints of the sun disappeared and the gloom settled - ah well, I did try. Then the northbound Tesco thundered past with the Lakelander booked to follow 4 mins later. Looking on Traksy it seemed that it might be running just a few minutes late. Some steam appeared in the distance, the lady dog walkers reappeared and waited further along the bridge. Blue Peter was not working too hard. The reason for the slick loco change at Crewe was that 60532 had merely been added in front of the lead diesel and had not replaced it, another diesel was on the rear - "super power". What we did get was a lovely blast on the chime whistle as Blue Peter approached the bridge. The train headed off to the north and the chime sounded again as it approached the next bridge. 13C (and feeling cooler), 5L & 56mph.

I stayed to video the Northern Belle which followed just a few minutes later then I headed home for my bacon butty. I may post the video of the NB tomorrow if I can muster some enthusiasm.



(If you are A moderator then read no further, there is nothing that follows that need concern you, just pretend that it doesn't exist, that it's invisible - trust Oswald!). This morning Maisie had her breakfast at around 7am, as usual. After she had finished she went to the front door and went out, as usual and headed off to the grassed area opposite to monitor the local bird population, again nothing unusual. But what happened next was unusual, but has happened several times over the years, a couple of deer wandered down the road from the nearby hotel and passed within 20yds of Maisie. She crouched down in the grass, was she hiding or getting ready to pounce? She remained motionless for a couple of minutes whilst the unconcerned deer strolled about. Then a van drove past and the deer trotted back from whence they had come. We live within a few hundred yards of open countryside and if you are lucky you might see deer most days, them wandering down near our house perhaps once or twice a year.

 

Out of interest with only one dining coach is there anywhere those 39 (boat people?) can get food.

 

60532 + 47593 tucked in tnt 57311 seen from Shap Wells with 47593 working well.

 

60532 either side of the pause at Grayrigg.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/54476350417/in/datetaken-public/lightbox/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/54477392289/in/datetaken-public/lightbox/

Phil

 

60532 running solo Carnforth - Crewe. No diesel or support coach. Due to dep Preston 2053. AN

 

Accelerating away fro Grayrigg loop, A2 class No. 60532 'Blue Peter' works 'The Lakelander' rail tour through Firbank/Beckfoot to Tebay and onwards to Carlisle

 

Climbing Dalton Bank under gathering gloom No. 60532 'Blue Peter' works the return 'Lakelander' rail tour back to Carnforth and onwards to Crewe