~Pendle Hill~
2nd October 2016
Molly on top of Pendle Hill
No.53 for this year on a warm, sunny Sunday morning.
Two views of the setting sun on Thursday 29th September, finally passing the western horizon at 18:45hrs.
Sunrise 1st October 2016
I'm rather hoping October will be as dry as September, or at least let's have the rain overnight - just as we seemed to have on more than one occasion during September. There is a train to see this morning...
Not This One!
It is hard to imagine that these kind of trains will foster enthusiasts and they will drift into preservation in years to come, but only time will tell. I am in postion to see a rare Diesel Locomotive, a favourite of 'spotters in the 1970's.
In The Cliviger Gorge
The line from Burnley to Hebden Bridge plays host for today's "East Lancs Firebrand". I wanted to stand in an elevated position further west somewhere down this stretch and up on the left, but others had got there first and Molly is an impatient and reluctant trainspotter, so I found a spot in the woodland and I climbed alongside a bridge railing.
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Class 40 D345 Diesel-Electric Locomotive
Of 200 built, seven have made it past the breakers' yards and this is currently the only one with a Mainline Certificate enabling it to haul charter trains - this one organised by The CFPS, who also own the locomotive.
Holme Tunnel
A Class 47 brings up the rear and follows the carriages into Holme Tunnel, destination: Stratford-Upon-Avon.
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And so to the early morning of Sunday 2nd October
Sunrise 2nd October
Parking by the roadside, we set off at 07:10hrs for a quick sortie up our favourite fell.
The Steps
Wonderfully quiet at this time of day and a little camera play as a cloud blocks out the sun for a brief moment.
So, we won't be first to the top then, but you can never be sure to be first up - the only time you might know your position in that race would be after overnight snowfall.
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Pendle Summit
Later in the day, at sunset...
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2016 ©
Take me back to the start ....