Tornado Steam Train on Ribblehead Viaduct

A 50 year wait – Tornado steam train scheduled service

Black and white photo of the steam locomotive Tornado crossing Ribblehead Viaduct, with limestone pavement in the foreground

Ribblehead Viaduct is a 24-arch railway viaduct on the Settle–Carlisle line in the Yorkshire Dales. In February 2017 the steam locomotive Tornado hauled timetabled passenger trains across it, the first in Britain for about 50 years.

I didn’t wait 50 years – but it was 50 years ago that the last steam train service ran over the iconic viaduct in the Dales. It was only for a few days in February, so I decided to brave the weather and head up there.

Quick answer: how do you photograph a steam train on Ribblehead Viaduct?

  • Where I stood: on limestone rocks near the viaduct, with hard limestone in the foreground and the viaduct behind.
  • How long I waited: nearly three hours. The train crossed at around 4pm.
  • Settings: 24–70mm lens, f/8, 1/160th, ISO 1000, with a 3-stop ND grad.
  • How many shots: the train crosses slowly, so you can fire off many compositions. I’d expect 20–50 as it passes.
  • Timings: steam times change, so check the operator’s timetable before you set off.

What is Ribblehead Viaduct?

Ribblehead Viaduct is about 400 metres long and up to 32 metres high. The Midland Railway built it between 1870 and 1874 for the Settle–Carlisle railway, with the Three Peaks – Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent – around it. It is also known as Batty Moss Viaduct. The Yorkshire Dales National Park has more on its history.

What was the Tornado steam service on the Settle–Carlisle line?

Tornado is a new-build Peppercorn A1 steam locomotive, No. 60163. For three days in February 2017 it took over some of the normal timetabled trains on the Settle–Carlisle line. It was a German-style “Plandampf”: steam hauling ordinary passenger trains rather than a one-off special. I’m no trainspotter, so these details come from The Railway Magazine’s report on the plan.

Detail What it was
Dates 14, 15 and 16 February 2017
Locomotive A1 Peppercorn Pacific No. 60163 Tornado
Route Skipton to Appleby, over Ribblehead Viaduct
Trains Timetabled passenger services, including the 10:45 Skipton to Appleby and the 15:07 return from Appleby, plus extra trains
Why Billed as a celebration of the line reopening after the Eden Brows landslip of February 2016

Was every train over Ribblehead Viaduct a steam train?

No. I’d incorrectly assumed that every train would be steam, so I had a shock when I saw about 6 normal boring ones going over the viaduct! Tornado only worked a few of the day’s trains.

So I got a LOT of shots without the train on….

Where did I photograph Ribblehead Viaduct before the steam train arrived?

Here’s the day in the order I took the photos. For other valleys worth a photography trip, my guide to Yorkshire Dales photography locations covers Nidderdale, Malhamdale, Wharfedale, Littondale and Wensleydale.

This is from the Ingleton side – the sun falls directly on to the arches, definitely worth a look if you’re up there.

Sunlight on the arches of Ribblehead Viaduct, seen from the Ingleton side over a dry-stone wall

The sun was out for a while – but Whernside was properly in shadow for this one!

Limestone scattered across moorland near Ribblehead, with Whernside in deep shadow under a dark sky

This was taken from the roadside as I was heading to Ingleton for some lunch.

Ribblehead Viaduct seen from the roadside across brown moorland under a grey sky

On the way back from lunch we had more sun – so I thought I’d get a few shots as the shadow slowly engulfed the arches, one by one.

Shadow moving across the arches of Ribblehead Viaduct while the moor in front catches the sun

This is near White Scar on the side of Ingleborough.

A sheep on a grassy rise below the layered limestone slopes of Ingleborough near White Scar, in sepia tones

Back to the rocks, where I was for AGES.

Deep cracks in limestone pavement leading towards Ribblehead Viaduct on the horizon under a stormy sky

Really liked this crack in the limestone.

A deep crack running through limestone pavement, with Ribblehead Viaduct small on the horizon

How long did I wait for the steam train at Ribblehead?

