The Cumbrian Mountain Express-08.08.79

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1979 > 16. Summer Tour-07-12.08.79 > The Cumbrian Mountain Express-08.08.79

After yesterday's dull weather, this day was a lot brighter with more sun. The purpose was to capture The Cumbrian Mountain Express that was hauled by 4472 'Flying Scotsman'. Unfortunately, the oracle that is Six Bells Junction has no information on this tour and, over the annals of time I too have lost any information that I had. It left Carnforth and I believe did a return trip to Skipton. We saw it a number of times on its journey both on the outward and the return runs.

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Images 1-16 of 16 displayed.

Wennington Junction signal box (Midland, 1890)
Taken from the platform end looking west, the superb Wennington Junction signal box is seen framed by the road bridge. The Midland box, built in 1890, still boasts its huge wooden name board. Notice the starter signal positioned on the wrong side of the line beyond the box due to sighting issues caused by the curve of the track behind me. The former Midland route to Lancaster curved off to the left between the two bridges with the Furness and Midland route remaining heading to Carnforth and beyond. In April 2006 the box was closed and within a week or two was dismantled for preservation at the Poulton & Wyre Railway Society. I am unsure if the box has yet to be put to further use and I can find nothing on their website, can anybody advise me?
Keywords: Wennington Junction signal box

Class 101 DMU, 11.35 Leeds-Morecambe, Wennington station
I always thought that this revised livery applied to the class 101 DMUs (and a number of their counterparts) was very smart. However, it was not always the most practical colour with huge swathes of white bodyside for the BR depot staff to keep clean. At Wennington, an unidentified member of the class passes through the station forming the 11.35 Leeds to Morecambe service. This scene is very similar today with the same footbridge still in use. The only major difference is the loss of the semaphores when the signalling was removed in 2006.
Keywords: Class 101 DMU 11.35 Leeds-Morecambe Wennington station

4472, outward leg of The North Yorkshireman, Carnforth-Skipton, Melling SD603711
Having crossed the Lune Valley, 4472 'Flying Scotsman' climbs up towards Wennington Tunnel passing the village of Melling. It is hauling the outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express that I believe it took from Carnforth with the train originating somewhere else. I have checked on Google Earth and this view is no longer available due to rampant and uncontrolled tree growth both above the tunnel mouth below and within the cutting itself.
Keywords: 4472 outward leg of The North Yorkshireman Carnforth-Skipton, Melling SD603711

4472, outward leg of The North Yorkshireman, Carnforth-Skipton, Melling SD603711
An unusual angle from the top of the portal of the 57 chains (1254 yards) long Melling tunnel 4472 'Flying Scotsman' is seen working hard leading the outward leg of The North Yorkshireman railtour. A short distance beyond the tunnel is Wennington where the train paused giving us enough time to pile back in the Mini and race there to secure some more shots of it leaving.
Keywords: 4472 outward leg of The North Yorkshireman Carnforth-Skipton Melling SD603711

4472, outward leg of The North Yorkshireman, Carnforth-Skipton, Wennington SO625700
With an explosive display of exhaust, 4472 'Flying Scotsman' gets the outward leg of The North Yorkshireman railtour underway after its stop at Wennington. The departure was a slow and rather careful one with a number of dramatic and violent wheel slips. The slight backlighting from the sun and the cloudy sky has really emphasised the towering display from Scotsman. Notice to the left the land where the former loop and sidings were located that were installed during World War Two. This picture is courtesy of Mr. Graham Vincent.
Keywords: 4472 outward leg of The North Yorkshireman Carnforth-Skipton Wennington SO625700

4472, outward leg of The North Yorkshireman, Carnforth-Skipton, Wennington SO625700
The second of Graham's pictures taken at Wennington of 4472 'Flying Scotsman' departing with The North Yorkshireman railtour. Notice the person holding what appears to be a microphone out of the droplight, I wonder if their recording still exists and if it is a good as the one that I took and still have of this monumental departure? This picture is also courtesy of Mr. Graham Vincent as I decided not to stay trackside choosing the bridge in the far distance for my photograph.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/26751472804/x0007-4472-outward-leg-north-yorkshireman
Keywords: 4472 The North Yorkshireman Carnforth-Skipton Wennington SO625700

4472, outward leg of The North Yorkshireman, Carnforth-Skipton, Wennington SO625700
4472 'Flying Scotsman' gets The North Yorkshireman away from Wennington station after some dramatic slips. I'm not too sure how high the exhaust is in the air above the locomotive but I suspect it could be seen from a fair distance around the area! Notice my railway companions, Graham and David, on the land once occupied by the loop and sidings. Graham had just taken the previous image ..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/26751472604/x4472-north-yorkshireman-carnforth
Keywords: 4472, outward leg of The North Yorkshireman, Carnforth-Skipton, Wennington SO625700

