35018 'British India Line' Thumping over the Fells with 'The Cumbrian Mountain Express' - 05/08/23

New ground in this video; a first proper chase in the Northern Fells, taking in all three climbs to Shap, Ais Gill and Wilpshire! Rebuilt Bulleid Pacific 35018 'British India Line' was at the helm of The Railway Touring Company's 'Cumbrian Mountain Express'. The route was the usual, following the WCML Euston to Carlisle with steam on at Carnforth for the ascent of Shap. The return would run along the Settle and Carlisle and the climb to Ais Gill. After a pause for water at Hellifield, the train would run to Blackburn over Wilpshire bank before reaching Preston. Here steam would give way to electric motive power and the train would return to Euston.

35018 is first caught at Shap Wells, tackling the fearsome 1-in-75 gradient from Tebay. The Merchant Navy is seen racing up the bank towards Scout Green before she stomps nearer the small assembly of photographers at Salterwath. With no diesel at the rear to assist, 'British India Line' conducts a sure-footed ascent of Shap, thumping her 11 coach train passed the camera at 35.68mph.

Next the train is seen on its return run at Ais Gill, on the final stretch of the 1-in-100 gradient to the summit of the Settle and Carlisle line and the highest mainline summit in England. Due to the rather miserable weather and the resulting affect on the railhead conditions, very few fireworks were expected. Having skirted along Mallerstang Edge, 35018's crew managed to coax the Pacific over the summit at 30.23mph, with the safety valves roaring!

A dash south followed to capture the train one last time at Wilpshire summit on the Ribble Valley Line. After arriving and departing the Hellifield water stop late, the Bulleid had lost its path to Blackburn. As a result, the climb of Wilsphire bank was hampered by a stopping service infront of 35018. Nevertheless, 'British India Line' is seen producing some mega steam through Ramsgreave and Wilpshire station before the safety valves once again lift as the train crests the summit of the climb from Whalley at 27.21mph. It is quite difficult to operate the camera and an umbrella simultaneously. Oops!


A fantastic day spent in the North West chasing 'British India Line', with the locomotive on good form despite the rather inclement weather! A rare but welcome occurrence was the fitting of a 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' headboard to the loco.


Timestamps:

00:00 - Shap Wells
03:25 - Ais Gill Summit
05:28 - Wilpshire Summit


Filmed on a Panasonic HC-X1500 with an AudioTechnica AT8024 microphone.


Enjoy.