The Train Now Departing (Settle-Carlisle)

[YorksLad12]

As part of its Rail200 season on BBC Four (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/group/m002k659) we last night got The Train Now Departing (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p011v8dj/the-train-now-departing-the-long-drag) about the proposed closure of the Settle - Carlisle route.

Watching the Class 47 pull eight coaches at around 5.45 in made me wonder why longer trains aren't used on the route these days (apart from the general lack of rolling stock). It's a popular route with an infrequent service; more cars would seem to be a sensible idea.

I also wondered what the route was in the opening credits; a steam train running over a short viaduct, cross-faded to the present day (1988) with the track lifted. Somewhere near Ingleton, or Garsdale?

 

[Elecman]

Isn’t it the Disused line at Lowgill ?

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Isn’t it the Disused line at Lowgill ?

Yes, it appears to be Lowgill viaduct at the start of the Ingleton line near Tebay

Watching the Class 47 pull eight coaches at around 5.45 in made me wonder why longer trains aren't used on the route these days (apart from the general lack of rolling stock). It's a popular route with an infrequent service; more cars would seem to be a sensible idea.

Yes, general lack of rolling stock.
Although in fairness the service is more frequent today; IIRC there were four per day each way in the 1980s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2025 ==

Additional... I've just watched it on YouTube (link below for anyone who can't be bothered to enter 73 passwords and turn around five times anti-clockwise to get iPlayer to work.... just me then!).
One of the comments confirms it is Lowgill viaduct, and the footage was taken by the late great Ivo Peters.

 

[YorksLad12]

Excellent stuff - many thanks both.

I recorded it to watch later, but hadn’t realised there was a whole season to watch on iPlayer. That’s me sorted when the weather turns

 

[75A]

Yes, it appears to be Lowgill viaduct at the start of the Ingleton line near Tebay

Yes, general lack of rolling stock.
Although in fairness the service is more frequent today; IIRC there were four per day each way in the 1980s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2025 ==

Additional... I've just watched it on YouTube (link below for anyone who can't be bothered to enter 73 passwords and turn around five times anti-clockwise to get iPlayer to work.... just me then!).
One of the comments confirms it is Lowgill viaduct, and the footage was taken by the late great Ivo Peters.

I love the mournful music in the opening sequence.

 

[hexagon789]

Although in fairness the service is more frequent today; IIRC there were four per day each way in the 1980s.

Even less - for much of the 1980s, there were just two each way and Appleby was the only open intermediate station between Carlisle and Settle.

 

[30907]

Without more info it's not possible to identify the train, but I remember the 2tpd service as being typically 31+4.

The present (booked) mix of 2- 3- and 4-car workings is generally adequate, though the 0920 SO ex Leeds can be somewhat cosy IME as it is a 3-car. (5-car workings appeared a few times in the Staycation summer but are too long for many platforms.)

 

[yorksrob]

I think avoiding having only two carriages on services (except deep in winter when there's less demand and some of the units can justifiably be deployed elsewhere) should probably be the priority.

Great programme though. Fascinating seeing footage of a line I'm so familiar with in the past.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Without more info it's not possible to identify the train, but I remember the 2tpd service as being typically 31+4.

The class 31s with the half rakes were a later iteration of the service; it was indeed 47s with 8 on for a long time.

 

[hexagon789]

The class 31s with the half rakes were a later iteration of the service; it was indeed 47s with 8 on for a long time.

The Carlisle/Leeds was load 8, load 4 in winter.

The Carlisle/Hull was load 5, load 10 on Saturdays.

The Saturdays only Carlisle/York was load 11.

Taken from the 1985 LMR marshalling book.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The Carlisle/Leeds was load 8, load 4 in winter.

The Carlisle/Hull was load 5, load 10 on Saturdays.

The Saturdays only Carlisle/York was load 11.

Taken from the 1985 LMR marshalling book.

I had some 31 + 4 half rakes in summers in the early 1990s... I'll try to dig up the pictures later.

 

[hexagon789]

I had some 31 + 4 half rakes in summers in the early 1990s... I'll try to dig up the pictures later.

I think the service had become more frequent by then, so shorter rakes were perhaps more suitable even in summer.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I think so, yes. Here's 31 426 with the 12.42 Carlisle to Leeds on 6th September 1990 and 31 400 on the same working on the 29th September 1990; note it has the same half rake behind it...

 

[Davester50]

It's an enjoyable series, but the best episode must be The Holiday Line, with poor Barry trying to relive his childhood and seeing it gone.
Much like what I would be like now, as I creep ever closer to 60!

 

[YorksLad12]

I think avoiding having only two carriages on services (except deep in winter when there's less demand and some of the units can justifiably be deployed elsewhere) should probably be the priority.

Great programme though. Fascinating seeing footage of a line I'm so familiar with in the past.

I got a bit annoyed with the focus on Sir Nigel Gresley. The signal box is still there, isn't it? That looked like a work of art, much more tactile than a panel.

It's an enjoyable series, but the best episode must be The Holiday Line, with poor Barry trying to relive his childhood and seeing it gone.
Much like what I would be like now, as I creep ever closer to 60!

Thanks - I'll add that to the watchlist. And likewise

 

[Davester50]

Thanks - I'll add that to the watchlist. And likewise

Sadly it's not all on the iPlayer at the moment, but it is on YouTube.

 

[yorksrob]

I got a bit annoyed with the focus on Sir Nigel Gresley. The signal box is still there, isn't it? That looked like a work of art, much more tactile than a panel.


Thanks - I'll add that to the watchlist. And likewise

Most of them are. Settle Junction, Blea Moor, Garsdale etc.