Sounds Like Hard Work.

Sometimes many a steam loco and crew struggle with the steam gradients of the Northern Fells be it over the 1 in 75 climb to Shap Summit or the 1 in 100 Settle and Carlisle line . This is some footage taken from 2012 to 2020.The last shot at Shap Summit sees a poorly 45231 attempting to make it into the loop after a mechanical failure shortly after Tebay.

[@rodevans602]

Love your videography. Every scene perfectly framed. Compulsive viewing! Thank you…

[@gedungisphoopnuchle9121]

One of mankind's greatest innovations!🥰

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Lyle , very true 👍

[@tattoo1084]

Brilliant compilation Stephen, nice to see them working hard and all that exhaust! Black 5 at the end sounding like it was going to give up.👍

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks David, the five wasn’t very well at all and it was taking the Jacobite stock up North but sadly it crawled into the loop.

[@CrossfellRailwayVideos]

Very good compilation of all that attracts about these hill lines!

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Alan , pleased you enjoyed the show.

[@mcollier4566]

Poor 45231. Well done to the crew for making it to the top after the first cylinder failure. Second cylinder failure happened at Llangollen in 2015.

[@robmasterman]

Stunning sequences Steve, showing how powerful steam can be, and the last clip showing no matter how badly the loco is performing that she can still reach the summit of Shap...Bob

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Bob, it was a very odd sound from the five in the last shot I must admit but Gordon nursed her into the loop 👍

[@malcolmabram2957]

Thanks for these patient compilation. It must be harder than even a big lottery win to be able to drive one of these locos.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Malcolm, all credit to the drivers and fireman as it must be hard graft .

[@wgj4813]

How good is this many thanks just brilliant

[@acw71000]

Some good climbs there Steve, amazing the last clip with the loco sounding so rough but still making it to the summit

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Austin, that’s Gordon for you as not many might have been able to get the 5 all the way from Tebay into the loop .

[@trainsandtrams2020]

Very much worth listening too. Steam battling the gradients always makes for the perfect combination!

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks for the kind comment as it’s much appreciated 👍

[@AlecWheelweld]

Old steam locos: sound amazing to my ears Newer diesels: absolutely no sound... quiet Me: I'd rather hear something. Great video by the way

[@inkdreams5113]

You’ve never heard a class 37 start in cold weather.

[@AlecWheelweld]

@@inkdreams5113 still don't like them.

[@yoville73]

Diesels: noobie trains Steam: Proper, Hardcore, Awesome trains!

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Alec , give me steam over a diesel any day 👍

[@Gearz-365]

I'd rather watch and listen to a steamer work than a diesel or electric. I love looking at their coupling and valve rods moving as the wheels spin, while modern trains don't have that. It seems like trains went from beautiful to boring

[@nige7577]

Excellent compilation Steve, working hard and barking well

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Nige , can’t beat the sound of a engine working hard 👍

[@HeartlandTuber]

Very nice shots. You take the extra effort to get to the best vantage points that let us see the lay of the land and the long approaches and curves. Outstanding work. I especially liked the twilight shot in the station toward the end, had a sort of arrival at Hogwarts feel to it.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks for the kind comment as it’s much appreciated. I do try my best to cover the scenery also where possible 👍

[@jazzman1626]

Very enjoyable video! The rhythm of the last loco fighting its way up the hill “must get up...must get up” 😁. Maroon coaches are my favourite too.

[@malcolmabram2957]

Sounds like a 3 cylinder loco, just like the Bulleid Pacific at 04:00.

[@lynnthrop7544]

Excellent video captured perfectly Steve:).

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Lynn , much appreciated comment as ever 👍

[@philipbaycock6139]

Splendid sound - all but one a triumph of the valve setter’s art! Many thanks! LouisB

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Philip , oddly enough I am just starting part 2 .

[@JonDingle]

Great video, nothing better than hearing and seeing a steam loco working hard, its an event, an arrival and a treat. Although back in the days of steam possibly less so? The guys that keep these magnificent machines running and operating should get credit too!

[@philipholt9112]

Hi my name is Phil I. did 50yrs on the footplate I started at edgeley shed on the 4th of April 1961 in 1962 I was made a fireman I did 8yrs on steam i finished my time out at 9A as a driver Regard Phil.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks for the kind comment and your so right as all involved with mainline steam deserve all the credit for the hard work.

[@balmesh]

Great Steve. I thought the driver of '67 did brilliantly on the slips, especially as no can behind!

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Alan , yes Mick Rawlings caught the slips well I thought 👍

[@Stussmeister]

Strange...When I listen to these magnificent locomotives going up these steep grades, I swear I can hear, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."

[@HeavyTanker-vx4oq]

Stussmeister not going to hear that with the 3 piston locos.

[@Stussmeister]

@@HeavyTanker-vx4oq Good point. Perhaps the sound they'd make is more akin to, "Yes I can, yes, I can."

