44871 & 45407 conquer the Cumbrian Fells

The start of steam on the mainline in 2012 begins in the North West. Black 5's 44871 & 45407 haul the first of the Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express trains from Manchester Victoria to Carlisle via Shap and return through the S&C. Teaming up with fellow gricers David Oldham and Ben Jervis for this run.

At Scout Green the pair steadily climb the 1 in 75 gradient with a sensible load of 12 bogies in total. The pair leave behind miles of smoke hanging in the air adding some atmosphere. On the return trip the clocks are turned back in time as the pair pound up Ais Gill summit with 44871 carrying 'The Waverley' headboard and smokebox chalk headcoade 1Z67 recreating a typical mid-late 1950's winter scene.

This was the first use of a new camera a Panasonic HDC-SD900 having bought it recently and getting into early use with it.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• 44871
• 45407
• winter
• cumbrian
• mountain
• express
• jan
• 28th
• 2012

[TheSteamTrains]

Beautiful footage!

[GreatWestern175]

@TheSteamTrains Thank you very much

[46115al]

The exhaust is predominantly Steam

[GreatWestern175]

@46115al leaving it's own carbon footprint no doubt

[kebl0597]

Thanks Ryan for sharing this superb footage. What a great start to the year, lovely conditions there, and as a northerner in exile in the south it's great to see steam on 'home lines'. Particularly like the authentic look up Ais Gill, just right with two 5s on a special, and that they are giving it some. Fantastic to see drivers who're prepared to show the power of their locos. Very much looking forward to seeing what you capture with the new camera in the coming year.

[GreatWestern175]

@kebl0597 I agree the weather conditions for this run were good and how you would want it, plus snow adding as a backdrop to the scenes in the Fells which helped alot. I will admit  that I wasn't originally going to go to Ais Gill and wanted to do Waitby Common but was covered in fog so I've changed my mind and glad to of gone to Ais Gill instead, really froze to death that day getting these two!

[46115al]

@GreatWestern175 ' like Deisel Fumes!!...The difference is, that you may not beaware of( I doubt). Steam is produced to give power to the locomotives therefore, the10000 gallons of water in the tendes (refills) will be used and is' exhauted' hrough the chimney via the cylinders '. Deisels produce FUMES all the time,,,Why do you bother???

[kebl0597]

@GreatWestern175 this channel subscriber definitely appreciates your making the effort! Hope you've managed to defrost OK.