Steam on the Main Line

New Year's Day and nothing north of Edinburgh or Glasgow stirs on the railway...except 44767 working two round trips from Edinburgh round the Fife Circle and back to Edinburgh. The Black Five comes off the Forth Bridge with the first train. 1/1/1997

Ian Storey's Stephenson link 4-6-0 slowly passes over the northern viaduct between the cantilevers and North Queensferry station.

An overnight fall of snow just adds to the scene as 44767 climbs towards Dalgety Bay at a gradient of 1 in 92 1/2. The loco took water at Inverkeithing station so there was no chance of a run at the bank.

The two trains were run by the SPRS with funding from Kirkcaldy Town Council so a station stop at Kirkcaldy was a requirement. 44767 is seen climbing at 1 in 100 past Dysart and the point where the exchange sidings for the Francis Colliery joined the main line.

The Fife Circle runs round the north of Lumphinnans before turning south to pass through Cowdenbeath. On the horizon, above the steam loco, is West Lomond covered in snow. Green liveried class 37 37403/D6607 is on the rear of the train providing train heating and rescue if the steam loco failed.

On a bitterly cold day, 44767 passes by to the south of Inverkeithing with the first of two round trips of the Fife Circle out and back from Edinburgh. 1/1/1997

After another water stop at Inverkeithing, 44767 puts up a fine assault of the 1 in 70 climb to gain the height to cross the Forth Bridge.

A week after its journey to Inverness, 75014 returns to Edinburgh from Inverness with a one way trip. Here the gutsy class 4 4-6-0 climbs the 1 in 95 grade of Falkland Road Bank near to the site of the station of the same name. 12/10/1997

A call from Peter Drummond about a rumour of this working produced a flurry of calls with confirmation coming from Ian Storey. 75014 and 44767 head south along the WCML near Crawford with the Millerhill to Carnforth ECS working of the Fort William locos and coaching stock. 16/10/1997

A trailing load of 9 mkI bogies is a light one for the two locos. At Carnforth 44767 and its support coach were due to continue to Crewe, but the leading bogie became derailed and it stayed there pending an examination after being rerailed. 16/10/1997

History in the making, the first time a former Great Western Railway King class locomotive has passed over the former Midland Railway route to Carlisle via Settle. 6024 approaches Dent in fine style working "The Regal Cumbrian Mountain" railtour. It started in Euston with the steam coming on at Hellifield.....I think. 7/3/1998

This was the first time I had seen the King in full flight on the main line, it looked and sounded great as it bit into the 1 in 264 climb to the highest station in England at Dent just behind me.

After the usual water stop at Garsdale, the train continues its climb to the summit at Ais Gill. Shortly after Garsdale is the short Moorcock Tunnel. 6024 bursts from the 98 yard long bore.

The strong westerly wind snatches violently at the exhaust and throws it away over the right hand side of the loco which, for a Western loco, is the drivers side. The train has just passed over Lunds Viaduct and is climbing hard at 1 in 165, Ais Gill summit is a few miles away.

The steam loco came off at Carlisle station with electric traction back to London. Here the 6024 and its support coach arrive at Upperby depot to back into the shed sidings to be disposed. It would have turned via reversing back down to London Road junction and coming back up the north to east line. 7/3/1998

Four weeks later and the mighty King is back in action again, this time working a southbound Cumbrian Mountain Express. The tour started and will finish at London Kings Cross. In this view 6024 storms past the closed station of Culgaith. The former Midland Railway station closed on 4/5/1970 and the platforms have been removed as has the yard but the neat signalbox remains. 4/4/1998

A King on Mallerstang. Could this be the first time a King has graced Mallerstang since the death of King Uther Pendragon (AD 410 - 495, King Arthur's father) who's castle lies in ruins a few miles away. 6024 wrestles its 13 bogie load up the 1 in 100 pull to Ais Gill summit.

Slightly further up the Dale and 6024 passes over the 87 yard long, 75 feet at its highest, four arch Ais Gil Viaduct still climbing at 1 in 100. The summit is now just 1/2 a mile away and then it is almost downhill all the way to Settle Junction.

The usual water stop at Garsdale allows the chasing pack to get ahead again for another shot. After a short rise at 1 in 264 before the station and a level run through the platforms of Dent station, the line now falls at 1 in 264 for a short distance. The driver looks out from the right hand side of the loco. 4/4/1998

Time to go home, after stabling at Bo'ness on the preserved railway, 48151 pilots 75014 on 5Z18 0841 Bo'ness to Carnforth ECS movement. It is first seen crossing the impressive 36 arch Ratho Viaduct by Newbridge Junction. 19/10/1998

Further south on the WCML the pair are seen at Wandel to the north of Abington. The strong wind casts the exhaust onto the sunward side of the train and obscures the standard tucked in behind the Black Eight.

The duo and their nine coach trailing load sit inside the up loop at Abington for a pathing stop. The lead loco is restricted to 50mph so there were lots of these stops in the diagram. Behind the train is Arbury Hill, an ancient fort once occupied the top of the hill.

After getting away from Abington loop the train continues the climb to Beattock Summit. 48151 and 75014 run behind Crawford going well in the climb. 19/10/1998

Greskine Bank is part of the 10 mile climb from Beattock station to Beattock Summit which rules at 1 in 69, the steepest section. A former Great Western Railway Hall class loco 5972 slogs up the climb. 17/2/2003

The loco is painted red, EWS red actually, and carries the name "Hogworts Castle" and is heading for the Mallaig Extension for a filming contract for the new Harry Potter film.

The train is 5Z72 0548 Carnforth to Fort William and is currently about 45 minutes late. Here 5972 goes into the loop at Beattock Summit to allow other trains to overtake.

Now clear of Beattock loop the train heads onto Carstairs for its water stop. It was booked into Abington loop but due to its late running this was not required. On the back is Fragonset liveried 31128.

In glorious sunshine and a clear blue sky the sun glints off the boiler of 5972 as it passes Carland with the regulator shut and black smoke rolling from the chimney. The following weekend when filming on the Mallaig Extension, it caused havoc by setting fire to the gorse and heathland around Glenfinnan. Oops!! 17/2/2003