Steam on Shap, 16 March 2024; Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and Tangmere storm Shap on separate trains.

A double steam special, from the climb of Shap to a spectacular finale with the Carlisle departure. GWR Castle Class, No 5043 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' attacks the 1 in 75 climb to Shap with the Birmingham-Carlisle 'Shap Mountaineer', without diesel assistance, followed minutes later by SR Battle of Britain', No 34067 'Tangmere' on the Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express. At Carlisle they both engaged in complex turning operations. The video ends with the roaring departure of Earl of Mount Edgcumbe from Carlisle.

[@RailTractionEye]

Lovely video 👌

[@alangilbertson8239]

Thanks. :)

[@TheStephengthompson]

Excellent Alan , certainly great to see two tours one after the other . 5043’s departure at Carlisle was superb 👍

[@alangilbertson8239]

Thanks Steve. First time I've stood there since the real steam days.

[@alangilbertson8239]

On the climb to Shap, it was obvious that Tangmere was going a lot quicker than 5043 and I wondered just how much difference there was. I timed both trains from the point on the video when the loco appeared in the right hand edge of the frame to the point where it reached the last overhead support. 5043 takes 83 seconds, 34067 takes 53 seconds for the same distance, over 50% faster than the Castle. That 47 on the back was making a huge difference. I knew it was working, but I was surprised at how much!

[@Linesider1]

Great video, I really enjoyed the scenes of the movements around Carlisle - not often seen and shows how much work there is to do at ‘half time’! Many thanks for the video. Cheers, David.

[@alangilbertson8239]

Thanks David. It's the first time I've been to Carlisle to watch the trains leaving for about 30 years I try to avoid stations if I can, and the first time since 1967 that I've stood on that bridge. It was interesting to watch and it certainly kept me busy while I was there. Almost missed the Castle running into Upperby. I was watching the Leeds line, expecting Tangmere next and the Earl sneaked up behind me, so I had to shift the tripod double quick, hence the wonky verticals. You might also notice that the empty stock reversal into the station looks a bit strange. That's because when the train started to reverse, I pressed the record button. I just didn't press it hard enough! After a couple of minutes I noticed the camera wasn't recording and I had to quickly put that right. :)

[@Linesider1]

@@alangilbertson8239 Well saved - not recording when you think you are is frustrating! (Missed a shot of the Duke on the S&C once thanks to that - couldn't believe I'd (not) done it..!)

[@feniscowlescricketclub6028]

Yet again a Castle looking good BUT with only half a load! A Black 5 performance only. Tangmere was twice as many behind AND a diesel to drag.

[@grampus2112]

The Castle only had 9 on , in the BR days around early 60s it was nothing to see a Duchess with 14 behind her on a summer Saturday

[@doughunt9621]

And the West Country had 11, so only 2 coaches longer than the Castle.

[@nige7577]

Excellent footage Alan, it’s always great to see two steam charters running one after the other on Shap and some interesting footage from Carlisle as a nice bonus, I bet that view has changed a bit since the last time you stood there, cheers 👍

[@alangilbertson8239]

It was a good day Nige, and Carlisle turned out better than I thought, because it was just a thrown-together last minute option. That morning I didn't have a clue about where I'd be for the afternoon, and I just made my mind up as I was driving into Carlisle after I'd come from Shap. It certainly has changed since the last time I viewed the station approach from the south end. The last time I stood on the bridge to do it was 1967, but the last time I actually saw the view was the day of the '15 Guinea Special', 11 August 1968, when after walking back to the station after being at Durran Hill watching 70013 leaving light engine for what I was convinced was the last time, I sat at the trailing end of the DMU back to Newcastle as the station receded. That was the last time I got a train from there. It's a pity I can't post the photo I took through the DMU's cab window of the trackwork, so clean, and uncluttered.

[@nige7577]

Happy days when you reminisce Alan, just a shame you couldn’t scan the photo to tag on the video.

[@robertbate5790]

Great set of shots, 👍👍👍. Unusual, but good shots from the bridge. Quite a vantage point, if its fine of course, lol 🤣

[@teamtrains]

Nice one

[@mockeyson]

Google Earth shows what looks like a Black 5 taking on water on the ‘Triangle’! SE of Carlisle …. Wonderful manoeuvre and video.

[@SteamCrane]

Excellent video! Question - what are the 2 rusty tracks at 4:37?

[@alangilbertson8239]

Thanks. (Edit)The two rusty tracks running together form a link from the Cumbrian Coast line to the Tyne Valley and the Settle and Carlisle. The rusty track on the right used to be the up line from the station to the Tyne Valley to Newcastle and the Settle & Carlisle to Leeds. It's out of use as a through route now and comes to an end just a hundred yards behind the camera.

[@frankbagshaw6886]

No wonder the LMS asked the GWR to build them 50 Castles. Pity the request was rejected.

[@MasterMoyle]

I was onboard the tour hauled by the castle and she certainly put on an amazing show that day. From realtime trains timings 34067 arrived in Carlisle just 4 minutes after 5043 had arrived. Incase your wondering why the tour was running so late it was because a passenger had to be taken off in Preston as they had just had a heart attack so we needed to wait for an ambulance to arrive, apparently the air ambulance was involved. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYnMk4Kkedt4g9Esi=WCfzoBh-GTfqMl74

[@alangilbertson8239]

We did get word about the health emergency on board via the grapevine, and actually expected the Castle to arrive later than it did, with a real possibility that Tangmere might come up Shap first. As it was, the Castle came though, followed by Tangmere 20 minutes later. It must have closed the gap even more by the time Carlisle was reached, aided by the 47 pushing at the back. Looking at my video (and the original files), Tangmere and its 47 were coming up the bank at least 50% faster than the Earl

[@MasterMoyle]

@@alangilbertson8239 I found out later that evening that the person in question who had suffered the heart attack had sadly died before we got back to Preston behind the Earl that evening.

[@xrjxman1]

Not just me then Castles are WELL over rated methinks. Bring on a Black 5!!!!