The 'Leander' Incident

A notable anniversary occurs on 21st. August as it will be 30 years since 5690 was commandeered off a southbound 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' to remove a failed class 40 diesel and it's freight train which were obstructing the up line just north of Garsdale.
'Leander' worked wrong-line from Kirkby Stephen to Garsdale to reach the front end of the diesel and shunt the ensemble into one of the seldom used sidings.
With it's rescue mission completed 5690 returned to Kirkby Stephen to collect the, by now, much delayed 'Cumbrian Mountain Express'.
I wasn't out for this one sadly but can imagine the startled looks on linesiders faces as 5690 appeared wrong line, minus train. I wonder if anyone has any photos they would like to post from the day.

 

You know how to make people feel old Austin i can't belive it's 30years ago.

 

Sorry about that Keith, it is hard to believe i know, it's nice she is 'in ticket' and still working over the S & C.

 

God, can't imagine my superiors authorising that kind of move these days.

Those were the days when railwaymen were railwaymen...

 

Or matching couplings !

 

There's a good photo of it in the new book 'Settle-Carlisle Steam: From Lineside to Footplate' (superb book, up there with the very best S&C literature if you haven't got it) crossing Dandrymire Viaduct. One of the great stories of preserved steam, together with Green Arrow replenishing its water from a mountain stream near Arten Gill Viaduct ca. 10 years ago.

 

It was difficult to imagine the superiors authorising it then, but they did. I remember this well (how could you ever forget it?), as it was in the days when I was in charge of running 5690 for Bill Ford and David Clark. It was scheduled as the engine's last date on the S&C and it was booked to work forward from Skipton to the SVR for their Autumn gala (I think the first main line loco loan to the SVR?), taking with it a couple of the emergency train coaches which the SVR had bought. The run from Carlisle was overseen by the late Charlie Hill as RO (a great man when it came to firing 5X's), and Charlie was on the footplate when they were stopped behind the failed train. The decision making process was greatly aided by David Ward being on the train, and once it was made, I believe that David decided that it was too good an opportunity to miss and went along on 5690 for the ride. I know that they were all over the moon at the time in having worked the first steam freight train for a long time, and I missed the whole thing as I was waiting for the train at Hellifield to go forward with the engine to the SVR. One of the nice things about the episode was that they actually asked Charlie if we would mind them using 5690 to move the freight! All long before the days of the mobile phone, when wagons had screw coupling and vacuum hoses!

Bob

 

I have some cine film taken on Garsdale station ...

 

Glad someone has mentioned this, I told a young friend of mine of this incedent, and he thought I was loosing the plot! Wrong on two counts, firstly, see, I told you it really happened, second, can't loose it, never had it.

 

I remember this incident well, as I was on the train at the time. As a previous contributor has said, we were left at Kirkby Stephen while 5690 rescued the freight and parked it in two sidings at Garsdale. We later passed the sidings with the expected ribald humour emanating from the carriage windows!
Our train was due to be worked forward from Skipton by Flying Scotsman, but, owing to the delay, 4472 came forward to Hellifield, and worked us to Carnforth with gusto!
If memory serves me correctly, 5690 failed on the S&C with a subsequent Cumbrian Mountain Express a few weeks later, and Holbeck sent out the very same Class 40 to rescue it! One all! I'm sure other correspondents will remember this.

 

The second incident you mention must have involved another steam locomotive. As Bob Meanley correctly reported in post #7, 5690, after rescuing the class 40 on 21st August 1980, promptly left the train at Hellifield to travel direct to the SVR as it's 7 yearly boiler certificate was to expire 4 days later. After running SVR service trains over 2 weekends, stripping of the locomotive for the commencement of it's major overhaul started on the 13th September. 5690 left the SVR for the main line in order to travel to Butterley on 4th December 1981 to work a Leander Pullman from Sheffield the following day.

 

Of course, Bob Meanley is right! It was 35 years ago, and I wasn't there for the second incident - just read about it later. Perhaps another correspondent can complete the details. I am, however, fairly sure, nay certain, that the same offending 40 was the loco sent to save the failed steam charter. That was what made it a memorable story.

 

46229 stalled at Stainforth with a northbound CME in November 1980 and had to have a class 40 shove her to Blea Moor.
Would this be the incident referred to?

 

I was on that. Leaking vac brakes if I remember correctly. No lights in our carriage also made it interesting, as we were well late finishing the tour.

http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/801101dh.htm

 

I think my memory is unreliable for the details of the second incident, apart from I read about it somewhere. I'm sure someone out there will be able to confirm the correct details.

 

I was also on the train, having taken my late parents for a day out. I remember there being a bit of incredulity and excitement when the word spread that Leander was being detached to rescue a failed diesel. My parents, on their one and only post 60s steam hauled trip, took it all in their stride and were quite happy sitting on the train at Kirkby Stephen talking about the delays that were endemic when they travelled the line during WW2.

My recollection of 4472 "on the bottom leg" is of being worked very hard with plenty of noise but perhaps without as much at the drawbar as one might hope for. Someone may have some times that prove me wrong and FS was indeed producing the horsepower - 35 years is a long time. I have some photos (somewhere) taken from the train - remember when you could lean out of an open droplight!

 

Not my photo, but this one shows 4498 rescuing a pair of failed diesels...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/128839707@N03/20201732701/

I'd be interest to know if anyone has the date for this event and any other details of what 4498 was out on that day.

 

I've just found these details on this site:
http://www.abrail.co.uk/Mag 42.htm

 

I was on the train with a group of friends as well. There was an idea of getting a taxi and going out to Ais Gill or Lunds viaduct, but then how would we rejoin the train. It didn't get any further as an idea as the next taxi was available in about an hours time. So it was a few photos around Kirkby Stephen station and snoozing in the sun until 5690 returned.

Cheers, Neil