The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express 2015.

Many thanks. We were wondering how long the steam was coming out for beyond Breaks Hall.

 

About another half a mile; it finally behaved just before the site of Griseburn signal box.

 

My notes suggest it was after that when we got into the cutting. We were still doing 46.4 at MP 35, 45.1 mph at Scout Green and 43 at MP 36 where it sounded like David Blair gave her a bit more, but dropped to 37.7 at MP 37 and 37.1 over the top. Only one slip but enough to cost us a possible 40 mph minimum. It was misty and damp at that point.

Don

 

Without doubt 46115

Don

 

Cracking footage from the day David , both your uploads show how to film from the train , rock steady and decent sound with hardly if any wind noise . Best by far from onboard at the weekend I thought !

 

Great footage, but you must have feared for your lens with all those cinders flying around!

 

Thanks very much Steve and Alan - much appreciated. Yes the mic and lens take a battering on these mainline jaunts, but seem to cope just about, aside from the occasional error message mid-trip. One camera several years ago was left with a permanent smut mark, however.

Here's part 3, a truncated view of the climb to Ais Gill. One day I will have a life away from video editing

 

Ais Gill is the only one I can think of (including your nemesis under the bridge, Ralph!)

Peter on another grey February morning in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/

 

A large number also at Greenholme with cars parked both on the road around the bridge and in the exit from the northbound Services; around mid-day the light is JUST on the western side of the loco as it curves through into the cutting hence the large number of photographers at that location.

 

Intriguing question. Where Scout Green and its immediate locality scores is the amount of published imagery created at this location which, allied to the frequency of steam tours - particularly at this time of year, and the sheer grandeur of the panorama hereabouts certainly gives the impression that this is one of the most frequented locations in this country.

I'm not sure which way the frequency of steam tours passing a particular site/ location really works. Our local station - Long Buckby - sees somewhere between 30 and 50 people each time a steam-hauled excursion passes during weekend mornings - less for weekdays, about the same for summer evenings. Almost impossible to get in the car park when this happens. But its a less regular event than the Scout Green example

Elsewhere, I'm sure that the locations like the top of Hemerdon bank, for the passage of eastbound excursions, must be somewhere up there at the top end of the ratings, judging by the volume of output we see from here.

But how about this for another rival ? The scene on the attached image is what greeted the arrival of West Coast's "Lancastrian" railtour hauled by Black Five 44932 as it edged its way along the Up Goods Loop at Hellifield at lunchtime on Saturday 16th February 2013. I didn't get a real impression of the total numbers assembled there, but there are at least 30 photographers at the platform end alone, seen in this view, and more along the platform face.

Its true that UoSA was also due to arrive - about three hours or so later - on one of the legendary February 2013 clockwise WCME runs referred to in earlier posts. So maybe this was part of the story on this particular day. But does this location see these kind of numbers regularly? It seemed so during the passage of last year's VT Cumbrian Ranger with "Bittern" as well. If so, it might rival favourite photographic locations at Shap and Ais Gill in the popularity stakes.

 

The Lickey. The last time I was there in 2012 (When the Double Lickey Banker ran) there must have been close to 500 people all the way up the incline, and at least 100 other people in the same field as me.

 

I'm sure there was filter on the lens. On the West Highlander 2011 a chap in our carriage had a brand new HD Sony camera similar to mine and was shooting out the window climbing out of Oban. It was during the hurricane weekend if anyone remembers and the poor bloke came to me and asked if I could put my battery on his camera as it had stopped working. I did of course but with no joy. I then realised the camera was full of water. Well, it would be wouldn't it? Even with a filter fitted rain is to be cleared on a regular basis. Cinders will hit the camera but NOT the lens. Lot cheaper to replace.

 

What about Copy Pit - the large lay-by with at least cars 3 deep. plus the car park by the lodge are usually packed and could be as well this Sunday for the Tin bath

 

Thanks Ralph. The final part is now up:



Shortly after leaving Hellifield, a Geordie and some fellas with pipes came and sat next to me in the vestibule - most peculiar.

 

Superb footage.....the background music in the first half .......surreal.......a nice touch...

 

Beeyootiful !!! Wonderful filming and production with all of your on-train videos there David. Also, not just a long day with the train, a few hours at the screen editing methinks, so, many thanks for all of the effort that you put in on this, very, very enjoyable.

Cheers

Alan

 

Stunning finish to a superb set of vids of Saturdays WCME and as Osprey says the haunting music was a nice touch-thanks for your efforts David