Vintage Trains 2025

On the plus side there shouldn't be an issue with fire risk, which has been a considerable problem in my part of the world for the last couple of weeks!

 

Posted by the BLS on Facebook

The locomotive for this one and only one occasion will carry the crest it had from 1968-73 and black backed nameplates for the trip tomorrow

 

BR made some effort to improve the Jubilees' steaming in 1956, comparing an improved single chimney and a double chimney and blastpipe mods in each case at Rugby. Both improved steam output to 25,000lbs/hr compared with the standard version which struggled to achieve 20,000lbs, and a significant uplift in ihp. The double chimney may have given a bit more latitude but for some reason a lower steam temperature. Assuming you mean a comparison with 5690 and 5699, I suspect they have both been tweaked to benefit from BR's findings (possibly in preservation as I don't think there was a widespread rollout of the changes in BR days) so there should not be much difference with 5596.
The Castles are more comparable with the Royal Scots.

 

Good Morning from 3Z43,

We look forward to welcoming you aboard today’s Shap Mountaineer to Carlisle.

The train is formed as follows: 47773 - TSO (H)- TSO (F)- TSO (E)- BSO (Z)- Pullman (B)- Pullman (C)- Pullman (D)- First (A)- First (P)

Tourist leading over Shap.

This train is fully booked, so no pay on the day is available.

Come and say hello!

 

Away from Crewe on time, looking forward to a cracking day!
Bahamas also on the way Carnforth too by looks of it.

 

Queen mum making heavy weather of it. Only 34mph at Boars Head after 55 thro Wigan. Load 9. 12 late at Preston.

 

Clearly not wanting to face the fast approaching storm. Ais Gill completely in cloud having just driven over that way, Shap not looking much better.

 

Departed Carnforth - enjoy everyone on-board.

 

Sensational climb of Grayrigg (42.5mph) & 36.5mph at top of Shap. Max of 77.2pmph in Lune Gorge. Look forward to seeing the videos!!

 

Have to say from the lineside the noise was sensational!
Easily outdid 5043 last year with 1 extra coach

 

Lovely bit of running into Carlisle too, high 70s all the way for an early arrival.

 

Shap Climbing Summit, mp37 1/4 an excellent 38.6. Made it 37.2 at mp37 1 1/2. Total elapsed time 70m 19s.

 

The Shap Mountaineer - Part 1 Saturday 29th March 2025


45596 was safely tucked up for the night when I last saw her in Haworth Yard at about 5pm as I set out for an evening out in Harrogate. Back in for midnight and a curtailed sleep meant that I was out on the road again to join The Shap Mountaineer at Warrington Bank Quay.


Arriving at Warrington at 0800 I did begin to wonder whether I could have hidden myself away in the support coach as a stowaway and cadged a lift via Settle Junction by rail!


Sadly an ill cat at home meant that my wife was not able to join me as planned but I did now have the luxury of a table to myself and a full picnic hamper courtesy of my very kind and devoted wife.


So not long after we pulled away from Warrington a few minutes late, I was already tucking into roast beef sandwiches and scribbling out my timing charts for the northbound journey.


It was good to make the company of a new (to me) Nat Pres face in the form of 30567 (Peter) as well as check in with Shireman (Graham) and Diane who I have got to know on various tours over the last couple of years.


A short delay at Carnforth meant that we got underway some seven minutes late and some initially good acceleration from Bahamas meant that by mp 7, on the Carnforth Flats, we had got up to 32mph.


However, Yealand Bank (1/132) son began to bite and speed gradually fell back to 26mph before the gradients began to ease. Sensibly, it would seem the driver was allowing the Jubilee to warm up again after her early morning run over from Keighley, and get the measure of her load.


Speed steadily built up over the next four miles and a peak of 58 saw us onto the 1/173 and o towards Milnthorpe.


Speed decayed to 51mph before rallying to 53mph on the easier gradients after Hincaster Junction.


However, as came out of the S-bends we hit the long straight which heralds the return of the steeper stuff in the form of a mile or so of 1/111 and as usual speed dropped on this stretch, on this occasion down to 47mph as Bahamas’ hooter (sounding somewhat asthmatic today) was sounded as we approached Oxenholme and we hit 48mph on the slightly easier stretch towards and through the station.


Soon after Oxenholme the gradient bites back once again and we were down to 45 before a quick rally at 46 on the brief respite thereafter.


A determined roar could be clearly discerned and 45596 was fighting back on the 1/131 past Hay Fell. Speed levelled out at around 45mph for a mile or two.


The 1/106 two mile sting in the tail of Grayrigg was always bound to mark some reduction in speed but over the first mile the decline was only slight and a 40mph+ speed at Grayrigg, seemingly unlikely a few miles back, was now on the cards.


With a triumphant series of blasts on the Stanier hooter, our thoroughbred topped the final fence of Grayrigg at 42mph and proceeded to accelerate strongly towards the Lune Gorge.


This was turning into a seriously good run and the shower of cinders coming through the open window was testament to the effort emanating from the front end.


