Locomotive Performance

Steam over the Pennines

 
It was only in the final years of BR Steam that I got to know the lines over the Pennines. It was not until 1961, in fact, that I ventured north of Preston or Leeds. And my only journeys over the Settle and Carlisle, and the Standedge route, have been on railtours.
 
6th June 1964: 60923 Leeds-Carlisle-Shap-Leeds: The LCGB "North West" railtour had started at St Pancras with Jubilee 45721. V2 2-6-2 no 60923 took over the 316/340 ton 9 coach load at Leeds for a run over the "Settle and Carlisle", round the curve at Carlisle, then back over Shap, before returning to Leeds via the Ingleton line and Skipton.  The V2 ran steadily over the S & C, 33mph minimum up to Blea Moor, 78 mph max down to Carlisle. Similar work followed up to Shap, 32 mph at the summit, and a 74 mph max down to Tebay. [view log of 60923]
12th July 1964: 46255 Carlisle to Leeds: At Carlisle "City of Hereford took over the 11 coach SLS "Three Summits" tour (46251 had worked Birmingham to Carlisle) for the run to Leeds. The running was steady throughout, and we kept to schedule. The minimum speed up to Ais Gill was approx 37 mph at Kirkby Stephen, and 40 mph at the summit.  [view log of 46255]

12th July 1964: 45647 Leeds to Crewe: THE SLS "Three Summits" tour. At Leeds, smartly turned out "Sturdee" took over the 11 coach, 370/400 ton train  for the run over Standedge to Stockport and Crewe. The Jubilee ran excellently throughout with a noisy 32 mph climb up to Marsden. Maximum speed was 70 mph at Holmes Chapel, and arrival at Crewe was 6 minutes early.  [view log of 45647]
28th November 1964: 46160 Carlisle to Leeds: This was the Warwickshire Railway Society Carlisle tour, which included visits to both Kingmoor and Upperby sheds. The return south was via the Settle & Carlisle line, and 46160 Queen Victorias Rifleman did the honors to Leeds. With a 10 coach load, an easy schedule, and the engine at the end of her days, the running was modest. This was my final run on a Scot.  [view log of 46160]
4th September 1965: 4472 Leeds to Carlisle and return. Another Warwickshire Railway Society tour to Carlisle, this time "The Pennine Limited". A1 class 4-6-2 no 60145 ran Saltley to Leeds and return, and 4472 Flying Scotsman ran Leeds to Carlisle, via Ingleton and Shap, and Carlisle to Leeds, via the Settle and Carlisle. Maximum speeds were 76 mph northbound at Calthwaite, and 74 mph southbound at Selside. Uphill work was typical of the locomotive, 18 mph at Shap summit northbound, and 28 mph at Ais Gill southbound. [view log of 4472]
1st October 1967: 4498 Leeds to Carlisle: The A4 Locomotive Society sponsored this tour, which featured 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley from Peterborough to Carlisle. The log shows the section from Leeds northbound on the Settle & Carlisle. With a 10 coach load, the running from Settle Junction to Blea Moor was excellent, 15 min 55 secs for the 13.97 miles, with nothing less than 48 mph, and 54-56mph sustained on the 1 in 100 past Selside. Downhill to Carlisle, we reached 74 mph at Cotehill. [view log of 4498]
1st October 1967: 7029 Carlisle to Leeds: Clun Castle was booked for the return trip from Carlisle to Leeds and Peterborough. That was the theory anyway. The loco succumbed to Injector problems (rumours of rags in the tender tank) at Leeds, and had to come off. Over the Settle & Carlisle, the running was not at all bad, though bearing in mind that we were 40 mins late off Carlisle, a little more vigour might have been expected. [view of 7029]
 
The Log of 60923 was previously included in "LNER MIXED TRAFFIC ENGINES" (Edition 5), and the Logs of 4498 and 4472 were included in "LNER PACIFICS" (Edition 13)
 
7029 Clun Castle is based at the Birmingham Railway Museum, Tyseley. The loco last ran in 2001, and awaits overhaul at Tyseley. 4498 (60007) Sir Nigel Gresley is currently being overhauled on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Grosmont.