The Cumbrian Mountaineer: 11/11/26 with 6024

Climbing the lower slopes at High Scales.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/167082436@N06/55647328021/in/datetaken-public/lightbox/

Phil

 

Beck Houses...


King Edward I at Beck Houses

 

Footage of 6024 storming up the 1 in 75 from Greenholme to Shap Wells in rare perfect November conditions this afternoon, then making heavy weather of the 1 in 80 past Langho this evening and making a fast run past Balshaw Lane an hour later.

 

Brilliant,Nige. Great reward for the long wait!

 

Many thanks David, it was certainly well worth the wait.

 

Thanks John, the late running did us a favour as the sun was further round and the cloud cleared

 

Looks like there were some more teething troubles at Hartford on the return run:



Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

We got checked down to walking pace just before Langho. Not sure why.

 

10mph restriction over the road bridge.

 

I travelled over to Crewe yesterday Wednesday 11th June to se 6024 King Edward I on its maiden railtour after overhaul, which turned out to be plagued with problems for the tour and passengers
The ecs was supposed to arrive into Crewe station at about 10 am, but a late running container service pulled into P12 for a crew change, and heard later that the replacement driver was not there!!, it finally left just after 10:15, meaning the stock for the tour behind 6024 KEI did not arrive till 10:20. The tour finally departed at 10:30am





I was due to travel to Carlisle by a following Pendolino to see it arrive there, but the tour was running so late i passed it near Leyland, so i jumped off my train to Carlisle at Preston, (which turned out the best outcome as the tour arrived at Carlisle 15 minutes after my train home left!!)
Being so far out of path a stop had to be made at Preston to await a path going North



Finally leaving Preston 78 minutes late, and further problems later heading to Carlisle



Lots more photos starting here including 2 x class 93's at Crewe, plus 2 x 56's on RHTT
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2026/November-2026/6024-King-Edward-I-/i-vzZvxNm

Neil

 

Nice images Neil, but I think you are an hour adrift on your Crewe timings as it departed at 09:30

 

After checking on RTT I decided that I would go out to watch "the return of the king". Assuming that 6024 "kept time" over the S&C it should pass Ramsgreave and Wilpshire a little after 8pm - Mrs W said that I could stay up late even though it was a school night. Mrs W hadn't met the King before so decided to come along. Suitably togged up we left in good time and headed off on the short journey to R&W. We parked up and checked progress, there was nothing untoward. Mrs W quickly became bored and decided to go for a mooch around the local co-op. She returned a few minutes later having purchased precisely nothing. Now it was my turn to be bored which was remedied by collecting up our stuff and heading to the road bridge.

Now the road bridge isn't ideal for a night time shot but I have my reasons. Even on the station there is not enough light for my video cameras (max aperture f5), phones work ok but the shutter speed is so slow that you get "smudging". So I use my DSLR for which I have a faster lens f1.8, but in practice it behaves like an old style short telephoto (80mm), this isn't the best choice for a short (illuminated) platform. So up on the bridge where the light isn't as intense but "san fairy Ann" as the locals used to say. (I need to source another lens - I hope you are listening Santa!) Another delight of being up on the bridge is that it's very badly illuminated, so it's headtorch on and everything takes twice as long.

I checked RTT and the train had made up time from Hellifield (78L) and was already thro' Clitheroe 64L. Probably just enough time to sort at phone out for a going away shot from the other side of the road, but then I heard the roar. On with the camera, a little late, and watch the King approach. Just lights, an impression of shape and movement, plenty of exhaust, sound growing louder. As 6024 drew nearer the lights reflected on the rails and finally into the station lights, the paintwork gleamed, the carriage roofs reflected the station lights, a heavy exhaust trailed back along the length of the train, gently swirling upwards. 57302 brought up the rear, active but not overly pushy! The light from firebox flickered in the exhaust as the train headed up and over the summit. 4C, 59L & 31mph.

Despite the opportunity to watch again on the other side of the Blackburn water stop, it was time to pack up and go home. On the way home the temperature dropped to 3C and near the council depot we crossed with a gritter setting out on its night's mission. Maisie woke up and came to see us then went back to bed.

Not exactly what all those involved in operating the trip or those travelling would have hoped for, but these things do happen. Let's hope that the next trip is a good 'un - it certainly looks like the King has plenty to offer.