CC has already met the replica Peppercorn A1 Pacific no 60163 ‘Tornado’. But on 14 February she did something special, which I think merits an encore – she became the first steam locomotive to haul a scheduled mainline train on Britain’s railways since 1968. And she did it in a special place – the Settle and Carlisle (S&C) line.
To understand how this happened, we have to understand the S&C. It originated as the final link in the Midland Railway’s route from London St Pancras to Glasgow, opening in 1876 – thirty years after its East Coast and West Coast competitors. It was always the poor relation, and came close to closure in the 1980s, until a vocal local campaign of Councils, businesses and enthusiasts persuaded the Tory government to reprieve it. Today, the beautiful Ribblehead Viaduct, surrounded by the highest mountains in Yorkshire, is perhaps second only to the Forth Bridge as a railway landmark.
The saving of the S&C was the landscape it ran through – first the stunning Yorkshire Dales (Bill Bryson called it his favourite landscape) and then the high Pennines into Cumbria. This comes at a price – northbound trains face 25 miles of 1% grade to the summit at Ais Gill; at 1,169ft, this is the second highest main line in Britain and the highest railway in England.
It is now a key freight route for imported coal from the Clyde to Yorkshire power stations, a diversion for the West Coast Main Line and lifeblood of the area’s important tourist industry; not only are the Pennines and Dales spectacular, they are also some of England’s best walking country, and on summer weekends trains are packed with walkers escaping the metropolises of the north west and Yorkshire
So a landslip 30 miles from Carlisle last April, which severed the line as 500,000 tonnes of hillside slid down to the River Eden, was a big blow. As repairs near completion, train operator Northern Rail wanted to announce the return of through trains with something special. What they came up with was a steam locomotive hauling a regular scheduled passenger train, on the regular timetable and at the regular fares, for the first time since the end of mainline steam in 1968. Yes, for three days, Tornado and seven coaches are replacing two car diesels on two return Appleby – Skipton workings.
Tuesday’s morning’s 0825 Appleby- Skipton was the first service, and it was probably the first time a commuter train has merited being live on BBC News. This was the sight at Appleby, as Tornado headed south tender first.
And here, she heads north over Ribblehead later in the day.
So good work, Northern, Network Rail, A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and many others – a nice way to brighten a winter morning
As always, LOVE your train articles BIG PAWS!
Did the commuters/passengers know it was going to happen, or did they just luck out with a surprise that day?
Either way, that is so awesome!
It was publicised a few weeks beforehand, so the railfans could book their tickets. All 4 Tornado hauled trains were sold out on all 3 days. Regular travellers could also book seats, at the regular fare.
Brilliant! Absolutely bloody brilliant.
*This* is cool. I recall quite a few years ago (maybe late 80s or early 90s) there was a local transportation museum that used a coal-fired steam engine for some local excursions and for commutes to the State Fairgrounds during the State Fair. Unfortunately it needed some rebuild work and has been out of service for quite a few years as that process slowly proceeds with volunteer labor and dollars.
But on a couple of occasions I heard it underway and once drove after the sound and found it. Really cool to see one in operation.
Wonderful. I just read about the S&C and Ribblehead Viaduct in Bill Bryson’s “The Road to Little Dribbling”. Delighted to see these photos of it. Must visit soon.
Bryson says the little-known engineer who built the S&C, Charles Sharland, died at age 25, before a train even ran on it, of tuberculosis from the strain of working so hard out in the bad weather of what was then a wilderness.
You wrote “It is now a key fright route for imported coal…” The viaduct isn’t that tall is it? 😉
Freudian slip!
Here’s a BBC video of Tornado at Ribblehead
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-38979100
Nice. I like that steam whistle tooting at the end.
STEAM.
Damn that is awesome. Will steam make a come-back?
Thanks, this is good stuff.
Wonderful. Always wanted to ride that line. Steam would be over the top; in a good way.
Steammmmmmmmmmm….. yep real locos, love it.
Great article. I wish we in the US had the same appreciation and respect for our rail history as our good friends in the UK. Well done Northern.
There is something about steam locos that gets everyone, even non rail or train buffs, and we Brits seem to get it more than most.
From the photos, it looks like the turntable was no longer available. Shame.
And that viaduct is quite something, and built on a bog, on what is probably Britain’s bleakest rail environment
lovely, but spoiled by the modern locomotive (which I think is a British version of an Electro-Motive, judging by the sound) at the back which is there due to the authorities’ paranoia.
It is indeed an EMD power unit, in a class 67 diesel built by Alsthom in Spain for the UK’s then freight operator, English Welsh and Scottish Ralway (now part of Deutschland Bahn).
Its purpose here is to provide train heating, and as an insurance against Tornado breaking down (which of course didn’t happen!)
What a great way to announce the return of service, and also a grand opportunity to ride a steam-powered train for the cost of a regular fare! In my part of the USA (Virginia and North Carolina) the recently restored Norfolk & Western J Class 611 steam locomotive is running regular excursion service. I keep meaning to get a ticket for an excursion, though they’re rather expensive.
Even with the insurance of the added diesel-electric unit, it’s still very unique to see steam pulling a regular scheduled train! Almost 50 years since the last…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVJ44-hqgF4&feature=youtu.be
Another first – 100 mph on the mainline!