WCME & CME 2025

Great to see Craig Todd passed out as driver, had many a fantastic run with him wielding the shovel.

 

Realtime Trains | 1Z86 0638 London Euston to Carlisle | 20/09/2025

Realtime Trains | 5Z84 1025 Carnforth Steamtown to Carnforth North Jn | 20/09/2025

Steam on at Carnforth, had been showing (I think), 86 throughout.

Realtime Trains | 1Z87 1418 Carlisle to London Euston | 20/09/2025

Realtime Trains | 5Z88 1815 Preston to Carnforth Steamtown | 20/09/2025

Steam off at Preston

Assume 34067 is the loco?

 

RTC website confirms 34067 as the loco for this trip.

 

Diesel now - see WCR thread.

 

Todays CME with WCRC 37516 + 37706 tnt 57314 seen from a wet and deserted Shap Wells.

 

Does anyone know please, which locomotive is on the Cumbrian Mountain Express today?

Thanks

 

Should be Clangmere

 

Certainly was

 

The usual dramatic entrance and smokescreen exit at Oxenholme, it was well worth going out to capture this on a nice October morning.

 

11th October 2025 34067 Tangmere on CME

34067 at Yealand Lane Cinderbarrow

 

I see they did manage to add a buffet at 10A then.

 

Duncowfold on the return...


Tangmere at Duncowfold

 

Not much colour remains at Birk Beck as SR BoB No. 34067 'Tangmere' works the northbound 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' 1Z86 approaching Greenholme and onwards to Carlisle with Craig Todd driving, Chris Holmes on the shovel and
Mick Miller Guard. The same crew will work the return.



Charging away from Smardale Cutting towards Kirkby Stephen

 

34067 seen leaving Carnforth and on the return from Crosby Garrett.

 

The last CME of the year is sometimes challenging for steam locomotives attempting to climb Wilpshire bank, a time when rail head condition can be less than optimal; I had a location in mind if this was to be the case. It wasn't, it was a lovely autumnal day, even in the late afternoon it was brighter than at any point yesterday. Mrs W returned from her afternoon walk in good time to allow me to leave for Wilpshire. It was Wilpshire summit today where the trees might be showing their autumn colours, but they weren't - ah well.

I arrived and found a parking space close to the bridge. A check on RTT showed that Tangmere had already left Hellifield, and there would be no further updates until the train reached Clitheroe. I had seen the Clitheroe bound service train pass and the CME was booked to run before the return working to Rochdale. I gathered up my stuff from the boot of the car and headed onto the bridge. With the possibility of autumn foliage I thought that I might give my drone a go and, despite the trees remaining (largely) green, I decided to carry on with the plan. This would test Oswald to the limit, and possibly beyond, with a drone, a sound recorder and a camera all with buttons that needed to be pressed.

Tangmere cleared Clitheroe and, after waiting what I judged to be an appropriate length of time, I set the drone off into the air and it was only just soon enough for not long after, as I was still faffing about, came a whistle as Tangmere entered? Wilpshire Tunnel. I ran through my mental tick list, pressing buttons and checking displays to ensure that I had, all appeared in order. A young lad and his mum walked up, the boy shouted to his mum that the train was coming, I held a finger to my lips and pointed to the microphone. After that he was as good as gold - I gave him a thumbs up.

Tangmere approached, moving well, heavy exhaust lifting skywards in the still air and sounding good. None of this new-fangled British Caprotti valve nonsense on Tangmere, good old reliable Bulleid chain drive ensures perfect valve timing [Oswald laughs up sleeve.] 34067 was working hard, a whistle for those at the station, some lovely exhaust as she emerged from under the road bridge, it was great, "just keep it coming up to and over the summit". However, still some distance from the summit the driver adjudged that he had enough speed and closed the regulator. Dense smoke oozed from the wide chimney and a couple of seconds later the safety valves lifted - excellent. I waved to the driver who waved back - thanks. The smoke hung in the cutting long after the train had gone. Very, very enjoyable. 12C, 4E & 30mph dropping down from the summit.

By the time I arrived home Maisie had eaten her tea and was curled up asleep, and is still there over 3 hours later. Maisie doesn't have a pudding, but we do and today it was blackberry and apple crumble - mmm!



As today was Tangmere, here is a TRUE story relating to OVS Bulleid. You may already know that he attended Accrington Technical School (later Accrington Grammar School) - same as Oswald, but what most people don't know is that whilst he was a pupil there he lived with a family in . . . Oswaldtwistle - same as Oswald!

 

Can someone enlighten me, please, about why Tangmere always seems to produce such a filthy exhaust? Is this a common trait with other original Bulleid pacifics? It's not just a bad load of coal!

 

Not all the clag was from Tangmere.

 

You're not the only one wondering.

 

Indeed, wasn't 34092 City of Wells known as "the volcano" back in the 80's due to it's similar output?!