Saphos 2025

No exhaust at Garsdale this morning.........or light for that matter!


"Sir Nigel Gresley", 11/06/25.

 

Very warm at Waitby this afternoon with the diesel giving it a good go. Very unsurprisingly after that fire earlier.

The whole train today is superbly turned out and a real credit to LSL.

 

I’ll hold my hand up to that one. I put brasso on the whistle earlier in the week while cleaning the top of the boiler, within the LSL running shed. 60007 was moved outside on Monday and unfortunately a rainstorm on Tuesday reduced the shine and there wasn’t time to redo the whistle on Tuesday amongst the other preparations, quartering the buffers included. The No.7 support crew and engineering team do pride ourselves of turning out 60007 up to the Top Shed standard. I do agree with your observation, it was the only thing letting the engine down.

 

I wouldn’t say it let the engine down, the fact that I noticed it is an indication of the superb condition of the rest of the engine

 

Today’s efforts.

 

Don't worry about it - I've been told off in the past for not cleaning the porthole on the back of the tender sufficiently!

 

No need to apologise she still looked magnificent, a credit to you all.

 

Birkett Common on the return

 

Making a fine si8ght and sound LNER A4 class No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' heads the 'Settle and Carlisle Fellsman' 1Z07 through Helwith Bridge and onwards to Carlisle



LNER A4 class No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' drifts over Crosby Garrett viaduct with the return leg of 'The Settle and Carlisle Fellsman' 1Z08 back to Crewe

 

Going well on the climb to Blea Moor North Tunnel on a lovely day in the northern fells.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/10257146@N05

 

Who helped you up there 'Old Un'?

 

One of my fellow volunteers did manage to clean the tender porthole and Brasso the frame

 

60007 about to cross over the A682 at Newsholme with the return 'Settle and Carlisle Fellsman'.

 

Leeds General Infirmary, that's who.

I was sweating like a Cleethorpes donkey.

 

Any news on 71000?.

 

I blame the horses or more properly the people who feed them, Oswald must explain himself. Since I purchased a drone, apart from the odd day it has mainly been raining, windy or both. The forecast for Wednesday evening looked good to try out the new machine on steam. As Tuesday evening was suitable for a trial run I headed down to a field I had identified near Langho station; useless for conventional photography but with a bit of height it should be suitable. It is a large field with perhaps 5 or 6 horses in it. As I headed to my chosen spot a guy walking a dog cautioned me to watch out for the horses as they could be a nuisance, "if you stop they wander towards you and pester you for food." I pressed on regardless and managed to carry out a short and promising flight, however 2 of the horses had begun to show an interest and were wandering towards me. I need all my wits about me to fly the thing without having to bother about an equine mugging. As Mrs W would not be available (as a horse "shooer") on Wednesday, the plan was shelved. I checked out another spot but parking was bad, the gateway was muddy and the grass had not yet been cut. So by Wednesday lunchtime I had reluctantly concluded that, unlike the "Free Mexican Airforce", Oswald would not be "Flying Tonight".

Maisie had another disagreement with Fluffles but she did not give ground and Fluffles slunk off. However, it has knocked Maisie's confidence and she has spent much more time indoors than is usual; she needed a minder.

Having to wait for Mrs W to return home (Maisie), I was constrained by when I could leave home; I was restricted to Wilpshire bank, Blackburn, Pleasington. In the hope of hearing SNG work I decided on Wilpshire. For no particularly good reason I chose the road bridge at R&W station - well that was my intention.

I parked up and wandered to the bridge and was surprised to find that the station was empty save for a couple of regulars sitting on a bench. I allowed myself to be seduced by the prospect of a quiet station and went back to the car to collect my bits and pieces. I readied myself and went to check RTT for progress only to discover that I had left my phone in the car - b*gger! Things got worse as people began to gather on the platform, most of them deciding to stand in front of me (or so it seemed). One guy, with the inevitable mobile phone, kept turning to look at me then moved further and further towards the platform edge. By this time I had given up! The light was fading and the cameras decided that they didn't like it so some adjustments were required.

Eventually SNG approached, although my view of the actual event was obstructed. Whether it was the action of a responsible TOC or a TOC running to instruction following a lineside fire earlier in the day, what followed failed to set the pulse racing. And not even a whistle! So a lacklustre performance in fading light with an obstructed view and I had left my phone in the car - what's not to like? Don't answer! 23C (yes that warm), 4L & 36mph.

Now, but for the horses I would have gone to Langho where at least I would have had a well lit and unobstructed view. And that's why I blame the horses (or those who feed them).

 

60007 is seen at Gregson lane, approaching Horton in Ribblesdale, High Birkwith, Ais Gill and Garsdale Enjoy

 

60007 Sir Nigel Gresley tops the climb out of Blackburn as it approaches Ramsgreave with the Fellsman of 11/6/2025.Interested to see I make a cameo appearance in Oswald's video,is my cheque in the post ?

David
Cop Lane on Flickr

 

Beautiful!

 

Just checking times for tomorrow's Lakelander and found that the times for the loco move from Crewe to Preston and Carnforth to Crewe have disappeared.