[@randomrailfanner2911]

Now when you mention it, the noise sounds like “I think I can”

[@viktordubowskii695]

That's a 3 piston steam locomotive?

[@tractorsmachinesro1405]

Awesome capture....Great rail therapy...Big like From Romania

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks for the kind comment 👍Regards Steve

[@locomotive6727]

Hi Steve, Once again Great Compilation , Super filming . Take Care ....Dave,

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Dave , be able to film the real thing again next week with a Fellsman running over the S&C 👍

[@locomotive6727]

@@TheStephengthompson Hi Steve,yes should be good, put this tragic virus at the back of our minds for a short time ,Take Care ...Dave

[@glennlopez6772]

Must have been quite a few people involved with the making of this video. Thanks so much! I wish I could smell the smoke. On one if my travels the connecting rod of the engine broke and we were stranded on a curved rail embankment. Another engine was driven ahead, reversed, towed the engine away and returned to the rescue. Our backsides were bruised raw sliding in our seats due to the slope. Still I'd like to travel by steam engine.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Glenn , all in a days work I suppose driving or firing a steam loco 👍

[@steamgent4592]

Good ole Loud Lizzie my favorite Stanier passenger loco! She sure loves to show off! 😊😊😊Those black 5s are another great loco but this one sounds messed up like its having problems or the driver is messed up on crack lol that engine is so out of square you can see it even in the exhaust!!😬😬😱😒😒 excellent compilation though thanks for sharing it.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks for the kind comment and I must admit Lizzie is a superb engine. The five had a problem shortly after Tebay hence the off best sound but thankfully the driver managed to get it off the mainline into the loop . Regards Steve

[@1Goldsteam]

Awesome, thanks Steve, hope you are well.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Alan, much appreciated comment as ever and I’m very well thank you 👍

[@sudhirbhatt5523]

I am proud of steam locomotives as my self started my career as fire man on Indian railway,in 1976, and enjoy this beautiful reathem black buty also promote as Driver 1980. Excellent mechanism.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Sudhir , I take my hat off to anyone who has fired and driven a steam locomotive as it’s definitely a skill 👍

[@SimonTog]

Wonderful video Steve :)

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Simon, glad you enjoyed the show.

[@EdWhizAviationTrains]

What a beautiful Locomotive, I just Subscribed 👍😎

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks for the kind comment and the sub 👍

[@EdWhizAviationTrains]

@@TheStephengthompson Your welcome 👍😎

[@EdWhizAviationTrains]

@@TheStephengthompson Your very welcome 👍😎

[@kumarp.d.3136]

Beautiful video coverage no shaking.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Kumar , I always try to get a wobble free shot if possible 👍

[@Rosie6857]

I have never heard a loco so much off its beat as the Black 5 at the end and I started this lark in about 1948. It would be interesting to know how it was caused. The irregular sound can be explained by assuming the valve spindle is displaced towards the rear (or the front) of the valve cylinder by at least 2 inches from its correct position, which is a lot. The error seems to be steady but I have no idea what caused it. Possibly the radius rod or the link block?

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Rosie for the quality comment. What actually happened was shortly after passing a chance to stop off the mainline at Tebay there was a massive bang from the fireman’s side cylinder/valve gear so the Driver Gordon Hodgson limped the five into Shap Summit loop as best he could 👍

[@Rosie6857]

​@@TheStephengthompson Thanks for reply. The loco was "firing on 3" and barely 3 at that. The driver did all he could, of course but without the offbeat contribution from the right-hand cylinder I doubt they would have got up the bank at all. A good job, maybe, that they only had 8 on but even that needs a bit of a pull. The incident with the valve gear sounds as if it needs serious attention. Hope it's not too expensive. The only time I have heard a loco with a beat missing was on the Oxted line in the '50's. A Fairburn 2-6-4T with just three coaches. This was probably caused by excessive backlash due to lack of maintenance. The train toddled off up the gradient quite happily but sounded rather weird. Thanks for a well-produced vid. Plenty of barking to satisfy this very long-term GW fan. Sorree!

[@couzeukian5122]

I cannot remember a Black 5 sounding like that since I went behind 45110 on the Severn |Valley Railway. Something definately wrong with the vlave settings as a complete exhaust beat was missing.

[@TheStephengthompson]

There’s a story behind the awful sound as shortly after Tebay the 5 had a big problem with the fireman’s side cylinder/valve gear so the driver Gordon Hodgson had to nurse 45231 into the Shap summit loop .

[@couzeukian5122]

@@TheStephengthompson Yes, it was blowing both front and rear drain cocks on the driver's side, but only one on the other. Made an interesting video though. They did well to get it up the bank.

[@deauvilledad07]

Excellent film Steve, steam engine's can always make it look as though its hard work, even when it isn't. 🤓 🤓💙🌈

[@philipholt9112]

Hi.Anthony in my days and I did 8yrs on steam it was hard work I started at edgeley shed in 1961 in 1962 I was made a fireman I finished my time out at 9A as a driver I finished in 2011 Regards Phil.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Anthony, glad I wasn’t firing any of those locos .

