Saphos Trains 2026

Yesterday i was originally just going to go to Hellifield to see Blue Peter
pass, but due to weather forecast of heavy rail in decided to head to
Carlisle, (which as it happened was a good choice as i have seen videos of
it pouring with rain at Hellifield in the morning) All images at:
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2026/June-2026/Carlisle/i-8rS4vLs

 

I definitely escaped the worst of the day's rain with my morning trip. It looked horrendous, my thanks and admiration to John, Shep and Nige for braving the elements and posting some excellent images, despite the conditions. In the past I have ventured out in similar conditions and I do have some great all weather clothing, in dayglow yellow (courtesy of my former employer) - appearances in your photos can be arranged. I used to get paid when I wore it but now I don't and, as I have grown older I have lost the will to wear it. Oswald has joined the ranks of the "soft lads."

So with a decidedly dodgy forecast for the return trip I decided to take out some insurance - Mrs W would accompany me. In all the times she has come along as a brolly carrier (amongst other things) she is proud to say that she has only had to put the brolly up ONCE! Would her luck hold. The afternoon was a mixture of sunny spells and torrential showers. The evening was forecast to be rain, heavy at times with a chance of thunder - oh joy!

It was dull but dry when we left home and headed for R&W. The sky in the direction we were heading was darker, the clouds were heavier - oh dear! We parked and a check on RTT showed that 60532 had left Hellifield (6L) but was not yet shown as arriving at Clitheroe, it was an easy booking and there should be no problem regaining time with a booked 12 min stop in Clitheroe.

As it was dry we decided to head to the station, "Oswald's corner" was vacant, as was the rest of the station. We set up and waited. Before long we were joined by three youngsters, all with camera phones and tripods. Their enthusiasm knew no bounds as they chattered away with endless adjustments to tripods and phones. Steam, diesel anything on rails was a source of excitement. Their mastery of technology was mind blowing as they zipped from screen to scree on phones still mounted on tripods; dictate a text to a mate on Langho station, check the gradient on the ELR at Bury, all no problem. This is the future, these are the young men who will sustain the rail enthusiast movement and I wish them every success.

Back to business 60532 (1Z47) had left Clitheroe at 19.30 (5E) and was booked to follow 2J27 (The Rochdale Flyer). Now here was something that was never going to work 1Z37 was booked to pass Whalley at 19.40 but couldn't until 2J27 had cleared the section at Daisyfield Jn; booked for 19.44. 2J27 had left R&W RT but was held at Daisyfield Jn because of the late running York-Blackpool N service (27L at Daisyfield). It was 19.51 when 2J27 passed Daisyfield Jn and 1Z47 could enter the section at Whalley. We waited and waited, eventually "word came through" that 60532 had passed Langho.

Next came a distant chime whistle (Wilpshire Tunnel?) and finally some exhaust appeared around the bend by the former Wilpshire station. A blast on the "big" whistle as Blue Peter approached the station, plenty of healthy noise from the chimney, moving at pace, another delightful pull on the chime as 60532 hurried through the platforms. The coaches whizzed by, lights shining on a dark evening. 57302 on the rear was making some noise, but how much it had contributed to the climb remains a big unknown. It was 20.11 when 60532 passed through the station, despite a longer than planned wait it had been well worth it. Apart from a few drops, the rain held off - Mrs W had worked her magic again.

13C, 17L & 37mph

 

I know that you are spot on, Danny. It always seems, year on year, whichever specific day had been selected to run a mid-week trip over the S&C, no matter how warm, dry and sunny the weather might have been, a cool day with wind and rain was an almost certainty. But maybe one day - soon . . .
Sorry to hear that you missed the outbound leg, the weather did improve for the return so maybe you got a chance to see the A2 and without getting wet.

 

Appreciate your comment Young Whistle, nearly dried out!!

 

You’re more than welcome.

 

Looked and sounded good. Presumably Maisie stayed tucked up in the warm and dry back at Wistle Towers?

Bryan