Main line steam ended in August 1968. Only one locomotive was allowed to run on the tracks of British Rail – Alan Pegler’s 4472 “Flying Scotsman” – until, in late ’69, it went to the USA – no more main line steam until the “Return to Steam” in October 1971. Have a look at this record of 4472’s Grand Tour of the North – published today to Geoff’s Rail Diaries

New on the Specials pages – “Bayston Hill” a selection of summer evening photography, from June ’88, June ’89 and July ’90. 37s, 47s, 108s, 155s, a 128 DPU, etc, etc…

Published “Bressingham – at last!“, 24 August 2006, and “Bure Valley Railway“, 25 August 2006, to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries”

Just back from a trip to East Anglia – and a couple of new venues for the Rail Diaries. We set out from Shropshire on a fine sunny day – and arrived at Bressingham after a torrential downpour, with flooded roads near Bury St Edmunds. It was dull and intermittently rainy for much of the afternoon – so the photos aren’t great, but we had a good time nevertheless, and a ride on all three lines included in the admission price.

The following day was much better for our Bure Valley trip, travelling from Wroxham to Aylsham and back. Aylsham was a hit with the household authorities – good food and a great second-hand bookshop! (May have to pay a return visit…) The Railway is pretty good too – those little 15″ gauge trains really rattle and roar along.

New on the “Specials” pages – “BR (mostly) blue diesels”

A selection from the archives – photos taken in the early 1980s when just about everything was in the BR blue livery. 25s, a 33, 37s, 40s, 45s and 47s, in a variety of locations including Newport (Essex), Shrewsbury, Chester and near York.

38 years ago, to the day, the last steam special ran, or so we thought at the time. BR’s infamous 15 Guinea special ran from Liverpool Lime Street to Carlisle and back on 11 August 1968, a full week after normal steam haulage had finished.

11 August 2006: met some old (railway) friends at Bridgnorth – a chance for a pint and a quick look at some preserved steam.

Outside-cylindered pannier tank 1501 arrived with a fine rake of Gresley teak stock (!), then went “on shed” joining close relative 5764.

“Locomotion” (Shildon) and “The Heatherslaw Light Railway” (both 30 July 2006) published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“.

 30 July 2006 – we’re heading north, with an overnight stay booked in Berwick-upon-Tweed. First stop is the NRM’s outpost at Shildon – the possibly misnamed* “Locomotion”. Misnamed? I thought perhaps a locomotive might be in steam on this midsummer Sunday, although the leaflet given out at the entrance indicated otherwise (I read later, in the Railway Magazine, that the regular steam locomotive had failed – and so had its replacement, so maybe that was the reason). And, although there is an interesting and reasonably representative selection of locomotives and rolling stock at the very fine museum, Locomotion is not present – the original and the replica are both in County Durham – but not actually here! Nevertheless, “Locomotion” is well worth a visit – it’s excellent value (it’s free!), and still excellent value if one makes the suggested donation…

* Given that both the original (1830) and replica (1980) “Sans Pareil” are both present, perhaps “Sans Pareil” might be a more appropriate name…

“Stapleford Revisited” now up on Geoff’s Rail Diaries. Pictures and more than seven minutes of video