Failure on the Settle & Carlisle


		In July 2002, I had a few days based at Ingleton, Yorkshire, with a friend. Although I had travelled over the Settle & Carlisle many times on Steam Railtours, I had never linesided. On the Saturday, I was able to photograph Duchess of Sutherland at Ais Gill summit, but the remaining days it was a diet of Diesels only. Mainly EWS and Freightliner 66's, with an occasional Class 60 on a Gypsum working.

		On 17th July, we made a short visit to Settle Station. EWS 66168 headed south on a loaded MGR, and 66196 went north at 14.47 on a train of MGR empties. Then a bite to eat in Settle, before setting off to drive to Ribblehead, where hopefully we would be able to photograph a train or two on the Viaduct and at Blea Moor. Somewhere in the vicinity of Selside, we could see a slow moving 66 hauled train, across the fields. We stopped to have a look, and found that it was the train that had passed Settle at 14.47, with a lifeless 66196 up front, being propelled in the rear by 66168, which had been removed (presumably at Hellifield), from the southbound MGR that we had seen almost 3 hours earlier. The whole ensemble was travelling at little more than a walking pace. We drove on to Ribblehead, in plenty of time to see the train stop for a short period, before proceeding over the Viaduct and into Blea Moor Loop, where it arrived at 17.56. At 18.15 a northbound class 156 service train passes, presumably having been held for a lengthy spell at Settle Junction. Once this is clear of section, 66168 is moved from the rear of the MGR, and attaches to the front. And off goes the train with 66168, the dead 66196, and the MGR empties.

		An interesting afternoon, though unfortunately the weather was very overcast, with poor photos as a result. Below can be seen the severely delayed 156 unit heading north. The second photo shows the MGR empties approaching Blea Moor tunnel.