Mainline Steam Returns Hard At Work In The North

Hello & Welcome to Harnetty Railways

In this video after 3 months of frustration caz of the heatwaves The UK had during the summer & persistant rainfall mainline steam north of Stafford unassisted is back.

We review mainline steam north of Crewe seeing 3 mainline steamers between the 2nd & 12th of September as we head into the Autumn Season.

We start by seeing West Coast Railways's as built Battle of Britain bulleid pacific 34067 Tangmere as she worked the company's The Dalesman from Hellifield to Carlisle & back to York via The Settle & Carlisle.

Since our last major filming of her she was in allot better form compared to how we last saw her back in the spring as we see her during the outward run through Appleby running unassisted from the class 57/3 on the rear.

For the return run we see her going through Armathwaite as she headed south on route to York.

The next loco we see is Locomotive Services Ltd's BR Standard class 7 pacific 70000 Britannia now back in traffic following repairs to her bearings as she worked Saphos Trains's The Fellsman the last 1 of 2025 from Blackpool to Carlisle & back via the S&C.

Starting by seeing her through Lazonby & Kirkoswalds before seeing her on the return run through Kirkby Stephen.

Preston was planned during the return run to see Britannia arrive & depart the station however huge chaos on the WCML due to overhead wire problems near Oxenholme prevented us from doing that.

For the final loco we see LSL's A2 pacific 60532 Blue Peter work Steam Dreams's The Lakes Express Day 1 & 4.

But 1st we see the preview day of the A2 working a crew training run from Crewe LSL to Preston & back in the Balshaw Lane area.

A week later we see him at Langcliffe on the long drag with steam to spare as he climbs the grade unassisted from 57311 on the back.

For the final shot of this video we see 60532 Blue Peter through Helsby on The Warrington Chester line as he heads for Chester running 40 minutes late following the late running of the stock move from Carlisle Upperby LSL to Barrow In Furness earlier that morning.

It's was fantastic to see mainline steam hard at work back in Network Rail's North Western Region again after a difficult summer caz of the heatwaves the best part of 3 months.

With all the steam workings as seen in this video were all unnassisted from the diesels at the rear.

Thanks for reading enjoy the film.

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