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

Unique BR Standard class 8P 3 cylinder pacific 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" gets away from Dorchester but not running very hard with 1Z92 1825 Weymouth to Clapham Junction railtour. 16/8/2006

A beautiful clear sunny evening at Crewe and on "shed" at the Crewe Heritage Centre is Stanier Princess Royal class pacific 6201 "Princess Elizabeth" glinting in the evening sun. 4/4/2007

This loco is always turned out in LMS Crimson Lake livery and LMS number 6201. It was bought for preservation direct from British Railways on withdrawal from service. 4/4/2007

Ex LNER A4 pacific 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley graces the metals of the ECML between Edinburgh and Dundee with the second day of a three day tour from London Kings Cross to Dundee with steam haulage throughout. Here it approaches Bow of Fife level crossing with 13 on. 17/5/2009

The trip started with A1 60163 Tornado taking the train from London to York. Then No7 took over to take the train to Edinburgh. The next day, this day, it works 1Z18 1010 Edinburgh to Dundee taking in the Forth and Tay bridges.

Later in the day and the tour heads back to Edinburgh with A4 60009 Union of South Africa in charge. The Thornton based A4 takes the 13 coach train up the 1 in 94 of Falkland Road bank with ease. This is 1Z19 1705 off Dundee for Edinburgh.

The loco passes by with a light steam exhaust despite the heavy load.

The evening sun glints off the boiler casing and firebox as No9 climbs to the summit at Lochmuir just over a mile away. 17/5/2009

K4 61994 "The Great Marquess" runs with its support coach at Millmeece on the WCML. The working is 5Z66 0637 Kidderminster - Crewe engine move. 16/3/2010

I was with the loco this day and drove the van from Kidderminster to Crewe. The previous evening the loco moved from Bridgnorth shed to Kidderminster and I fired the trip. 16/3/2010

Jeremy Hoskins' BR green A4 60019 Bittern approaches Holme Lane at speed with 1Z97 1635 Weymouth to Waterloo "Dorset Coast Express" railtour. 4/8/2010

The tour worked down to Weymouth behind King Arthur class N15 30777 Sir Lamiel. It went back on the rear of the train and banked it up Bincombe and Parkstone Banks. 4/8/2010

Recently overhauled "Duchess of Sutherland" has been turned out in BR green with early crest, being in a BR livery it carries its BR number of 46233. The loco looks just stunning in its BR guise after so many years in LMS livery. 5/9/2012

The sun glints off the nameplate of this Princess Coronation class pacific. The loco is recorded at the Crewe Heritage Centre. 5/9/2012

A month after seeing 46233 on shed at the Crewe Heritage Centre, here the loco is in action on the mainline. It worked a tour from Wolverhampton, with the steam loco coming on at Carnforth, to Stirling. Here it runs tender first to Greenhill Upper Junction as part of the turning process. Fireman Neil Woods looks out for the signals. 6/10/2012

The loco had turned on the Carmuirs triangle but had to run to Greenhill to gain the road back to Stirling.

The signal ahead is at red but the driver has steam on to get the loco up to the signal.

Steam is off now and the loco will coast to the signal.

After a short period at Greenhill Upper in the sidings clear of the main line, 46233 reappears running down towards Carmuirs where it will turn on the triangle and head back to Stirling tender first.

After being serviced by the support crew at Stirling while the passengers stretched their legs and had a look around Stirling, the tour got underway a little late. Working hard 46233 takes 1Z48 1526 Stirling to Wolverhampton onto the crossover to gain the Cumbernauld line at Greenhill Lower junction.