A steam hauled train over Shap and Beattock on 12th November 2011 was sufficient incentive to get us out to the lineside with the added bonus of a reasonable weather forecast. The train we were out to record, hauled by the LMS Princess Royal Pacific 6201 'Princess Elizabeth', was organised by Vintage Trains running from Crewe to Glasgow, returning the following day, to celebrate the 75th anniversary or that loco's record breaking non-stop run over the West Coast Main Line from Euston to Glasgow in November 1937.
For our recording on Shap, as we have recorded the loco at Shap Wells many times we decided to have a change and after looking at a couple of spots near the summit decided to try Salterwath which is about a ½ mile south of our usual spot at Shap Wells. Our chosen spot on the east side of the line had the advantage of being more open but the disadvantages were that it was a little breezy, was nearer to the noisy motorway and didn't give us much of a view of the approaching train. Still, it was worth a try as an alternative and I am more than happy with the result.
'Lizzie' turned up just about on time and although we couldn't see it, we must have just been able to hear it before it reached Greenholme going pretty well on 9 coaches with the addition of a Class 47 diesel at the rear. As the train passed we could see that the diesel wasn't assisting as the buffers between it and the last coach didn't appear to be compressed. Sound carried back quite well and we could hear the train reach the summit about 1½ miles away.
We'll be trying that spot again.

While the M6 and A74(M) are very useful in reaching recording spots on this route, they are something of an audible nuisance when recording, particularly so on Beattock where the road parallels the railway at close quarters for the entire climb; there is no escape from the noise. So far, the best spot we have found is at Greskine high on the hillside on the east side of the valley opposite the railway. Here the slope of the hillside below us hides the road below and does reduce the noise slightly, but only slightly; there really is no escape.
The train had an almost 3 hour layover in Carlisle so that 6201 could be serviced which gave us plenty of time to get to Greskine but, by the time the train reached us, it was almost dark.
Despite the road noise we could just hear 'Lizzie' approaching for some time and, as the train passed below us going very well on the steep gradient it looked superb leaving a trail of steam hanging in the still air; it was well worth coming out just to see that - and the sound wasn't bad either!
Mind you, I can't help thinking how much better recording at this spot would be if we could only get rid of that road...