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North Yorkshire Moors Railway - Recordings from 2008
LNER Gala. Part 1. Friday 28th - Sunday 30th March
The weather was mixed - some sunshine but a lot of rain and very windy as well.
Difficult conditions for recording - lots of wind in trees and water in streams
to contend with, not to mention drowned microphones. This restricted recording
locations somewhat. Just to complicate matters, there was no access to
Newtondale on the Saturday which was closed for the North Humberside Stages
Rally in the Forest.
Friday 28th March
NER Class Q6 0-8-0 No 63395 departs from
Levisham with the 10.00 from Pickering. 1:41, 2.2MB
LNER Class V2 2-6-2 No 4771 Green Arrow
re-starts the 11.00 from Pickering away from Levisham. A4 60019 Bittern departs
towards Pickering with the 10.30 from Grosmont.
Recorded from the hillside to the west of the line overlooking the station.
1:54, 2.2MB
4771 climbing towards Newtondale Halt
with the second return working of the day, the 14.00 from Pickering.
1:33, 1.8MB.
LNER A4 4-6-2 No 60009 Union of South Africa
passing Yorfalls crossing with the last departure of the day, the 17.00 from
Pickering. Rain was just starting to fall..again. 2:03, 2.4MB
Saturday 29th March
Bright and early, 4771 climbs past
Green End bridge with the 09.30 from Grosmont. 2:27, 2.8MB
Thompson class B1 4-6-0 No 61264
runs down past Esk Valley with the 10.15 freight working from Goathland.
1:00, 1.1MB.
Shortly after, 60019 Bittern begins the
climb of the 1 in 49 gradient to Goathland, as it passes Esk Valley with the
10.30 departure from Grosmont. 1:22, 1.6MB.
61264 takes the 11.10 freight from Grosmont
towards Beck Hole, after passing Green End. 2:21, 2.7MB
60009 with the 12.40 from Grosmont,
after Green End. 1:06, 1.3MB
Back to Levisham once more, to hear GER Wordsell Class J15 No
65462 leaving the station with the
14.53 2-coach shuttle to Pickering. 1:16, 1.5MB
Rally cars wait impatiently at the level crossing as
4771 leaves Levisham with the 15.25
from Pickering. Off to the left, 60019 leaves for Pickering.
2:22, 2.7MB
With rain pouring down, 65462 runs into
Levisham with the 17.05 shuttle from Pickering. The loco detaches and runs
light engine out of the station. 1:41, 1.9MB.
65462 leaves Levisham station with the
last shuttle of the day, the 18.08 to Pickering. 1:16, 1.5MB
Sunday 29th March
BR Standard Class 4MT 75029, deputising for
B1 61264, takes the 11.00 from Whitby away from Grosmont towards Battersby.
1:37, 1.9MB.
Peppercorn Class K1 No 62005 runs into
Platform 1 at Grosmont with the 10.55 from Battersby, then departs to Whitby.
1:27, 1.7MB
60009 passing Esk Valley with the 12.40
Moorlander dining train to Pickering. 1:56, 2.2MB.
60019 climbing towards Green End and on
to Beck Hole with the 13.45 from Grosmont.
Why do light aircraft turn up just when the train passes? 1:47, 2.1MB.
63395 with the 14.20 freight from Grosmont
just south of Green End bridge. 1:17, 1.5MB.
At the same location 60007 dashes past with
the 14.50 from Grosmont. 0:51, 1.0MB.
At Grosmont station, 4771 leaves with the
15.55 departure. The cylinders are warmed, and the train slowly moves towards
the tunnel. 60009 follows the train out as far as the tunnel before reversing
back into Platform 4. 4:05, 4.7MB
Saturday 19th April 2008
An ordinary spring Saturday on the Moors; very windy with quite a lot of water
in the local streams. A day for trying out a some new recording locations.
Above Beck Hole curve, just south of the overbridge.
NER Q6 0-8-0 63395 on the 1 in 49
gradient with the 10.30 from Grosmont, rounding the curve and climbing
onwards to Water Ark. 3:09, 3.7MB.
