GUARDSMAN ON PARADE
HOW lucky we are to have regular steam hauled trips over the Settle & Carlisle Line more than 60 years after steam officially finished in regular service, and how privileged we are to sit in Hellifield down goods loop without much sense of excitement at this now almost routine experience.
On a previous visit, my travelling companion Peter Hewitt said that ‘Merchant Navy’ No. 35018 had ‘snuffled’ its way to the front of its train, but not so ‘Royal Scot’ No. 46115 today, which hissed as it passed by with a hint of a derisory snort. Perhaps it had heard the remark from my neighbouring passenger (or ‘civilian’, as might perhaps term the lady), who had announced: “Yes, it is
