Cumbrian Ben

156423 dropped off on P1 at Carlisle after a pleasant ECS run from Whitehaven as 5C46

Not even Santa couldn’t complete the token exchange at St Bees on time 😂🎅

I’ve really missed this side of the line since the tunnel closure. Not a bad run since it’s been around 5 months since my last visit.

Not seen 460 up this way before. Took it to Workington where it was cancelled and I had to put it on the carriage sidings.

Tonight’s steed. Not the greatest, but not the worst I’ve driven.

479 stands in the bay platform at Whitehaven with the ill fated Whitehaven tunnel in the background.

Reunited with the train I drove on my first solo drive. Always nice when it appears on the coast.

Spot the 🍊 🍌

Having one of these bad boys crossing in front of your train at a few hundred feet has been one of the better things I’ve seen since passing out.

When I had my drivers medical they some how managed to plug the laptop into the booth in such a way that I heard every email alert between listening for the beeps 😂

Rubbish photo but thought that was the network rail helicopter in actually along the coast. 🚁

The key off single line holiness. 🔑

Back in the saddle after 3 weeks of paternity leave. Like I’ve never been away

Been a while 🔵🌄. Couple of things happened since I last posted. Firstly passed out as driver in January then welcomed my first child in February. Hoping for a calmer rest of the year 😂

I’ll definitely take that! Not bad at all

The 15 mins wait time at St Bees helped but yeah I’ll take that

Oh definitely! Very grateful to be with an instructor through that😂

😂 fair enough!

Yeah plodding on. Another 50 hours or so then hopefully looking at getting passed out in January.

I’ve been mislead 😱 typical news and star

Thanks for all the new followers @coastwaywill.bsky.social

Cumbrian coast looking choppy 🌊🛤️

One of my favourite pictures I’ve taken at work. Back when I was conductor this was taken just after leaving St Bees heading along the Cumbrian coast.