Northern Belle 2025

Timings for the Northern Belle on 14th June

outward: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U54691/2025-06-14/detailed

return: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U54697/2025-06-14/detailed

 

Settle to Carlisle Steam Train Days, Flying Scotsman Tickets

Assume steam operated for Saturday 7th June;

Realtime Trains | 1Z77 0712 Coventry to Carlisle | 07/06/2025

Realtime Trains | 5Z75 1000 Carnforth Steamtown to Carnforth North Jn | 07/06/2025

Realtime Trains | 0Z77 1100 Carnforth North Jn to Carnforth Steamtown | 07/06/2025

Realtime Trains | 1Z78 1418 Carlisle to Birmingham International | 07/06/2025

Realtime Trains | 0Z78 1510 Carnforth Steamtown to Hellifield Goods Loops | 07/06/2025

Realtime Trains | 5Z80 1618 Hellifield Goods Loops to Carnforth Steamtown | 07/06/2025

 

T'was a tad damp today in Cumbria



As the heavens have opened up, A1 class No. 60163 'Tornado' speeds passed Benson Hall with the northbound 'Northern Belle' 1Z77 with David Blair driving, Martyn Soames on the shovel and Roly Parker Guard who will also work the return to Hellifield



With no let up in the rain, LNER A1 No. 60163 'Tornado' approaches Birkitt Common with the return 'Northern Belle' 1Z78 to Hellifield and onwards to Coventry

 

I wasn't able to watch Thursday's Dalesman as Mrs W and I were on a short break in N Yorkshire; a couple of rides on the NYMR, fish & chips in Whitby, a bacon butty in Sandsend and a visit to the National Birds of Prey Centre were the highlights. What about Maisie?, I hear you ask. She was fine, better than fine in fact as Oswald Jnr tended to her needs. As we drove home we discussed if we would have been missed, would we be welcomed or ignored (as has happened with a previous cat)? We needn't have worried, we were missed as Maisie had checked out the house for our hiding places, and we were made very welcome with plenty of purring, head bumps and nose rubs.

Now that we were back, and with Tuesday's Dalesman apparently cancelled, it was even more important that I head out. The problem was that I still had a couple of jobs to catch up on and the weather didn't look too inviting - far from it, with heavy rain forecast for the morning and early afternoon. A shame really as that would be when Tornado would be working hard, and with steam coming off at Hellifield there would be no evening blast up Wilpshire Bank. So it was almost decided for me, jobs in the morning then head out for somewhere on the return, between Ribblehead and Hellifield depending on the weather.

The rain in the morning varied between moderate and heavy and continued until the early afternoon when it eased and finally stopped, but only just. I finally decided on Settle Jn if it was dry and Long Preston if it was raining. At Long Preston there is a shelter on the platform, but the station would not be without risk as the Leeds to Carlisle train had a booked stop around the time when Tornado was due through. After a few heavy showers on the way the light rain around Hellifield petered out, so Settle Jn it was. I was the first to arrive followed a couple of minutes later by an older guy with his 9? year old grandson, no-one else joined us.

Following delays on the northbound leg the NB left Carlisle 27L and RTT showed that it had just passed thro' Appleby 14L, so plenty of time. The weather had cleared and from time to time there was even some weak sunshine. Eventually RTT had a time for Blea Moor, now only 9L and the signal was now clear at Settle Jn. After a while the light on the front of Tornado shone brightly through the trees. Despite moving at speed it seemed to take an age for the train to drop down the bank. As Tornado approached Settle Jn she gave a loud, very loud, whistle to acknowledge 57313 waiting on the Carnforth line to "follow" the train to Hellifield. I waved and got a peep from the "economy" whistle, thanks! Tornado and the NB stock looked a picture, the weather behaved and all was well with the world, for a few seconds at least. 12C, 8L & 57mph.

As I was heading back to the car the Leeds to Carlisle passed, it would have been a close run thing at Long Preston (or possibly a disaster). Once clear 57313 was given the road, Oswald waved and got a toot in return; 57313, Scarborough Castle - wouldn't it have been a coincidence if we had visited the castle whilst we were in N Yorks but we didn't!

 

Tornado climbing Shap with the Northern Belle between heavy rain showers and later at Armathwaite in a downpour.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54573575443/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54572479372/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/90397953@N02/54573529244/in/photostream/

 

Very nicely done. As the very old Knight said to Indiana Jones when he chose the correct Holy Grail " You have chosen . . . . .wisely" re that photo spot and the weather.

Bryan

 

Thanks Bryan. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a favourite of the Wistle family, Oswald Jnr still wears a faded old T-shirt on which is printed a picture of the knight and the message. I don't know about wise though, perhaps as Kenny Dalgleish offered, "Better lucky than good." One thing that might interest you is that when we visited the Birds of Prey Centre we watched a couple of flying displays, in one they were flying a Ural owl as it flew over the seated Mrs W one of its wings brushed against her hair - she was extremely pleased that the owl (a big pussy cat with feathers) had "chosen her". Despite this the one she would take home (not really) was a tiny Burrowing owl.