This weekend, Black 5s 45212 and 45407 ‘The Lancashire Fusilier’ hauled a special from Manchester Victoria to Carlisle and return.

The locomotives were hauling West Coast Railway’s ‘The Citadel’ railtour, which ran via Bolton, Cherry Tree, Blackburn, Clitheroe, Hellifield and then to Carlisle via the Settle and Carlisle line, which included the famous Ribblehead Viaduct, on the outbound service.

The train then headed via Shap and Preston on the return service to Manchester Victoria.

Thanks to some amazing photographers, we have been able to get some great shots of the pair in action. Thank you to all who sent in your photos!

In the header image, we see 45212 and 45407 working hard on the Settle and Carlisle railway at Settle station on the outbound train under some stormy skies. This lovely shot is thanks to Bradley Langton. To see more like this, you can see his Facebook page by clicking here.

Next, we head up to Blea Moor, here, we see the pair working hard again up the steep gradients towards Carlisle. This stunning shot is thanks to Liam Barnes. To see more like this, you can see his Facebook page by clicking here.

We head up to Ais Gill, another popular photograph point. Here, we see the pair coasting along at speed in some sunnier and clearer weather. This shot is thanks to Dan Sutcliffe. To see more like this, you can see his Instagram by clicking here.

Almost at Carlisle now, the train takes a stop at Appleby for watering. The grey clouds approach the historic station and its visitors. This shot is all thanks to Tom Houseman. To see more like this, you can see his Instagram by clicking here.

After a short break in Carlisle, the two LMS locomotives head down Shap to Preston and Manchester Victoria. Tom Houseman caught this excellent shot of the pair steaming through Penrith with the return leg of the tour. To see more like this, you can see his Instagram by clicking here.

A brief history of 45212

45212 is a mixed traffic ‘Black 5’ steam locomotive. Numbered 5212 by the LMS and built in 1935 in Newcastle by Armstrong Whitworth. The locomotive started life in Bradford and was withdrawn from Lostock Hall (Preston) in 1968. Bought the same year by the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, it arrived in October 1968 and is ideal for use on the heavy services at the KWVR.

A brief history of 45407

45407 is also mixed traffic ‘Black 5’ steam locomotive. Numbered 5407 by the LMS and built in 1937 in Newcastle by Armstrong Whitworth. The locomotive started life in Kettering and was withdrawn from Lostock Hall (Preston) in 1968. It has had a number of owners in preservation, the most recent and current owner being Ian Riley.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the contributors who have sent in the images of their trip out today. Make sure you head over to their Social Media pages to see more great images.

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