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North Yorkshire Moors Railway - Recordings from 2009
Friday 20th February
Half term week, with trains every day. 75029, working from Grosmont, and the
Met Cam 3 car dmu set, from Pickering, were doing the honours.
Just a few tracks to kick-off the year's page.
Behind BR Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 No 75029
climbing steady around Darnholme and into Goathland station with the 10:30
from Grosmont. 2:17, 2.6MB.
The 3 car Met Cam dmu set re-starts the
11:00 service from Pickering away from Levisham station. 2:17, 2.6MB
75029 with the 13:30 from Grosmont climbing
past Green End. Recorded from across the valley at Dowson Garth. The NYMR jinx
makes an early appearance: the first lineside recording of the year and a jet
materialises overhead just as the train appears, after half an hour of silence
beforehand. 4:12, 4.8MB.
Spring Steam Gala: Friday 1st May to Monday 4th May
Friday 1st May - chasing 60163, but with limited success
NER Q6 No 63395 departs from Levisham to
Grosmont, with the 10:00 service from Pickering. 4:05. 2.4MB.
'LNER' A1 Pacific Class 4-6-2 No 60163
'Tornado' runs towards Esk Valley with the 12:30 departure from Grosmont, on the
start of the gradient to Goathland. 1:24, 1.6MB.
60163 arrives and then departs from
Newtondale Halt with the 14:00 from Pickering. 2:04, 2.4MB.
LNER A4 Pacific 60007 restarts from Levisham
with the 16:0 from Pickering, slipping on damp rails as it accelerates away.
2:21, 2.7MB.
60163 passes Darnholme with the evening
Pullman diner, the 19:35 from Grosmont. 2:45, 3.2MB.
60163 with the return Pullman. The first sounds were in the distance
on Levisham straight. After the restart
from Levisham, clear exhaust beats were heard on the run
through Yorfalls before the sounds
became indistinct on the pass below Skelton Tower.
After Skelton Tower the exhaust became
distinct for a brief period on the climb up Newtondale.
Saturday 2nd May - mainly on Goathland bank
60007 approaches Beck Hole curve with the
10:30 departure from Grosmont. 1:31, 1.7MB.
75029 climbing steadily past Water Ark and
Bridge 30 towards Darnholme with the 11:00 from Whitby. 2:06, 2.4MB.
60163 climbing from Water Ark, slowing for
Bridge 30 then climbing on past Darnholme. At last, a decent exhaust noise from
Tornado! 2:33, 2.9MB
825 and 76079 double head the 14:00 from
Whitby on the climb past Green End. Volcanic. 2:40, 3.1MB.
60163 passing Green End with the 15:30 from
Grosmont. 1:21, 1.6MB
45212 rounds Beck Hole curve with the 16:30
from Grosmont. Such a contrast in exhaust noise to 60163. 1:28, 1.7MB
76079 with the dining service to Battersby
Junction. 76079 replaced 60163 which failed earlier in the day with a leaking
fusible plug. 3:58, 4.5MB
Sunday 3rd May - in Newtondale, very windy
63395 rounds the foot of Skelton Tower with
the (late running) 09:00 from Pickering. 2:15, 2.6MB
60007 climbs towards Newtondale Halt with
the 11:00 from Pickering, substituting for 60163. 1:57, 2.2MB
45212 (front) and 75029 (rear) take the
13:15 from Pickering round the foot of Skelton Tower. 1:30, 1.7MB
Monday 4th May - Levisham, then Bridge 30
GWR 0-6-2T No 6619 departs from Levisham
with the 09:00 service from Pickering. 6619 gives a very interesting sound these
days, with its chime whistle and sharp GWR exhaust events softened by the
Kylchap exhaust. 2:15, 2.6MB.
Compare and contrast: LNER A4 and A1 Pacifics departing fom Levisham:
A4 No 60007 with the 10:00 from Pickering.
2:32, 2.9MB
A1 No 60163 with the 11:00 from Pickering.
2:32, 2.9MB
As you may know, Bridge 30 between Darnholme and Water Ark is life-expired.
It is due to be replaced over the 2009/10 winter. The bridge has a distinct rumble
as trains passover it - so as a matter of historical record, here are some
recordings of the sound:
75029 coasts downhill with the 12:00 from
Pickering. 0:51, 1.0MB
49395 coasts downhill with the 13:30
freight working from Goathland to Grosmont. 1:08, 1.3MB.
60163 climbs over Bridge 30 with the 13:30
from Grosmont. 1:13, 1.4MB
Autumn Steam Gala: Friday 2nd October to Monday 5th October
Friday 2nd October - an exceptionally good day of recording
The day started near Darnholm, on the hillside overlooking the
cutting below the bridge.