As the speed increased the mileposts became more difficult to spot as we topped 60mph for the first time today.


By milepost 31.5 we had attained 76mph as we approached Tebay and the Driver had Shap Bank in his sights. We were still doing 69mph as we embarked on the 1/75 proper and our double chimney Jubilee was playing to the crowds as we forged on, passing Scout Green and then Salterwath, still the top side of 50mph as we passed the latter.


The photographers were out in the even more barren landscape of Shap Fell, charting our progress as we approached Shap Wells, with speed still in the early 40s.


Now we were into the long cutting before Shap Summit and the gradient was beginning to bite, speed dropping below 40mph on the final half mile to the Summit. We finished the trial section at mp37.25 at 38mph with an absolute minimum of 36mph at the summit.


The tightness of the schedule was apparent as even with this overall excellent performance, we had still dropped a couple of minutes or so on the 40 minutes allowed between the Carnforth start and the Summit.


We made very good progress down hill, with speed briefly touching 78mph before the brakes were applied for Bessie Ghyll.


Our progress after Eden Valley Goods Loops indicated we were not being looped at Penrith and omitting that stop turned our timing from 6L to 3E.


An good run down the hill resulted in an arrival at Carlisle some 70m and 20s after leaving Carnforth - an excellent timing for the 66 miles between the two.


And now a break before Part 2!

 

The rather damp weather has arrived at Kirkby Stephen. Could be an interesting climb of Ais Gill.

 

Apparently 37240 will be joining us at Hellifield!
Lovely run to Appleby, Bahamas is a really fine machine - Ais Gill awaits.

 

Given what was on offer loco and weather-wise it was an easy decision to make - the northbound leg. I packed up and was ready to leave around 9am. I was heading to Greenholme and I usually allow a little under 90mins for the journey. I had a minor problem when Maisie decided that she would come with me but Mrs W distracted her and Oswald was off (I heard you, "Oswald's been off for a good while". Do not mock, or I'll set my cat on you.) The traffic was light and I arrived at 10.15 to an already busy Greenholme, perhaps ten or a dozen cars were already parked and there were plenty of photographers milling around.

I parked and wandered about, it was dull almost gloomy and there was a strong wind sweeping across from the southwest - it was not pleasant. I looked for somewhere that might be sheltered from the wind, without success. I did bump into Idris and we had a chat about cats and trains and what might or might not be happening at 10A until it was time to get ready. I set up as near to a wall as I could, with the camera low and the mic even lower, it didn't stop the wind noise - at least I tried. VT's shadow diesel had made its way into the loop at Grayrigg, service trains came and went and then it was time for Bahamas.

On a cool day it is often the sight of exhaust in the distance that announces the imminent approach of a steam loco, but not today, it was the distant roar. White exhaust in the trees and the roar grew louder and louder, almost a jet engine quality as the Jubilee powered off the curve. By heck, she was motoring. The roar grew louder as;she rushed past, a loco on a mission and then it was all over. 7C (but feeling much colder), around 9/10L and 65mph. If I had headed off home at this point it would still have been a good day. Instead I headed back to the car for a brew and a piece of flapjack.

Amongst my ailments I have Reynauds, it came as a non-optional extra with rheumatoid arthritis. My fingers were red and rapidly turning white. I could have exited the car and recorded VT's shadowing diesel as it passed, but chose to remain in the car with my hands warming in the hot air from the vents. But even a soft lad has to venture out at some point. I monitored Tangmere's approach and, as she grew nearer, I collected my camera and headed back to my tripod.

After a few minutes came a distant whistle, a pause and then another and a few seconds later some white exhaust. What Tangmere lacked in out and out volume she made up for with her smoke laden exhaust and those whistles (sadly lacking from Bahamas, but we don't hold grudges). As Tangmere passed we got another whistle - lovely, Oswald likes a whistle! Still 7C (and still feeling colder), around 4L and 60mph. There were now at least two dozen cars parked, there were many more people with cameras, several with more than one camera, there were long lenses, tripods - how much money had been spent assembling that collection?

Driving home the weather gradually brightened and by the M55 turning there was some pale sunshine and on the M65 there was bright sunshine and 12C. (Inside the car there was no wind and 20C - nice!) Mrs W said that it had been sunny all morning. That came to an end around 2pm when it started to rain!

 

So the 29mph Jubilee benchmark set by Galatea back 2018 was dismissed in fine style with arguably one of 'Bahamas' best vocal soundtracks and performances I've ever heard. Its not often you hear 45596 sound like that ! Couldn't make the return unfortunately, though maybe a blessing given the conditions. I look forward to videos and write ups.

 

Unfortunately some absolute arse of a photographer dropped their 50 pence lense cap on the track at Kirkby Stephen from the bridge, and then jumped on the track to get it!!!! Literally right infront of the signalman with him watching out the window.

As such, meaning Bahamas suffered a signal check through the station. Bloke was a complete tit

 

Having just opened up the Ribblehead webcams the conditions look decidedly challenging and atmospheric.