'The Shap Trials' with Duke & Duchess - October 1995

Days Out Rail-tours organised 'The Shap Trials' which took place over the three days of September 30th, October 2 and 3 1995.
I took leave from work & drove to the North to video the experience.
Having missed 60007 run.
Apologies for the analogue quality & shaky clips.
The weather was terrible with heavy winds & rain after a long dry summer.
71000 Duke of Gloucester competed against 46229 Duchess of Hamilton and 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley to become overall winner of the Shap Trials.
The 'Duke' was the undoubted hero of The Shap Trials which gave the Duke its first opportunity in rebuilt form to show its mettle on home turf.
To add to the excitement it was pitted not simply against its one time fellow Crewe North shed resident Duchess of Hamilton, but also against its LNER rival A4 Sir Nigel Gresley.
71000 broke the record for the fastest northbound ascent
Both locomotives returned via the S&C.
Note: 71000 with damaged smoke box seen on my Ribblehead clip!

[@TheStephengthompson]

Superb video from 1995 Geraint , tomorrow will see another piece of history with 07 going North over Shap again.

[@robmasterman]

Those were the days Ger, nothing would stop us travelling all those miles to get some footage....Great video.

[@caerphillycastle]

They certainly were Bob. We did travel miles didnt we? I remember driving to S&C there & back in one day! Geraint

[@duncanhinchley6805]

Yup, the Duke proved just how capable a machine it is. However, I think I am right in saying the Duchess had problems on the run (I've got injectors in my head but I may be wrong) which certainly didn't help. Having said that, the Duke may have won the battle against the clock but the Big Red Machine won the day overall if for no other reason than the soundtrack she produced on her way up Shap.

[@caerphillycastle]

I think you’re right about the Duchess Duncan it was a long time ago! Terrific sound I agree. Thanks for commenting

[@RailwayTavern]

Great stuff

[@caerphillycastle]

Thank you very much. Almost 30 years ago!

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

It turns out that the duke was even better than Duchess of hamilton going up shap summit

[@lnerrules-iw6ry]

The Duke, 1st, Duchess 2nd, Gresley 3rd.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

@@lnerrules-iw6ryyep