Wednesday 4th August 2021
The popular ‘Fellsman’ runs again in summer 2021 for its 13th season offering a 300-mile return steam hauled journey from Crewe on the spectacular ‘Settle to Carlisle Railway’ as we travel through the Yorkshire Dales and climb high towards the roof of England. With its great limestone peaks and deep valleys, the legendary ‘Settle to Carlisle’ line is a masterpiece of Victorian engineering including the magnificent 24 arch viaduct at Ribblehead. Time will be available for sightseeing in the historic border city of Carlisle.
DEPARTING FROM;
CREWE, WARRINGTON BANK QUAY, WIGAN NORTH WESTERN, LEYLAND, BLACKBURN, CLITHEROE, HELLIFIELD
The Settle & Carlisle line is known for its magnificent scenery and steep gradient, so our engine will be working hard as we climb to the magnificent Ribblehead Viaduct with stunning views of the three peaks. Passengers get a marvellous view down Dent Dale as the train emerges from Blea Moor tunnel and approaching Garsdale you will see sweeping views of Wensleydale – with our engine in full flight we climb at 1 in 100 towards the summit of the line at Ais Gill. Travelling on through the lush Eden Valley to the historic border city of Carlisle where we arrive about 13.10. You may choose to stroll between the castle and cathedral or perhaps visit the famous Tullie House Museum – all surrounded by great places to shop, eat or be entertained so creating the perfect way to spend an afternoon.
Returning from Carlisle about 15.45 and following a stop for water at Appleby we travel over the same spectacular route giving another opportunity to experience the beauty of the high Pennines and pretty Ribble Valley as our locomotive works hard up the steep and taxing climb of Wilpshire Bank being a fitting end to a perfect day.
Steam hauled by one of the train operators preserved locomotives;
West Country Class 4-6-2 No. 34046 Braunton
History
built at Brighton Works in November 1946 in original streamlined form and upon completion was allocated to Exmouth Junction. Further allocations included Salisbury, Brighton and Bournemouth. In 1949 the engine was re-numbered to 34046 once owned by British Railways.
Withdrawal and preservation
34046 was withdrawn from service in October 1965 and moved to the Woodham Brothers' scrapyard at Barry Island, this was to be the engine's home for the next 23 years until it was moved in 1988 to Brighton in a bid to be restored. In 1996 it was purchased by the West Somerset Railway but later sold on to a private individual. The engine was moved to Williton on the WSR where a long term restoration to running order was to be undertaken. 34046 returned to steam in July 2007 for the first time in the 42 years since its withdrawal from service. The engine's debut return to passenger service was in 2008 with plans to have the engine certified for use on the mainline hauling excursion trains. Since 2018 it was based in Crewe and owned by Jeremy Hosking. 34046 is operational on the mainline hauling excursion trains.
A member of the iconic London Midland & Scottish Railway's Black 5 Class, The Sherwood Forester is a shining example of the workhorses of Britain's railways from the 1930s all the way to the end of steam. After being initially preserved at Carnforth, 5231 became associated with the preserved Great Central Railway (GCR) in Leicestershire. 45231 emerged from an overhaul in 2005 and shortly after it was moved by road to the Mid Hants Railway. It eventually undertook a proving run on Sun 26 Jun from Alton to Fratton before entering mainline service later in the year.
One of our immaculately restored locomotives; LMS Royal Scot Class, No.46100 ‘Royal Scot’ is on the roster to be available for this tour.
The original 6100 was the first of its class, built in 1927 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow. It was named Royal Scot after the Royal Scots. In 1933, 6152 The King's Dragoon Guardsman and 6100 swapped identities permanently. 6152 had been built at Derby Works in 1930. The new Royal Scot was sent to the Century of Progress Exposition of 1933 and toured Canada and the United States with a train of typical LMS carriages. 46100 was bought by Billy Butlin of Butlins holiday camps after withdrawal and after cosmetic restoration into LMS crimson lake at Crewe Works, although this was the original livery received, the locomotive did not carry it after being rebuilt (only one rebuilt Royal Scot ever carried LMS crimson lake livery and that was 6170 British Legion). It was then towed from Crewe Works to Nottingham by Black 5 No. 45038 and then from Nottingham to Boston by B1 No. 61177 on 12 June 1963. Royal Scot arrived at Butlins on 18 July 1963 piped in by pipers from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots. This made 6100 one of two preserved rebuilt Royal Scots, the other being 6115 Scots Guardsman. It was set on a plinth at Skegness and was to remain there till the 1970s. On 16 March 1971 6100 departed from Skegness for the Bressingham Steam Museum and was returned to steam in 1972. It ran until 1978 when it once more became a static exhibit, it was eventually sold from Butlins to Bressingham in May 1989.
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