JL - 20.1.25 56049 6Z32 Ribble Rail Docks - Eastriggs MOD, Lunds

The spell of the S&C had me today. It has been a while since I'd felt it's pull so strongly. My connection with the line was made early. As a lad, family day outs were spent in The Dales often to see a steam excursion. As an adult in 2005 I moved to the Kirkby Stephen area to fully focus my photography efforts on the S&C and to start my online S&C gallery. Following in the footsteps of many S&C great photters. Today, I got a powerful and timely reminder why I love this route so much. Typical January cold, damp, and grey conditions greeted veteran 56049 'Robin of Templecombe' as she shook the ground at Lunds whilst working 6Z32 Preston Docks - Eastriggs MOD empty tanks move. It's rare to get tanks on the S&C and even rarer to see them behind classic BR traction. So today's one off move was one I didn't want to miss. The distant beat of the unmistakeable 'Grid' engine noise echoed around the misty fellsides. The signature high pitched scream with the regular cylinder knocks increasingly filled the senses as it grew louder and louder. The horn sounding a warning through Garsdale by the as yet out of sight freight, followed by the rattle of wheelsets over the crossover. Then silence, as 6Z32 entered the boundary crossing Moorcock tunnel. A sudden and dramatic eruption of noise as 56049 thundered out of the tunnel portal, horn blaring and powered over crossing at Lunds with the uniform rake of black tankers following. Then more quickly than it came, it's all over, the tracks fall silent and diesel fumes fill the air. The fells go back to nature and a winter's afternoon grows darker. Wonderful to once again experience the magic of the S&C. Who needs sun!
Photting notes - I ramped up the ISO and choose a location that would minimise sideways movement in the frame and create a powerful cameo of this awesome loco on a dull and misty day. The only I was hoping for was some exhaust to contrast against the foggy sky but you can't have it all.