A Toot from Flying Scotsman

There is a steam ban on the main line railways because of the lineside fire risk.   Many many people who have paid huge sums of money for main line steam train rides stand to be disappointed.   The ban does not mean that steam locomotives cannot be used at all though;  they must not be used at power.

Operators are putting steamers with minimal fires in their grates on the fronts of trains, with diesel locomotives doing the work from behind.

Yesterday there was The Waverley steam special from York to Carlisle, over the S&C - 'hauled' once  again by Flying Scotsman, no less but actually propelled by a diesel immediately behind.    Here they are passing Ribblehead station on their return journey:


A little later they flew through Settle where I was taking the evening air on the top of the tower.   I raised my glass of red and was rewarded with a famous toot.

(photo Paul Jackson)






and here she was heading north at Settle station:



a bit of black smoke but no exhaust steam despite the uphill climb.   Nice fluffy summer clouds though.