…and trams, traction engines, buses, ships, boats, canals and other transport subjects
6024 southbound from Shrewsbury, a photo by geoffspages on Flickr.Fun and games at Bridgnorth station, and 6024 “King Edward I” southbound from Shrewsbury. Visit “On a Western Theme” on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries” for more pictures and video
A rare event indeed – one of the Welsh railway’s mainstays visiting another line – the Statfold Barn Railway, for its 4th June open day. See Linda, and another eleven narrow gauge locos in action, in “A Statfold Dozen” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries”, the full(ish) account and pictures of yesterday’s visit to the celebrations at Rhyl. Visit “Rhyl 100” now…
This weekend the 15” gauge Rhyl Miniature Railway celebrates its centenary. At first it was operated using Bassett-Lowke / Greenly “Little Giant” 4-4-2 locomotives; from 1920 a fleet of six larger and more powerful 4-4-2s was built, in Rhyl, by fairground engineer Albert Barnes. The story of the subsequent 91 years is complex; suffice it to say that, this weekend, the six Barnes Atlantics were on display, together, for the first time.
More photos to follow, in due course, on the “Rail Diaries” pages – in the meantime, here are the six, lined up in numerical order. Front (from right to left): 101 “Joan”, 102 “Railway Queen”, 103 “John”
Rear: 104 “Billie”, 105 “Michael”, 106 “Billy”
Heavy freight steam on a heavy passenger train – shame about the sunshine… 48151 made a great sight and sound this morning.
For more pictures and video visit “Heavy freight on the North and West” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Black 5s 45407 and 44871 at Knucklas, on day 7 of the “Cathedrals Explorer”. More photos and video – visit Knucklas on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Steam in Shropshire on a glorious spring day – 5029 “Nunney Castle” works steadily up the last couple of miles of the climb from Shrewsbury to Church Stretton, on day 7 of the 9-day “Great Britain IV” tour
Smoke and steam with Saccharine, a photo by geoffspages on Flickr.The contrast between this outing and the Stableford afternoon couldn’t be greater. Eleven locomotives – all very different* – in steam and in action on the mixed-gauge 2’ / 2’6” gauge railway at Statfold Barn. And the weather – yes – sadly, that was very different too… Nevertheless, an excellent day – we were there for six hours, which seemed to go by in the blinking of an eye. For a full account plus pictures and video, visit Statfold – the March gala on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
*Jack Lane and Statfold are, of course, virtually identical twins – though they bear different liveries, and Jack Lane has no cab. The other locos are all really different – 0-4-0, 0-4-2, 0-6-0, 4-4-0, 0-4-4-0 Mallets, some with tenders, others without, of British and German manufacture.
Another warm and sunny day – too good to stay at home. After yesterday’s walk, something gentler was in order – a couple of hours watching the trains go by at Stableford, Staffs. Lots of trains – very little variety…
Visit Stableford (if you must!) on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Full set of photos and 5 minutes of video on Geoff’s Rail Diaries – visit Chasewater Spring Gala now!
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