Home»All Photographs»Mainline Railtours»Cumbrian Mountain Express»2022_02_26

As is so frequently the case it was difficult to find which steam locomotive would work The Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express on Saturday 26th February 2022. Eventually I discovered that the tour promoter, Railway Touring Company, expected the train to be hauled by 35018 BRITISH INDIA LINE so with a good weather forecast I decided to make the long journey to photograph the train. I was in time to see the electric locomotive, 86 259, at Bay Horse and then moved out to near Scout Green. As the train approached Greenholme it was obvious that the locomotive was a Stanier 4-6-0 without smoke deflectors. I just hoped it would not be GALATEA carrying some strange confused mixture of insignia. The engine looked splendid in the distance and was performing well but as it got closer I could read the numbers and saw that after many months the nonsense of different cab and smokebox numbers remained. Whatever went wrong in Carlisle has not been explained but the train was half an hour late leaving and arrived in Hellifield fifty five minutes late without taking the Appleby water stop. To be honest the only reason I was able to see it again was due to this late running. I was firmly of the opinion that these trips were a complete waste of my time and money, but on reviewing my photographs I then realised I had enjoyed my day in spite of the frustrations and maybe I should try again. I think that is a sign of addiction.