West Coast Railways - The Carnforth Shuffle (Plus Bonus Scene)

Saturday, 1st April 2023 saw the running of the Northern Belle Settle and Carlisle Special (York to Appleby).

The train consisted of eleven mark 2 coaches topped and tailed by West Coast Railways' locomotives 57313 "Scarborough Castle" and 47826.

On Sunday, 2nd April I headed to Carnforth to see the empty coaching stock being returned home.

Train 5Z81, the 1000 from York Holgate Sidings to Carnforth Steamtown, had made good progress across the Bentham Line, arriving at Carnforth at 1253 hrs.

It passed through the station, 57313 leading, to crossovers just south of the station, where it was routed onto the old Down Furness Goods Line. It then reversed, 47826 now leading, towards Carnforth CS45 signal where it awaited authority to proceed into Steamtown. This process usually takes a while, so I took the opportunity to browse the pieces of art on platform 2. On this occasion, however, the train was turned around in less than 10 minutes.

Whilst waiting at CS45 signal the front five coaches were uncoupled from the set. With CS41 position light signal giving authority to proceed, 47826 ran the first five coaches forward and on into Steamtown.

Having positioned them in their designated storage area, 47826 then returned to the Down Furness Line in the reverse direction. The locomotive coupled onto the remaining six coaches. In the meantime 57313 was uncoupled at the rear. 47826 then ran the remaining six coaches into Steamtown.

Finally, once 47826 had been put to bed for the night, the driver returned on Shanks's pony to collect 57313 and run that into Steamtown.

Filmed on 2nd April 2023.

Video created by Northumberland Snapper:
https://northumberlandsnapper.blogspo...

Footage was captured using a Panasonic HC-VX1; https://amzn.to/3vJnqNJ; fitted with a Rode VideoMic Go; https://amzn.to/3rpMeIA