Well after what seems ages, main line steam returned to the Cumbrian Coast this weekend. LMS Stanier 4-6-0 46115 'Scots Guardsman' headed the Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express down the Cumbrian Coast line. I took a punt as the light was fading fast and went to film it at Kirkby in Furness on the Duddon estuary. From a vantage point on the tidal marsh you can see the train all the way from Millom on the north side of the estuary all the way back to Kirkby, a distance of seven miles. hidden only for about half a minute as it goes through Foxfield. the crisp cold air helped make the exhaust stand out as the scot blasted out of Millom on the north west side minutes later now heading the opposite way down the line to Askam and Barrow. The left hand outside cylinder packing was leaking making it sound slightly asthmatic but it did not seem to affect the performance at all Video can be found here, I've edited out the bits where you lose sight of the train but it still nearly seven minutes long in virtually one take Next up is the use of 60163 'Tornado' ,the new build Peppercorn A1 4-6-2 that has been a star since it first hit the rails, on scheduled passenger trains on the Settle and Carlisle line from Appleby to Skipton on the 14-16th of February. In theory you can just turn up and buy a ticket and get on!. personally I think it is going to be a zoo but time will tell. If I can get away from work I'll go and have a look if only to photograph the crowds Keep you posted Kev
Kev, thank you for the steam update from the UK. Be sure to let us know if you get to ride with the Tornado.
Last weekend was a sparkling sunshine with late winter snow still on the hills so...out with the camera again Kev