A pair of Class 20s amidst the chaos of a heat-stricken Carlisle

The Settle & Carlisle Fellsman from Crewe via the S&C should have been steam hauled but steam traction has been banned by Network Rail during the current extreme heat emergency so a pair of Class 20s was substituted.
I'm no diesel afficionado but - believe it or not - I've never seen Twenties in use on the main line, so travelled to Carlisle.
The overhead wires were down at Harrow & Wealdstone, at Birmingham, at Wolverhampton, between Lancaster and Carnforth and at Plumpton - the resulting chaos can be imagined.
Fortunately, most people seem to have heeded the advice to avoid travelling so, despite a near-total lack of trains on the West Coast Main Line, the Cumbrian Coast line and an erratic service on the Tyne Valley route, Citadel station didn't suffer from the hordes of stranded passengers that we saw a few days ago.

[@gordy4459]

Watching the Network Rail guys reminded me of road-workers...half a dozen vans, and a team of twenty stood watching one bloke dig a hole!! 🤣🤣🤣....Great video catching some unusual action 👍👍👍...and it's always a pleasure to see and hear the Class 20's...thanks for sharing.....

[@roboftherock]

The trouble with holes is they are usually too small to get more than one guy in at a time.

[@gordy4459]

@@roboftherock guess it depends on the size of the hole 😂😂...

[@schoolshorts]

Gordy - you're very welcome - best wishes.

[@thirdengineer]

Well done yet again Tim in your usual detailed presentation the two 20s look like they have just been pulled out of a Hornby Dublo box brand new. Cheers Brian

[@schoolshorts]

You've captured it perfectly Brian - straight out of a box! Best wishes.

[@martinross5521]

Brilliant filming on an exceptional day at Carlisle. Abandon hope, ye who travelled that day contrary to advice. Great to see the 20s so well restored 🤩

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks Martin - they are looking good, aren't they?

[@martinross5521]

@@schoolshorts strangely enough, out of all the main line diesels, these are my favourites! Great to see them on a railtour too….

[@pulaski1]

Those 20's look fantastic. The 20's are perhaps my favourite locomotive class, bar none, and it is wonderful to seem them still in action after 60 years, and not just in action, but looking as good as they ever did!

[@schoolshorts]

They certainly are looking well - and apparently running well too.

[@martinjh999]

Aren't as old if not older than the Class 37?

[@jezm1703]

I very much enjoy watching your videos and this was no exception! Always well filmed, annotated and very interesting.

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks Jez - glad you approve. Best wishes.

[@TwmUkLive]

Watching that bloke work on the pantograph under live wires made me very nervous, great video work and lovely to see some choppers

[@schoolshorts]

Obviously the power had been turned off but even so - I think I'd have been more than a little nervous knowing that if someone had pulled the wrong switch - - - !

[@bobnweaver]

Superb coverage of events at Carlisle Tim. Good to see you there and thanks for introducing me to Leslie. Cheers, Jeff.

[@schoolshorts]

- - and thank you Jeff. Every good wish to you.

[@thebear3178]

Some good action captured despite the heat related delays . Nice work 👏

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks - there was plenty to film - just glad that I wasn't travelling.

[@gsx1250fast]

MG Tim, you are turning out some really good vlogs, you are lucky to have access to Carlisle where there is so much variety. the shots of all the tracks being occupied were quite unique. Keep up the good work, and thanks so much for sharing :)

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks Mike - I'll keep it up as long as I'm able but don't know how long we're going to have to wait before we get steam returning to the Border City.

[@rachel4300]

Super video. What a beautifully turned out train with the Intercity Class 47 (?) , MK1 carriages and those two lovely Class 20's.

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks Rachel. 47 828 - fine loco but I always feel that the raspberry ripple livery clashes horribly with the more traditional style of the rest of the train, unlike the BR green of the 20s.

[@rachel4300]

@@schoolshorts Yes, I guess a BR green 47 would have been more aesthetically pleasing :) And there were the two odd carriages as well :)

[@stephenbrass1808]

Right place to catch all the action again Tim, never seen the station packed like that, i am glad the tour went ahead i dont think i have videod 20s on the main line before and were a great site to see, cheers for now, Steve . 🎥😎👍

[@schoolshorts]

- - so something new for both of us. Best wishes.

[@charleshart6992]

Another excellent video!

