Black Five over Shap

On Saturday 30th October 2004 ex LMS Black 5 4-6-0 45407 worked a train both ways over Shap single handed.

45407 had recently returned from the West Highland where it had taken part in a number of photo charters and was still masquerading as class mate 44996.
On the day, the loco looked just right; none too clean, the smokebox numberplate absent and with a reporting number chalked on the smokebox door. Add 10 coaches, all but one maroon and if we could have removed the overhead wires and the M6 it could have been the 60's!
The train started from Manchester and our first recording was made near Boar's Head on the 1 in 104 climb north of Wigan.
We nearly missed this recording as the train ran a few minutes early. Fortunately the distant sound of a Stanier whistle alerted us in time to get set up!
When the train passed our spot, about half a mile from the top of the gradient we were a little disappointed, but not surprised, to find that at the back of the 10 coach train was a diesel, Class 57 601. Fortunately the diesel was not providing assistance later confirmed by passengers on the train. As the rear vehicle was a Mk2 coach they were able to peer through the small windows in the vestibule connection door and observe the driver!

The train was due to be looped at Barton & Broughton just north of Preston and we were able to get there but only just in time to see the Black 5 pass through without stopping giving us no chance of a recording so we continued to our usual recording spot at Shap Wells.
Weather conditions were excellent with only a light breeze and even a little sun. One slight problem was that the light breeze was coming from the south east, just the right direction to carry the sound of traffic on the busy M6 motorway not far away.
Others waiting a Shap Wells were a little disappointed about the Class 57 at the back of the train and speculated that with a load of 10 coaches it would almost certainly have to assist on the climb to the summit. I wasn't so sure. I thought there was a good chance that the diesel would be detached at Carnforth then follow the train to Carlisle and that is exactly what happened.
A few minutes later than expected after a Pendolino had passed heading down the bank, the breeze carried the sound of 45407 up from near Scout Green.
The train must have been down to around 20 mph as it passed on the 1 in 75 gradient and the sound carried back all the way to the summit.

When 45407 returned south from Carlisle via the same route and we decided to try for a recording about half a mile south of Upperby not for from the start at Carlisle.
Once again the breeze was in the right direction to carry the sound back as the Black 5 started on the southbound climb to Shap summit and, once again, the Class 57 was following one section behind.
The train was a little late departing which was unfortunate as, had it been on time, we wouldn't have been troubled by the sound aircraft flying overhead!

A fast run down the M6 overtaking the train near Great Strickland enabled us to just make it to Shap before the train arrived but without sufficient time to set up for a recording. Still, it was nice to see 45407 on the last part of the climb.
After this we had plenty of time to get to Lancaster and try to find a suitable spot for a recording on the 1 in 98 climb away from the station. We had tried before without success but this time more by luck than by good navigation we found an excellent spot among some trees at the very top of the gradient at the site of the junction off the West Coast Main Line to the original station in Lancaster. All trace of the route of this line, except for this small area of land, appears to have long since vanished.
Running a little late and with 57601 re-attached at the rear we could hear 45407 departing from Lancaster station and, aside from a brief slip, climbing the gradient in fine style apparently without assistance from the diesel.
As the sound of 45407 fades away a Class 175 DMU passes heading down the gradient into Lancaster.
Once again the diesel was not assisting when it passed us. Careful observation revealed that the buffers between it and the rear coach were not compressed!