Saphos Pennine Moors Christmas Cracker: 21/12/22

A bit different, the 'going away' shot at Smithy Bridge.

 

Video and stills from Gregson Lane and Holme Chapel on the climb to Copy Pit

 

Yesterday was the shortest day of the year and despite the winter sunshine usable light would at a premium, added to this that Oswald has been suffering with a bad leg/back. Choosing a suitable location would be a challenge, nearby parking and definitely no scampering up hills (as per @nige757). Might as well finish the year at a well-used location, Chapel Lane at Hoghton. Santa hat on (Oh, yes I did! Oh, no you didn't! I DID!) and off to Hoghton where I found a parking spot close to the bridge. There were plenty of photographers on the distant "farmer's bridge" and several more down by the foot crossing. I was the only one waiting on Chapel Lane bridge, before being joined by a volunteer from the Ribble Railway and another guy.

"'twas the night before Christmas and all the the house, nothing was stirring not even a mouse." Well at Hoghton something WAS stirring and although the noise was shrill it was definitely not a mouse - it was the whistle of 61306 as she climbed the lower part of the bank. The distant exhaust beat of a hard working steam locomotive grew louder as the B1 blasted her way up the hill with the sound being carried towards us on a light but chilly SW breeze. In winter, unlike at other times of the year, the train can be seen through the bare trackside vegetation before it reaches the far bridge. A whistle for those on the bridge, out from under the arch and a double whistle for the crossing board, towards us then under the road, over the summit and off towards Pleasington. 32mph, around 7E and 7C (but feeling colder).



So where to next? Not Copy Pit! Rishton for the climb out of Blackburn? Huncoat for the climb from Accrington? It was almost Christmas and I decided that I deserved a treat. I might be wearing a Santa hat (Oh, yes I was! . . .) but this would be more "Ghost of Christmas Past" - Church and Oswaldtwistle station. Having climbed to Rishton the line descends across the valley before climbing again through Church & Osw. However, the loco would not be working as the train would be slowing for the severe speed restriction through the tightly curving platforms at Accrington.

A gentle drive over to Church, park up and eat the Nutrigrain bar - the one that I left on the kitchen worktop!!! Up onto the platform. I have been back a few years ago but it is still sad to see, no buildings, shortened platforms nothing like I will always remember it. I digress (as if I would!). The platform was sheltered from the wind and it was quite pleasant waiting. Soon, 63106 swept towards the station on the curved viaduct, through the station and around the curve, now out of sight but past the site of the shed and on towards Accrington slowing as she went. The train was 1E (and I did so want to say "Bongo bang on time!")






Please forgive any typos and anything else that might result from lack of visual acuity; I got some new varifocals about a month ago and my optician said that it would take some time to adjust - she was not wrong. As Eric Morecambe might have said, "They've got all the right bits of lens, but not necessarily in the right places." Leaning forward to see the laptop screen with a bad back is not pleasant.

 

61306 crests Copy Pit,

 

Having travelled on this on Thursday, from observations there was only half a coach right at the back for second class passengers, suppose just £20 difference passengers opted for 1st class