Lakes & Fells railtour, 1966

[MisterSheeps]

Rails through Lakeland vol 2, Harold Bowtell, about the Cockermourh Keswick & Penrith line mentions a Lakes & Fells railtour, in 1966, from Manchester, Hellifieod, Carlisle to Penrith with Flying Scotsman, then 2 x Ivatt 2-6-0 to Workington, thence Arnside where the traction changed to Flying Scotsman for return via Hellifield to Manchester.
The Hincaster to Arnside line closed for freight in 1963, lifted 1966 ... why would Flying Scotsman be switched at Arnside, not Carnforth?

 

[46223]

Might be some info here, https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/660402sl.html

 

[Gloster]

I had a look at Six Bells Junction, but I think the only point of note is that the train still ran despite there having been heavy snow in the area. I had been hoping to look to see if there is anything in the Cumbrian Railways Association’s journal, but I can’t find the copy with the new code to get into the members only part of their site: still looking.

 

[Harvester]

The Hincaster to Arnside line closed for freight in 1963, lifted 1966 ... why would Flying Scotsman be switched at Arnside, not Carnforth?

Looking at Six Bells Junction, the indicated route didn’t include a Carnforth stop. The train ran Arnside-Furness & Midland Junc-Wennington Junc.

How was the Hincaster to Arnside line involved? The Ivatts ran Penrith-Workington-Arnside, and 4472 must have run LE up the WCML from Penrith to Carnforth for turning and servicing, then LE to Arnside.

 

[Gloster]

I managed to find my CRA journal and the log in. There are a few photos taken at Arnside that suggest the loco ran tender first from Carnforth and then waited in the siding. It then appears to have waited on the mainline, so I presume that the two Ivatts stopped just before the station, cut off and ran into the siding and Scotsman then backed down onto the train (around two hours late at that point). Possibly this was simpler than mucking about at Carnforth, but was this pre-planned or was it because of the weather (fewer points to clear)?

 

[MisterSheeps]

Possibly this was simpler than mucking about at Carnforth, but was this pre-planned or was it because of the weather (fewer points to clear)?

Thanks, yes, Ivatts onto the siding (stub to quarry), or just send them off to Carnforth and run Scotsman over the crossover. But AFAIK the crossover would mean stopping the train on the viaduct, and I can't see this being easier than stopping it between Carnforth F & M Jc & East Jc. Very mysterious, would love to have been on it though

 

[Gloster]

Having had another look at the picture, it does appear that Scotsman was on the Up Main. If the Ivatts were going back along the coast they could have used the crossover and then headed north: they couldn’t head for Carnforth as soon as they had hooked off as Scotsman was in the way. This has finally prodded me into rejoining the CRA’s chat line, so I will see if there is anything on there: I am interested too.

 

[Bevan Price]

I was a passenger on that tour, and my notes indicate that the train stopped about ¼ mile west of Arnside station (i.e. on the viaduct) for the loco. change. The train then drew forward into Arnside station, where I, and many others chose to alight. This was because the train was so late that it was obvious it would fail to make many "last train connections" to home destinations. Passengers were recommended, and authorised to use railtour tickets on normal service trains to get home. After over 50 years, I don't remember all the details about the loco change at Arnside.

As the Keswick to Workington section was to close on 16 April 1966, this was almost certainly the last railtour allowed over that section.

I forgot to add, Flying Scotsman , running as LNER 4472 only took over at Hellifield.
45596 had worked the train from Manchester to Hellifield, via Wigan, Farington Jn & Blackburn, and had struggled somewhat, losing much time. Flying Scotsman had run quite well, briefly exceeding 80 mph on one downhill stretch.

 

[Harvester]

I forgot to add, Flying Scotsman , running as LNER 4472 only took over at Hellifield.
45596 had worked the train from Manchester to Hellifield, via Wigan, Farington Jn & Blackburn, and had struggled somewhat, losing much time. Flying Scotsman had run quite well, briefly exceeding 80 mph on one downhill stretch.

With 45596 being in BR stock at the time, and withdrawn just months later, it would probably have been in badly run down condition when used on the railtour. The Six Bells Junction website shows the train finally arrived back in Manchester shortly after midnight, around 2 hrs 20min late.

 

[Gloster]

With 45596 being in BR stock at the time, and withdrawn just months later, it would probably have been in badly run down condition when used on the railtour. The Six Bells Junction website shows the train finally arrived back in Manchester shortly after midnight, around 2 hrs 20min late.

There seems to have been heavy snow (15”) in the area and there was some surprise that the tour actually ran.