Today’s video is of SR Unrebuilt Battle of Britain Class Light Pacific 4-6-2 34067 Tangmere on the Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express promoted by Railway Touring Company and operated by West Coast Railways. The tour originated from London Euston, heading up the WCML via Milton Keynes, Rugby, Nuneaton, Crewe and Preston with a class 86 electric taking the train as far as Carnforth where the 86 was swapped for 34067 Tangmere. The train then headed up to Carlisle, returning later on via the S&C to Preston from where the 86 took the train back to London. Although WCR was recently served with a revocation of use for slam door stock, they've made clear their intent to continue operating so have put together a rake of Mk2s. This was the first mainline tour in the diary for 2024 and I couldn't miss it!
I started out from my local at a rather undignified 06:41 in the morning, heading up to Newcastle and across the Tyne Valley Line running the breadth of the country to Carlisle. After that I took train to Oxenholme (after Avanti cancelled the one I intended to get) and met ‪@harnettyrailways‬. We both set up in the field just north of the station, and awaited the very delayed WCME (this was because the 86 failed before departure from Euston). Unfortunately 34067's changeover took longer than I'd hoped so I had to miss my train from Oxenholme back to Carlisle. However, my spirits were raised by a fantastic runpast from 34067 with no diesel assistance! Luckily, because she was running so late, I took a gamble and assumed that the next train to Kirkby Stephen would be ahead of 34067, and after taking an Avanti service to Carlisle, this proved true. However, I didn't have enough time when I arrived at Kirkby Stephen to get to my originally planned location of Birkett Common because 34067 was directly behind me so I took another gamble and tried out a field just to the North I'd spotted whilst coming into the station (which was just beyond a speed restriction caused by an unstable cutting!) and I think it worked quite well as she powered through the Northern Fells, gathering speed up the gradient for the final stretch to Ais Gill! After that I headed back through Carlisle and Newcastle on my way home.
I hope you enjoy as I did!