Arcow Quarry Roadstone Train - Full Working

Video created by Northumberland Snapper:
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Filmed on 4th June 2021.
This is a reupload of an earlier video, which needed minor editorial corrections.
This video captures the complete metamorphosis of an empty roadstone train being loaded and turned around at Tarmac's Arcow Quarry, just to the south of Horton-in-Ribblesdale on the Settle and Carlisle Line.
Arcow and the adjacent Dry Rigg Quarry are one of only six places in the UK where a series of highly-folded siltstones is found. This stone, dating from the Silurian period (~450 million years ago) is hardwearing and highly skid-resistant, making it a particularly good construction material for high speed roads and runways.
We begin at around 1230 hrs, with train 6M31, hauled by GB Railfreight's locomotive 66719 "Metro-Land" and consisting of 21 empty HYA bogey hopper wagons, arriving from Doncaster Down Decoy.
The train is slowly reversed down the Arcow Quarry Line into the quarry and the rearmost 7 wagons are uncoupled and braked in the furthest siding. The locomotive and remaining 14 wagons then draws forward until beyond the points allowing access to the nearest (loading) siding, before slowly reversing. The rearmost 7 wagons are now in the loading area and a duo of Volvo bucket loaders set to work filling the hoppers.
Every so often the locomotive slowly draws the train forward, so as to allow good access for the loaders.
When the 7 wagons in the loading area are filled, the locomotive draws the train forward, reverses to couple 7 empties on the back, draws forward and then reverses the 7 empties back into the loading area. So the cycle continues until all 21 wagons are loaded, although it has to be said that some of them are only half full at the end of the process.
By about 1515 hrs, after around two-and-a-half hours of solid loading and shunting, train 6E77 is now ready for departure towards Hunslet Tilcon. The locomotive draws slowly forwards up the 1-in-100 incline towards the main line, stopping at the Stop Board just short of the ground frame. The driver or one of the ground staff use the telephone at the ground frame to contact the signaller to unlock the points for the road ahead and obtain permission to depart.
At 1540 hrs train 6E77 draws out of the Arcow Quarry Line, on this occasion an hour ahead of schedule (although for some unknown reason Realtime Trains shows the departure on time at 1640 hrs).
I certainly found this fascinating to watch and I hope you will too. I should also conclude by saying that all of my footage was obtained from the public footpath that runs adjacent to the quarry.
Footage was captured using Panasonic HC-VX1; amzn.to/3vJnqNJ; fitted with a Rode VideoMic Go; amzn.to/3rpMeIA

[@trainsmad12]

Fantastic video.

[@NorthumberlandSnapper]

Glad you like. It was a nice day out for me!

[@denishales86]

arcow quarry freight hot spot now great video

[@SteveSmithRailways]

Fascinating working and showing how its done. No doubt that was a few hours work before heading off again. great capture.

[@NorthumberlandSnapper]

Yes, I think it took a couple of hours to turn the train around. I was a nice day and I had plenty of batteries, so I didn't mind the wait. It was also interesting to watch events unfold.

[@SteveSmithRailways]

@@NorthumberlandSnapper Thought it would have been longer....thanks for replying

[@mrmartinb1615]

Lovely footage and your so close to the action aswell, it's brilliant....Interesting that there still using the HYAs and not the cut down version to possibly stop over loading. 👍

[@NorthumberlandSnapper]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. There's a public path near the quarry that gives a good vantage point.

[@mrmartinb1615]

@@NorthumberlandSnapper Your welcome thankyou for the great video. Not sure if you've ever paid Peak Forest a visit and viewed the stone trains from the 'famous' bridge or the path running along side the DB depot and down the tracks to Tunstead Quarry. One every 15 to 20 minutes or so. Very much well worth a visit..Keep up the great work. 👍

[@NorthumberlandSnapper]

Yes, I've been to Peak Forest but didn't film anything as the traffic was flying by. I took a walk down to Great Rocks SB and got some footage there instead.

[@Hard-Boiled-Bollock]

Love to see the Settle & Carlisle thriving.. thank God those (insert extreme insult of people in power here) didn't get their way

[@NorthumberlandSnapper]

Yes, it's on the up. New railhead shortly at Horton Quarry.