A patch of early morning sun shines below a moody looking sky as 47778 comes by Ribblehead with a diverted Virgin West Coast express 1M18 0730 Glasgow Central to Euston.
The staple traffic over the Settle and Carlisle is formed by class 156 sprinters. 156454 runs south at Blea Moor with the 2H85 Saturdays only 0927 off Carlisle to Leeds.
Shafts of sunlight stream down on Ingleborough and the land to the north as 158910 climbs north with 1M53 0949 Saturdays only class 1 working from Leeds to Carlisle. This train used to run to Glasgow Central but now terminates at the border city.
A north bound Virgin Cross Country working with 221136 crossing Ribblehead Viaduct. Its working is 1S56 0703 Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh. This and other Virgin trains were diverted via the S&C due to engineering works north of Preston on the WCML.
The flat top of Ingleborough rises high in the distance as 156438 and 156469 passes the starter signal from Blea Moor up loop. The train is a class 2 all stations stopper, 2H86 1049 off Leeds to Carlisle.
The doyen of the Voyager fleet passes Blea Moor signalbox with a cross country service to the Western Region. 1V57 is the 0923 Edinburgh to Plymouth. The semaphore signal on the left is an up starter off the down road for wrong line working.
Virgin West Coast diverted trains were powered over the S&C by EWS class 47 locos. 47757 passes Blea Moor signalbox, nicely repainted, with 1M22 0936 Glasgow Central to Euston. The electric loco was removed at Carlisle.
To the north of Blea Moor 'box is an occupation overbridge with the up home signal just in front of it. 156488 has the road south and the section to Settle Junction with 2H89 1154 Carlisle to Leeds.
5 car tilting Super Voyager 221140 passes the down starter at Blea Moor and into the section to Garsdale. The train is 1S62 0628 Bournemouth to Aberdeen.
The driver of 66020 creeps slowly towards the up home signal which is against it. 6E13 is the empty gypsum working from Newbiggin to Knottingley, 1240 off.
47841 works hard against the last mile or so of the 1 in 100 "Long Drag" from Settle Junction to just inside Blea Moor tunnel. It fronts diverted VWC 1S55 0735 Euston to Glasgow Central.
66021 approaches the overbridge at Blea Moor with a loaded coal train from Scotland. It eases 6E32 0927 Ayr to Milford Yard upto the starter signal. It will wait for the north bound local service to clear the section.
Class 2 local service 2H90 1249 off Leeds to Carlisle passes the former down loop with 156454 forming the train.
Moving north to the overbridge and aqueduct just south of Blea Moor Tunnel south portaland a pair of Voyagers run north. John Lynch records 220021 and 221127 forming 1S67 0714 Plymouth to Glasgow Central Cross Country working.
Looking south from the bridge by the portal and 47778 returns north hauling 1S57 0935 Euston to Glasgow Central.
A long 300mm lens shot of 66017 lifting its rake of empty HAA coal hoppers towards the summit just inside the tunnel. The white sighting board painted on the over bridge at Blea Moor stands out as 6S19 1235 off Milford Yard to Ayr approaches.
The scene had taken on a more wintery look after a fall of ice particles. 156469 and 156438 exits Blea Moor Tunnel with 2H93 1426 Carlisle to Leeds local.
Almost back to the start and 47841 comes south off Ribblehead Viaduct with 1M28 1338 Glasgow Central to Euston diverted West Coast express. Another year of diversions over.
Back at Ribblehead on the walk back to the car and 221139 crosses the impressive viaduct with 1S69 0813 St Austell to Edinburgh. This train started at St Austell instead of Penzance due to the track doubling between Probus and Burngullow in Cornwall. A good day was had.