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks Charles - we do our best!

[@michaelboulton3871]

Remember many summer days going from Burton upon Trent to Skegness behind two Class 20s

[@nige7577]

Busy day for you Tim, packed in like sardines there and a good selection of traction, last time I saw a pair of 20s on a railtour would be the Autumn Highlander in september 2013 so it’s great to see they still have a mainline future, cheers 👍

[@schoolshorts]

Having never seen 20s in action before, this turned out to be an amazing day for me - I couldn't possibly have foreseen what awaited me at the Citadel. A great day for the film-maker, disastrous for the traveller or rail operator. Best wishes.

[@atlanticcoastexpress]

Well done Tim! A very nicely shot ‘wordless documentary’ showing a working (under difficult conditions!) railway station! It was interesting to watch the Engineers working on the sick Pendolino’s pantograph (first time I’ve seen it done in a station) but I must admit (as a former Electrical Control Room staff member)…shuddering a little as the Engineer touched the contact wire and set the catenary jumping about! As he attached his safety link I was just hoping there was a ‘Permit to Work’ in force and the 25kV was really isolated. It was altogether fascinating and I was most impressed at the condition of the Class 20s on the charter train too. Many thanks for being there. Incidentally, is the little secondhand bookshop on the down side (I assume that the platforms for northbound trains are ‘down’ ) ….Over the years I bought many good railway and other specialist books there when I was working in the area. Thanks again, Rob in Bournemouth.

[@schoolshorts]

Hi Rob. I know what you mean. Watching and filming from the platform, even though common sense tells you that the power MUST be switched off, there's still that moment when the engineer approaches the 25 000 volt cable! I'm not aware of any secondhand bookshop on the station - how long is it since your last visit?

[@mickboakes7023]

Thanks Tim. Another enjoyable video. Like your little quips. (Going nowhere, nor are the passengers). Plenty of variety at Carlisle again. All the best Mick.

[@schoolshorts]

- - - and thank you Mick. I was back there again yesterday and, I'm afraid, things are going from bad to worse. Best wishes.

[@jonathanhasnip3700]

Great film Tim thanks, loved seeing those class 20s and not a pigeon in site 😂

[@schoolshorts]

Not a pigeon in sight - but - plenty of evidence of them on the footbridge and platforms! Best wishes.

[@jonathanhasnip3700]

@@schoolshorts you too Tim, and thanks again

[@dirkupnmoor]

Great video with the 2 Diesel locos in charge of the special train. 02:49 Fascinating image with the station full of trains! Best regards from Germany.

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks Dirk - glad that you enjoyed it. Best wishes to our friends in Germany.

[@stewarthughesstewart]

Fascinating stuff! Thanks!!

[@schoolshorts]

You're welcome Stewart - best wishes.

[@ericmoody9978]

Well done you really caught the chaos

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks Eric - doubt if the passengers appreciated it much!

[@davidowen6977]

Great viewing, including the pantograph mangle......a vexing set of circumstances 😐

[@schoolshorts]

Yes - that's something one doesn't often get to see - fortunately!

[@billmmckelvie5188]

Thanks for sharing, the Jolly Fisherman goes North West to Carlisle. I could have sworn one of the Class 20 drivers was having wry smile. Excellent ex-works turn out condition of the two engines! Yet again lack of forethought and not insisting on the 'all' electric lines that all trains must be duel fuel!

[@schoolshorts]

Well - we're slowly moving in that direction.

[@cedarcam]

With the official advice not to travel and the steam ban it is surprising the charter ran. You got some great video with the pantograph being removed and those 20's which although not steam are the closest looking diesel to a steam loco having a single cab and running plate either side. They ran in Scotland a lot so quite surprised you had not seen any on the main before.

[@schoolshorts]

Yes, I wondered right up to the morning in question whether this one would run or not - RTT confirmed that it had set out on its journey - so I did likewise! Cheers Colin.

[@MarkPaile]

Saw 20s on a freight to Langholm and Newcastleton from Kingmoor a couple of times in 1967.

[@cedarcam]

@@MarkPaile When they were still in their youth. Incredible they are still running on the main after all these years.

[@peterscutt2253]

Hi Tim great videos lately catching the action or inaction

[@schoolshorts]

A great deal of the latter!

