West Yorkshireman: 31/5/25 + City Border Express: 4/10/25

I very much doubt that I will be saying anything at all....

 

Has the diesel broken down, as not arrived at Hellifield as of 10:10 it left Skipton on time?

 

Jammed points neil into the down gds loop at we are at Hellifield south jct station throat we are waiting for them to rectify the points as I write now.
Davo 56F

 

Points failure Hellifield.

 

I went behind Duke of Gloucester a few years ago out of Forster Square with no problems, and I imagine it’s similar weight and dimensions as Tornado. I reckon it’s just suited jobsworths flexing their muscles!

 

I think that might be where the two cases differs somewhat….The stretch of line won’t be the same as it was when the Duke last ran down there. Engineering work, new track, newly built bits of platform/infrastructure.

 

Although I booked on this, I decided to give it a miss first thing for various reasons. The loss of Bradford to Shipley was one straw, but a bad back and leg made the drive to Keighley or Skipton and subsequent hours in a rather uncomfortable Mk2 seat and having to untangle myself in Carlisle a daunting prospect. I wish those who persevered with it well.

 

thanks I was up in the north sidings by the shed so couldn’t see anything

 

thanks

 

As was found for example a couple years back when a new signal cabin at Brockenhurst suddenly made even modern diesels out of gauge until rectified.

 

I went up to Hellifield today to see 60163 Tornado arrive with support coach from Carnforth, and the associated shunting around Hellifield station
to run round the support coach and be in the right place for the diesel hauled portion to arrive, which unfortunately was about 40 minutes late due to
a points failure at the south end of Hellifield station
60163 ready to depart with 'The West Yorkshireman' from Bradford to Carlisle
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2025/May-2025/60163-Tornado-/i-qnJZLZK
Video of 60163 Tornado departing with 47815 Great Western on the rear
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2025/May-2025/60163-Tornado-/i-phNwVjb

Neil

 

60163 Tornado near Long Preston with the tour to Carlisle on 31/5/2025
David

 

Well, all in all a memorable week. On Monday it was Maisie's birthday, as much as any former stray can have an exact birthday, she was two. As it was her birthday she got to do just what she wanted, just like any other day! We had rain almost every day; sometimes short torrential downpours and other times prolonged periods of moderate rain - all much needed. This morning's edition of our local newspaper ran two stories; in the NW we are now officially experiencing a drought whilst a story on another page warns of potential flood risks in the Hodder and Ribble valleys - where else but here!?

There has been plenty of discussion about the loco, the stock and gauging. Well, 46115 was requested but WCRC took out its red ink pad and big rubber stamp - "Request Refused". The sight of 46115 at the head of a rake of maroon coaches has been denied us for now - we can only hope. So it was not to be SG and almost certainly air-braked aircons, Tangmere seemed most likely with 45212 as cover. I suspect that the submission to NR was along those lines and who knows if Tangmere was approved out of Bradford?! Then after the bid to NR had been submitted, WCRC acquire the services of Tornado, and want to use that instead. So how did we get to Saturday 31st May and no steam out of Bradford? There are plenty of unknowns, was it too late to change from Tangmere to Tornado? Tornado physically doesn't fit? Neither did Tangmere, or did it? NR and WCRC know the answers but we don't! Anyway, a compromise was reached, the train will be diesel hauled out of Bradford FS with Tornado coming on at Hellifield. (Not what Davo and his dad wanted, but these things do happen.)

Steam on and off at Hellifield are well rehearsed moves and are used regularly on WCRC's Dalesman trains. All would have been well had the points on the down goods loop not chosen to "throw a wobbly", they stuck (and not for the first time). The points finally yielded but not before the Leeds-Carlisle was delayed (47L) and Tornado finally got moving 31L.

My original plan (with steam throughout) was to see the train both before and after Hellifield, this became just once, at Helwith Bridge. At least I got to leave home an hour later. The day was dull with the promise of some sunny intervals but the chance of showers around 10-11am, there was a blustery SW breeze. After an uneventful journey I arrived and parked in the nearby layby. A quick check on RTT revealed the delays, but not what had caused them or when they were likely to be resolved - sit and wait. Eventually the Carlisle service was on the move and presumably Tornado would follow.

I got ready, my chosen spot was a bit exposed to the breeze so I returned to the car for the bits to move the mic to a more sheltered spot. Tornado had been booked for a 15min stop to pick up passengers at Settle, presumably this would be cut to 2 or 3 mins. Eventually RTT showed Tornado thro' Settle Jn 30L, a bit of guesswork now to estimate how late it would be with a shortened stop and a restart at Settle. I was waiting and ready (well almost), I allowed myself to be momentarily distracted by a tractor entering the field just by Helwith Bridge, this was the very moment that Tornado appeared. Tornado was moving well, without seemingly too much effort (as is often the case). The wind was not too helpful in carrying the sound towards me (and my hearing aids didn't help, they were 48 miles away) but I could clearly hear Tornado but nothing from the diesel. As the train romped along the embankment Tornado whistled at the trespassers who were at the top of the track access steps - idiots! That apart, all very enjoyable. 18C & 18L.

 

Tornado passing through Penrith, there were a few other photographers there.
1Z68 1605 Carlisle to Bradford Forster Square 31/05/25.

 

Tornado heading north at Helwith Bridge this morning and then south this afternoon, just after restarting Grayrigg loop.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54557663551/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54558328546/in/photostream/

 

Under threatening skies, LNER A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' works 1Z67 todays 'West Yorkshireman' through Selside towards Ribblehead and onwards to Carlisle with Mick Kelly driving and Rob Russell on the shovel



In quickly fading light A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' works 1Z68 the return leg of the 'West Yorkshireman' towards Shap Village with David Blair driving and Craig Todd on the shovel

 

60163 Tornado tnt 47815 seen from high up overlooking Selside Cottages and on the return seen passing the old Shap Station, apologies as I unfortunately had to edit some of the audio due to picking up interference at Selside.

 

Excellent as usual Nige on a challenging day!

 

Many thanks David, one of those days.