Dalesman and Pendle Dalesman 2021

A thoroughly miserable morning, steady fine rain was hurrying past the windows of Wistle Towers pushed by a stiff north westerly breeze. Should I venture out or join the ranks of the "soft lads" and stay at home? Ah well, in for a penny . . . I set off for Chapel Lane. As I arrived the rain eased to a very light drizzle but the sky was the same even grey colour from one side of the horizon to the other - and it wasn't easy to see the horizon. Regularly checking progress on RTT I waited in the car as long as I dared and, inevitably, as I was about to leave the car the rain increased.

I walked to the bridge and could hear 46115 whistling for the distant crossings. It was only 13C, the rain was coming down steadily, bands being swept directly at an already wet and increasingly cold and miserable Oswald. I was the only person on the bridge - what a surprise! A noise from behind as the Preston bound unit approached then thankfully passed under the distant occupation bridge just as white exhaust appeared in the trees.

SG appeared carrying a floral tribute on the smokebox door [later confirmed to commemorate the anniversary of Michael Middleton's tragic demise]. Sanders appeared to be on but difficult to be sure as there was a steam leak coming from the front of the loco at the fireman's side. A good long blast of the Stanier hooter for the crossing then with exhaust steam filling the cutting SG passed under the bridge. Even with the breeze the steam was slow to clear and much of the train had passed before the carriages could be seen, some sort of observation car on the rear. [Later confirmed to be 12 coaches].

The breeze swept the sound away as the train continued towards Pleasington. A seemingly effortless performance by SG, 29 mph and RT.

 

I agree, adhesion is often the limiting factor and can range from excellent to almost non-existent; on the day it proved to be excellent. The purpose of the post was to show just how hard SL was working.

WCRC may have considered adding a diesel but 13 coaches + a steam loco + a diesel makes effectively a 15 coach long train. Platform 3 at Carlisle is limited to 13 coaches in the up direction and 15 down, add to this the complication of the steam loco and POB being detached from one end and then added to the other. I have been on steam+13+diesel trains in platform 3 but only after the whole train was turned using the curve at Upperby. When Alberta and Scots Guardsman hauled a 13 coach+diesel Santa Special (16 coach equivalent), even though the whole train was turned at Upperby we had to use the longer platform 4. Someone with better knowledge of signals and track circuits at Carlisle might be able to shed more light. I wondered if, for the returning Pendle Dalesman, the steam might be replaced from Hellifield or a diesel added to the back for the steepest climb of the day. After the day's efforts on the 1/100 presumably the crew thought Wilpshire was "do-able" and didn't "whistle up a banker."

Jubilee: Adhesive Weight 134,400 lbs, Tractive Effort 26,610 lbs, Factor of Adhesion 5.05
Rebuilt MN: Adhesive Weight 145,376 lbs, Tractive Effort 33,495 lbs, Factor of Adhesion 4.34

 

It will be more than 25 years ago now, but I met up with a steam footplate inspector at Citadel to try and determine how many coaches would fit onto the platforms there. We used one of those wheel contraptions to do the measuring. Working away from the starting signals the following measurements were recorded; Platform 1, 301 metres, Platform 3 309 metres, and Platform 4 361 metres. Using platform 4, I reckon that it would accommodate 18 vehicles, loco, POB + 16 coaches between signals.
Matters might be a bit different now after 25 years but I don't think the platform lengths will have altered - signalling etc, maybe.

 

It was a poor day for Oswald and his iphone, it does serve to provide a record the event - but only just!



Still raining but hopefully better weather on the way for this evening.

 

Braver man than I today young Whistle

 

Or perhaps just more foolish?

 

Thanks for the information and very interesting that you were involved in the practical process of measuring. Platform 3 always seems longer when I've walked up and down it counting the coaches.
My copy of Railway Track Diagrams gives the following information for Carlisle,
Platform 1: U16, D12
Platform 3: U13, D15
Platform 4: U17, D19
The KEY explains that the number, "indicates the number of carriages per platform (approx 20m lengths)"

The difference in the number of carriages must reflect the different relative positions of the starting signals in each direction but are broadly in agreement with your measurements. If I remember correctly when running north into platform 3 with a 13 coach train the loco runs right up to and stops at the signal at the north end. When the ECS is to remain in the platform, the loco and POB detach and go off for service and turning. When they return they attach to the south end of the stock then have to set back at least a coach length to get behind the starting signal.

 

Trundle Wheel

 

QXB 999506

 

Inspection saloon, not observation car. AN

https://andrewstransport.smugmug.com/Northwesttrains/North-west-trains-2008/i-wcdRzBt

 

Another fine day so far with SG, complete with a lovely tribute to Michael Middleton at Garsdale on the return, which involved slowing through the station with several long blasts on the whistle.

Some statistics of the day:

Settle Jn-Blea Moor Box: 27mins 5secs

Carlisle-Appleby: 41:56 with plenty of that snarling roar in evidence.

Appleby-Ais Gill: 25:31 (20:59 Blue Riband time). Includes speeds of 57 at Ormside and 38 at Milepost 260.

A performance which I’m sure would have Michael beaming all over. R.I.P. good sir.

 

46115 at Bridge Road and Piccadilly at Lancaster, Selside Cottages , Selside Shaw and finally a Rip roaring climb at Aisgill .

 

You know summer's fading when the rosebay willow herb is in full bloom.

 

Considering the Beast of the Fells was out it was surprisingly quiet at Aisgill but thankfully the Scot certainly wasn’t so a fitting tribute to Mr Middleton.

 

46115 seen at Bridge Road, climbing Ripley Bank, Selside Cottages, Selside Shaw and on a charge up to Aisgill Summit.

 

Memorable!

 

Deleted

 

Today's job from Chester at Armathwaite...


Green Jubilee at Armathwaite

 

Lovely capture Ian. It falls into the 'wish I'd taken that' category!

 

45627 Sierra Leone storms through Settle