[@sugarbertie1143]

I've lived around Class 20s all my life being in a Derbyshire mining area. They're a cracking loco, I don't think I've ever seen one failed in 50 odd years. I used to hear them at night 3 miles away climbing up the steep Clowne branch from Seymour Junction with empties for the pits. Brilliant sound and one of GBs best ever diesels. These two look great.

[@schoolshorts]

Curiously, until this day I had never seen one in use! But hey - they looked good and did a great job substituting for steam haulage over the demanding S & C route.

[@sugarbertie1143]

@@schoolshorts They've been a main stay since 1959. Admittedly low powered at only 1000hp but they can manage some heavy trains especially with a pair of them and they can get a fair crack of speed on as well. They've been one of our most successful and versatile locos hence why a few are still used here and there for moving stock around, leaf fall duties etc. I still dont hink they ever show their age either, I wish I could say that for myself! Glad you enjoyed the experience.

[@winco68]

@@sugarbertie1143 1957.

[@formidable38]

A apir of 20's, a very fine substitute !!

[@schoolshorts]

Yes - they did a grand job.

[@michaelboulton3871]

The most dependable diesels ever made. My dad loved driving them in the 1960s and 1970s

[@schoolshorts]

Basic, unsophisticated - just good at the job they were designed to do.

[@gregrudd6983]

The only loco that would probably be better than these in their HP class is the ALCO DL 531 aka the NSW 48 class which thrives under such heat conditions.

[@AndreiTupolev]

I read that as "the most despicable diesels". I could imagine Gordon saying it

[@sugarbertie1143]

Must agree there mate. 20s rock!!

[@marshallman7608]

They were ok depending what you wanted to do with them! Remember the time a single class 20 worked the passenger service from Carstairs to Edinburgh after the class 47 failed. I asked the driver how he got on, his reply was that it was so slow he could have got off for a piss and got back on again!

[@tattoo1084]

Good footage Tim, nice to see /hear the 20's.👍

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks David - a totally new one for me!

[@roboftherock]

Probably not the day you anticipated, but a gem, nevertheless - except for the travelling public. As a photographer, I enjoyed the 'not the usual angle' shots and the cutaways. As another commenter opined it was like sardines in a tin there with all the roads occupied. Your on-screen captions were excellent. The section from 8:23 - 8:36 shows that platform 4 at Carllisle could do with a serious dose of levelling out. RTT has proved to be a very useful web-site.

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks Robbie for your kind remarks. Platforms 1 to 3 were completely rebuilt to a high standard but then, I believe, the money ran out. Seems I'm not the only one to suffer this problem!

[@roboftherock]

@@schoolshorts Hmmm, say no more.

[@LeslieGilpinRailways]

Great as ever Tim. Dunno who the guy in the red shirt was 🙂

[@schoolshorts]

- - - some rough characters about - - - best avoided!

[@Knack-fo5dc]

At first I thought that painting MK2 coaches crimson and cream was anathema but I'm coming round to it. What was the Azuma doing there and where did it go?

[@schoolshorts]

I suppose liveries will always be a matter of personal taste. Although I grew up with the old "blood and custard" I've never been keen on it - my personal preference has always been the classic BR maroon, simple and sits well on any coach - doubtless many will disagree. As for the Azuma - LNER were doing daily route-learning trips along the Tyne Valley Newcastle to Carlisle line at that time. They usually just turned round and went home again but industrial relations problems were causing havoc at the time.

[@class50thrasher]

I finally found out why that pendolino was running on a different pantrograph that day! Because they broke the other one thank goodness i know now!

[@johnkelly7264]

WOW!! Look at the clothing some people are wearing... looks like they are cold... In that heat!

[@schoolshorts]

The British have always been reluctant to undress. I have some photographs of my mother on the beach at Redcar as a child in the 1920s - you wouldn't BELIEVE the clothing all the adults are wearing!

[@AndreiTupolev]

I presume the overhead power must have been turned off when the feller was on top of the Pendo looking at the pantograph

[@schoolshorts]

I believe that the entire station area was cut off - the consequences otherwise don't bear thinking about.

[@norbertnedsworth7172]

When the wires are down, smelly noisy diesels keep running, and in the old days would've dragged the crippled electrics. Always the best type of traction! And what a treat for S & C Fellsman passengers.

[@schoolshorts]

Smoky dirty steam engines didn't do too badly either!

