Hello & Welcome to a Harnetty Railway Special.
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We travel on The 1st steam charter of the 2018 season The Railway Touring Company's The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express from Manchester Victoria to Carlisle outward via Shap & return via The Settle & Carlisle.
The route was supposed to be via Bolton & Chorley to reach Preston but due to over running engineering works the train was re-routed via Eccles, Patricroft & Wigan.
The locomotive given the honor in hauling the 1st charter of the year was David Smith's ex LMS Jubilee 45699 Galatea.
The trip was originally been intended to be hauled by her sister Chris Beet's ex LMS jubilee 45690 Leander but she was not available due to winter maintenance so Galatea stood in.
This was the 1st time I have been behind steam heading south on the S&C since February 2016 when I was behind 60103 Flying Scotsman during the A3's 1st revenue earning run on the mainline after overhaul.
Before we start this video this video is dedicated to my home town's very own Adam Ellison which his funeral was held the day before this trip.
He was much loved in The Prescot Community & he will never be forgotten by Prescot my deepest thoughts & condolences goes out to his beloved family at the very difficult time.
#JusticeForAdamEllison
We start this special video at Wigan North Western as we see 45699 arrive with the train from Manchester Victoria. Here we join the train for the trip to Carlisle via The West Coast Mainline.
We pull into Preston to pick up the last lot of passengers before setting off again. We were loop at Barton & Broughton Pass Loop to allow the virgin trains to pass before carrying on to Carnforth were 45699 took on water before the climb to shap.
At Carnforth the West Coast 47 47772 Carnforth TMD that the empty stock move from Carnforth to Manchester Victoria earlier that morning was detached so Galatea can attack Shap without diesel assistance.
After waiting for The Tesco Express to pass we got the road as we head off from Carnforth. The weather for the outward leg was appalling with heavy rain.
As the railwaymen would say steam was often at their most spectacular when the weather was at its worse & Galatea proved it as we see in this program.
We pulled into Grayrigg loop to allow 3 passenger trains to pass before we were on the move again this time non-stop to Carlisle.
We soon reached Tebay ready for the climb up the 1 in 75 grade to Shap summit Galatea was doing 68 mph at the bottom at Tebay & she lost 45 mph by the time the summit was reached in 9 minutes & 20 seconds.
After reaching the summit we pick up speed again & after a very quick run we arrive at our destination Carlisle 9 minutes early.
We have a look round the loco before she & her support coach was uncoupled from the train & headed off to the triangle for turning.
80 mins later she came back & coupled on to the train ready for the return via via The S&C.
After waiting for Scot Rail unit to clear we got the road as we departed right on time from Carlisle.
Once clear from Carlisle Galatea was given her head after some great running we arrived at Appleby for her water stop 4 mins early.
After the water stop at Appleby we got the road as we head off for the climb to Ais Gill summit.
Galatea performed magnificently during the climb to the Ais Gill summit 1,169 feet above sea level & on The Cumbria & Yorkshire Boarder soon we started to descend down the summit via Garsdale & through Rise Hill tunnel the 2nd longest tunnel on the line 1213 yards long.
Then through the station at Dent the highest station in England 1,100 feet above sea level as we decend to Blea Moor tunnel the longest tunnel on the line 2,629 yards long.
Then onto the last highlight of the journey over the Settle & Carlisle is the crossing of Ribblehead viaduct before descending down the long drag to Settle & Settle Junction signal box.
We end this video at Hellifield as Galatea pulls in with a spectacular sunset to finish the steam hauled section of the tour.
45699 worked the train as far as Hellfield were a diesel took over for the run back to Manchester via Blackburn & Wigan.
From Hellifield Galatea would return home tender 1st back to Carnforth.
A fantastic day indeed Galatea performing faultlessly throughout the day & she didn't disappoint especially the run on Shap & Ais Gill.
A big thanks to all the staff at West Coast Railway & the staff at Railway Touring Company for putting a great trip.
Thanks for reading enjoy the special.
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