BR Standard Britannia Class 4-6-2 Pacific
70013 'Oliver Cromwell' slows on the
approach to Bridge 30, then picks up again. The sound echoes off the embankment
wall at the south of the line, and the Pacific is on the edge of adhesion on the
approach to the overbridge. 2:43, 3.1MB
A drive over to Levisham, to catch the Brit on the return from Pickering.
At Levisham, Q6 63395 was waiting to
go with the 10:00 from Pickering, with 70013 in the other platform. Mics were
rapidly set up just north of the station car park. After 63395
draws away right towards Goathland, 70013 departs left for Pickering.
Result: just about perfect 'hole in the middle' stereo as the two trains diverge.
2:19, 2.7MB
Now onto the hillside overlooking Levisham station, to the west of the line.
A4 Pacific 60007 whistles and then departs
towards Pickering with the 10:30 ex Grosmont. As it does so, 70013
gets the 'rightaway' and leaves for Grosmont with the 11:00 from Pickering.
The sound echoes around the valley. The chime whistle sounds on the approach
to the footpath crossing at The Grange. 3:26, 3.9MB
The Q6 had a run up the gradient from
Grosmont with the 12:10 freight, and is heard as rounds the curve at Beck Hole
and climbs onward past Water Ark. 1:46, 2.0MB
Twenty minutes later 70013 climbs past
the same location with the 12:30 to Pickering. 1:19, 1.5MB
An afternoon below Dowson Garth, directly opposite Green End.
The wind had got up by now, blowing from the west, but the lee of hillside
kept it off the mics. A steady procession of recordings followed, beginning with
Maunsell S15 4-6-0 30825 with the 13:30
from Grosmont. 2:51, 3.26MB
Next up was Q6 63395 with the second of its
freight runs to Goathland. The sound carried back nicely from the climb to Beck
Hole 3:45, 4.3MB
The near pefect conditons couldn't last: no wind blasting the mics, no rain,
no tractors, no chainsaws, no over-flying aircraft. The inevitable light
aircraft turned up just as
60007 was due, but faded away as the
loco approached Green End. 'Gresley' slips on the approach to the overbridge.
3:30, 4.0MB
Now a bit of a surprise. Q6 63395 rolling
down from Goathland with the freight rake. This is usually a non-event so
far as recording goes - distant sounds and usually indistinct, so not worth
pressing the 'REC' button. But in this case, the sounds of the freight stock
were unusually clear. Caught me on the hop though, so the recording starts a
bit late. 1:45, 2.0MB
70013's third turn of the day was in
charge of the 15:30 from Grosmont. Again, this was recorded from across the
valley. The chime whistle sounds in the distance on the approach to Esk Valley.
The exhaust note hardens as the climb begins toward the
lower bridge and more so en-route to the upper Green End overbridge, fading away
as the climb continues to Beck Hole. 4:08, 4.7MB.
A loco not heard so far: Fowler 7F 2-8-0
53809 with the 16:10 freight to Goathland. Horses shuffle inquisitively near
the microphone position; the wind picks up in the trees as the sound fades away;
a high-flying jet hastens the end of the recording. 4:34, 5.23MB.
And so to last recording of the afternoon opposite Green End.
63395 takes the 16:30 from Grosmont up the
bank, as the pheasants in nearby woods begin to make their evening calls.
5:08, 5.9MB.
But this wasn't the end of the day's recording.
The Pullman diner from Grosmont is often a
good recording bet and 70013 was in charge. railwaysounds, 'steamsounds'
and 'Steamy Sounds' were all poised at Darnholm in the evening calm as the
Pacific slogged up the bank with the heavy stock. The sound echoes from the
hillside and from the embankment wall as the road bridge is approached, and
then echoes from the bridge itself. The noise fades on the final climb into
Goathland. A final few exhaust beats are heard as the train pulls into the
station. 4:47, 5.5MB.
By the time the Pullman returned from Pickering the wind had picked up - the
vanguard of the following day's weather. At Kale Pot Hole the leaves were
rustling as 70013 Oliver Cromwell dug into
the climb. The whistle sounds on the approach to The Grange and then
again passing Yorfalls (Platelayer's Cottages). The exhaust noise sharpens and
quickens on the climb to the foot of Skelton Tower. The sound echoes around the
encircling hills and becomes indistinct as the reverse curves are negotiated,
but becomes clear once again as it fades into the distance. 3:46, 4.3MB
Saturday 3nd October - very, very windy
Near impossible recording conditons in the morning, clearing up a little in the
afternoon. Even a decent windshield couldn't keep the wind off the mics, and
hiding in woodland was no solution due to the noise of rustling leaves.
The plan was to spend the day around Levisham, but this was obviously a
non-starter.
