Main Line 8F - 48151

I remember back in the mid 80s that some of those who had a major say about which steam engines should be permitted to work on the main line were firmly of the opinion that there was no place for goods engines. They were slow, would probably be unreliable and, in any case, wouldn't be attractive to the travelling enthusiast public.
On the other hand there were many others who held a different opinion! Fortunately David Smith who owns the engine has never been one to let the opinion of others sway him and, in due course, 48151 became available as a main line runner.
Since it's first appearance on the main line in 1987 48151 has probably become the widest travelled main line engine in the country having, at various times in it's career so far reached such places as Yeovil, Scarborough, Buxton, Holyhead, Maryport, Mallaig, Kyle of Lochalsh and even Thurso.
Over the years this loco has provided me with many memorable recordings but perhaps the most memorable was the recording I made at Blea Moor in December 2000 when it worked a freight train over the Settle - Carlisle line for Railtrack.
That recording appeared on the very first edition of this web site and has been the most popular so far. That first version was a low quality mono version and, since I have recently done more work on the recording for it's inclusion on the latest steamsounds audio CD I have decided to include a better quality stereo version in this edition.
It sounds even better on the audio CD!

With the successful completion of much of the track refurbishment which culminated in a 4 week possession of the line in November 2000 Railtrack decided to mark the event and generate some rare positive publicity for themselves by operating a steam hauled ballast train from Hellifield to Carlisle using David Smith's 8F, 48151.
I have to admit that when I first heard about this I was sure that it had to be a wind-up since Railtrack have never been particularly pro-steam. However, on 19th December 2000 the train, reporting number 7P50, made up of 20 Dogfish wagons with a brake van at each end was booked to leave Hellifield at 8.55 am taking the empty wagons up to Ribblehead for loading with stockpiled ballast still remaining at the temporary depot set up there.
The weather could have been worse, but not much worse, at least it stayed reasonably dry for most of the time but it was very dull and there was a moderate south easterly wind which made recording a little difficult.
We first saw the train at Selside where the 8F sounded to be making very easy work of the 20 empty wagons. .
Despite the very poor weather conditions I have to say that the sight was superb - next time though I'll try to have a faster film in my camera.
On arrival at Ribblehead the 8F and train set back into the siding at the west side of the station and loading of the wagons commenced. As the train wasn't due to leave until 12.57 we had plenty of time (or so we thought) to go for a cup of tea.
Returning to Ribblehead at about 12.00 we thought that we would have plenty of time to find a suitable spot somewhere near Blea Moor signal box. However, as we walked up towards the box we were somewhat dismayed to hear the unmistakable sounds of an 8F preparing to depart while we assured each other that they were probably only shunting! It soon became obvious that this was not the case so, it was out with the recorder, find a bit of shelter and hope for the best - and only just in time.
Since I was, for various (mainly financial) reasons unable to get any recordings of my own in 'real' steam days it was nice to get this one.
Despite the conditions the recording that I got was excellent. 48151 was audible right from the start away from Ribblehead and all the way into Blea Moor Tunnel. The complete recording lasts over 9 minutes. This is only part of that recording and starts as the 8F comes off the easier gradient across Ribblehead Viaduct.
Now with loaded wagons behind the tender the 8F sounds to be having to work far harder on the 1 in 100 gradient than it did in the previous track. And the weather was a little brighter too.
It would be nice to think that this sort of thing might happen again. If it does, whatever the weather, I'll be there!
The complete recording lasting a little over 9 minutes is available on an audio CD, Steamsounds Vol 1. Visit this page for details

Having been based at Carnforth for some years 48151 has often been out on the Cumbrian Coast Line.
On 31st May 1997 the 8F worked a train from Carnforth to Sellafield and back and sounded like this reaching the top of Lindal Bank during the outward journey.

When David Smith announced his intention of moving his base from Carnforth to Hellifield we all assumed that this must have something to do with West Coast Railway Company running a regular steam hauled operation over the S&C in much the same way that they currently run from Fort William to Mallaig.
The first toe in the water was a series of four trains steam hauled run at the end of 1998 from Hellifield to Carlisle and back at the bargain fare of £25.
The first of these had been due to take place in late October but this turned out to be rather more of a train in the water rather than a toe since, due to appalling weather conditions on that day the ECS from Carnforth, hauled by the 8F running tender first, had considerable difficulty reaching Hellifield and the tour had to be abandoned.
So, the first train ran on 5th December 1998 with 48151 in charge of 10 well filled coaches.
We left Hellifield soon after an Edinburgh bound charter hauled by two Class 37's one of which was dead in tow, so it came as no surprise when we were stopped by signals just beyond Settle Jc. and held there while the charter cleared the section to Blea Moor. With a clear road the 8F was soon making a fine sound accelerating on the 1 in 100 gradient.
A little later 48151 sounds well approaching Helwith Bridge where there is a short section of level track. On reaching this point the 8F begins to accelerate before the 1 in 100 gradient resumes.

During the return journey from Carlisle we stopped at Appleby for water.
With the tender replenished the 8F departs ready for the climb to Ais Gill as a Carlisle bound Sprinter arrives from Leeds.

Ever since steam returned to the West Coast Main Line north of Preston although I have travelled behind steam over the route on a number of occasions I had always wanted to see a steam hauled train on the climb to Shap Summit from the line side.
In recent years various opportunities have presented themselves but things never quite worked out. At one point it looked like my first chance would be to see 6024 but, perhaps fortunately, that train was canceled and, although I wouldn't have missed the chance a King on Shap is hardly appropriate!
Things finally worked out on 30th November 2002 when 8F 48151 worked a private charter (for the Morecambe & Heysham Soroptimists!) from Carnforth to Carlisle and back.
This tour had been a bit of a mystery, having appeared in the programme with very little information. Perhaps for that reason there were not many people out to see it.
The weather on this particular day may have had something to do with it too being quite windy and dull with plenty of rain about which, for Shap in November is probably what should be expected.
Still, as they say, fortune favours the brave and, at the appropriate time the rain stopped, the wind dropped a little and I was able to get this recording of the 8F with 8 coaches full of Soroptimists behind the tender about a ½ mile from the top of the bank not far from Shap Wells.
Well worth getting wet for!