Chaos at Carlisle & Whitehaven 22 06 24

On a glorious mid-summer day two charter trains are due at Carlisle. The Midland Pullman is coming from Holyhead offering a superb journey featuring the North Wales coast, the Settle and Carlisle line, the Cumbrian coast, the Duddon Estuary and Morecambe Bay. The Cumbrian Mountain Express is due to arrive from London Euston, electrically hauled to Carnforth then behind steam (inevitably Tangmere!) over Shap to the Border City.

The Mountain Express, scheduled for a very brief stop in Carlisle, was hit by delays caused by trespassers on the line followed by a potential suicide bringing about the switching off of the overhead power lines.

The day was further complicated by signal failures at Carlisle - still apparently unresolved by evening. My return train from Whitehaven passed through a red light protecting the approach from Currock Junction into the station.

Ah well - these things all add interest to the day - life would get very boring if everything worked perfectly all of the time.