[@robertelliott-bach7101]

I love these trains.

[@philipholt9112]

Hi,Steve good video it was hard going some time to come out of Euston we had a banker on a Saturday we worked a Euston to Blackpool with two locomotives on to Crewe we came of there and put the engine on Crewe shed Regards Phil.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Philip , just shows how hard a job it is as a fireman and also a driver especially in the last shot with the stricken five being nursed towards the loop at Shap Summit. Regards Steve

[@nightlightabcd]

I guess punctuation isn't your strong point!

[@davidelliott5843]

The DArtmouth Steam line runs a British Railway 4-6-0 standard class 4 up a steep incline. Always sounds great.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks David, can’t beat the sound of steam hard at work I reckon.

[@stephenhunter70]

Does black 5 45231 use Piston or Caprotti valves?

[@TheStephengthompson]

Piston I believe Stephen 👍

[@marciojosecintracintra3574]

From Brazil só cool🇧🇷

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Marcio , pleased you enjoyed the video.

[@thegreatwesterner9481]

there was a story i know of princess Elizabeth is when it was doing a non-stop run from Glasgow to london a person at crewe heard it a mile away

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks for the kind comment and a few years back I could hear 46115 leaving Carlisle and it was a good five minutes before it arrived at my location 👍

[@jmj4879]

Superbe!

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

I seem to hear three cylinders, how comes?

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Chris, the Jubilee class loco 5690 is a three cylinder engine 👍

[@48firefox]

Unusual exhaust beat of black 5 45231 @ 15:07 ?

[@TheStephengthompson]

It was indeed as 45231 had suffered a mechanical failure a few miles earlier.

[@josephinebennington7247]

What’s with that cool rhythm at 13.33? Maaaan....what a beat!

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Josephine, the engine had developed a major problem so it was very off beat hence the odd noise. Regards Steve

[@tomrobinson3064]

@@TheStephengthompson Valve timing

[@TheStephengthompson]

Sort of right Tom but apparently something bent on the fireman’s side due to mechanical failure as the driver actually told me what happened a few years later when I had a chat with him .

[@josephinebennington7247]

Poor bent fireman. Is he ok now?

[@tridentmusic5570]

Oh a poorly "5" ! what an odd sound. "sounds like hard work" -but didn't hear the screams of the firemen once !

[@TheStephengthompson]

The Five had s problem shortly after Tebay on the fireman’s side so it was nursed into the loop at Shap Summit.

[@DALEKSLAYER1]

Sounds like the bassline of the 'Doctor Who' theme music too me :)

[@peterj7244]

Interesting (to me, anyway) that the drivers of Lizzie and the Jubilee used vastly different cut-off positions.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Peter , I suppose drivers vary from person to person but I could be wrong.

[@shanedavis9166]

Proper trains.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Shane , glad you enjoyed the video 👍

[@mrclucker1969]

Nothing beats the sound of a steam engine working hard. 45231 did well considering she wasn't firing on all cylinders!! (do we know what the problem was?)

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Paul , not sure what happened but after a chat with the driver a few years later he mentioned something bending on the fireman’s side but can’t remember exactly what it was.

[@LauHuX51]

Oh, I see the problem. Some-body coupled a 10-car consist on a 5-car train.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks for the kind comment. Some of the locomotives are well capable of hauling heavy loads I must say. A couple of the runs in this video were slow due to bad coal and poor steaming. Regards Steve

[@razalibintang593]

I like nice smook.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Razali , pleased you enjoyed the video.

[@petersmith4455]

the answer is that the clowns in charge have put too many coaches behind the loco, thus increasing wear and tear on the loco !

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Peter, it’s a yes and no as some tours I filmed had poor coal hence bad steaming but otherwise you are probably right.

[@garthhentley5957]

Peter Smith ,your comment is almost childish in its naivety.

[@Rosie6857]

Rubbish! 8 coaches up Shap is never too much for a Black 5. The problem with the valve gear was not caused by the loco being overstrained. Hard pulling never does a loco harm but really excessive speed does, eg Mallard.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Morning Rosie , some years back I had the privilege of chatting with Gordon Hodgson who was driving the black five with the poor off beat sound who told me that shortly after passing Tebay there was a loud bang from around the cylinder on the fireman’s side so rather than block the mainline he managed to nurse 45231 into the loop at Shap Summit.

[@stevencaskey8502]

I wonder how 4014 would do

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks Steven, good question that I’m not sure of an answer.

[@DUBMANS]

Sound like it's going up Gordon's hill

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks for the kind comment as it’s much appreciated. We have a few decent climbs over steep gradients where I live I must admit. Regards Steve

[@demandred1957]

So guess this is somewhere in the English countryside? It doesn't sound like a American engine to me.

[@TheStephengthompson]

Thanks for the kind comment and yes its in England up in the Northwestern Fells . Regards Steve

[@aishikghoshagr520]

Hogwarts line