Jubilee “Leander” could be mistaken for a Black 5 – now in BR black livery as 45690, after years of LMS maroon – though the lines of a 5XP are perhaps just that bit finer than the slightly stockier 5MT. Whatever the colour or shape, and despite the dull weather, Leander made a fine sight and sound on Shrewsbury’s Battlefield bank this afternoon. (See also “Leander in black” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries)
Category: Railways…
…and trams, traction engines, buses, ships, boats, canals and other transport subjects
Austerity
No, not today’s dreadful economic state, but a railway reminder of wartime – the 2-8-0 freight locomotives, built quickly and as cheaply as possible for service in the UK and abroad. The BR austerities were all scrapped, despite surviving until late 1967 – but one which never saw BR service survived – and this weekend it is visiting the Severn Valley Railway for their “Spring Steam Gala”. I thought I’d better go and see no. 90733 in action… Visit 2-8-0s on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for more…
Diesels in the dale
A rare event – and one that might not be possible in a year or so… Today’s “Shropshire Union” railtour brought a passenger train down Coalbrookdale, to Ironbridge power station and back. I’d better get out with the camera. For more photos, visit “The Shropshire Union” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Severn Valley Santa trains
Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, the photos from this afternoons outing. Visit “Steaming to Santa on the SVR” – now!
Steaming towards Christmas
It’s December, and it’s a pre-Christmas weekend – which means the Santa trains are operating on the Severn Valley Railway. The forecast say the sun will shine all afternoon – I’d better get down there…
There will be more photos on a “Rail Diaries” page, when I’ve had a chance to process them. In the meantime, here’s a taster – visiting 9F no. 92214. Yes, it’s green. Not complaining…
The Christmas Cheshireman
…was the name of the train, a trip from Bristol to Chester for the Christmas market. It was going to be hauled by Tangmere, an un-rebuilt Bulleid pacific, but earlier in the week, Tangmere was advised as “unavailable”, and instead the reliable duo of 44871 and 45407 would haul the trip. At about the same time, the weather forecast was rather unfriendly – happily, the forecast improved, and in the event, the morning’s fog cleared to bright sunshine. Here they are, Black 5s 44871 and 45407 hurrying along, on time, near Stokesay with the Christmas Cheshireman.
There are two steam-hauled specials next week, bringing passengers to the Ludlow Christmas markets – fingers crossed for the weather…
Gloucester Docks
We were here perhaps twelve years ago. to visit the national waterways museum; today’s could be described as a flying visit, though we travelled by train, from Shropshire to Newport, then up the west side of the Severn estuary. The docks area had undergone some tidying-up in 2002 – today there are many more signs of redevelopment. It’s still an interesting place to wander around – there’s a “tall ship” moored on the west side, and a couple of boats in dry dock, as well as the canalside warehouses and all manner of other floating things. Odd short stretches of railway track provide a reminder of what this are must have been like in its heyday.
For more on the trip, and more photos, visit “Newport and Gloucester” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Another Autumn Gala: Toddington
The season continues: this weekend the Toddington Narrow Gauge Railway held its Autumn Steam Gala. Two residents – Jung “Justine” and Henschel Brigadelok “Sena” were in action, together with visiting Kerr Stuart “Stanhope” from Apedale. There’s action on the standard gauge too – two 2-8-0s, one of which has an interesting history. Visit “Little and Large at Toddington” for more…
Foxfield in September
Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries” – photos, video and (brief) account of yesterdays outing. Visit “Foxfield in September” – now!
Foxfield’s Autumn Gala
September has been busy! It’s the turn of the Foxfield Railway this weekend – its Autumn Steam Gala. And what a great day – good weather and lots of noisy steam action on the fearsome gradient from the colliery, for stills and video. A “Rail Diaries” page will appear in a day or so – in the meantime, as ever, here’s a quick preview. (it’s a shame there isn’t something like this going on every weekend, though if there was, I’d be exhausted by Christmas)
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