3. The Cumbrian Mountain Express-28.03.81

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1981 > 3. The Cumbrian Mountain Express-28.03.81

A long day out from Bath to North Yorkshire to see a southbound Cumbrian Mountain Express. We captured it three times with 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' hauling and once on the return to Carnforth hauled by former LMS Black 5 5407. Graham, Paul, David and I travelled in Graham's Austin 1100 (UVJ 129J) that was a little overcrowded with four of us and all of our combined kit for the day!

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46229, outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express, Carlisle-Hellifield, Keld NY675227 In some welcome spring sunshine 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' is working well on the steady 1:120 rising gradient near the hamlet of Keld between Appleby and Long Marton. It is hauling the outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express composed of twelve Mk. I coaches. This is the first of three photographs taken at this location with this one using my zoom lens. Close examination of the image reveals a number of enthusiasts trespassing on the tracks behind the train watching the tail as it heads south towards Appleby. Keywords: 46229 The Cumbrian Mountain Express Carlisle-Hellifield Keld NY675227 LMS Princess Coronation Class Duchess of Hamilton
46229, outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express, Carlisle-Hellifield, Keld NY675227 A second photograph near to the hamlet of Keld just north of Appleby sees 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' slogging up the gradient 1:120 rising gradient. It is interesting to compare this monochrome image with the previous colour one. Whilst many purists, predominantly (without wishing to be rude) the 'old school' of photography would always say black and white is the best when the sun is out and the light is strong nothing beats a colour image recorded on Kodachrome 64 slide film! Keywords: 46229 The Cumbrian Mountain Express Carlisle-Hellifield Keld NY675227 LMS Princess Coronation Class Duchess of Hamilton
46229, outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express, Carlisle-Hellifield, Keld NY675227 As going-away photographs go this one is pretty good! I like the motion blur evident in the leading coaches along with the slightly backlit and reflective lighting on 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' and its exhaust. It is leading the outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express past the hamlet of Keld just north of Appleby. Before the last coach of the train had even passed we were all back in the Austin 1100 and the race was on! Keywords: 46229 The Cumbrian Mountain Express Carlisle-Hellifield Keld NY675227 LMS Princess Coronation Class Duchess of Hamilton
4. 46229, outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express, Carlisle-Hellifield, Kirkby Stephen station Having raced from Keld just north of Appleby in the Austin 1100 passing The Cumbrian Mountain Express which was held at Appleby station for a photo stop we just managed to get it passing Kirkby Stephen. 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' is seen passing through the closed station working hard on the northern assault of the Settle and Carlisle line. Since leaving Appleby some ten miles south of this location the train had been climbing at a steady 1:100 with the Coronation Class working well keeping the train moving at a very reasonable rate. The former Midland Railway station at Kirkby Stephen (formally Kirkby Stephen West until 1968) had been closed for eleven years when this photograph was taken. With the official saving of the S & C still some years away it was five years until it was reopened along with most of the other ones on the line. Keywords: 46229 The Cumbrian Mountain Express Carlisle-Hellifield LMS Princess Coronation Class Duchess of Hamilton Kirkby Stephen
46229, outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express, Carlisle-Hellifield, Kirkby Stepehn station 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' makes a fine sight as it continues its dramatic and confident assault of the Settle and Carlisle line from the north hauling the outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express seen passing Kirkby Stephen. It still has over seven miles of 1:100 climbing to complete until it will crest the summit at Ais Gill. Once again, a successful going-away photograph that reveals plenty of infrastructure at Kirkby Stephen that had changed very little when I visited this spot again in 2014, see...... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/30016458813/kirkby-stephen-signal-box-former Keywords: 46229 The Cumbrian Mountain Express Carlisle-Hellifield Kirkby Stephen LMS Princess Coronation Class Duchess of Hamilton
Paul & David, between spots, UVJ 129J When the chase is on there is no time to stop and have a brew! Paul and David attempt a mouthful of tea from their flasks in the back of the Austin 1100. Notice the appropriate era related apparel as worn by any self-respecting gricer along with their accessories in the form of rucksacks, bags and a Super8 cine camera wisely mounted on a Velbon tripod. Also, notice the dual coloured Ford Anglia Super parked next to the 1100, perhaps it was owned by a fellow gricer as there were many about on this day! Keywords: Paul David between spots UVJ 129J Austin 1100 gricing
46229, outward leg of The Cumbrian Mountain Express, Carlisle-Hellifield, Dent SD764876 A second stop for the Cumbrian Mountain Express, this time at Grasdale for watering and the opportunity for passengers to get off the train and take their photographs gave us the opportunity to overtake the southbound charter again. We raced across the largely single-track mountain roads to Dent where we quickly exited the 1100 and walked a short way north of the station to a spot that Graham and I had visited back in August last year, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29532791204/x30850-lord-nelson-maunsell-850-cumbrian. This time my photograph is in monochrome and in pretty dire lighting compared to last years image of 'Lord Nelson'. 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' is putting a pretty dramatic exhaust despite it now being largely on level track prior to its descent to Hellifield. Keywords: 46229 The Cumbrian Mountain Express Carlisle-Hellifield Dent SD764876 LMS Princess Coronation Class Duchess of Hamilton
5407, return leg of The Cumbrian Mountains Express, Hellifield-Carnforth, Giggleswick With the outward leg of the Cumbrian Mountain Express having terminated at Hellifiled the much shorter return leg is seen passing Giggleswick near the hamlet of Low Paley Green. The return charter is travelling directly to Carnforth via Wennington and is hauled by former LMS Black Five 5407 (British Railways 45407). Notice the line of enthusiasts who have walked further down the field to take their photographs and record their cine film (no video back then!). This scene is now somewhat different as the A65 Settle/Giggleswick relief road now runs parallel to the railway on the other side to where I am standing. Keywords: 5407 return leg of The Cumbrian Mountains Express Hellifield-Carnforth Giggleswick Black five
5407, return leg of The Cumbrian Mountains Express, Hellifield-Carnforth, Giggleswick 5407 wearing its authentic LMS black lined livery and number is seen broadside working hard climbing away from Settle Junction on the 1:100 rising gradient near Low Paley Green. Once passengers arrive at the train's destination they will have to have made their own onward return arrangements as, unusually, the charter originated at Carlise but was returning to Carnforth. This particualar Black five was one of the steam locomotives to make it right to the end of steam in August 1968. It was immediately bought for preservation for the grand total of £3,300 and then purchased by Paddy Smith who operated it for a number of years most notably on the early Jacobite charters in Scotland. Keywords: 5407 The Cumbrian Mountains Express Hellifield-Carnforth Giggleswick Black five
Me, Graham, Paul & David, Low Paley Green SD791639 With the day's gricing activities over it was time for a well-earned rest and re-fuel before embarking on the long journey home. From left to right, yours truly, Graham, Paul and David pose for the camera next to UVJ 129J near the hamlet of Low Paley Green. I am not at all sure what we eating from the bowls as it was tea time rather than breakfast but when on tour anything usually went! Incidentally, a quick look at Google Earth (and Streetview) reveals that the small layby that we are parked in still exists if a little narrower now making end-on parking difficult to achieve! Keywords: Me Graham Paul David Low Paley Green SD791639

Images 1-10 of 10 displayed.