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Ratty visit; Spring Lakeland sunshine
Topic Started: 5 May 2009, 07:14 PM (344 Views)
glastonrail
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Dommo
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On Sunday 26th April, prior to a family funeral the following day, I found myself spending the afternoon riding around the Mite and Esk valleys on the 15" railway there.

Upon arrival at Ravenglass I found 'River Esk' sat patiently in Platform 3 on her rake of coaches, waiting to take out the 2.20 ex-Ravenglass.

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On purchase of my ticket and having a closer look at the loco, I found myself enjoying a cab ride on the loco, with Ian (Mite's regular driver) at the helm.

The trip was very enjoyable, plenty of film shot and photographs taken, and a lengthy natter with Ian was had. Esk was rather wet on the trip compared to previous experience, and neither of us would work out why, only speculate. She still did herself proud and was much-admired by the passengers at both ends and along the line.

I gleaned that Ian was driving Esk rather than Mite because it was Peter Van Zeller's day off and Mite was due her boiler inspection the next day so was being readied for that (both eminently reasonable reasons). :)

One question for Eliot - from previous visits, the duty's last arrival would propel the stock to the carriage shed before the loco was turned and taken for disposal, but Ian simply turned the loco and went to shed. However, the duty with Doug that came in after was propelled back before loco disposal. Irt's turn previos had been put away. My question - why?

I'll let the pictures tell their own tale now.

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Passing 'Lady Wakefield' alongside the carriage shed.

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Driver's eye view on approach to Muncaster Mill overbridge.

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Looking out towards the mountains from Rock Point. To think a 3' line went round here at one time... ...

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The long straight before Irton Road (forget what this section of line is called).

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Driver's eye view of 'River Irt' coming into Fisherground loop.

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Another view of 'River Irt' coming into Fisherground Loop.

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Remains of industrial workings just below Beckfoot.

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Between Beckfoot and Dalegarth(for Boot).

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1962 or 2009? 'River Esk' simmering in the sun at Dalegarth.

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Coming down the valley, between Beckfoot and Fisherground.

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Murthwaite quarries and crushing plant - now the PW siding.

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Miteside Halt.

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Steam on the Cumbrian Mainline?? Ravenglass distant signal near Roman Villa.

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Coming into Ravenglass station, back into Platform 3.

Around Ravenglass were several items seen around the place - the body parts for Cyril were outside the carriage paint shop, Quarryman was on the siding outside the signalbox, partially sheeted over (presumably to protect the cab from the Lakeland elements) but generally ready for its next turn of duty, and Flower of the Forest was looking forlorn undercover between the workshop and the museum.

The staff were friendly and chatty as previous visits had been, and I can see why 'Douglas Ferreira' is popular with crews. One thing I did notice, is that there were plenty of female members of staff doing 'front-line' duties - Andrea was driving 'Doug', and most of the guards were female too, which was nice to see.

A video with parts of the trip can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n9B2jDoIrE&feature=channel_page

Cheers,

Dom Greenop
DMR
"There's no such thing as sanity, and that's the sanest fact" M. Knopfler, 1985
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Eliot Andersen
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Fireman
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Quote:
 
One question for Eliot - from previous visits, the duty's last arrival would propel the stock to the carriage shed before the loco was turned and taken for disposal, but Ian simply turned the loco and went to shed. However, the duty with Doug that came in after was propelled back before loco disposal. Irt's turn previos had been put away. My question - why?


It's all about even rotation and usage of the sets of coaches. "Set A" (they don't have names, but I'm giving them names to save confusion) would do the 1020 up/1140 down and 1320/1440; Set B on the 1120/1240, 1420/1540 and Set C on the 1220/1320, 1520/1610. Douglas Ferreira lives in Carriage Shed Road 4 anyway, so the loco may as well propel the set away after the 1610 down as it is going back to the carriage shed anyway. In the summer after a long day I suspect that we may well revert to the old practice, with the 1810 down dumping the stock in Platform 3 before the loco quickly scuttles off to bed. This allows the guard to go and do his/her waybill earlier and therefore allow the booking office staff to go home earlier.
Doug used to be kept in the paint shop, but this is now being used for its intended purpose and the dirty engine shed is hardly a place for an omni-sparkling diesel loco!

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The long straight before Irton Road (forget what this section of line is called).

The loco is on the 1 in 51 down from Walk Mill Summit. The 1/2 mile of straight is Irton Levels (also the name of part of the road from Holmrook to Eskdale Green) with Big Stone halfway along. Black Bridge is in the distance.

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Steam on the Cumbrian Mainline?? Ravenglass distant signal near Roman Villa.

Technically it's also a repeater (Signal 29R) which works in conjuction with the Outer Home at Raven Villa (Signal 29). But it also looks like an alien from War of the Worlds. :cool:

Quote:
 
Around Ravenglass were several items seen around the place - the body parts for Cyril were outside the carriage paint shop, Quarryman was on the siding outside the signalbox, partially sheeted over (presumably to protect the cab from the Lakeland elements) but generally ready for its next turn of duty, and Flower of the Forest was looking forlorn undercover between the workshop and the museum.

Cyril's bodywork is outside the C&W workshop and joinery, the paint shop is up by the loco shed. Quarryman is unservicable and has been for a while - not quite sure what's wrong with it.

Hope this helps, and glad to see you had a good day out.
Eliot Andersen
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Volunteer
NEW photographic gallery - http://cumbria.smugmug.com
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glastonrail
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Dommo
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Thanks, Eliot - yes it does.

Shame Quarryman is out of service - hope the staff get time to fix it soon!

Dom
"There's no such thing as sanity, and that's the sanest fact" M. Knopfler, 1985
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laalratty
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Driver
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Nice pics there, the PW foreman did tell me why Quarryman was unserviceable but I've fogotten, but I don't think it was too major. One thing that you may have noticed and that I don't think has been mentioned on here is that Sian has returned to Windmill Farm, as only one member of the Sian group would have been able to drive it in regular service. This is it's last year in traffic on its current boiler ticket, which runs out next April
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