A good start to the New Year!

The tour started in Manchester and ran via Standedge and Brighouse to Bradford, was then diesel hauled to Leeds before returning to Manchester steam hauled via Brighouse once again, Copy Pit, Blackburn and Chorley.
As this was a recording that I really wanted I had been hoping for a fine day, dry with a light wind so, of course, what did we get? A very strong wind and heavy showers - typical!
Worse still, the weather forecast suggested that the only likely recording spot at Greetland would be exposed to the wind and finding a sheltered spot seemed most unlikely.
Arriving at Greetland with plenty of time to spare we were amazed to find that, although the clouds were still scudding rapidly overhead the area we wanted was completely sheltered. The only problem with our recording spot was the busy road at the other side of the valley but there was noting we could do about that.
This recording begins as, running perhaps a few minutes early, 45407 appears in the distance negotiating Greetland Jc.
Due to the sharp curve following the junction there is little chance to get a run at the bank but the Black 5 sounds to be going well with its 7 coach load on the 1 in 44 gradient.
Although the rail conditions were dry, soon after passing under a nearby bridge, 45407 goes into a rather dramatic slip which proves to be a little difficult to stop.
Once the slip has been corrected the Black 5, now going a little slower, continues sure-footedly on the gradient until, reaching Salterhebble Tunnel, the sound fades away.
An excellent first recording for 2007!

Rather than chase around trying to get as many recordings as possible we decided to have plenty of time to find somewhere to get a good recording of 45407 on the climb to Copy Pit.
While Greetland had been sheltered from the wind, everywhere we looked at on Copy Pit was exposed to the very strong wind which seemed to be funneling down the valley.
Luckily we were able to find that boon to lineside sound recordists, a dry stone wall, and were able to set up in its shelter. The one problem we did have was a lack of view, where we were above Cornholme, there was no view down the valley at all and, because of the wind, we were unlikely to hear the train in the distance.
So it proved when, a little before the expected time with no warning whatsoever 45407 was suddenly there below us!
Once again, the Black 5 sounds to be having no difficulty with its 7 coach load on the 1 in 65 gradient.

5407 - a well travelled engine!

I know that it hasn't really, but 5407, now running as 45407, seems to have been out on the main line forever!
In the early 80s when I first rode behind it, it was owned by the late Paddy Smith and always referred to as Paddy's engine. Among other routes, it was a regular performer on Cumbrian Mountain Expresses and Pullmans often on the so-called bottom leg between Carnforth and Hellifield although it did occasionally venture over the Settle - Carlisle line, on one occasion with a 12 coach train! On that occasion the load caused no problems, Paddy's engine was and still is always a good performer.
On 14th September 1983 5407 was on the bottom leg of a Cumbrian Mountain Pullman which had run from Carlisle to Hellifield behind 'Lord Nelson'.
On 5407 that day was Carnforth driver Teddy Fothergill who could always be counted on to give us a good run for our money. Never a man to waste an opportunity for some hard running Teddy opens 5407 up for a final thrash as we cross the River Lune after passing Melling and 5407 roars up the gradient through Arkholme to the summit at Docker.

During its main line career 5407 has been a regular visitor to Scotland, often a regular performer on the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig. Indeed, 5407 worked the first passenger train on the route back in 1984. That first trip to Mallaig wasn't without difficulty and during the outward run we stalled not far from the top of Beasdale Bank.
Having set back a short distance with sanders on, 5407 restarts the train on the 1 in 48 gradient. On the freshly sanded track the Black 5 keeps its feet but once off this section slipping starts again. Fortunately the top is not far away and the loco is soon accelerating on easier gradients past the tiny Beasdale station.
With the sound of the Black 5's exhaust echoing round Beasdale I thought this one of the best sound recordings I had made until then. So turn the volume up!

We've heard 5407 working trains in England & Scotland so now it is the turn of Wales.
In the late 1980s 5407 was a regular performer on the very popular North Wales Coast Express which ran from Crewe to Holyhead and back throughout the summer months.
At the start of the return journey from Holyhead on 6th August 1989 5407 is heard departing from Holyhead and climbing the 1 in 75 gradient away from the station.