6233 slogs up Ais Gill plus 45690 in full flight; The Settle & Carlisle & CCE 12/03/2022

Until the times for these tours came out, I didn't think it would be possible to squeeze shots of both in between the other commitments I had today, but with 6233 only leaving Carlisle at 1640 an opportunity presented itself to use a large amount of currently very expensive petrol and get to both the coast and the S&C. Before all that though, there was some spare time on my way out in the morning to stop off at Coppull Moor and take shots of the diesel and electric legs for both tours, which by the time they passed were only 4 or 5 sections apart. The half an hour late West Highland Statesman headed by 47614 & 47501 was a bonus shot here, the pair roaring under the bridge doing at least 70mph if not faster from a standing start at Wigan North Western.
With other commitments over by 1400, a 90 minute drive out to the Duddon estuary took me to a shot I've had my eye on for a few years but until now, hadn't had an opportunity to use, at Soutergate crossing, between Kirkby in Furness and Askam, and which walking to involved negotiating at least 1 very wet and boggy field. It was well worth getting muddy trousers though, as there was a great view across the river to the tour crossing Millom Marsh, followed around 7 or 8 minutes later by hard acceleration away from the 20mph curve at Kirkby; the roar of 45690 could be heard for quite a while both before and after it passed.
After getting even more mud on my trousers walking back to the car, a 75 minute drive into the Dales took me to Ais Gill. Whenever I've done shots here before, I've either gone at the lineside on the common land next to Hellgill Force (where the river Eden starts), or right over the east side of the valley for a long shot, so this time, just for something different, I headed up the hill next to the road instead. The booked pass time of 6233 was 1813 which was after sunset so there wouldn't be a lot of light left, even less if it was late, but with no phone signal (on the west side of the valley anyway), it was back to the 'wait and hope that it appears on time'. Fortunately, it did, but the Duchess appeared to be making heavy weather of the climb with 9 coaches and the 47 on the back, and must have only been doing between 25 and 30mph when it crossed the summit, 5 minutes after it came into view. Half of this shot has been cut, as the southerly wind coming up from Wensleydale was blowing all the loco noise away for the first 2 1/2 minutes...

[@holmesjunction]

What a great selection of sights and sounds! Hope you were on milage? I still say, "You can't beat the sound of a Jubilee when you let it off the leash!" Thanks for your efforts.

[@guadalupeoscar6679]

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