4472, outward leg of The North Yorkshireman, Carnforth-Skipton, Wennington SO625700
4472 'Flying Scotsman' is getting into its rhythm as it leaves Wennington on the 1:141 rising gradient towards Bentham. It will have had its work cut out as it appears to have thirteen coaches attached as it leads the outward leg of The North Yorkshireman railtour that originated at Carnforth. Notice the milepost to the right indicating two hundred and forty-nine miles from London St. Pancras via the traditional Midland route. The image is little side-lit but at least the sun has come out.
Keywords: 4472 The North Yorkshireman Carnforth-Skipton Wennington SO625700

4472, outward leg of The North Yorkshireman, Carnforth-Skipton, Wennington SO625700
I did get a bit carried away with my pictures of 4472 'Flying Scotsman' leading The North Yorkshireman away from Wennington but it was such a dramatic departure that I make no apologies! The final picture is a going away photograph with Scotsman lost in the steam and smoke. It was just beginning a continuous twelve-mile section of climbing as far as milepost 237 just north west of Giggleswick. The noise, as well as the sight of this departure, was something to behold and the tape recording that I made remains one of my all-time favourites.
Keywords: 4472 The North Yorkshireman, Carnforth-Skipton Wennington SO625700

40199, up tanker train, Wennington SD621699
Technically this is not a great picture and was one that that was rescued from the original 1979 reject collection. Modern technology has resurrected it and a passable photograph is the result. 40199 gets away from Wennington behind 4472 'Flying Scotsman' that leading The North Yorkshireman railtour. I am not sure what train 40199 was heading but it seems to be composed mainly of some sort of tankers complete with barrier vehicles indicating it may be a particularly volatile load, can anybody advise? Notice that the semaphore arm has been removed from the lower post on the bracket signal. This arm once protected the junction just beyond the station where the now-closed Midland line diverged south westwards to join the WCML at Lancaster.
Keywords: 40199 up tanker train Wennington SD621699

4472 & me, return leg of The North Yorkshireman, Skipton-Carnforth, Giggleswick SD793638
4472 'Flying Scotsman' climbs away from Giggleswick with the return North Yorkshireman railtour from Skipton to Carnforth. The photograph was taken by my companion Graham and yes, that is a fifteen-year-old me in the foreground taking my photograph..... https://www.ontheupfast.com/v/photos/21936chg/26751474404/x0012-4472-return-leg-north-yorkshireman
Keywords: 4472 The North Yorkshireman Skipton-Carnforth Giggleswick SD793638

4472, return leg of The North Yorkshireman, Skipton-Carnforth, Giggleswick SD793638
In lovely evening light at Giggleswick in North Yorkshire, 4472 'Flying Scotsman' heads up the 1:100 rising gradient with the returning North Yorkshireman railtour from Skipton to Carnforth. Whilst this photograph can be replicated today, the scene is somewhat blighted by the A65 Settle relief road that is parallel to the railway on the far side. There is also considerable tree growth along the side of the new road that spoils the views of the Yorkshire fields and dry stone walls.
Keywords: 4472 The North Yorkshireman Skipton-Carnforth Giggleswick SD793638

4472, return leg of The North Yorkshireman, Skipton-Carnforth, Giggleswick SD793638
The lush and green fields of North Yorkshire do their best to camouflage 4472 'Flying Scotsman' in its apple green livery as it climbs away from Giggleswick in North Yorkshire. It is heading the returning North Yorkshireman railtour from Skipton to Carnforth.
Keywords: 4472 The North Yorkshireman Skipton-Carnforth Giggleswick SD793638

4472, return leg of The North Yorkshireman, Skipton-Carnforth, Giggleswick SD793638
4472 'Flying Scotsman' catches some very welcome late afternoon sunshine as it climbs Giggleswick bank within the return North Yorkshireman railtour. I agree that I did go a little over-the-top by taking so many photographs of the train both here and earlier at Wennington with every frame costing so much money as I was using Kodachrome 64. However, given the scenery and the subject matter I did get a little carried away!
Keywords: 4472 The North Yorkshireman Skipton-Carnforth Giggleswick SD793638

Settle Junction signal box (Midland, 1913)
The superb Settle Junction signal box stands proudly in almost the dry stone walls and stone barns of North Yorkshire. The 1913 Midland structure still retains its wooden nameboard and finals, the nearest of which is obscured by a miss-placed telegraph pole. At the time of writing, this box is still in operation with very little changes during intervening forty years. My 2014 photograph reveals that the only real differences are prolific tree growth behind the signal box.
Keywords: Settle Junction signal box

Class 40, 16.05 Nottingham-Carlisle, Settle Junction
Whilst we were at Settle Junction, the bells rang out in the box and the down signals were pulled off. After a short wait, the unmistakable sound of a class 40 was heard leading the 16.05 Nottingham to Carlisle service just beginning its assault of the Settle and Carlisle line. It is unfortunate that I do not have the identity of the class 40 and that it is taken the wrong side of the sun; if anybody can help with the former of these, I would appreciate it.
Keywords: Class 40 16.05 Nottingham-Carlisle Settle Junction

Images 1-16 of 16 displayed.