First for a long time but we had a couple of proper thunder storms this afternoon. This remarkable picture was taken in Upper Settle, looking our way. The rain was Biblical and I went round the whole place looking for leaks - there were none.
Also today we had a visit from the magnificent Blue Pullman train. Based at Crewe it was here doing high speed train driver training. This is a precursor for the Staycation Express trains which will run over the S&C from mid June. Also, there is a possibility that these old HSTs will be called back into service on the East Coast and Great Western main lines as the new super-dooper replacement trains have been found to have fatigue cracks in safety critical areas.
Here's the Blue Pullman heading north at Horton in Ribblesdale. An eight carriage HST on the S&C - at LAST! I had been in touch by text message with the driver /instructor of this empty train so got a very personal progress report (NOT whilst he was driving!) so was able to get a platform-side view a bit earlier at Hellifield, en route to one on my frequent visits to Airedale hospital. This time it was for a COVID throat swab (yuck) prior to a 'procedure' there on Thursday.
The blue flyer later came back from Carlisle and stopped at Hellifield so that the crew could have a cuppa at the splendid 24H cafe there:
Now, steam trains apart, doesn't that LOOK like a train that means business? Style on wheels.
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