**PLEASE READ** This video is property of Train_PlaneHub, "RachaelMatt" This video was filmed on my mobile phone so quality is not quite the same as usual. So on Saturday 5th December 2015 I came the closest to getting stranded as I've ever done before. My aim was to go to Carlisle to film the East Coast diverts, as planned the East Coast Mainline north of Newcastle was shut and trains were diverting via Hexham across to Carlisle then up the West Coast Mainline to Carstairs Jnc. Now a weather warning was in place with high winds and heavy rain forecast for the majority of the day, but nothing quite prepared me what hit. I joined the first Northbound Virgin Train of the day, the 06:05 from Euston to Glasgow Central. I had seen that a blanket 50mph speed limit had been enforced between Preston & Carlisle due to the high winds so was expecting to accumulate some delay. Upon departure from Oxenholme things took a turn for the worst, as we reached Shap Summit and landslide and burst river bank meant the WCML was under water and had been significantly damaged. By this time the line behind us had flooded meaning turning back to Oxenholme was not possible. So our only option was to continue pressing on north. After just over 2 hours of being stopped in the high wind and heavy rain we were given permission to continue, but only at walking pace so the engineers on the track side could inspect the train as we passed. We were then told to stop at every signal and report our position to the signaller due to a signal failure in the area because the signalling equipment had been either washed away or was under water. Also this was to inform the signaller of the condition of the overhead wires and the railway. So nearly 4 hours late we reached Penrith. We were told that if we were hoping to turn back and abandon the journey we would be best to do so at Carlisle as there would be no more trains from Penrith and road access has been cut off by floods! Continuing north the extent of the damage was becoming more & more apparent, but the rain was still falling and the wind still hammering the bleak landscape. We passed by villages under water, abandoned cars, roads turned into rivers and fields into lakes. Not only this but the WCML had turned into a 2ft deep torrent of fast flowing water and my train was left with no choice other than to crawl through it and hope for the best. Many passengers on the train had their phones and cameras at the ready. I've never been on a train in water that deep, really quite something. Eventually after being on the train for almost 8 hours and over 270 minutes late we arrived at Carlisle. My next challenge was to work out a way of getting home. The WCML now shut, the line to Leeds now under water as well as the route northbound out of Carlisle being washed away by flooding. My options were limited. The Carlisle to Newcastle line had been shut all morning due to flooding down the line near Prudhoe & Hexham. However a diverted Virgin East Coast HST arrived from Aberdeen and given the signal to continue. So without hesitating I joined that in an attempt at it reaching Newcastle and the East Coast route which was yet to be affected by the storm force wind & rain. In a nutshell the journey to Newcastle took over 3 hours, it was dark and the train crawled along with water over the railhead in many places! We passed rescue teams trying to reach track workers who were stranded on the railway with flood waters all around. But thankfully it eventually made it to Newcastle and London King's Cross with a delay of just under 4 hours. I'd call myself extremely lucky to have made it home that day! None or very little road transport made it due to the accidents on the motorways and flooded roads. I was onboard the only train which made it from London Euston as far as Carlisle that day and for the next 2 days! And I was on the last train to leave Carlisle and reach Newcastle for the entire weekend and the last train to reach London from Carlisle until the following Monday! Extremely lucky to be home and safe. A little too close for comfort with mother nature, being stuck on 390132 for 8 hours slap bang in the middle of the worst storm to hit Cumbria on record! All my posts on twitter did catch the attention of Lord Alan Sugar though who wished me a safe journey home :-P Thoughts go to those who lost their lives and have had their homes and property ruined by Storm Desmond and the devastating floods. Thanks for watching COMMENT, THUMBS UP, FAVOURITE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE!

• published: 08 Dec 2015
• views: 7778