[@johndonaldson3619]

Ahh, those 1950's EE Type 1's with their low tolerance design engines will stand any weather!!!

[@schoolshorts]

- - - a highly reliable loco designed and built at a time when many of the early diesel varieties were proving to be just the opposite.

[@nicks4934]

Is it just me or do some trains have real faces? They ARE watching us. 🤪

[@schoolshorts]

- - - then be careful what you get up to on the platform!

[@tonyrobinson362]

We had over twenty at Shirebrook West when I was a guard on coal trains in the 70s good days gone forever.

[@schoolshorts]

- - and yet somehow they've escaped me - this was the first time I've seen them in action. Ah well - never too old for a new experience!

[@sugarbertie1143]

They were the mainstay round Shirebrook, Barrow Hill and Tinsley. They used to pass our school at Staveley going up the ex GC main line to Arkwright pit. Brill sound. Also up the Clowne line and just about everywhere else locally!. Fab locos I will never tire of them. Was the 'wing commander' at SB when you were there (A Brown) , my dad knew him well?

[@tonyrobinson362]

@@sugarbertie1143 I seem to remember he was, There were loads of characters from Kirkby sheds as well, I remember one day we were Bilsthorpe/High Marnham we were allowed 3 hrs to get train ready we all helped and got to Marnham power stn in just over the hour! Trouble was, Time and motion team where at Boughton jucn checking train times we had a rather interesting talk on arriving back at Shirebrook.

[@sugarbertie1143]

@@tonyrobinson362 Happy days mate. I never worked on railway but did know a lot of drivers, guards etc as they all lived local. Funny how SB shed's still there but no engines! I think Top Cat now own it to store furniture. It used to be a hive of activity and at weekends locos stabled everywhere, round the old Warsop curve, and also across the main line by the station box. There's a new book cone out called Pit to Power Station it's got loads of memories and pics of the local lines and well worth a read.

[@tonyrobinson362]

@@sugarbertie1143 Thanks for info on book will check it out.

[@martinjh999]

4:39 surely that 390 can go on the other pantograph at the other end of the train? At least until there is time to get it fixed properly... Granted wires have to be up of course...

[@schoolshorts]

I believe that's how they got the set to Polmadie for repair.

[@MrOldmeg]

wot no steam 😥😥 but still a very interesting and enjoyable posting. JohnK

[@schoolshorts]

Who knows when we'll see steam again?

[@ToddNightcoreGamer2K7]

Is it class 20 is going backwards or normal running???? I am not sure

[@schoolshorts]

They normally operate in pairs, nose to nose, to afford the driver a clear view of the road ahead. Only steam drivers now have to cope with a huge boiler restricting their forward vision - and they seem to cope, just as they always did!

[@naplion123]

Nice

[@schoolshorts]

Thanks Logan.

[@Hard-Boiled-Bollock]

OLDIES STILL GOING STRONG!

[@schoolshorts]

- - - a bit like many of the trainspotters!

[@tonymaries1652]

Why the hell is there a dead diesel at the end when there are two operational diesels as the train engines?

[@schoolshorts]

Class 20s are not equipped to supply electricity to a train for catering/hotel purposes. Also makes it easier to reverse the whole train when needed.

[@michaelhunt4445]

Heat stricken Carlisle? I moved from the south to become a postman in Carlisle, an inspector told me -- even the grass has to specially toughened to survive in this wet town. Before anyone shouts me down, yes I know it's a city and according to wikipedia it's the largest city in England, but many people call it a town, even my Mother in Law, she told me that where they lived, the whole village migrated to the town on Sat. afternoon.

[@schoolshorts]

- - - and they all migrate very noisily back to their homes on the late trains on Saturday night!

[@jappedut9009]

They should have been in "Thomas" they look like they have faces 😀

[@schoolshorts]

The very thought that crossed my mind when first I saw the film!

[@sw8091]

I would of came if it wasn’t for my delay on my train and staff not letting me travel

[@schoolshorts]

They were being kind to you - in the morning there was a very real risk of not being able to get home - although you could probably have travelled by bus!

[@freeman8128]

In the UK hot weather in July is NORMAL.

[@schoolshorts]

You obviously don't live in Scotland!

[@freeman8128]

@@schoolshorts Carlisle is not in Scotland. At the time of this video, Carlisle was neither "heat stricken" nor in "chaos": just pleasantly warm with business as usual.

