…was the first A3 I “saw”, too many years ago. There are no A3s at Foxfield (which is probably a good thing), but lots of retired industrial steam locomotives, fighting-fit and ready for action. Sadly, it’s not the best of days, but at least it’s stopped raining (mostly…), and we’ve time for a quick look. Visit Foxfield – a flying visit on Geoff’s Rail Diaries – now!
Category: Railways…
…and trams, traction engines, buses, ships, boats, canals and other transport subjects
Buses and brewery locos
Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, an illustrated account of yesterday’s fun at, and near, the Chasewater Railway. Visit “Second Childhood” for the full story.
Eccentric crankshafts
We’ve been to Chasewater today – for the “Burton Breweries Locomotives Day”. Some of those locomotives – and some of their associates who had nothing to do with brewing, are amongst the strangest standard-gauge railway locomotives around. Illustrated are 15099 “Morris”, and the former Worthington’s no 21. Morris is nearly 100 years old; no 21 will soon be 90. Both appeared to be well into their second childhoods, having great fun pushing troublesome trucks around all afternoon. More photos (to include Colin McAndrew, old Birmingham buses etc.) will be published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries” in a day or two.
Rain, steam and 15mph
We’ve been to the Amerton Railway today, for their steam gala. We should have gone yesterday – we picked the wettest day for weeks. Despite the rain, which wasn’t always heavy, we had a most enjoyable afternoon. For more pictures etc. visit “A rainy day at Amerton” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.
Statfold; 1 megapost
Saturday 10 June: the latter is nothing to do with the former. This just happens to be the 1,000th post on this blog (which started life just over 11 years ago, on Blogspot*). What better way to celebrate (given that I noticed quite by chance that no. 1,000 was approaching) than a coincidental trip to the Statfold Barn Railway, for the June open day. It was a lazier day than usual – not good weather for photography (though the rain held off), and the increasing numbers attending make photography more and more difficult too, in more ways than one. It’s still a great day out though!
*I moved the posts across to WordPress
Flying Scotsman
Fri. 19 May: 60103 “Flying Scotsman” is due to haul “The Cathedrals Express” south from Shrewsbury. I’d better go and see that. It’s a day of sunny intervals – there’s plenty of blue sky, but quite a lot of cloud too. These trains can sometime run a little late – but not on this occasion. It was one or two minutes early through All Stretton, which was a great pity – if it had been on time, the sun would have been shining…
Damp Docklands
Weds. 17 May: A long-planned trip to London, to explore the Docklands Light Railway. The weather could have been kinder… For more on the trip, visit “Docklands” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Staffordshire Centenarians
Sun. 14 May – a birthday celebration in Staffordshire. Stanhope and Diana are both 100 this year; their friends Joffre and no 9, also actively attending, are 101 years old. Roger will be 100 next year – and his little friend Jennie is just 12 years old… Yes, it’s the Apedale “Stanhope” gala weekend. For more pictures, and (a little) more on the day’s events, visit “More Birthdays at Apedale” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.
Future steam
On 12 May, I joined a group visiting the locomotive works at Llangollen – where no fewer than four new-build steam locomotives are under construction – a GWR “Grange” 4-6-0, a GWR 47xx 2-8-0, an LMS unrebuilt “Patriot” 4-6-0, and an LNER B17 4-6-0. Fascinating stuff! For more on this trip, go to “New Build” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
A Spring Score
Twenty in steam at Statfold, for the March Enthusiasts’ day – what a great day’s entertainment! For more on the visit to the Statfold Barn Railway, and lots of pictures, visit “A Spring Score at Statfold” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
geoffspages.blog 