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46238 Lambrigg
The lure of Shap and its four miles of 1 in 75 gradient proved irresistible to huge numbers of photographers who flocked to its slopes especially during the 1960s at the end of steam on the west coast main line. A less frequently visted location was south of Shap where some magnificent Fell scenery was on display when looking northwards. Lambrigg crossing was situated 8 miles south of Tebay not far from the site of Grayrigg station which was closed in 1954 along with several other small stations in the vicinity.
This photograph, taken in the winter of 1959/60 shows the pride of Upperby shed, Princess Coronation pacific No 46238 City of Carlisle at the head of a southbound express sweeping down the 1 in 106 towards Hay Fell and Oxenholme. The line snakes back towards Grayrigg as the heavy 12 coach train is seen descending the gradient past the stately ex-LNWR lower quadrant signals which control traffic on the down side of the line. In the distance the magnificent Howgill Fells dominate the skyline and give notice of the stern test ahead for northbound trains once they have passed through the Lune Gorge and commenced the ascent of Shap.
The function of Lambrigg box was to service the crossing which gave access to the farms on the west side of the line and also to control trailing and facing crossovers positioned on this part of the line (hidden by the train). The trailing crossover had served a useful purpose for many years by enabling any failed banking engine to be crossed to the up road and returned to Oxenholme 4 miles south. The box itself was an early LNWR Saxby & Farmer type similar to the one at Scout Green and dating from the 1870s. Much of this foreground scene has long since gone. The box was closed on electrification and the crossing closed. The semaphore signals were lost even earlier and the handsome stone house has also been demolished (this building was once part of the original Grayrigg station which served from August 1848 – November 1849 before the new Grayrigg station was built two miles to the north).
The locomotive No 46238 was one of the 16 Princess Coronations to be given crimson livery by BR during 1958, which she retained to withdrawal in September 1964. Originally released to traffic from Crewe at the outbreak of World War II in mid-September 1939 (and officially stored for the first 10 days) City of Carlisle was allocated to Camden and spent her entire streamlined existence at the London shed before being ‘defrocked’ in early 1947 when she travelled north to take up residence in her home city at Carlisle Upperby. London and Carlisle then alternated ownership until 1952 when Carlisle finally took permanent control of the locomotive in May of that year. She became one of the few Princess Coronations to achieve over 1.6 million miles of recorded service, but she also became one of the unfortunate members of the class to be disfigured by the yellow cabside strip which banned operation under the electrified system of the west coast main line south of Crewe. Following withdrawal she travelled the short distance to Troon in Ayshire where she was broken up at the hands of Arnot Young, West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co. in December 1964.
46238 Lambrigg
The lure of Shap and its four miles of 1 in 75 gradient proved irresistible to huge numbers of photographers who flocked to its slopes especially during the 1960s at the end of steam on the west coast main line. A less frequently visted location was south of Shap where some magnificent Fell scenery was on display when looking northwards. Lambrigg crossing was situated 8 miles south of Tebay not far from the site of Grayrigg station which was closed in 1954 along with several other small stations in the vicinity.
This photograph, taken in the winter of 1959/60 shows the pride of Upperby shed, Princess Coronation pacific No 46238 City of Carlisle at the head of a southbound express sweeping down the 1 in 106 towards Hay Fell and Oxenholme. The line snakes back towards Grayrigg as the heavy 12 coach train is seen descending the gradient past the stately ex-LNWR lower quadrant signals which control traffic on the down side of the line. In the distance the magnificent Howgill Fells dominate the skyline and give notice of the stern test ahead for northbound trains once they have passed through the Lune Gorge and commenced the ascent of Shap.
The function of Lambrigg box was to service the crossing which gave access to the farms on the west side of the line and also to control trailing and facing crossovers positioned on this part of the line (hidden by the train). The trailing crossover had served a useful purpose for many years by enabling any failed banking engine to be crossed to the up road and returned to Oxenholme 4 miles south. The box itself was an early LNWR Saxby & Farmer type similar to the one at Scout Green and dating from the 1870s. Much of this foreground scene has long since gone. The box was closed on electrification and the crossing closed. The semaphore signals were lost even earlier and the handsome stone house has also been demolished (this building was once part of the original Grayrigg station which served from August 1848 – November 1849 before the new Grayrigg station was built two miles to the north).
The locomotive No 46238 was one of the 16 Princess Coronations to be given crimson livery by BR during 1958, which she retained to withdrawal in September 1964. Originally released to traffic from Crewe at the outbreak of World War II in mid-September 1939 (and officially stored for the first 10 days) City of Carlisle was allocated to Camden and spent her entire streamlined existence at the London shed before being ‘defrocked’ in early 1947 when she travelled north to take up residence in her home city at Carlisle Upperby. London and Carlisle then alternated ownership until 1952 when Carlisle finally took permanent control of the locomotive in May of that year. She became one of the few Princess Coronations to achieve over 1.6 million miles of recorded service, but she also became one of the unfortunate members of the class to be disfigured by the yellow cabside strip which banned operation under the electrified system of the west coast main line south of Crewe. Following withdrawal she travelled the short distance to Troon in Ayshire where she was broken up at the hands of Arnot Young, West of Scotland Shipbreaking Co. in December 1964.