North of Levisham station in the wood to the east of the line.
Stanier 'Black 5' 4-6-0 45212 departs
from the station with the 11.00 from Pickering. 1.41, 2.0MB.
West of the line, in the forest directly opposite Skelton Tower.
63395 climbs to the reverse curves
below the Tower with the 12.00 departure from Pickering. The climb continues
towards Newtondale Halt with the wind blowing the sound back to the recording
position. 1.58, 2.3MB.
Near Milepost 15 where the gradient increases to 1 in 49,
Sulzer Type 2 D7628
takes the 13.00 from Pickering towards Newtondale Halt.
0.58, 1.2MB.
At the same location 1 hour later, 45212
takes the 14.00 returning Moorlander dining service from Pickering. 2.22, 2.8MB.
On the hillside east of the line looking down towards Moorgates bridge.
45212 approaches from Goathland and then
continues towards the summit of the line at Fen Bog.
The sound of the loco blows around in the high wind. 1.37, 1.9MB.
The final train of the day, the 1800 from Whitby.
D7628 climbs past Water Ark.
After passing the recording position, the loco idles over Bridge 30 before power
is re-applied as the gradient continues towards Darnholme. 1.58, 2.1MB.
August 14th to August 17th 2008
First train of the day, the 09:30 from Grosmont on the 14th of August. LNER A4 Pacific
60007 climbs past Darnholme. Recorded from
the top of the hillside overlooking the valley, the train gradually becomes
audible but fades quickly after passing as it disppears behind the hillside
before Goathland station. 1:39, 1.9MB.
Back down beside the stream at Darnholme, NER Q6 0-8-0
63395 climbs past with the 11:30 from
Grosmont on the 14th. The sounds echoes beneath the road overbridge as the train
approaches then slowly fades on the last part of the climb into Goathland
station. 2:32, 2.9MB.
It's raining at Levisham station. 63395 is given right away at the left, then
45212 departs for Grosmont with the 12:00
from Pickering. For a short time both locos are heard, then the sound of 45212
dominates, echoing off the station buildings at first. As the Black 5 goes into
the distance, 63395 is heard once more, whistling for Farwath cottages. A jet
flies over at the end of the track. 2:22, 2.7MB.
An hour later and it's bucketing with rain.
63395 leaves Levisham with the 13:00 from
Pickering to Grosmont, the sound echoing nicely around the hills. 60007's chime
whistle is heard in the background as it departs to Pickering. 63395 digs in as
it passes the recording position, and again in the distance on its approach
to The Grange. 2:40, 3.1MB.
BR Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 75029 climbs
steadily past Beck Hole towards Water Ark with the 14:00 from Whitby on
August 14th. 1:59, 2.3MB.
A day later, on August 15th, 75029 was
again in charge of the 14:00 from Whitby. In this track it's heard climbing
from Beck Hole to Water Ark, the over Bridge 30 and on towards Darnholme
and Goathland. 2:59, 3.4MB.
An hour later and 60007 passes the same
spot, overlooking the river from the east, with the 15:30 from Grosmont.
It slows noticeably on the approach to Darnholme. 2:48, 3.2MB.
Another hour passes. I've moved a bit further south towards Darnholme.
A nearby grasshopper stridulates as 45212
approaches with the 16:30 from Grosmont. After passing, the sound is clearly
heard echoing from Darnholme bridge. A distant light aircraft passes. The sound
is carried back on the breeze all the way into Goathland station.
This is known as 'nachslage' (the 'afterbeat') by Joerg Dreckmann.
4:52, 5.6MB.
On Friday evenings in summer, a Pullman service runs from Pickering. On this
track, 45212 takes the 19:30 Pickering
Pullman up through Newtondale from Levisham, passing the accomodation crossing
at Kidstye Farm. 4:03, 4.6MB.
Black 5 45212 in charge of the returning
Pickering Pullman on Friday 15th August.
