Created 5-Dec-19
Modified 18-Dec-22
For four years I have been keenly anticipating No 60103 Flying Scotsman on the traditional winter Manchester to Carlisle return tour, and finally, thanks to Rileys and WCRC, here it is! Sadly the less-than-full train warranted only 9 coaches + POB but we were glad of the warmth provided by the diesel on the rear, and were assured it would not be working except in extremis.
The reasons for our 34 minute late departure were unclear, but after the Bolton pickup we started working down the arrears with 49 mph at Lostock, 55 at Horwich Parkway and 69 through Chorley before our short trundle along the WCML. From Bamber Bridge we slogged steadily up to Hoghton in the 30s, then after Blackburn we fairly blasted up from Daisyfield Junction, passing Ramsgreave and Wilpshire at 34 and continuing to accelerate over the top. We were at 48 out of the tunnel and 54 through Whalley but down to 30 through Clitheroe before our water stop at Chatburn, due to the continued absence of access to the loop at Hellifield. The sun was shining on the beautiful Ribble Valley countryside.
We left Chatburn right on time and were through Hellifield at 22, Long Preston at 49 and were braking at 59 before Settle Junction to avoid infringing the line speed. We passed Settle at 49 and were doing 38 out of Stainforth Tunnel and 41 at Helwith Bridge. There was a brief acceleration to 45 on the level stretch but we were back down to 39 at Horton in Ribblesdale but five minutes early. We were doing 36 at Selside and 31 at Salt Lake then around 30 all the way up to Blea Moor Tunnel. We shot out at 49 and up to 51 at Dent Head but then the running was more restrained until Garsdale, passed 11 minutes early at 15.
We made it back to 47 at Ais Gill then rattled down Mallerstang at around line speed, slowing briefly through Kirkby Stephen at 54 but then on and on through both Appleby and Langwathby with no water stop and reaching Carlisle 52 minutes early. An exhilarating run, with no reason to suspect that the diesel had been needed to contribute.
By the time of our return, the weather had become cloudy and a little wet, but we set off gently but competently up the WCML. We reached 43 at Wreay, 52 at Southwaite and 57 just after Calthwaite. We sailed past the planned pathing stop at Plumpton and reached 63 after Long Ashes, and again 63 through Penrith. We were looped instead at Eden Valley Junction, where late running expresses caught us up. My attention lapsed for a while as we went up the rest of the climb but as soon as we were over Shap Summit we fairly rollicked down the hill, 50 at Shap Wells and 72 at Scout Green being the only printable figures until we reached the Lune Gorge. Just past Low Gill we appeared to catch adverse signals and wondered whether we would be looped at Grayrigg. This fear proved groundless and by Docker we were back up to 70, followed by 73 at Kendal Parks and 67 through Oxenholme. The pace remained similar until the outskirts of Carnforth, where we were held interminably for conflicting traffic before we could cross to the loop.
Here Flying Scotsman left us for a short stay at Steamtown and was replaced by a growler which took us back to Manchester Victoria. An iconic locomotive, a warm train, mostly fine and some sunny weather and some lively running – what’s not to like?
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© Peter Hewitt's Transport Pictures