Class 66 Carlisle to Milford Cab Ride Via Settle & Carlisle S&C;, Leeds, Castleford

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• published: 05 Jun 2016
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We take a ride along the legendary Settle to Carlisle line with 66011 + 19 HTA wagons forming 4Z20 from Carlisle Kingmoor Network Yard to Milford West Down reception Yard. Our journey takes in some of the most stunning scenery along this picturesque route between Cumbria and Yorkshire. Our journey starts in number 9 reception in the Down yard at Carlisle Kingmoor. From there, we take the route to Carlisle Station via the Down Goods and arrive on Goods B line in Carlisle station where we await the arrival of a Northern service to clear the branch at London Road Junction. After departing the station we head towards London Road Junction and Petteril bridge Junction before routing on to the S&C; line. From here it's flat out nearly all the way to Ais Gill summit as we pass through the pristine countryside and preserved mainline stations. From Ais Gill it's a small decent towards Garsdale then we climb again to Blea Moor passing Dent Station (The highest main line station in England at 1150 feet above sea level). New signals are visible at Blea Moor to allow trains from the newly installed Horton Quarry Junction to run-round and head south. After emerging from Blea Moor Tunnel, it's all downhill to Settle Junction with a fierce 1-in-100 gradient. Once over Ribble Head Viaduct, we are able to coast all the way to Settle Junction allowing the gradient to increase our speed whilst ensuring we don't go over 60mph. As we pass Settle Junction, it's back on the power for the short climb to Coniston Cold taking in the views of the semaphore signals of Hellifield and we then coast again to Skipton where we momentarily pause at Broughton Road Sidings to allow a passenger service to depart Skipton for Leeds. It's at this point we start running under the OHLE of the Aire Valley Triangle . Even though the line speed here is 90mph, and the train may travel at 75mph it's slow progress due to long signal sections and frequent station stops for the passenger trains that are ahead of us and we continue our journey as far as Shipley on restrictive aspects most of the way whist very rarely exceeding 40mph. As our journey takes us southbound, we pass through Keighley and get a small glimpse of the old Shipley Keighley Junction signal box that was relocated here from Shipley to preserve it. This is also the station to change for the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. Once clear of Shipley, we are able to crank up the power again for 75mph running as far as Kristal. Emerging from Thackley Tunnel we see the new Apperly Bridge Station (with a couple of happy enthusiasts on the Down platform) and then the new Kristal Forge station too. Upon arrival at Whitehall Junction, the service is pathed for 35 minutes as per the schedule and then a further 10 minutes at Engine Shed Junction at Holbeck locomotive depot. Upon clearing Engine Shed Junction, we are nonstop to Milford West Sidings via Castleford and Fairburn where, under near darkness, we arrive on the Down Reception where our service terminates today. All required permissions were granted for the filming of this service as it holds significant historical relevance due to the semaphore signals and various intermediate signal boxes that are now part of the heritage of the world famous Settle and Carlisle line. This service was also the last freight train to run the full length of the S&C; line prior to the line closing due to a severe landslide. It is estimated that the line will reopen in late 2016 or early 2017.