5043 conquers Miles Platting & Copy Pit

It conquered Shap, it conquered Ais Gill, but 5043 has now conquered new territory. The Castle once again went up North hauling 'The Red Rose' tour from Tyseley to Blackburn via Crewe, Manchester Victoria and Copy Pit, returning via the West Coast Main Line.

The Castle was originally to go via Stockport but due to some sort of track problem it had to be diverted through Manchester Victoria which meant a notorious climbe up Miles Platting Bank was evident.

Beginning at Miles Platting in Manchester the Castle raises the echoes over the very steep 1 in 47 incline in very fine style, hauling 9 coaches in total. The next spot is the epic Copy Pit located on the West Yorkshire East Lancs border, The Castle easily puts an impressive show up the summit untill she is shut off due to either its leaking steam injector pipe or going abit too over the speed limit. The last scene catches 5043 on the WCML at Chorlton just south of Crewe, the sun had gone when I got there but broke through and shone by the time Edgcumbe can be seen so there wasn't any time to quickly switch to the other side of the line.