Heading for trouble

The early part of 2004 has been notable, unfortunately, for trains running into a spot of bother.
Although in the recordings on this page everything sounds fine, later both the trains featured ended up in trouble.

First, let's hear some recordings of ex LNER B1 4-6-0 61264.

On 13th March 2004 61264 worked a railtour from Doncaster to Scarborough and back, out via York, back via the coast and Goole - at least that was the plan.
The loco was attached to the train south of Doncaster station at the Royal Mail Terminal and we went to the station in the hope of getting a recording of the loco passing through. What we hadn't known was that the previously accessible area to the north of the station is in the process of being redeveloped so we ended up, with a lot of other people, on the platform.
With EWS driver David Cort at the regulator this is how the B1 sounded passing through.

As 61264 was booked to take water at Milford we had plenty of time to get to Strensall Common where, in spite of a man with a chain saw and the army practising shooting, we got a reasonable recording of the B1, running just about on time, hurrying past.

After a visit to Filey, where we attempted to do justice to the largest portions of Fish & Chips that it has ever been my pleasure to buy and a short walk on the Brigg, our next appointment with 61264 was at Hunmanby.
Here the line becomes single track after the double track section through Filey and begins to climb over the Wolds to reach Bridlington.
Having already identified a potentially suitable location for our recording we were rather disappointed to see that, in a nearby field preparations were underway for grass track car racing on the following day. These preparation included the use of a tractor but we seemed doomed not to be able to get a recording when they started testing the public address and various warning sirens!
However, sometimes things just work out right. Shortly before the B1 appeared all became quiet and, aside from a farmer reducing the local rabbit population with his shot gun, we had an remarkably uninterrupted few minutes.
This was just as well for it would have been a great pity if this recording had been spoilt by extraneous noises as the B1 makes a fine sound starting away from the station and climbing the gradient. Thanks to a light breeze the sound of the loco going away was carried back for quite a long time and can be heard almost all the way to the top of the gradient near Speeton.
This was an excellent recording in which the loco was audible for over 6 minutes. You can hear the complete recording on the steamsounds volume 3 audio CD, details here.
The humming sound heard as the back of the train passes isn't a diesel attached at the rear of the train but the generator coach there to provide electrical power for train heating. In view of what transpired later it would have been better had it been a diesel loco!
Our next port of call was Goole but I have no recording. The loco failed just south of Bridlington with a burst boiler tube and had to be rescued by a diesel some hours later.

Now for the LMS Princess Royal Pacific 6201 'Princess Elizabeth'.

On some days lineside sound recording is memorable for perfect conditions. Those days with a light breeze from the right direction, no distractions and a steam engine working hard are unbeatable. Other days are memorable for quite different reasons.
3rd April 2004 was a day in the later category when 6201 worked a train from Preston over Shap to Carlisle. It was one of those days that Shap sometimes produces with a strong south westerly wind accompanied by almost horizontal rain.
As this recording begins the strong wind roars in the overhead wires and batters against the dry stone wall behind which I was sheltering from the rain passing horizontally overhead.
Above the noise of the wind can be heard the sound of 6201 working hard coming up the gradient from Scout Green.
Despite the conditions the sight and sound of 6201 passing with 13 coaches behind the tender was superb and well worth getting wet to experience!
Although 6201 sounds fine in this recording all was not well and the loco failed before reaching Carlisle after considerable damage was caused to a middle cylinder and part of the motion.
Hopefully, by the time this edition appears on the web this loco, which has been one of the most reliable performers on the main line over the last 30 years or so will be well on the way to having been repaired and be back in action soon.
The complete recording, which lasted over 5 minutes, can be heard on the steamsounds volume 3 audio CD, details here.