I was stood on these rocks for nearly 3 hours – no 4G, unchanging light, tried hundreds of photos – bit of focus stacking practice, which is really easy with the 5D4’s new touch screen shutter.

I’d almost given up by 4ish, then people started gathering in the distance, behind the Station Inn. The train crossed at around 4pm.

What camera settings did I use for a steam train on Ribblehead Viaduct?

I had the 24–70mm lens on, a 3-stop ND grad in place and the polariser on.

Setting What I used
Camera Canon 5D Mark IV
Lens 24–70mm
Filters 3-stop ND grad and a polariser
Aperture f/8
Shutter speed 1/160th
ISO 1000

With hindsight, the polariser didn’t make much difference and forced me to up the ISO to compensate for the long shutter. After all, the train is moving – I guessed I needed at least about 1/100th for it not to blur.

Was I the only photographer on the rocks?

Amazingly I was the only person on these rocks – I was expecting lots of company, but I think people were more interested in the actual train over the steam patterns.

I was looking for an epic landscape with hard, cold limestone in the foreground, then the bridge in the background with a long plume of steam as the train passed over.

I got lucky – it’s exactly what happened! And the rain stopped for the moment when the train actually passed.

It goes very slowly over the viaduct, so you can fire off many compositions as it passes – I’d have got 20-50 shots I expect – you just don’t want to miss out having waited for so long.

Steam train and plume on Ribblehead Viaduct beneath a break in a stormy sky, with limestone in the foreground

Black and white photo of the Tornado steam train on Ribblehead Viaduct, with textured limestone in the foreground

Colour shows how grey the day was – I’ve eked a lot of texture out of that sky in processing.

Colour photo of the steam train crossing Ribblehead Viaduct under a heavy grey sky, with warm-toned limestone in the foreground

Using a different white balance, taken from the limestone, you get a cooler vibe.

Cool-toned photo of the steam train and its plume crossing the arches of Ribblehead Viaduct above limestone rocks

Black and white edit of the steam train crossing Ribblehead Viaduct under dark clouds

Steam train leaving Ribblehead Viaduct in black and white, with limestone pavement in front

The train leaves the viaduct, and doesn’t stop at the station! Ingleborough in the background too (here’s why foreground, middleground and background matter).

Steam train leaving Ribblehead Viaduct with Ingleborough in the distance under a stormy sky

If you’d like to see how I edit shots like these, I have a Lightroom tutorial on editing a Ribblehead Viaduct landscape. For detail in the steam itself, my Flying Scotsman Lightroom tutorial works through bringing out detail in the steam and the engine body.

So there you go – I’m not a trainspotter and have no knowledge of steam, other than clouds of it look really cool on viaducts in the Dales!

Frequently asked questions about photographing steam trains at Ribblehead Viaduct

Do trains still go over Ribblehead Viaduct?

Yes. It carries the Settle–Carlisle railway, which is still a working line, so ordinary passenger trains cross it regularly. Steam specials such as the Dalesman run over it on selected dates.

What time does the steam train go over Ribblehead Viaduct?

It depends on the day and the operator, so there is no single time. In February 2017 the published plan had Tornado’s return working leaving Appleby at 15:07, and the train I photographed crossed at around 4pm. For any steam special, check the operator’s timetable for the day.

Where is the best place to photograph Ribblehead Viaduct?

I got the picture I wanted from limestone rocks with the viaduct behind, which gave me a hard, cold foreground. The Ingleton side is worth a look for sun on the arches, and the roadside towards Ingleton is a quick option if you’re passing.

What camera settings work for a steam train on a viaduct?

I used f/8, 1/160th and ISO 1000 with a 24–70mm lens. I reckoned I needed at least about 1/100th so the moving train wouldn’t blur. With hindsight, the polariser cost me light and made little difference.

How long do you have to wait for a steam train at Ribblehead?

It depends on the timetable and the day. I was stood on the rocks for nearly three hours, with no 4G and unchanging light, before the train appeared, so I’d allow plenty of time.

How many photos can you take as a steam train crosses the viaduct?

The train crosses very slowly, so you can fire off many compositions. I’d expect 20 to 50 shots as it passes.

Cheers, Ade

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