Скачать или смотреть 1T57 | How BR Steam celebrated 50 years

It was 50 years ago, on 11th August 1968, when for the last time steam ran a service under BR ownership - running as the famed 1T57 'The Fifteen Guinea Special'. It was after this date that it was believed steam would end... or so we thought.

50 years later steam is thriving across Britain. Every day steam brings joy to all those that behold them. In order to celebrate 50 years of Heritage success a series of events were held on both preserved railways and on the mainline network. The GCR and SVR being those holding the larger known events. On 4th August the SVR would hold a themed day celebrating the end of steam. The larger of the galas would be held at the GCR with a double weekend of celebrations occurring on 4th/5th and 11th/12th August. The mainline would see no fewer than three steam hauled tours on the same day in the same region. I set about capturing as much action as possible...

Starting on 4th August, Britain was in the midst of a heatwave. This unfortunately meant steam operations were subject to strict operations due to an enforced fire risk statement. Steam on the GCR was therefore only to run between Loughborough and Rothley. As much action has been captured as possible from the morning due to work commitments focusing on the double track section.

Moving on a week and it was the turn of the mainline action. Some 576 miles were driven this day in order to catch the events. Due to an accident on the M6 causing an hours delay to our journey we arrived at Shap to find the A4 running parallel up the bank. Therefore the first shot shows 45699 'Galatea' at the head of the Cumbrian Mountain Express running the usual circular route from London to Carlisle. Despite a series of rain spells during the week leading to the 11th, a fire risk statement was still in place meaning all three tours would be subject to diesel assistance from directly behind the loco - this has caused a large amount of controversy across the heritage community, however this was a weekend to celebrate steam still running its place on the British Mainline, something we ought be grateful for! The following shot shows the A4 sweeping the curve at Armathwaite before the days halfway point was reached. For the return runs of the day the S&C's finest were to be sampled. First Birkett Common sees 45699 doing its fair share of the work on the climb to Ais Gil summit. Next to the summit itself where 60009 makes a fine sight cresting the bank with a nice chime whistle to make up for the lack of work. The two tours done with for the day saw the attention change to the third and final tour, the Waverley. Running from York to Carlisle and return, 45690 'Leander' headed the train complete with a 1T57 board used on the exact day 50 years ago. Seen first at Ribblehead coming off the viaduct with caution finishing on the acceleration from Hellifield station.

A day later and it was the GCR's final day of the two weekend gala celebrating the end of BR Steam. By this point the steam ban between Rothley and Leicester had been lifted and steam could again be seen traversing the entire line. This paved the way for some interesting runs made possible by the changing of locos at Leicester. Notable runs included 48624 and 73156 running as 48476 and 73069 reenacting the 1L50 tour that the two locos ran all that time ago. For the Sunday the action was taken on the double track again around Quorn and Kinchley with a couple on the single track section to Leicester.

The final scenes however sum up the event. 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' was saved by the National Collection soon after hauling its leg of 1T57 from Manchester to Carlisle. Thanks to the effort of many, the loco is still running 50 years to the date and was put to the head of an eight coach run commemorating the special. Seen twice on the run out of Rothley and through Swithland.

It was a shame that the weather effected the anniversary in the way it did. However thanks to the effort of many, we are still blessed with steam running 50 years after many thought it was the end.

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