JL - 11.4.21 66142 6T50 Hellifield - Carlisle NY, Garsdale

I had my sights firmly set on one working this cold Sunday morning, an early Hellifield goods loop - Carlisle North Yard engineers diagram. This was the first working of any kind to disturb the peace of the S&C on this freezing morning. Having watched this formation work south the night before on the KS webcam I knew it was a shed with the attractive high-sided autoballasters, but because it was so dark what I didn't know was that we had a celebrity loco on our hands. If it ran on time there would be 3 possible locations that I felt would be best, exiting Blea Moor tunnel, Garsdale Troughs, or if early enough, Angerholme. My preference would always be Garsdale but it can be very difficult with the clouds that are created over the huge flank of Great Knoutberry to the south. I decided to make my decision based on the cloud conditions in the morning. It looked good, so I committed to Garsdale and walked in as the sun rose and burnt off much of the frost in the scene. After a long wait 66142 'Maritime Intermodal Three' eventually appeared moving at a very leisurely pace approaching the ESR at the end of Gasrdale platform, with load 10 and working under headcode 6T50. It was DBS driver AG at the controls, one of the few DBS Carlisle men who can sign for the full S&C route, given the scarcity of southbound DBS workings over the line nowadays.
A fantastic way to start the day, so it was a happy short trip home for a brew and a thaw out.