‘Fives’ on the settle-Carlisle – a ‘CitadeliC’ experienCe

And then… you see something like this, and isn’t that your answer? Oh, you could quibble about details – such as the modern flat-bottomed rail, the – albeit traditional – headboard, the ‘Royal Train’ finish on the engines, or the Mk 2 behind the tender (there were a few maroon ones, apparently, though not Brake coaches). Yet doesn’t all that miss the point?

For isn’t this just a classic railway picture – right down to the surroundings that even include a lineside hut? No, it’s not ‘just like the old days’ – a term that’s been painfully overused by caption writers. But doesn’t it show that, while it is hard to pretend the last half-century hasn’t happened, you can still aspire to something pretty close to ‘real’? Slightly close your eyes… and dream…?

To anyone other than locals, it may not be obvious that this is the Settle-Carlisle, but that’s just where it is – in fact only slightly north of Settle itself. So… why haven’t you seen this scene before? Well, photter John Cooper-Smith says he only chose the spot after finding out that the southbound DMU which should have passed Nos. 44871 and 45407 around here, was late.

Employing Ian Riley’s Stanier 4-6-0s on November 9 was the Manchester Victoria to Carlisle and return ‘Citadel’. Note that the pilot engine is even a ‘Fifteen Guinea’ original… And – proving the attraction of ‘right engine, right route’ even now – I’m told a goodly number of people headed out to witness the trip on what was a pretty gloomy autumn day.

JoHn cooPeR‑smitH ‘the Citadel’ – a train named after the fortress in Carlisle – heads north away from settle on november 9. at this point the two ‘Black Fives’ are climbing at 1-in-100, a gradient maintained most of the way to Blea Moor well over ten miles distant.