04:50.
Good morning people!
Day 2 is underway. The onboard crew and myself managed to grab a few hours sleep bedded down on the train at Holyhead before we returned to Bangor by 04:00 to pick up the teams. For once, they were waiting for us rather than the other way around. Everyone was able to summit, although I’m told conditions at the top were very windy. That said, there was a fantastic lightning display to be seen.
Now everyone’s aboard as we retrace our route to Chester. The walkers are getting some shut-eye whilst the onboard team start to prepare breakfast.
05:45.
As usual, things never go to plan. As the train is being ‘top and tailed’ the idea was that after leaving Holyhead the Class 57 on the year of the train would be leading to Ravenglass, saving the need to run round. Only I’m told it’s overheated. So, at Llandudno Jn we stopped in order to let 45118 run round to the front of the train and take over. The 57 remains inside to provide hotel power for the coaches.
Meanwhile, the interior of the train’s littered with sleeping bodies as the teams grab a few hours of rest before Ravenglass. But not the onboard crew. There’s mad activity in the catering cars. Breakfast’s being prepped and a sandwich making marathon’s going on. Trollies are being loaded with fruit and energy bars for walkers to pick up when we detrain
06:55.
We’ve just left Preston where we loaded extra supplies. Now the tired trekkers are being woken up and asked to clear the aisles they’ve bedded down in so that the breakfast trollies can get through.
09:00.
We’ve made it to Ravenglass where we’re boarding our second special train. This time ‘lil Ratty’ to take us up to Dalegarth ready for the walk across the hills to begin the climb up Scafell.
14:30.
Wow! That was brutal! Whilst the teams walked cross country to get to the start of the climb up Scafell I got a lift with Global Challenge (our event safety team) so that I could climb up Scafell before the teams arrived in order to be in position by the river crossing before they got there. I began my ascent at 10am, with a heavy camera bag on my back. I must be mad. I’m meant to be retired but I’m still doing daft stuff like this. The weather on Scafell meant it was like walking uphill in an oven! Less than a dozen people passed me. By the time others arrived the order had already gone out via radio for teams to turn back due to the heat. Only one person got within 1km of the summit – it was just too dangerous. Here’s how it looked from my perch.
Now the teams and staff are relaxing in Wasdale before mini buses and coaches ferry us back to Ravenglass. Naturally people are disappointed not to have made it to the summit of Scafell, but safety comes first.
Paul Bigland 