S&C Black 5s

Over the years that I've been riding behind steam on the main line I've travelled steam hauled over the Settle - Carlisle line more times than I care to remember.
Many of these trains, because of the popularity of the route necessitating long trains, have been hauled by the larger main line locos or sometimes double headed. However, some of the more memorable runs have been behind single, smaller engines and my favourite among these is, of course, Stanier's Black 5!
Indeed, my first ever steam hauled run over the line was on one of Bernard Staite's early Cumbrian Mountain Expresses behind 5305 and my first attempt at sound recording on that route was behind that same engine on a most memorable HLPG sponsored train in 1980.
In more recent years I have travelled less but turned to the lineside more and I'll always try to get out to record a Black 5 on the S&C.

On 29th December 2005 Ian Riley's pair, ex LMS Black 5 4-6-0 45407 and BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 76079, were booked to work a train over the Settle - Carlisle from Hellifield to Carlisle and back.
A few days before the train ran I had heard that, because the train would be shorter than expected, only the Black 5 would be used. However, on the day, both locos were waiting at Hellifield when we passed on our way to our usual recording spot at Selside where, on this very cold but calm day we were able to hear the train, running about 20 minutes late, climbing up towards Horton long before we could see it.
Unfortunately, we could also hear the sound of a light aircraft approaching too! Luckily the light aircraft went away and most of our recording was undisturbed.
The train was made up of just 9 coaches, only a light load for the pair, but had the addition of a Class 47 diesel attached at the rear but not working.
Although the train was doubled headed, as you can hear, the Black 5 was doing most of the work and the Standard is only audible briefly as it passes.

Over a year earlier, on 22nd August 2004, 45407 worked a very well supported train over the Settle - Carlisle line, this time starting from from Keighley.
In this recording the Black 5, in the hands of WCRCo. driver Bill Andrews, is heard going well passing Horton-in-Ribblesdale

On 14th February 1998 ex LMS Black 5 4-6-0 44767 was booked to work a train from Hull to Carlisle and back. This charter train was organised by Mel Chaimberlain's Days Out organisation which, around that time was often referred to as Days In since many of the trains that he advertised didn't actually run!
This one did run, although not without problems on the day.
We had already seen the train at Bell Busk and had noted that there was a Class 47 diesel attached behind the steam loco, there to provide power for the train heating and assistance if required.
We rushed off to Selside via a diversion due to road works and didn't think that we would have much time before the train arrived. As it turned out we had plenty of time before the smoke appeared in the distance above Horton-in-Ribblesdale.
The day was very still so sound carried well and 44767 was audible almost as soon as it came into view - indeed it was to be 12 minutes before I turned off my recorder. Obviously, all was not well!
Under these circumstances we could have reasonably expected the Class 47 to provide some assistance. Fortunately, from a recording point of view, it didn't and just added to the weight of the train which has the Black 5 really digging in on the 1 in 100 gradient at about 15 mph as it passes the recorder.

For the return journey we went to Bull Gill, just to the south of Kirkby Stephen for 44767 returning from Carlisle.
The Black 5 eventually turned up about an hour late and it came as no surprise to find that the Class 47 was assisting.
Still, the Black 5 sounds well travelling at around 40 mph on the 1 in 100 gradient and you can't hear the diesel!

As I have already mentioned, my first recording attempt on the Settle - Carlisle line was on a train over the route hauled by LMS Black 5 4-6-0 5305 in 1980. From memory, we had a record run, albeit with a fairly short train, from Settle Jc. to Blea Moor and owners of Steam Jukebox can hear the entire climb on CD1!
This on-train recording of 5305 (also available in it's entirety on CD9) however, was made in 1988.
At this time the Settle - Carlisle line was under threat of closure and railtour operators were keen to take advantage of the situation by running lots of steam hauled tours over the line.
Among these was a series of mid-week dining trains, The Pennine Limited, operated by Flying Scotsman Services. These usually ran with steam haulage from Leeds to Appleby but the train on 13th July 1988 was hauled by LMS Black 5 5305 from Hellifield through to Carlisle with the locomotive continuing north from Carlisle on it's way to Fort William to work trains on the West Highland line through the rest of the summer.
I wouldn't normally have travelled on a dining train (far too expensive!) but on this occasion I had been invited for a ride in the support coach.
In this recording 5305 is heard already well into the northbound climb from Settle Jc. just emerging from Taitlands Tunnel above Stainforth.
On the 1 in 100 gradient towards Helwith Bridge the Black 5 is maintaining speeds of a little over 30 mph, not bad with 400 tons behind the tender.

A comprehensive list of forthcoming steam hauled trips on the main line will be found on David Randles' excellent web site.
5305 is currently based on the Great Central Railway and is looked after by the 5305 Locomotive Association, 44767 is out of use at the moment but is based on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and 45407 & 76079, when not out and about elsewhere, will be found at Bury on the East Lancashire Railway.