JL - 9.1.16 66011 Carlisle Yard - Milford Sidings, Kirkby Stephen

In ordinary circumstances I wouldn't have bothered with this given the poor conditions. However, when a last minute STP job suddenly appeared on RTT on Saturday I was curious to see what it was. It turned out to be a sight that I haven't often seen on the S&C, empty southbound coal hoppers. However, since the fall off in coal traffic these wagons have often been used to transport stone or lime so the working might've been in connection with this. Also, with the Tyne Valley route shut several working are being diverted via S&C at present including some GBRf diagrams. That said, apart from these diversions with the drop off in coal traffic, S&C freight volumes are as low as I've seen them. One does wonder where this leaves the S&C freight scene as at present it's hard to see where future growth in freight traffic will come from. Perhaps another Virgin timetable revision would force more WCML traffic our way. Uncertain times.