Christmas Fellsman

Sure, the summer one's go via the S&C both ways, but I don't think there's anything in the rule book that states all Fellsmans must do that. I'm fairly sure this Christmas Fellsman has been advertised to return via Shap from the start, but if not, it's certainly been so for a long time. Can't see anything to complain about here, steam out over the S&C and back via Shap with a Jube in the winter gets my vote! It was only a few years ago it was rare to have anything go north and south on the same day with steam, and given the relative drought of winter steam over the northern hills in recent years, any steam over these routes is to be welcomed, surely?

 

Surely you're still going to film the diesel climbing through Langho though Ralph...?

I'll be out for this - should be a good trip for all on board the way the fells looked today.

 

Gorgeous for photography with Snow & Sun in Kendal

 

What a beautiful day for the Fellsman !
Running about 25 minutes late when it arrived, I decided to chase it to Hellifield from Whalley and then decided that the weather conditions were that nice for photography that I would go as far as Selside.
Wasnt disappointed either with the performance out of Whalley but the 47 on the back had/was pushing hard and it pasted me at Selside doing at least 50mph but still gave a lovely picture.
It give Bill Andrew an easy ride for his retirement run. Have lots more rides behind steam Bill !

John

http://john-robinson.fotopic.net/c1919689.html

 

My video from the outward run now uploaded at;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfMz0L5CSqQ

 

Wonderful pictures of today's run, John. I always enjoy your collections but this one is outstanding.

As a passenger on the train I found the run memorable as well: a hard-working all-maroon steam train through the sun-bathed, snow-dusted Ribble Valley and over the S&C was spectacular. Memorable also for Bill Andrew's last steam run - I was there! But memorable for some sad reasons as well. Leander lost time calling at its string of boarding stations and when we arrived late in Hellifield we were told that the S&C had been blocked by a failed freight train. This had now been cleared but the bowser for the water stop at Appleby had failed to reach the station due to poor road conditions so we would have to run through to Carlisle. What we were not told, but which soon became apparent, was that Leander could not be left to run through on its own with 11 coaches and a 47 on the tail. So unreal speeds were attained on a 'pull and push' job that Bill could hardly have relished as his steam finale. This was repeated, in spades, on the run back over Shap to Carnforth. My full writeup will follow, with a few static pictures at Carlisle.

Peter, on a bitterly cold Manchester evening
http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

 

Another really enjoyable video and a couple of great locations. :thumb:

 

Running 20 minutes late Leander gets a wee bunk up the hill this lunchtime, through Horton in Ribblesdale

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27848870@N02/5212933596

 

Leander (and 47760) on the Christmas Fellsman 27 November 2010

The day seemed almost perfect as Leander pulled strongly and sure-footedly up out of Lancaster into the sunny, frosty landscape. But she was past Garstang before she reached 50 and her maximum on the racing stretch was 57 at Brock. A seven minute late departure became a 16 minute late arrival at Preston, and we were 24 late away from Blackburn. She made a spirited climb from Daisyfield, reaching 31 before a minimum of 28 at Wilpshire.

When we arrived at Hellifield we were told that the S&C had been blocked by a failed freight train. This had now been cleared but the bowser for the water stop at Appleby had failed to reach the station due to poor road conditions so we would have to run through to Carlisle. What we were not told, but which soon became apparent, was that Leander could not be left to run through on its own with 11 coaches and a 47 on the tail. Speeds such as 57 at Settle Junction after the Long Preston stop, 57 through Settle and 56 at Helwith Bridge spoke of major assistance from No 47760 on the rear. However, Leander was working hard as well, with Bill Andrew driving his last steam train on the network, and the countryside was magnificent. From Blea Moor box at 18 we reached 37 at the tunnel mouth and 57 on exit, and so it continued through to Carlisle, by which time we had turned a 27 minute late departure from Hellifield into a 16 minute early arrival!

With a return schedule over Shap allowing only 74 minutes through to Carnforth goods loop, the 'pull and push' job was repeated in spades. We reached 60 at Plumpton, but amazingly continued accelerating! We stormed through Penrith at 71 and remained above 60 all the way up to Shap Summit, passed at 57. Then we fairly charged down hill, reaching 78 at Salterwath before braking. Speeds such as 75 at Greenholme, 72 at Low Gill and 73 at Oxenholme saw us four minutes early to Carnforth, in just 70 minutes from Carlisle.

That was enough excitement for me and I left the train at Carnforth for a service train to Preston, rather than letting 44760 take me all the way round through Hellifield and Clitheroe. The pattern of the day provides fuel for the serious debate about the future of mainline steam, but for the ordinary Lancashire and Yorkshire folk on the train (not a single one of the usual steam-bashing suspects was spotted!) it had been a cracking day out.

12 pictures are at http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

Peter, on another sunny, frosty Manchester morning
http://pjhrailpics.fotopic.net

 

Should have put a Castle on it!

 

Thanks Stuart, must have been very frustating for you being snowed in and missing Sir Nigel.

 

Few photos approaching Ais gill: http://richardsteampics.weebly.com/steam-on-the-main-line-network.html
Shame bill wasn't able to give it thunder all the way. Slightly disappointed with the clag or lack of it.

Richard Warren

 

It is!

 

That second shot's lovely, you copped for some great light.

 

Thought this debate was now censored by over sensitive tour operators.