~Whernside~
29th July 2017
Whernside Top
Scroll down for photos and a description of the walk....
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Today, the world's most famous steam locomotive is due to haul a charter train up the Settle/Carlisle line. Here at Hellifield, the engine plus support coach have arrived from York and await the train (diesel-hauled) to arrive from Derby and the engines will switch. Me 'n Molly catch the 09:40hrs service from Hellifield to Ribblehead to gain a vantage point to watch the main event.
Ribblehead Station
10:12hrs and we say goodbye to the guard and her train. How reassuring for passengers to have a guard on the train, something we have taken for granted for more nearly 200 years! Cloud sits heavily on Whernside where I think we will be heading in due course.
Ribblehead Viaduct
One hour or so until the charter train arrives and a challenge to find somewhere away from everyone else, if possible....
Blea Moor Signal Box
Maybe I will be able to stand here in 20 years time (doubt it somehow) and what will be left?
Blea Moor Tunnel South Portal
Much to my surprise, nobody else was at the southern portal of Blea Moor Tunnel. I know that the prettiest photos of trains come at an angle whereby you can see the front and side of the train, but nothing about today is pretty and I will be the only one to take a picture from here of this train today. If the rain holds off...
Here She Comes
For this amateur photographer, light is a problem and I have chosen to take the photos on a slow shutter speed, rather than trust the automatic setting of the camera. The signal for the southbound line has changed to green which opens up the line, but I'm not expecting any service trains to hinder the view.
Blea Moor Tunnel
This photo from earlier in the year shows roughly where I was taking my photos from. I am above the railway fence, beneath the wall.
LNER A3 Class 4-6-2 no 60103 Flying Scotsman
Then a modern diesel engine emerges from the tunnel with a rake of empty wagons offering a rare opportunity to capture an image of these two trains from vastly different eras.
To Whernside
This is the best time of day and year to get mingling with "Three Peakers". Enpowered by their conquering of Pen-y-Ghent and optimistic about the task ahead, many still wear smiles and offer good company to each other and other walkers.
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I am sure the cool and cloudy upland conditions help with completion of the long distance walk.
The Summit 2,415ft asl
Molly found an opportunity to get wet.
Ribblehead Viaduct
We took lunch in the shelter of the wall which runs the length of the Whernside summit ridge and then took the regular route down and off the fell.
Ingleborough
The "Three Peakers" will continue to Ingleborough, Molly and me will turn left at the farm. Some walkers have support vehicles ready to meet them just past the plantation (centre) and usually one of the farms has a shop open for refreshments etc.
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Whernside
Loads of time until the 15:40hrs train back to Hellifield, so we'll take a gentle stroll across Batty Moss, grab a brew at the roadside tea van, saunter up to the station and have a nap on one of the benches.
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I met Julie and her friend on their fundraising Three Peaks walk and gave her £1. Then having looked at her page, I was motivated to make it up to £10. A great charity and a fantastic effort - mirrored frequently by many others walking for lots of good causes. The above is a cropped screen-shot, with the kind words of Julie on the right-hand side. There is a link to Julie's page and this may disappear in the course of time.
Walkers: Molly and Me.
Time taken: 4hrs 30mins over a distance of about 10 miles.
Route: Ribblehead (Blea Moor Road), Great Scar, Blea Moor Sidings, Whernside by the usual route. Down to Broadrake and along the marked footpath to Winterscales and Blea Moor Sidings, the viaduct and back to the cars
Weather and conditions: Mainly dull and rather chilly on top.
Whernside earlier this year, 15th February, steam train etc.
Whernside on 23rd January 2016 - train as usual.
Whernside on 12th February 2012 - more trains, much more ice and snow!
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2017 ©
Take me back to the start ....