GREAT ‘SCOTS’!

BR green ‘7Ps’ and a ‘Jubilee’ 4-6-0s combine to take charge of post-lockdown steam north of the Watford Gap.

The main line summer of 2020 will be most remembered for the swathe of cancellations, postponements, changes to diaries and adjustments on train measures. But it will also be recalled as a time when two BR green ‘Royal Scots’ – and a matching single-chimney ‘Jubilee’ – formed the backbone of surviving railtours in the north and west.

‘Royal Scot’ class namesake No. 46100 and sister No. 46115 Scots Guardsman have been registered together for main line running before, but against all expectations, this season provided a lengthy period with the Fowler/ Stanier duo simultaneously hauling railtours in earnest.

Royal Scot, from the Locomotive Services stable at Crewe, forged new preservation-era ground for itself by running over the much-revered former Midland Railway route between Settle and Carlisle for Saphos Trains’ August 26 ‘Fellsman’. This followed a northbound assault of Shap, and a southbound run along the Cumbrian coast from Carlisle, with the ‘Lakelander’ on August 15.

On September 5, the former Butlin’s and Bressingham engine was charged with Saphos’ ‘Welsh Marches Express’ from Crewe to Bristol.

There was no such similar inauguration for ‘10A’ shed’s

Scots Guardsman over the ‘Long Drag’, which reacquainted itself with the route it has frequented ever since its 21st-century main line revival 12 years ago. There were three runs for the rebuilt ‘Scot’ over the ‘S&C’ on August 8 (‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’), August 18 and September 1 (both ‘Dalesmans’).

Carnforth’s ‘Jubilee’ meanwhile, No. 45562 Alberta, in reality

No. 45699 Galatea, was charged with West Coast Railways’ August weekday ‘Scarborough Spa Expresses’ and Sunday ‘Waverleys’ to Carlisle, both departing and terminating at York.

Bahamas will become the fourth BR green three-cylinder Midland Region engine to traverse Network Rail metals this year for its positioning move from its Keighley & Worth Valley Railway home the Mid-Hants Railway in October (see separate story). There are no railtours scheduled for double-chimney ‘5XP’

No. 45596 until 2021.

ALAN WEAVER MIKE TAYLOR This is York. Not timeless, but about as close as it gets on the East Coast Main Line in the 21st Century. Beneath the soaring arches of York station on August 20, ‘Jubilee’ No. 45699 Galatea – masquerading as No. 45562 Alberta – is prepared for the road to Scarborough. Star of the 1936 film Night Mail, No. 46115 Scots Guardsman gets into its stride with the Settle-Carlisle routed ‘Dalesman’ at Helwith Bridge, crossing the River Ribble, on September 1.

Lower quadrant semaphore signals and signal box, complete with telegraph post, and No. 46100

RALPH WARD Royal Scot combine to create the steam-era look at Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire, with the Down run of the ‘Welsh Marches Express’ on September 5.