So this last one for now features freight on the world famous Settle & Carlisle railway which crosses the Pennines on the Midland Railways Anglo Scottish route. Threatened with closure in 1984 a massive campaign was launched to save it and the then Transport Secretary ,Micheal Portillo, finally made the government decision which prevented closure. This is the same Micheal Portillo who has now carved out a highly successful career making TV rail travel documentaries. Was he a closet rail fan all the time I wonder? Anyway the line now supports a thriving tourist industry, Freight traffic, Leeds to Carlisle passenger trains and a large number of steam specials throughout the year including scheduled steam trains like the 'Fellsman' and 'Dalesman' during the summer months. I didn't get to the S&C this summer for any steam but did manage to catch some of the freight throughout the year. With the collapse of coal traffic there isn't much minearl traffic at the moment but one daily move is the Carlisle NY to Crewe Basford Hall Network Rail delivery train. This can have a real mix of Civil engineering stock on it One of our 68s 68 025 'Superb' is seen at Armathwaite with some of the tilt deck wagons used for carrying pre-fabricated turnouts Following close behind was another regular working. Colas Class 60, 60 085, on a Carlisle-Chirk Log train this uses converted sliding wall bogie vans The preserved Midland railway signalbox stands out on a rainy gloomy day Near Cumwhinton a DRS class 66 is in charge of the Basford hall working with a rake of empty ballast wagons Following about ten minutes behind, 60 085 is on the Logs again Kev
Now every now and then life throws up a surprise. I was on the bridge waiting for the Logs and could hear an almighty racket in the distance. certainly not a 60 or a 66 as it got nearer it got louder. It was a pair of Class 56s double headed. These have been rare beasts for years as Ed Burkhardt and the EWS mafia couldn't wait to mothball them as the roll out of the EMD built Class 66s escalated. Colas, who are always short of motive power have picked a few up and put them back in traffic I should have left the camcorder running as you could hear them roaring up the hill for minutes after At Langwathby we find 68 034 on the Basford The other player on the line is GBRF seen here with the Wembley-Irvine Caledonian tanks 66 745 is named 'Modern railways' after the popular rail magazine in the U.K that concentrates on,well, Modern railways Kev
You'll notice from the shots and the video how capricious the weather can be on the 'Roof of England' Lazonby was wet when I caught a Colas, G.E built, Class 70 on the logs. These 'Butt Ugly' machines are never going to be as loved as much as previous generations of locos If any of you are Simpson's fans they always bring the episode where Homer designs a car to my mind! 66 423 was on the Basford, the rain drop on the lens still annoys me Video here The next few weeks I'm going to concentrate on the last of the Class 37/4s working on the Cumbrian coast. Weather permitting as it has been awful over the last couple of weeks Kev
Kev, interesting to note that most freight and passenger power have solidly shining headlights. However 68034 had blinking headlights, rapidly I grant, but blinking none the less. Please illuminate...pun intended.
Well.. We think it is a strobing effect caused by the frequency of the HiLed headlights and the sampling rate of the Camcorder. It is not apparent to the naked eye when you are trackside. I got some really nice stuff of one of our, Hmm. secret test trains at Bootle a couple of years back but the strobing effect looks for all the world like ditch lights in operation which we don't have over here in the U'K and quite spoils the shot
Understand strobing, or beat-frequency modulation. I'm sure you are correct. Beat-frequency modulation is how AM radio has worked for nearly 100 years. The effect is mystifying to the naked eye, but very useful in creating special optical effects, among many other psychological interference models. Pleased to learn your engines are using LEDs. The technology has exploded since I retired 20 years ago. Then the biggest we had were dim tiny bulbs that fit into N-Scale engines. Now they are illuminating sports stadiums, and engine head lights with blinding effect.
