A double dose of Crimson
 
 
There are few liveries more resplendent than the Midland Railway  crimson applied to the 4-4-0 Compound no 1000, and Jubilee 4-6-0 no 5690 Leander.
 

In the period 1979 to 1983, I had the privilege of being hauled by the double headed combination of the Midland Compound no 1000  and Leander on 4 occasions.
 
The first was on 20th October 1979, when Leander worked the "Leander Enterprise" tour between Carnforth to Leeds, then Leeds to Harrogate and York with 1000 piloting, then 5690 alone back to Carnforth. The pair made a wonderful sight and sound climbing from Wortley Junction up past Headingley to Bramhope tunnel.  
 
The next occasion was on 5th May 1980, the year of the Rainhill celebrations. A charter, the "Royal Wessex", had been arranged from the south of England that was to be steam hauled from Carnforth to Sellafield and return, using Southern Maunsell locomotives no 850 Lord Nelson and Schools class no 925 Cheltenham. But things did not work out that way. 850's overhaul was not completed in time, and 925 never made it back on to the main line. But the passengers nevertheless had a treat. From Carnforth northbound around the Cumbrian Coast, The Midland Compound and Leander double headed, and on the return we had V2 class 2-6-2 no 4771 Green Arrow. 
 

 The photo above is courtesy of Alan Taylor, and shows 1000 and  5690 Leander at Carnforth depot on 5/5/1980, prior to working the "Royal Wessex" from Carnforth to Sellafield.
 
My third pairing of 1000 and Leander was nearly three years later, when SLOA booked them for a Northbound "Cumbrian Mountain Pullman" on Saturday 5th February 1983. The trip, together with the Southbound run a week later, booked over 500 passengers, with many turned away. The trips were the most successful, in terms of passenger loadings, that SLOA ever ran. It was to prove an eventful day. LNER K1 no 2005 and LMS Black 5 no 5407 double headed the train from Carnforth to Hellifield, where 1000 and 5690 were to take over. But then news came through of a West Coast Main line blockage south of Carlisle, which would mean problems for us later in the day if the line was not reopened. Discussions took place on the Hellifield platform between Bernard Staite and BR's David Ward. More of a row really. Bernard cooked up a plan. We would head north up the S & C as far as Appleby. Here passengers would detrain, and join diverted southbound West Coast Inter City services, which would be specially stopped at Appleby. David Ward did not approve, but the decision was Bernard's. And he took the gamble, and went for it. The next few hours were sheer magic, as our locos headed north through heavy snowfall and blizzards. But by the time we reached Dent, the snow had almost stopped and we passed through what is best described as a Winter Wonderland. And at Appleby the arrangements worked perfectly, and everyone got home without problems. A day never to be forgotten.

 
My final "Double dose of Crimson", was 7 days later, 12th February 1983, on the Southbound "Cumbrian Mountain Pullman". There was still a fair amount of snow on the ground, but conditions were ok. The steam locos came on at Howes Siding, a few miles south of Carlisle, and there was a festive stop at Appleby. Another excellent, though less dramatic, day.
 
It now seems unlikely that I shall see the Midland Compound out on the main line again, but the memories of the pairing with Leander, particularly on Saturday 5th February 1983, will linger for ever.
 

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