Holly Bank and Colin

On 16 Apr 201616 Apr 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

Colin emerges from his shed, stretching and yawning

It’s the IRS AGM – this year, it’s at Chasewater, and we have some entertainment lined up to keep us amused before the meeting, provided by Hunslet Holly Bank No.3 (AKA Darfield No.1) and tiny Barclay Colin McAndrew. There’s a brake van special and a freight train to photograph and ride on, and a certain amount of shunting. Sometimes the sun was kind to us. More will appear on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries” in a day or so, in the meantime, here’s the usual taster
Industrial Railway Society
Chasewater Railway

Blooming spring!

On 13 Apr 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, WalksLeave a comment

That’s what it’s doing! We’re walking down to Coalport for tea and cakes, and everything is bursting into flower – the blackthorn, the bluebells, the garlic and the coltsfoot. As we drink our tea, a primrose flutters past – or perhaps it’s a brimstone butterfly.

Ten years later

On 11 Apr 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

As promised: photos etc. from Saturday’s trip to Statfold – 10 years after my first visit (how things have changed!) – now at http://geoffspages.co.uk/raildiary/statfold10years.htm

Priors Holt to Black Knoll

On 10 Apr 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The day changed: it was bright and sunny when we left Priors Holt (or “Witchend” to Malcolm Saville “Lone Pine” afficionadoes), but the forecast was right. It was windy too – we’d planned a different route from Black Knoll, but the wind was strong and bitter on the exposed south-eastern flank of the Mynd – much more so than on the ridge path – so we retraced our steps to the forest. A red kite wheeling nearby was never close enough for the camera, and the three deer in the woods, just yards away, were gone in seconds. No photos of them either…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=340535&Y=289336&A=Y&Z=120

Alpha: Statfold

On 09 Apr 201609 Apr 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Railways...Leave a comment

Just back from another good day at the Statfold Barn Railway. Photos etc. will appear in due course on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries” – in the meantime, a taster: Hudswell Clarke 1172 of 1922 “Alpha”, the latest new entrant. I’d say more about this lovely little loco – if I knew any more about it…

Update: it’s from the Ryam sugar mill in India – same place as the little black Davenport, also resident at Statfold… See http://geoffspages.co.uk/raildiary/davenport.htm Thanks to http://www.steamlocomotive.info/ for that.

Croft Castle

On 06 Apr 201620 Mar 2022 By geoffspagesIn Herefordshire, NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

Somewhere for a light lunch, on the way home from Leominster… Not a day for the hills – the sunshine is tempting, but the showers are sharp, so we’ll have a look around the house and, weather permitting, garden.

Croft Castle NT

Dudmaston in spring

On 03 Apr 2016 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, PhotographyLeave a comment

Rain is threatened – better not stray too far. A wander around Dudmaston might be pleasant? It was! Spring is really getting going here – and not just the flora. The swans on the lake are quite excited about it, and the geese are honking happily. Just out of sight in the Severn valley, the steam trains whistle as they clatter along, a far more relaxing sound than the motorcycles screaming along the A442…

Dudmaston NT

Back to the Munslows

On 31 Mar 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, Walks1 Comment

A pleasant five-mile stroll in a quiet part of the Wenlock Edge – and once we’re away from the road, it really is quiet. The birds are singing, but that doesn’t count as noise, and the only other sound, as we approach the highest parts, is the gentle rustling of a very light breeze in the trees. It’s clear too – the Black Mountains stand out to the south-west. At home, the grass needs cutting, but it will have to wait…

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=351485&Y=287911&A=Y&Z=120

Double spring

On 30 Mar 2016 By geoffspagesIn Photography, Shropshire hills, WalksLeave a comment

The spring flowers are in bloom, and the tea-room’s open at Benthall Hall. On a fine and sunny afternoon (a touch nippy in the shade perhaps), what more could one ask?

Langley Chapel

On 25 Mar 201625 Mar 2016 By geoffspagesIn NT and EH, Photography2 Comments

We’d driven past once or twice, but never looked more closely. The last regular service was held here in 1871, according to English Heritage, its owners. They also say it was one of the first historic buildings to be taken into the care of the state – in 1914! It’s in the middle of nowhere (i.e roughly half-way between Acton Burnell and Kenley, perhaps 10 miles to the south of Shrewsbury), built for the farm nearby, Langley Hall (itself worth a second glance), when presumably it was of some significance in the area. A remarkable little building – heavy, rather plain and rustic oak pews (and box pews), very simple, very quiet ( a perfect brief Good Friday outing – there’s no-one else here!), and kept clean and tidy despite its long redundancy.

Langley Chapel EH