The ‘Long Drag’ pushed steam locomotives and their crews to the limits. MALCOLM ROCHFORD explains how he recreated a small part of the Settle & Carlisle line in ‘OO’ gauge.Photography: Jonathan Newton
After a 30-year diversion into modelling Austrian railways, I was recently lured back to my first love - 1960s British steam.
As a teenager, I was inspired by David Jenkinson's articles on the Settle & Carlisle (S&C) route. In my opinion, the line had everything - an impressive main line passing through spectacular scenery, allied to an extensive array of motive power (‘Black Fives’, ‘Royal Scots’, ‘Jubilees’, ‘9Fs’, ‘8Fs’, ‘Crabs’, ‘4Fs’ and much more). Additionally, as a diversionary route for the West Coast Main Line (WCML), in case of temporary closure for permanent way works, the S&C offered the opportunity to introduce a further variety of classes, including ‘Duchesses’ and ‘Patriots’.
Above: As LMS ‘4F’ 44044 slows on approach to Kirkby Stephen West station with the line's pick-up goods train, Stanier ‘Coronation’ 4-6-2 46238 City of Carlisle rushes past in the opposite direction with a diverted express passenger train.
A fortunate house move provided a generously proportioned railway room to allow enough ro…
