Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“, a photographic account of a couple of hours spent beside the former GWR main line at Twyford, and near Sonning. The Westerns have long since gone, but the Sprinters are still on the distant horizon. Visit “Springtime at Twyford and Sonning”

Just back from a little outing to Coalbrookdale. Never seen the place so busy – hundreds of people! The reason – a steam special on the branch from Madeley Junction to Ironbridge power station, hauled by Hawksworth-designed pannier tank 9466 (built for BR by RSH in 1952). The train is seen crossing the viaduct at the upper end of the dale, about half-way up the steeply-graded line. I guess the six coaches were about the limit for the locomotive, which can be heard labouring (check out the video below) as the curve kicks in.

It’s always interesting to dip into the archives – those boxes of slides that haven’t seen the light of day – or projector – for several years. I’d almost forgotten this trip – a two day outing, in late May 1996, which took us slowly down to Dover, for an overnight stay followed by an early(ish) crossing for a survey of railway activity in the Calais area. Mainline electric (mostly) and preserved steam in southern England, diesel and electric (ancient and modern…) in France. Visit Geoff’s Rail Diaries for A Trip to France

Try saying it quickly – “Emmet at Amerton, Emmet at Amerton…”

Just uploaded – a photographic account of a brief trip to the Amerton Railway, near Stafford, to see a little locomotive with a curious history in action, brightening up an otherwise dull grey Sunday afternoon. Visit “Emmet at Amerton” on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries”

Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“, a full(er) account of last week’s trip to the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway’s “Sutton 45” event, held to mark 45 years since the closure of the miniature railway in Sutton Park. Visit “Sutton beside the Humber” – and then, better still, visit the railway…

We’d decided to have a look at the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, on our way home from a trip to York. Couldn’t find a timetable on their website, and no indication of anything special in the offing. Got there and found they were having a Sutton Miniature Railway event – “Sutton 45” to mark the closure of the line 45 years ago – with original locos, original stock, and original drivers too! Yes, really!

This was our first visit to this recently extended line – and a most enjoyable visit it was too, with exceptionally friendly staff (and exceptionally grip-happy ticket inspectors…). More photos and more detail will follow, in due course, on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries”.

Time for lunch – we’re at the seaside, so… The fish and chips, eaten whilst sitting on the promenade wall watching the shipping in the Humber, were excellent. There will definitely be a return trip.

   

Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries – an account, with 29 photos, of the atmospheric day at the Statfold Barn Railway on Saturday, 22nd September 2007. Yes, the light was right – in the morning anyway. What a great setup – is this a preview of the railway enthusiast’s heaven? Visit “Statfold Steam” and find out…

Saturday 22nd September – another open day at the Statfold Barn Railway. And what a day! No fewer than eight narrow gauge steam locomotives in action – wonderful! In no particular order, there were the two ex-Java O&Ks – Pakis Baru nos. 1 and 5 (the Mallet), the repatriated Hunslet “Trangkil no. 4”, Alan Civil’s “Pearl 2”, “Isabel” from Amerton, the Harrogate gas works Peckett, new build Hunslet “Jack Lane”, and on the garden railway “Emmet”. We mustn’t forget a bevy of visiting traction engines, and Cockerill “Yvonne” in steam (but not moving very much!) on the standard gauge. More detail – and more photos – to come on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries” (it’ll take a day or two to “develop” the best of the 260 exposures I made…). In the meantime, here’s a sampler:

   

   

   

   

It’s perhaps a sobering thought that 6201 “Princess Elizabeth” has been hauling steam specials up and down the Welsh Marches for more than 30 years (on and off…) – especially as she was only in normal main line service for 29 years. Anyway, here she is again, on Saturday 15th September 2007, in the pleasant Shropshire countryside near Stokesay Castle.

The video clip (below) was filmed at the same time, and later as the southbound “Welsh Marches Express” headed past the former station at Condover.

More photos from the August visit to Bammot available here