Evening time at Ribblehead and Ross and I are booked into the Station Hotel as there are diversions over the S&C tomorrow. Meantime a class 156 sprinter departs Ribblehead station with 2H96 1756 Leeds to Carlisle.
The set passes over the B6255 road. The famous Station Hotel is situated just beyond on the left out of sight.
The sun glints off the unit as it heads north. It will pass over the Ribblehead viaduct in a few hundred yards.
A few minutes later and another class 156 sprinter comes into view. This unknown set is heading south with 2Y41 1754 Carlisle to Leeds. It is running about ten minutes late and should have been seen first.
The set passes over the bridge over the road as it slows for its Ribblehead station stop. Time to return to the hotel for a meal and a pint or two before turning in. 14/4/2006
After a night in the Station Hotel being woken every few hours by passing coal trains then a hearty breakfast, it is time to head out to enjoy a day of diverted Virgin West Coast trains. But first something local, 156489 with 2H03 0752 Carlisle to Leeds coming off the Ribblehead Viaduct.
The first diverted working of the day approaches Garsdale with a loco hauled Pendolino unit striding out over Dandry Mire Viaduct.
Virgin thunderbird loco 57303 approaches Garsdale station hauling Pendolino unit 390047 with 1A58 0902 Carlisle to Euston service diverted via the Settle and Carlisle line and Blackburn.
Turning round for the going away shot of 390047 in the unlikely setting of the S&C.
Northern Rail sprinter 156469 and 153358 make their station stop with 2H10 0849 Leeds to Carlisle train. The former Midland Railway signal box is slowly sinking into the ground outside the fence, hence the odd angle of it.
156469 and 153358 pass over the high embankment by the Moorcock Inn whose roof can be seen, as they head north for Carlisle.
An up train slows for its Garsdale stop, passing the down starter on the left. 156473 is working 2H85 0922 Carlisle to Leeds.
The unit squeals to a stand at the former island platform. Trains from Hawes and Northallerton ran in on the opposite side. The station was originally called Hawes Junction.
Not all the diverted traffic was Virgin West Coast, a handful of Virgin Cross Country services were also routed over the line. 221121 runs into the station with 1C36 0703 Birmingham New Street to Carlisle.
The WCML north of Carlisle was blocked as well for engineering work and trains were terminating at Carlisle.
A Northern Rail class 1 train passes Garsdale 'box, 156441 forms 1M53 0949 Leeds to Carlisle. This train used to go on to Glasgow Central but was cut back a few years ago.
156441 has past through Garsdale without stopping. Only Settle, Kirkby Stephen and Appleby are served by this train.
The sunlight in Mallerstang is beautiful as the sun warms the hillside with 221133 climbing for Ais Gill summit with service 1V61 1128 Carlisle to Penzance.
Wild Boar Fell is in sunshine but the line in the cutting just north of Ais Gill is in shadow. 221133 powers up the last 1/2 mile or so of the climb to Ais Gill.
Ross changes his lens and Davey looks on in his own inimitible style. He is greatly missed.
A class 2 local working has just passed over Ais Gill summit in the background at the bridge. The change in gradient is most noticeable.
Two different Northen Rail liveries adorn 156489 and 156464 which are employed on 2H86 1049 Leeds to Carlisle.
A northbound diverted working is caught bending over the summit as Ais Gill, from level to 1 in 100 falling.
57309 drags 390038 with 1C11 0715 Euston to Carlisle. On arrival at Carlisle, the loco will run round the Pendolino and return south.
The line clings to the side of Wild Boar Fell as it descends to Ormside Viaduct, two miles south of Appleby.
153358 and 156469 climb hard against the 1 in 100 pull over new track and ballast at the overbridge which once marked the county boundry between Cumberland and the North Riding of Yorkshire. The working is 2H89 1149 Carlisle to Leeds.
Turning round for the going away shot. At the bridge ahead the driver can notch back as the climb from Appleby will be over.
A move slightly south of AisGill to Shotlock Hill Tunnel and 60002 approaches the 106 yard long bore with 6E13 1245 Newbiggin to Milford Sidings empty gypsum.
