The Settle to Carlisle line runs over the central Pennines, and at its highest part is 1,168 feet above sea level. After a light snow fall a day or two beforehand, the summit at Ais Gill was just above the snow line, and on 28th January 2012 ex-LMS Class 5 4-6-0s Nos. 44871 + 45407 are reaching the summit of the 1 in 100 climb with the ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express’, a return trip from Manchester to Carlisle – outward via Shap and returning via the Settle & Carlisle. These locomotives are two of several survivors from a class of over 840 general purpose engines introduced by Stanier in 1934 for the London Midland and Scottish Railway.
