…and trams, traction engines, buses, ships, boats, canals and other transport subjects
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
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
We had a fine sunny day for our visit to Statfold today – perfect conditions for watching no fewer than twenty 2’0″gauge steam locos in action. (I didn’t try to count them – they keep moving around, and I’d have fallen asleep). As well as the usual locals, visitor “Diana” from Bala Lake took a star turn, along with the delightful newly-restored Peckett Liassic. A “Rail Diaries” page will appear sooner or later; in the meantime here’s a picture of the Peckett.
A rare visitor to Shrewsbury today – “Royal Scot” no 46115 Scots Guardsman, seen making light work of Battlefield bank with 12 coaches in tow (I suppose we should be glad that it wasn’t raining – but the weak sunshine of just five minutes earlier would have been most welcome).
Chasewater – the “Industrial Gala”. It’s cloudy, and cold in the stiff breeze; not a day for photography, though I’ll take a few. Colin and Teddy, the two tiny saddle-tank locomotives, will demand attention, as ever, and the recent arrivals – a pair of ancient Motor-Rails, in disguise as ex-BR lookalikes 15097 and 15099, need their pictures taken too. Visit “A windy Chase” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for more.
No, we haven’t gone religious – that’s ‘crossing’, not ‘coming’. We were in Manchester yesterday, for a ride on the tram routes we didn’t have time for last year. We’ll include the new ‘second crossing’ – the alternative route across the city centre for trams running between St Peter’s Square and Victoria, which opened just over a week ago. If we’re lucky, there’ll be time for a pint later… For more, and lots of pictures, visit “The second crossing” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.
Not that we felt the cold – we arrived at Cosford just minutes before Tornado. Hauling “The Red Rose” from London Victoria, it was stopping to drop off visitors to the RAF Museum. Soon it was away again, accelerating quickly with its 11-coach train, and making a fine sight despite the sleety rain.
Just posted to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, an illustrated account of yesterday’s (admittedly somewhat limited) outing using a “West Midlands Day Ranger” ticket. Visit “A short day out” – now!
They’re all short at this time of year… Been out exploring by rail, using a “West Midlands Day Ranger”. By the time we got back to New Street, it was dark – but there’s enough light for a few photos of the trams, before squeezing into a rush-hour train. More to follow, in due course, on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries”. In the meantime, here’s tram no 31 in Stephenson Street.
Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries – “Santa Steam ’16” – photos and video from Sunday’s trip to the Severn Valley Railway, to see the Santa trains catching the golden light of a December afternoon.
