11th August 1968 is a date that somehow sticks in the memory!
British Rail's intention that the date was to be the last time that a steam hauled train would to run on a British main line hasn't been realised (and, with a bit of luck, never will!).
So, what better way to mark the 40th Anniversary of that date (well, we can forgive being just one day out) than with a steam hauled train running over the same route!
Even better, 10th August 2008 saw the first main line run of the BR Standard Britannia Pacific 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' for 40 years; it's previous main line run having been at the head of the aforementioned train in 1968.
Back in 1968 I was fortunate in that a friend's father took us in his car first to Blea Moor then to Mallerstang for the return and I had hoped to go to those two places 40 years on and see the re-run. 40 years before we had a fine, warm summer's day, warm enough to melt my chocolate biscuits! Sunday 10th August 2008 was anything but fine. From a sound recording point of view the worst feature of the weather was the wind, of which, there was plenty!
This meant that getting recordings at the same two locations wasn't a possibility and we ended up at our usual recording spot, behind the handy dry stone wall at Selside.
That dry stone wall proved not just handy but essential. As well as giving shelter from the wind it also protected us from the frequent heavy showers; our intended recording spot at Blea Moor would have been horrendous!
Our wait behind the wall proved well worth while. About 10 minutes later than expected we sighted smoke rising over the hills down towards Horton in Ribblesdale.
As the train came into sight I was able to hear something that I haven't heard at the lineside for 40 years; the sound of a Brit's whistle.
With 11 coaches behind the tender 70013 was being driven hard and making a fine sound as it passed. Well worth hanging about in the wind and rain for!
While I would have liked to have been at Blea Moor for this, even had the weather been kinder, I doubt that I'd have got a recording as good as this one.