[@schoolshorts]

@@freeman8128 True, but our long-distance (Avanti) trains are running into and out of areas which definitely ARE heat-stricken - at least by UK standards. And, just for the record, I live in Scotland and have done for the past 42 years.

[@freeman8128]

@@schoolshorts You are a victim and propagator of media hype which is constantly trying to scare people by falsely presenting everything as a "crisis". FACT: Your "heat wave" lasted barely a week and the "record" temperatures of 40c on 2 consecutive days were recorded only at major airports (Heathrow & Gatwick) with their hot tarmac and hot jet engines. FACT: Each winter 80 TIMES more people die from cold-related issues than the numbers who die in summer due to heat-related issues. FACT: Every year over a million British people take holidays in countries where the temperature is well over 40c. I have lived in such countries for years, as well as in Scotland where I spent well over a decade.

[@Millennialmonitor]

British Rails Buckle Under Record Heat in Europe’s Summer of Woe "Britain’s network operator said it measured rail temperatures of 62 degrees Celsius in Suffolk on Monday and said tracks could “expand, bend and break” under the stress of the extreme conditions. The train issues spilled over to the struggling aviation sector with services to Luton and Gatwick airports canceled on Tuesday. Luton was again operational after runway repairs halted flights on Monday. Transport for London told people not to travel and suffered severe delays due to heat-related restrictions on a number of lines of the London Tube, including the Central and District lines. The Hammersmith & City line was suspended entirely because of heat. Daily life has been disrupted across usually temperate Britain. The Met Office issued its first ever red emergency warning for extreme heat for Monday and Tuesday, warning of the potential for power outages, road closures and even loss of life. It has also extended its most severe warning for the risk of fires over most of England Tuesday. Temperatures should start to ease later Tuesday as cooler weather moves in from the west. The biggest relief should come Wednesday evening when temperatures drop to the low 20s Celsius -- around average for the season." Bloomberg: www.bnnbloomberg.ca/british-rails-buckle-under-record-heat-in-europe-s-summer-of-woe-1.1793918

[@MrOlgrumpy]

Errr we have 8107 pressed into relief service,is there anyone still alive who can drive this ? ohh there goes old Ernie hah

[@schoolshorts]

I've often wondered where West Coast Railways manage to find drivers qualified to drive a vast range of steam, diesel and electric locos as well as having the requisite driver's route knowledge for most of Great Britain.

[@bobtudbury8505]

a bit of extra heat or cold and this country stops!

[@schoolshorts]

We're certainly not as resilient as some other countries.

[@digitalradiohacker]

A pair of 20's arrive to chew bubblegum and embarrass imported electric junk, and they're all out of bubblegum.

[@steveb1739]

Imagine telling your customers NOT to use your product or service? It's bizarre. 2 days if warm weather, and the country shuts down? Pathetic beyond belief. Try the Northern Cape in summer in South Africa, or the "Inland Empire" of Southern California. Temps near 50C, and life & work just carries on...

[@schoolshorts]

I fear we've rather lost the Dunkirk spirit in Britain.

[@steveb1739]

@@schoolshorts We have Tim. It saddens me greatly. Almost everyting you used, drove, or even looked at today has its roots in the Industrial Revolution. We all know where that took place. I wonder what the greats of times past (Newcomen, Watt, Brunel, Bazalgette, Newton, Montgomery, Churchill et al) would have to say about it? Thank you always for the great posts!

[@bobjennings6673]

These Brits sound like Texans--- they can't handle a bit of heat and the Texans can't handle a bit of cold.

[@1974silverboy]

Insanity. A bit of higher than Normal heat and this happens. It's pathetic. Get a grip.

[@schoolshorts]

I'm afraid our infrastructure was built for a colder climate.

[@jackx4311]

(D8096) "'Ere, woss all this traffic jam, mate?" (Pendolino) "Er . . well . . I got me pantograph in a twist an' brought the wires down . . . " (D8107) " . . . snigger, snigger . . . "

[@schoolshorts]

- - - yeah - the old ways are sometimes the best!

[@steveluckhurst2350]

@@schoolshorts Almost takes me back to the days when Class 50s would regularly fail on this route! A very nice piece of reportage though. Thank you for sharing.

[@schoolshorts]

@@steveluckhurst2350 You're very welcome Steve.