It's completely dark on a moonless night and we're stood on the railway
overbridge at Darnholme. Exhaust beats increase in volume as the train climbs
towards Water Ark at an impressively steady pace. The noise increases as
the curve before Darnholme is rounded. The sound reaches an intense level as
45212 passes - mics pointed almost down the chimney. Then a sudden drop in
volume as the loco goes under the bridge. The heavy Pullman coaches roll past.
The exhaust beats gradually fade on the final part of the ascent into Goathland
station. 3:36, 4.13MB. (This is a shortened version of the original recording
which lasts almost 8 minutes.)
16th August, on the hillside overlooking Levisham station. Deltic
55019
'Royal Highland Fusilier' draws into the station with the 09:30 from Grosmont,
disturbing a green woodpecker as it does so. 45212 is waiting in the station
with the 10:00 from Pickering; its safety's lift. The Black 5 then departs
for Goathland, then shortly afterwards Deltic 19 leaves for Pickering.
Long-tailed tits and swallows twitter away in the woodland. 5:53, 6.7MB.
A couple hours later, from the same recording position.
The demon lawn-mower of Levisham is at work as LNER A4 Pacific
60007 'Sir Nigel
Gresley' departs from Levisham with the 12:00 departure from Pickering.
After No 7 passes, 45212 departs from Levisham towards Pickering, stage right.
60007 sounds its chime whistle on the approach to the footpath crossing at
The Grange; the exhaust beats fade as the lawn-mowing continues. 2:20, 2.7MB.
Back to the riverside at Darnholme to hear
45212 climbing
past with the 16:30 from Grosmont. There's a strong wind blowing from the south,
so the sound is blown back strongly from the direction of Goathland - a fine
example of 'nachslage'. 2:37, 3MB
17th August. During a short break in a torrential rainstorm,
45212 climbs past Darnholme road bridge
with the 10 o'clock from Grosmont. A car passes as the train climbs away.
This track was made with the mics to the south of the bridge - the opposite
side to the recording of the returning Pullman made at the same place two days
earlier. 3:30, 4.0MB
Autumn Gala. Friday 26th - Sunday 28th September
The star attraction was 71000 'Duke of Gloucester', which ran well all three
days of the event. Good weather, which made a nice change from mid-August, but
once again a rally in Newtondale Forest on the Saturday, which meant no access
during the day. The cars could be heard in the distance, even at Goathland.
Friday 26th September
First up was Gresley A4 Pacific 60007
'Sir Nigel Gresley', which took the 09:30 service from Grosmont. On this track
it is approaching Green End, slipping twice as it does so. 4:05. 4.7MB
Behind BR Standard Class 8P 4-6-2 No 71000
'Duke of Gloucester' on its first working of the weekend, the 10:30 departure
from Grosmont. This is an edited compilation:
- 71000 whistles and the first exhaust beats sound
- entry into and passage through Grosmont tunnel, emerging at the mpd
- climbing on the 1 in 49 gradient to Green End, with 71000 slipping on the
approach to the overbridge
- the strong climb to Water Ark, before the regulator is closed on the approach
to Bridge 30
- the march past Darnholme and onwards into Goathland station.
5:43, 6.4MB.
LNWR Beames/Bowen Cooke Class G2 'Super D' 0-8-0
No 49395 passes the long
siding outside Grosmont mpd and begins the 1 in 49 climb to Goathland at
Esk Valley. 11:30 departure from Grosmont. 2:06, 2.4MB
NER Q6 0-8-0 No 63395 takes the 14:10
freight from Grosmont to Goathland, climbing to Green End, bursting through the
over-bridge and on to Beck Hole. 2.18, 2.6MB
A contrast in freight locos, as 49395 takes
the 14:30 from Grosmont past the same recording position some twenty minutes
later. 2:33, 2.9MB
71000 takes the 15:30 from Grosmont
past Green End. 1:41, 1.9MB
75029 (leading) and 49395 double-heading the
16:00 from Pickering away from Levisham. 71000 then departs for Pickering.
2:07, 2.4MB
71000 departs from Levisham with the 17:00
from Pickering, accelerating into the forest, and whistling as the
footpath near The Grange is approached. 45212 + 825 then depart for Pickering.