After an abortive take of Gresley at Newtondale Halt, a hike up to the head of
Newtondale. Once there, shelter was found in the lee of Northdale Scar to
record 70013 with 49395 at the rear
on the 15:00 from Pickering, just north of Carter's House ruin. 1:36, 1.8MB
A very long walk for not much reward.
Dropping back down Newtondale, a calm spot was found on the forest track beside
Northdale straight. The 16:00 from Pickering was hauled by
BR Standard Class 4 4-6-0 75029 with Class 4
2-6-0 76079 at the rear. Here, they pass the footpath crossing at the start of
the straight then accelerate towards the final part of the climb to Fen Bog.
1:27, 1.7MB.
Still keen to record at Levisham: so back to the hillside overlooking the
station for 60007.
Gresley and 45212
whistle, then the A4 pulls away northbound with the 17:00 from Pickering.
The wind roars around as the chime sounds for The Grange. 2:10, 2.5MB
Enough!
Sunday 4th October - back to still conditions
The acoustics at Levisham are always a delight and especially so on a quiet Sunday
morning.
Stanier 4-6-0 'Black Five' 45212
departs with the 10:00 from Pickering. The pull away from the station is careful,
to minimise slipping. Speed gradually picks up as the train enters the forest.
A car passes on the forest track as the train fades into the distance. 75029
departs towards Pickering, and a signal drops 'on' as the sound fades away.
3:45, 4.3MB
The demonstration freight ran between Levisham and Pickering throughout the day.
63395 whistles before leaving with the
10:38 working. 0:58, 1.1MB
Into the woodland north of Levisham station. BR Standard 4 2-6-0
76079 accelerates strongly away from the
station, whistles briefly for The Grange as it passes, and continues towards
Skelton Tower. 2:53, 3.3MB
Back to the station to record the departure of
GWR 5600 Class 0-6-2T 6619 (12:10 from Pickering). 53809 can just be heard
as it leaves towards Pickering with the 11:35 from Grosmont. 2:25, 2.8MB
Out into Newtondale for the afternoon recordings.
Fowler 7F 53809 attacks the gradient to
Newtondale Halt, just after the reverse curves below Skelton Tower.
2:31, 2.9MB
On the hillside below West Side Brow,
45212 climbs towards Newtondale Halt with the returning Moorlander dining
service, 14:20 off Pickering. 2:55, 3.3MB
About an hour later, 70013 passes the same
recording position with some vigour in charge of the 15:25 from Pickering,
whistling on the approach to Kidstye Farm as the gradient eases. 1:36, 1.8MB
63395 climbs from Yorfalls, slowing a little
on the curves around the base of Skelton Tower then continuing the climb up
Newtondale. 16:30 from Pickering. 3:05, 3.5MB
Back to Levisham station, on the hillside once again.
76079 departs to Grosmont with the 17:35
from Pickering, whistling for The Grange as it fades into the distance.
The signal goes back on and traffic passes on the forest road.
70013 then leaves for Pickering with 17:00 from Grosmont. 76069 whistles again
as it approaches Yorfalls. 3:45, 4.30MB
At the end of the day, 6619 was left to take the freight stock back to the
north end of the line. After a couple of crows on the chime whistle
6619 propels the freight rake back into
the station from the newly-installed siding to the north. 2:47, 3.2MB
After 45212 arrives from Grosmont, the signals come off.
6619 whistles, then starts
for Grosmont. 45212's hooter is heard as it leaves for Pickering.
After the signals drops back on, 45212 can be heard in the distance
running along Levisham straight. 2:12, 2.5MB
Monday 4th October - after the Gala was over
Back to the normal timetable after a hectic weekend, but a bit of a surprise to
find Schools Class 4-4-0 30926 'Repton' in action. For one reason or another
this loco has eluded the microphones in the past. Here,
30926 approaches Sadler House on the way to Moorgates, with the 10:30
from Grosmont. 1:16, 1.5MB
Overlooking the line out of Goathland, from the hillside to the east.
45212 restarts steadily towards Pickering
with the 11:30 from Grosmont. After the two river bridges are crossed the
exhaust note hardens, echoing from farm buildings. A hiker crosses in front
of the recording position as the train approaches Sadler House.
3:42, 4.2MB.
Down to Water Ark, overlooking Bridge 30 from the hillside at the east of the
line. 6619 passes over the bridge on the
climb to Goathland with the 13:30 from Grosmont. 1:58, 2.3MB
An hour later, 30926 makes the climb
with the 14:00 service from Whitby.2:44, 3.1MB
The 2009/10 winter 'Red' timetable has a 15:10 service between Grosmont and
Goathland only. 76079 was in charge,
recorded here from the hillside overlooking Darnholm. 3:00, 3.4MB
With a distant jet rumbling overhead, 30926
takes the last train of the day from Pickering (16:00) away from Levisham.
2:44, 3.1MB
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