Northern Belle 2024

No, no John, don't put them off sending them all back. I'm sure we've got various non-SR locos we can send back in exchange, as well as a few diesels too!

Bryan B

 

Mustn’t be greedy, we’ve already got a MN that’s better than theirs!

 

SRBB class No. 34067 'Tangmere' doing the business on the climb to Greyrigg with today's Northern Belle 1Z52 from Hull to Carlisle with Mick Kelly driving, Rob Russell on the shovel and Roly Parker Guard

 

34046 Braunton seen charging through Oxenholme Station and later from Salterwath, the Bull that was in the field I was planning to go in at Salterwath then shortly after 34067 Tangmere follows with The Northern Belle and finally later in the day 34046 passing through Dalston Station.

 

I've just finished writing out my lines (100 times), "You MUST check that Tangmere will still be on the front of the Northern Belle before you go out to watch it at Whalley." Oswald has had a busy few days and simply forgot to check that the steam was not being detached at Hellifield, something that I always do (except this time).

The location was suggested to me earlier in the year by @RalphW (thanks Ralph). I have been there before but many, many years ago, it's up a narrow road with very limited parking and I have kept away. Like many other spots the vegetation has grown and its not what it once was. On the plus side it was a glorious summer's evening.

I couldn't believe it when the train rolled into Whalley station with no steam. After briefly freezing I decided to film it anyway. I couldn't decide if the musical accompaniment was a convoy of vehicles or a brass band tuning up and then the sheep wandered slowly up the field - curious to see what the silly old codger was up to? But apart from there being no steam, too many trees, a brass band and curious sheep . . . "So, what did the Romans really do for us?" 20C & RT.



Mrs W's team got a hard earned point in a televised match away against their nearby arch rivals. (This was despite playing for 60 minutes with 10 men against 13 - the referee and one of his assistants were playing for the home side, said an unbiased Mrs W.) Diego has still not returned from his holidays.

 

Saw this one at Carlisle ...

and nearly choked. Northern Belle - 57 on the back / front was Scarborough Castle ... okay, that's in the North.
But the last coach was "Harlech Castle" ... When I last looked, that one is in Wales, alright, North Wales, but still ...

Had a couple of minutes on the footplate of Tangmere ... I was off to Whitehaven, so didn't have much time to spare.
[I did exercise the camera]

 

Conwy Castle is also in the fleet

 

In yer dreams.

 

Talk about hitting 'em when they're down. It's the only West Coast loco available. <BJ>

 

It's Tangmere that's the only loco available not BIL.

 

Tangmere at a wet and Blustery Shap Wells and Aisgill .

 

Horrendous conditions at Greenholme with blustery winds and rain squalls SRBB No. 34067 'Tangmere' heads the 'Northern Belle 1Z58 from Liverpool to Carlisle with David Blair driving, Robbie Ellis on the shovel and Roly Parker Guard, the crew
will also work the return.



Drier and calmer conditions at Aisgill as SRBB class No. 34067 'Tangmere' approaches the summit and back to Liverpool Lime Street

 

Tangmere was piloted back to 10A this evening from Preston by 86401, which seems pretty unprecedented.

 

Reported electrical issues with the steam loco on a few forumns

 

34067 seen passing a wet and windy Shap Wells and a dry but Blustery Aisgill.

 

That was a little disappointing, waited at Brock to see Tangmere working 5Z61 1857 Preston to Carnforth Steamtown and 86401 was on the front. Quite an unusual pairing though.

 

It looks like the weather "up north" was grim whilst here, 50 miles to the south, we were blessed with a lovely autumnal day. Diego came for breakfast, a morning snooze and a share of the bacon that we had on our butties at lunchtime. Then he trotted off to his other home to see what might be on offer there. It was such a nice day that Mrs W and Oswald Jnr decided to walk to the football (won 3-0). This left me to my own devices for much of the afternoon. Around 15.30 Diego returned and settled himself down for a nap on the settee (in a carefully chosen spot that was bathed in warm afternoon sunshine).

When it was time for me to leave Diego readily cooperated (after a foody bribe) and mooched off along the road until he found himself a sunny spot. I thought of taking advantage of the sunshine and heading down to Whalley where the Arches should be well lit, but this would have meant a bit of a walk and my knee had been niggling for a few days so I settled for my old favourite at R&W. Although not scheduled to pass R&W until 18.19, I arrived early as the NB can often leave Hellifield soon and gain plenty of time. Shortly after I arrived the early running LE move 66720 Castle Cement to Bescot passed (17.35). The service trains to and from Blackburn to Clitheroe were cancelled (I didn't catch all of the announcement, something about a points problem?). Tangmere appeared to have the line to herself. I had intended to video both ways from the road bridge but Cadent had dug up the pavement on the Blackburn side, so headed down to platform.

As I was setting up, young Philip arrived, the regulars followed one by one. RTT showed Tangmere had left Clitheroe 12E and would likely pick up time. There was a moderate SW breeze blowing, well sheltered down on the platform but from a direction that would carry the sounds away from the station and Tangmere is not always the noisiest of locomotives.

The first sounds came only a few seconds before Tangmere rounded the curve at the Old Wilpshire station. Today Tangmere was making plenty of noise and the exhaust was lifting nicely as she caught the last of the sunlight that was sneaking between the trees. She was moving at a sensible speed that suggested no excessive involvement from 47802 on the rear. Under the road bridge in a cacophony of sound, swoosh, hiss, clunk and she was away towards the waiting summit. The coaches moved past with a heavy rumble, the noise from the diesel engine on the kitchen car and finally 47802. I watched as the train dropped over the summit, the odd patch of sunlight, exhaust lingering in the cutting and finally it curved away towards Blackburn and was gone. 17C, 18E & 26mph. What a good way to round off a relaxing afternoon.

When I arrived home, Mrs W had just left; an elderly relative who lives nearby had a bit of an issue. A couple of hours later, with some help from Oswald Jnr, it was all happily resolved, but did result in my post being later than planned.

 

Assume 44871 for the steam legs of this?

Saturday 19th October, Northern Belle - Coventry to Carlisle;

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U31165/2024-10-19/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U31168/2024-10-19/detailed

 

45212 as 44871 moves to Bristol on Friday

 

That's very rare I should think. I can only once recall seen a steam/ electric double- header and that was back on 10 October 1964 when I saw 44909 piloted by an unidentified electric on a Euston- Perth express between Lichfield and Rugeley.