JL - 28.2.18 60087 6J37 Carlisle - Chirk, Gallansay

With the 'Beast from the East' delivering yet another Siberian blast to the high Pennine backdrop 60087 grinds slowly around the curve at Gallansay with 6J37 Carlisle - Chirk logs. S&C operations were all over the place today due to the extreme Winter conditions which brought well over 1 ft of snow to Eastern Cumbria with wind chill temperatures below -12 degrees. Some of the toughest conditions I've experienced.
By mid afternoon the skies has cleared but would anything run? 6K05 was showing as 0K05 but was cancelled anyway due to frozen points at Carlisle Yard. The logs did get underway but the proceeding service train was losing time badly. A 5 min late departure from Carlisle has become over 1 hour late by Settle and the log train was stuck behind. In the event this situation proved advantageous to me as the light got better and better and the slow moving train didn't throw up loose powder snow to obscure the attractive wagonload. Very few locals were venturing out but I'm glad I made the effort as I know from experience sun and deep snow is once a decade occurrence.
In the end with the cancelation of K05, C89 and the returning S00 this was one of only 3 daylight freights so to get one in sun has got to be considered a good result.