4:05, 4.7MB
LMS Class 5MT 4-6-0 'Black 5' No 45231
on the climb from Water Ark, through Darnholme and on to Goathland with the
19:35 Pullman diner service from Grosmont. 3:57, 4.5MB
45231 with the return Pullman working from
Pickering. It's pitch black in Newtondale Forest, near Kale Pot farm. In the
extreme distance, 45231 sounds it's hooter for the departure from Levisham and,
after a pause, pulls steadily away. Something scurries around below
the microphone as the train accelerates into the forest. A tawny owl beings to
call as The Grange is passed. The hooter sounds gently for Yorfalls crossing,
and the exhaust hardens for the climb to Skelton Tower. The sound echoes around
the valley as the train rounds the reverse curves at Skelton Tower and climbs away towards
Newtondale Halt. The tawny owl continues to hoot as the sound fades away.
9:52, 11.6MB.
(Note - there are some odd phasing efects in the middle of this
track. These are caused by the mp3 encoding.)
Saturday 27th September
71000 climbing from Beck Hole to Water Ark,
over Bridge 30 and on to Darnholme and Goathland with the 10:30 from
Grosmont. 2:45, 3.2MB
40 minutes later, NER Q6 0-8-0 63395 climbs
past the same recording location above the river with the 11:10 freight working
from Grosmont. 3:26, 3.9MB
Black 5 super power as 45231 and 45212
double head the 11am from Whitby. Steam is shut off on the Approach to
Bridge 30, just north of Darnholme. After rolling over this weak bridge, steam
is re-applied to the cylinders for the climb around Darnholme curve and on to
Goathland. 2:46, 3.2MB.
Another double-header.
63395(leading) and 49395 re-start from Goathland with the 13:30 from
Grosmont. 63395 is doing all the work until the river bridges are crossed, when
49395 joins in. The train accelerates away southward towards Moorgates
as the signal goes back 'on'. 2:50, 3.2MB
An hour later 71000 departs from Goathland
with the 15:30 service to Pickering, whistling near Abbots House and again on the
approach to Moorgates. 2:32, 2.9MB
After reaching Pickering, 71000 returned
with the 17:00 to Grosmont. This is the climb through Newtondale, whistling for
the Kidstye Farm crossing and then again on the approach to Newtondale Halt.
2:21, 2.7MB
Sunday 28th September
45212 departs from Levisham with the
09:00 from Pickering. 2:44, 3.1MB.
'Super D' 49395 whistles on its approach to
the forestry crossing at Yorfalls, just north of Levisham. It bustles past on
the climb towards Skelton Tower.
10:00 departure from Pickering.
2:54. 3.3MB
From a recording positon in the woods, directly below and opposite Skelton Tower,
71000 passes with the 11:05 from Pickering,
about 20 minutes down. 1:17, 1.5MB
An afternoon in Newtondale near Milepost 15:
GWR Collett 5600 Class 0-6-2T No 5224 climbs
past with the 12:10 from Pickering. 2:31, 2.09MB.
An hour later, A4 Pacific 60007 passes the
same spot. 1:47, 2.1MB
71000 with the returning Moorlander dining
train (14:20 from Pickering). After the reverse curves below Skelton Tower, the
train rushes up the gradient whistling at trackside photographers and again as
it passes Kidstye farm. 1:50, 2.1MB
75029 gives the traditional whistle signal
to start a banked train away from Levisham. SR Maunsell 'Schools' Class 4-4-0
No 926 'Repton' responds as it clears the station platform and 75029 applies
power. 926 gives nominal assistance as the train enters the forest.
1:52, 2.1MB
71000 departs for Levisham for Pickering
with the 15:55 from Grosmont. After easing out of the station and passing
the recording position, the loco accelerates towards Farwath. Meanwhile,
60007 re-starts for Grosmont. A jet flies high overhead. 3:14, 3.7MB
The last departure of the Gala from Pickering was at 17:35, with
71000 in charge. This is heard just after
the re-start from Levisham on the approach to the footpath crossing near
The Grange. 2:22, 2.7MB
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