Steam before Christmas in Cumbria

[kevsmiththai]

So you would not imagine there was much chance of finding any working steam locomotives up North, the weekend before Christmas, in the shortest hours of daylight in the whole year and in the middle of a rapidly deteriorating Covid situation as the mutant virus spreads like wildfire

 

But...

 

The Lakeside & Haverthwaite railway, about 15 minutes from my house, had other ideas. They had cancelled the 'Santa' specials early on but decided to run some socially distanced 'Mincepie specials'

 

To this end they had used their British Railways Mk I compartment coaches with a family 'bubble' each being allocated their own compartment. face masks were mandatoryand if you wanted afternoon tea in the tea room you had to book in advance.

 

Motive power was Andrew Barclay 0-6-0T 1245 of 1911. Now finished in black and named as C

 

arron no 14

 

 

seen at Haverthwaite station with the blower on and safety valves lifting

 

The trip was a gentle meander from Haverthwaite to Lakeside station on Windermere. At the lake the loco runs around and returns to Haverthwaite Bunker first

 

 

At Lakeside the Windermere steamers were laid up for the Winter.

 

'Tern' was on the slip behind the Signalbox for its annual inspection.

 

 

I always think this boat looks as elegant out of the water as it does in it

 

You can see how close it is to the signalbox

 

 

more in a mo

 

Kev

[kevsmiththai]

'Teal' was moored behind the station

 

 

As was 'Swan'

 

 

The station at Haverthwaite in its distinctive yellow brick acts as a fine backdrop to the Barclay and its short rake of Mk Is in the British rail 'Blood and Custard' livery

 

 

Short video

 

 

Merry Xmas everybody and hopefully a much, much better New Year

 

Kev

[Sheffie]

Tern was always my favourite, I think.