Duke's Royal Scot Return | BR Class 8 71000 'Duke of Gloucester - "The Royal Scot" - 06/11/25

A unique member of British Railway's Standards, Caprotti Pacific BR Class 8 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' makes her long awaited return to the mainline, hauling the first public passenger service in over 13 years. Appropriately carrying the Royal Scot headboard up the West Coast Mainline to Carlisle, 71000 picked the tour up from Crewe, having arrived from London Euston hauled by British Rail Class 40 D213 'Andania'.

We initially catch the Duke at Hartford station following departure from Crewe, before moving onto Beck Foot during the loco's planned water stop. At Beck Foot, we witness the tour at full chat, preparing for the climb up to Shap Summit, with the line having only recently re-opened following a derailment at Shap earlier in the week involving an Avanti West Coast Pendolino.

With the sun having all but gone by the time the tour's return leg had departed from Carlisle, we decided to catch one final shot of 71000 passing through Oxenholme Station, with the platform lighting illuminating the Duke as it blasted through at speed, rounding off a day of sterling performance from one of railway preservation's most anticipated returns.

LINKS
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VIDEO CONTENTS
0:00 - Hartford Station
0:57 - Beck Foot
2:13 - Oxenholme Lake District Station

Filmed on 6th November 2025. Many thanks for the company of @TheSouthernerYTChannel.