Main Line Standards

After recording 76079 passing Holme on the climb to Copy Pit during the course of the railtour on the 19th January 2002 we thought that, with a bit of luck, a following wind and the tour being a little late leaving Huddersfield we would be in with a chance of making over to Marsden before 76079 got there. We were only just right.
With only a little time to spare we made it. There was no chance to go exploring and find a good spot for a recording so we ended up at Slaithwaite station. Obviously, the place was crowded so, with only a minute or two to spare, I set up my recorder at the back of the station car park and hoped for the best.
And I'm not at all disappointed with the result!

Ever since I had first travelled on the line I have always wanted to have a steam hauled run to Blaenau Ffestiniog and indeed I still do! On 2nd May 1998 the first of two Conway Climbers ran steam hauled by 80079 from Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog reversing at Llandudno Jc. In this recording the tank sounds to be doing well with 6 coaches behind the bunker approaching Cethins Bridge, the viaduct over the Afon Lledr beyond Betws-y-Coed and accelerates on the easier gradients over the bridge. Climbing once again through the woods beyond 80079 sounds as well as I have ever heard it. Later, after this recording has ended, approaching Pont-y-Pant things start to go wrong. While we were stood at Llandudno Jc. a railway man there on hearing that 80079 was taking 6 coaches up to Blaenau Ffestiniog was heard to remark that, with that load we wouldn't get past Milepost 19! Well, sadly, he was absolutely right. That was exactly where we were brought to a stand. This time it wasn't bad rail conditions that caused the stall but having 6 coaches strung out round extremely tight reverse curves with the wheels binding on the check rails. It soon became apparent that, no matter what the crew tried we were going no further and we eventually reversed to Betws-y-Coed to await the arrival of a diesel to drag us back to the Junction.

On 6th June 1998 75014 worked a train that started from Carnforth, ran to Preston before returning north to Carlisle over Shap. The return to Carnforth was via Ais Gill, Blackburn and Preston. This train was originally supposed to be double headed with B1 1264 but as the B1 was suffering with leaking tubes the Standard worked the train single-handed with the load reduced to 7 coaches. The northbound ascent of Shap proved to be a little bit of a disappointment since the loco was not steaming well due to a blocked spark arrestor. After the loco had been serviced at Carlisle and the spark arrestor cleared the running got better and better. The climb from Appleby to Ais Gill was accomplished in just under 25 1/2 minutes and the summit passed at a minimum of 38 mph. As can be heard in this recording Whalley bank was even better! From 30 mph over Whalley Viaduct speed rose to no less than 39 mph on the 1 in 82 gradient before falling by just 3 mph at the very top of the bank. This is how the loco sounded passing Langho.

The 9F 92220 'Evening Star' hasn't been out on the main line for quite a few years which is rather a shame since, in the right hands, the loco proved itself capable of putting up some remarkable performances. On 21st April 1984 the 9F worked a Cumbrian Mountain Express from Hellifield to Carlisle. Running over the S&C was moderate in the extreme but the last section, from Appleby to Carlisle, gave us the best running of the day. This recording was made leaving Appleby. From there we ran to Carlisle in less than 42 mins. reaching 65 mph at one point.