Complete Northern Fells Video now available in the Shop

The programme starts with a look at Leander in Midland livery as 5690, firstly on a series of shuttles between Skipton and Settle Junction associated with the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Gala on 27th and 28th June 2009. On evening of the 27th, this was extended to Ribblehead. There follow views of other trips in 2009 and 2010, including the Glasgow legs of the ‘West Highlander’ as far as Beattock.

The views of Leander conclude with two trips made as 45690 in BR black livery in 2015 after its lengthy overhaul. Duchess of Sutherland also ran in different liveries in the period covered, and there a views as 6233 in both LMS red and black, before culminating in the popular BR green as 46233.

46115 Scots Guardsman was a regular performer throughout the period, and it is shown primarily on the Settle & Carlisle line, although the section concludes with a view of the loco’s remarkable unaided climb of Beattock with 12 coaches on ‘The Great Britain VII’ in 2014. A number of ‘Black 5s’ – 44871, 44932, 45231, 45345 and 45407 are seen in action over both the S&C and Shap.

In one sequence with 44871 + 45407, on ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express in January 2012, the air was so still that the smoke trail remained over the length of the climb to Shap even after the train had crested the summit. The following section, filmed from the same viewpoint at Shap Wells, gives a comparison of the ascent of the bank with 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, 6201 Princess Elizabeth, 45699 Galatea and 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, showing in each case the time taken in minutes and seconds between Greenholme and Shap Wells.

After further views of 5043, including the famous ‘Pride of Swindon’ trip in 2010, the programme concludes with 70000 Britannia, seen starting its climb of the S&C at Settle on 2nd March 2013.

©Steam Library 2016