…at Butterley. As promised, more on the day at the Midland Railway. Visit “A brief look at Butterley” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Author: geoffspages
Industrial at Butterley
It was the Industrial Railways Society’s AGM yesterday – this time at the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley. Whether it was in our honour, I’m not certain, but the passenger service for the day was being operated by two diminutive industrial 0-4-0STs – 104-year old Peckett “Whitehead” and No 1, an RSH from Castle Donington power station, little more than half the age of the Peckett. They seemed to cope OK. Yes, that is a 3-car DMU they’re hauling; no, its engines weren’t running… (The AGM was in the reconstructed tin chapel – whose seating was ideal for keeping things reasonably brief…)
A “Rail Diaries” page with (a few) more photos will follow in due course.
Thirteen – unlucky for some?
There were thirteen locomotives in steam at Statfold on Saturday – fantastic! It’s said to be unlucky for some (this is the only photo of the big Mallet no 9 in action).
Visit “Statfold – a Baker’s Dozen” for the full story, and lots of pictures
How (blue and) green was my valley
Just uploaded to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, the pictures and video from my Friday and Saturday visits to the Severn Valley’s Spring Steam Gala. Visit “Blue and Green – Spring Steam“
…and the SVR
They’re holding their Spring Steam Gala this weekend – one of the highlights being A4 “Bittern” on a rake of eight Gresley teak coaches – wonderful stuff!
Seen near Eardington, Fri 23rd, when the mist had mostly cleared. May have to go and take some more today…
Chasewater’s Spring Gala
Here it is, as promised – visit “Chasewater 2012” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for the (moderately) full story and pictures from yesterday’s visit
Chasewater
…the Spring Gala at the railway – yes, it’s that time of year at last. A great day, with five locomotives in steam, and a variety of trains – a 3-coach passenger, a short freight (had a ride in the brake van) and a coal train. A shame that the morning’s sunshine didn’t last. Here’s a taster; more to follow in due course
Holyhead
A day trip on the train – and a leg stretch beside the Irish Sea, out to North Stack and back over the top of Holyhead Mountain. It may only be 720′ high, but it feels like a mountain – the ground is rugged, in places precipitous, and you have to start at sea level…
One last look…
I was sure I’d only visited Littleton twice in 1976 – and then I found this solitary photo in the archives, taken in August of that year. I have no recollection of that visit!
It’s been duly added to the Littleton page on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Hope Bowdler
An amazingly mild and sunny afternoon – at home… The car said it was 16°C; fifteen miles away, on Hope Bowdler hill, the clouds were gathering, and the wind was getting up. It certainly didn’t feel like 16°, not with the wind chill on the tops – but the light was good, the air clear and the views extensive. Jodrell Bank, just over 50 miles away, gleamed on the northern horizon – the first time I’ve seen it from Shropshire’s hills
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