Some recent main line activity

My favourite Black 5 is back!

For those of you who don't know already, I'm referring to 5305, sorry, 45305 - well, it always used to carry the LMS number and old habits die hard.
Among my collection of recordings I have something in excess of 17 hours of recordings of this engine. Only 10 of these 180 tracks were made from the lineside and all of those were during the loco's visit to the K&WVR.
So, now that the loco is at last back on the main line I have been looking forward to getting my first main line lineside recordings.
An unexpected opportunity came my way a couple of weeks ago when the loco worked a train for Vintage Trains from Birmingham to Didcot and back. This train should have been worked by Jubilee 5690 but as that loco wasn't available 5305 was used instead.

There was another steam hauled charter train running in the area that day.
This one was being operated by Steamy Affairs and was steam hauled by the unique BR Standard Class 8P Pacific 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' from Bescot to Hereford then via the Welsh Marches route down to Newport.
This route would entail the loco taking it's train up the steep gradient from Saltley to Camp Hill and we were able to find a recording spot on the canal bank not far from St. Andrews Junction on the 1 in 62 gradient from Landore Street Jc.
The only drawback this location had was that it didn't have much of a view so we had no warning of the train's approach the only clue being the aspect of the signal (visible in the photograph) but as that could only be seen from some distance from the recording spot it wasn't much use. In addition the train was running half an hour late.
Fortunately the wait proved worth while and the Duke was going very well on the gradient with a massive 14 coach train behind the tender and the strong wind carried the sound back for a long time as it climbed the gradient to Camp Hill.

The return journey from Didcot gave another opportunity for a recording of 45305.
This time we went to Hatton Bank in the hope of getting something better than the recording at Acocks Green.
Although much better, this recording proved less good than it might have been as the train had a pathing stop at Leamington Spa and, from there followed a stopping DMU!
In this recording 45305 can be heard recovering after nearly being brought to a stand a the signal near Hatton Locks.
A violent slip is soon controlled but the next signal up the bank is against the train and the regulator has to be closed.
I was really looking forward to some of the trains that 45305 supposed to be working later in the summer, particularly the opportunity to do a 'proper' Scarborough Spa Express after a gap of 20 years since they last ran. Trains over Copy Pit and Shap looked inviting too but I was amazed to discover that these trains were all cancelled. The reason? Well, the reason given was lack of bookings but I find that almost unbelievable as the dates for these trains were almost 2 months away when they were cancelled. I wonder what the real reason was?

photos above:Brian Basterfield

Click here for more pictures taken the same day by Clive Hanley

The Dalesman

Although we get a good few steam hauled trains up here in the north all too often they have their starting points somewhere much further away so it was nice to see a series of trains, mainly running over the Settle - Carlisle line, promoted by Kingfisher appearing in the main line steam programme with starting and local pick-up points in the north.
Hopefully, like this one starting from Leeds, these trains will be well supported and perhaps lead to something that the Settle - Carlisle line has been crying out for, a regular daily steam operation through the summer!
Our first recording was made not far from Bell Busk just to the south of Hellifield where we were troubled, not only by clay pigeon shooters but also by a light aircraft which proved to be circling waiting to see the train from the air!
Despite these distractions 45407 sounds to be going well passing with it's 10 coach load.

As 45407 was booked to stop at Hellifield for water we had time to get to Selside for another recording.
Here we seemed doomed to be troubled by another light aircraft, perhaps the same one but luckily as 45407 appeared in the distance it went away.
Recording conditions were very good and we were able to hear the Black 5 for some time continuing the climb to Ribblehead after it had passed.