WCME & CME 2026

A good record of how it was yesterday although I'm surprised the exhaust behaved like that given the forecasted wind direction David

 

Nice to see your still out and about.

Tangmere going well.

 

I had an email today from RYTC re Saturday 14 February Valentines White Rose, restating what is on the website, that it’s running via Stoke bank, but Realtime has it running via Lincoln.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U73893/2026-02-14/detailed?s=2803


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That has changed very recently as RTT had it going the other way a couple of days ago.

 

These timings were up on 28 January.


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Those valves need timing.

 

I agree. She sounds very lopsided indeed.

 

The only time I can recall hearing a Bulleid pacific sounding worse than that was a Merchant Navy (rebuilt) quite close to the end of the world on 10 July 1967.

I was in the S& T stores at Wimbledon as part of my sandwich course Finance and Accountancy training and it was on the 10.30 Waterloo - Weymouth train pulling away from a temporary speed restriction on the down main. The beat was so far off I was amazed it could actually accelerate the heavy train at all.

Bryan

 

Sorry for the late message but stuck back in hospital again with limited access. Always good for me to see Tangmere David despite the assistance. Nicely captured as always. Chris

 

Many thanks and sorry to hear that, Chris - I hope you’re out of hospital and ‘gricing fit’ soon! I enjoyed seeing Tangmere again and the smell from the clag was as good as ever.

 

SR Battle of Britain Class No. 34067 'Tangmere' works todays 'Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' 1Z86 passed what was once Shap Station to Penrith and onwards to Carlisle with David Blair driving, Martyn Soames firing and Matt Miller Guard
the crew will also work the return



Under threatening skies SR Battle of Britain Class B No. 34067 'Tangmere' approaches Aisgill summit with the return working of the 'Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express' 1Z87 towards Garsdale and onto Hellifield

 

Today was the second WCME of the year, Tangmere "did the honours" for the first and will undoubtedly head the second, and the third . . . and will continue to be in charge until it breaks or until something at WCRC changes. I wonder which will come first.

Today dawned dry (just), cloudy with even a hint of brightness. The harsh and bitter easterly winds that had blown for most of the week had abated, replaced by the gentlest of breezes. Once again domestic arrangements had to be incorporated into my plans; it was to be late afternoon at Wilpshire. The train was due at 17.22, 20 minutes after sunset; there would be some light on a bright afternoon or, on a rainy one, it would be almost dark.

Clayton Park potato and meat pies for dinner (north)/lunch (south), plenty of warm ballast and a distinct plus for the day. Next on the agenda was to watch Mrs W's team on tv - in a game that had 0-0 written all over it they managed to lose 2-0, definitely a minus. The day's outcome all depended on Tangmere - oh, dear!. It remained dry until mid-afternoon when gentle drizzle began to fall.

Maisie likes to go outside, even in the rain. Maisie also likes to go for a walk accompanied by one of her servants. Always the same route to what was once the grounds of a mill-owners house that is now a council maintained green space with grassed areas and trees. The walk involves a lot of stopping and starting, jumping up on garden walls, sniffing parked vehicles and stalking both real and imaginary birds - Maisie likes to do the same. Despite the drizzle Mrs W and Maisie set off for a walk and returned around 40 minutes later both a bit soggy. The drizzle became light rain.

Mrs W had agreed to accompany me to Wilpshire but the last thing she needed was another dose of rain; she was persuaded to stay at home. I wondered if I should do the same. I had to give myself a "stern talking-to" and around 16.20 I left home. It was around 16.45 when I parked, light rain was falling and the station lights at Ramsgreave & Wilpshire were already on. The forecast was for the rain to get heavier. I had some options but decided to keep it simple and settled on an approach shot using a phone camera from one or other of the platforms.

Worryingly RTT showed times for Settle Jn but nothing for Hellifield. After a bit of faffing about it appeared that no train times were being reported at Hellifield, so Tangmere could be on her way (or not)! Off to the station where there was only one person, a videographer and he was in Oswald's favoured spot at the Blackburn end of the Clitheroe platform. I headed for the opposite platform. It was now 17.00 and RTT now showed that Tangmere had already passed Clitheroe at 16.58 (4E) and was predicted to be at R&W at 17.17. - it could be before that if the diesel was "helping".

The rain remained light/steady. After a few minutes Tangmere's approach became audible and she appeared in the distance. On a cool, wet evening she was silhouetted against voluminous quantities of white exhaust that were billowing from her chimney. She approached quickly and, not working very hard, she sounded better than on some occasions. She soon reached the platforms, steam leaking from around the cylinder on the driver's side shrouded her tender and much of the support coach. The coaches zipped by, lights shining brightly and then bringing up the rear was the "helper". 7C, 12E & 40mph.

"Tangmere will be appearing at a station near you."

 

Video of last Saturday's run (7th Feb.), from Grayrigg & Garsdale: