Steam to the seaside

On 5th February 2005 ex LMS Black 5 4-6-0 45407 worked a railtour from Doncaster to Scarborough and back, outward via York, returning via Bridlington and Goole.
Our first recording attempt was made at a foot crossing at Bentley about a mile north of Doncaster station.
The Black 5 was attached to the train south of Doncaster and having passed through the station is heard accelerating north on the ECML. The train was routed via the freight only line through Askern and as the Black 5 passes the driver eases the regulator as the junction is not far away.

As 45407 stopped for water at Milford Jc. we had plenty of time to get to Malton for a recording from the bank of the River Derwent just to the east of the station.
The Black 5 is heard accelerating away from the speed restriction through the station on the last stage of the journey to Scarborough.

After time for a visit to Filey for fish & chips and a paddle we expected that the best recording of the day would be of 45407 climbing away from Hunmanby.
We weren't disappointed!
As the recording begins, despite the sound of cars passing on the nearby but normally very quiet road (probably carrying lineside photographers rushing to their next location!) 45407 can be heard pulling away from the station on to the single track section to Bridlington and beginning to make a sure footed climb of the 1 in 106 gradient away from the station.
A southerly wind was blowing and, after the train had passed the sound carried back well and the loco was audible all the way to the top of the climb near Speeton almost 4 miles away.

On the way back to Doncaster 45407 stopped for water at Goole.
My book of gradient profiles indicates a gradient of 1 in 196 at this point where the line climbs away from Goole to reach the high bridge over the Dutch River and the Aire & Calder Navigation. Seen from the ground the climb looks much steeper and the Black 5 makes a fine sound climbing to the bridge.
Once 45407 has rattled over the bridge the train accelerates rapidly on the falling gradient beyond on the last part of the journey back to Doncaster.

When not out and about on the main line 45407 is usually based on the ELR at Bury. The railtour was organised by Past-Time Rail. A list of forthcoming steam hauled trips on the main line will be found on David Randles' excellent web site.