| A diversion on the way to the Keighley & Worth Valley's diesel gala allowed us to see a Colchester to Carlisle steam excursion. It's quicker by road, we had about 2 hours extra in bed before departing and still got there with an hour to spare!
Ian Riley's pair, 4MT 2-6-0 76079 & Black 5 45407 were in charge as they passed us at Selside, looking comfortably in charge. We popped in at Helwith Bridge, somewhere I had not been to for over 20 years, to see how things had changed, then chased a class 60 south with an empty gypsum train. Interestingly I have found three old photographs taken at the same locations 20 years or more since which are included here to show how things have (or have not) changed. |
4MT 2-6-0 76079 and 5MT 4-6-0 45047 climb towards Selside with a special for Carlisle. 1000x633 2005_06_249.jpg |
4MT 2-6-0 76079 and 5MT 4-6-0 45047 climb towards Selside with a special for Carlisle, Penyghent looms over the view on th left. 1000x609 2005_06_250.jpg |
4MT 2-6-0 76079 at Selside with a special from Colchester to Carlisle. 1000x665 2005_06_252.jpg |
|
Ian Riley's main line pair 4MT 2-6-0 76079 and 5MT 4-6-0 45047 pass Selside with a special for Carlisle. 1000x665 2005_06_253.jpg |
An unidentified class 156 crosses the River Ribble at Helwith Bridge with a southbound Leeds train. 1000x665 2005_06_254.jpg |
60072 'Cairn Toul' in Mainline grey on the 6E13 Newbiggin to Knottingley empty gypsum containers at Helwith Bridge. 825x1000 2005_06_255.jpg |
|
60072 'Cairn Toul' in Mainline grey on the 6E13 Newbiggin to Knottingley empty gypsum containers departs along the Little north Western line at Hellifield. 1000x665 2005_06_256.jpg |
60072 'Cairn Toul' with the 6E13 Newbiggin to Knottingley empty gypsum containers runs south through Cononley station between Skipton and Keighley. 1000x665 2005_06_257.jpg |
24 years earlier on 4th April 1981, Ian Storey's Stephenson link motion Black 5 No 4767 pilots the same Black 5 (then numbered 5407) uphill past Selside. 1000x667 2999_06_011.jpg |
|
20th February 1982, 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' crosses the Ribble at Helwith Bridge, a wonderful view no longer obtainable due to tree growth. I used to cycle to take these photographs, I must have been a lot fitter and thinner at the time! 1800x1200 2999_06_068.jpg |
26th August 1981, A4 Pacific 4498 'Sir Nigel Gresley' departs from Hellifield with a Cumbrian Mountain Express, at almost exactly the same spot as 60072 was seen in 2005 (although from a different viewpoint). 1000x667 2999_06_230.jpg |
