That’s what the leaflet said… There’s more than one gauge at Keef’s; nearby is the newly-established 2’0″ gauge Lea Bailey Light Railway, and the 15″ gauge Perrygrove Railway is great fun. Visit “Narrow Gauges in the Forest” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.
September in the Severn Valley…
…the annual Autumn Steam Gala is upon us. For pictures and video, visit “Visitors in the Valley” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
A most welcome visitor
Sunday afternoon – back to the Severn Valley Railway. I’d seen Metropolitan Railway No.1 on Friday, in action further north – but it was bunker-first up the bank at Eardington, and just drifting down again. Here it’s working well on the gentle climb from Bewdley to Foley Park Tunnel – and the right way round.
There will be a Rail Diaries page in a day or two…
A most welcome visitor, a photo by
geoffspages on Flickr.
Well Preserved
Well they are – “well tanks”, that is, both of them. The lovely Krauss metre-gauge locomotives were on display on a short stretch of track at the Alan Keef open day today. The green one is 3142 of 1894, the black one 5742 of 1908. Both have been restored to full working order at Keef’s in the recent past – I met them when they were in the works a few years back (see “Justine and Lydia” and “Coffee Pots at Keef’s“). Both were in steam today, and shuffled up and down their temporary track from time to time.
We drove the short distance from Keef’s to the Lea Bailey Light Railway, where a 2′ gauge line is being developed at the former gold mine (yes, really). One to watch, I think.
Little and large
On now to Perrygrove. We thought Keef’s was busy – Perrygrove was packed… Perhaps it was the attraction of visiting locos, demonstration freights etc… It’s difficult to believe that “Lydia” and “Cagney”, seen in the photo (right) both operate on the same 15″ gauge track.
There will be a “Rail Diaries” page on the day’s amusements in due course.
Severn Valley Schooldays
The Severn Valley’s autumn gala is in full flow – today, tomorrow and Sunday. Here’s one of the visitors – SR Schools class no. 925 “Cheltenham” going well on Eardington bank.
Might have another look on Sunday – we’ve other plans for tomorrow. Rail Diaries page(s) in due course…
Severn Valley Schooldays, a photo by geoffspages on Flickr.
Kenilworth
Forty-two years later… I visited the castle at Kenilworth on a cold, clear day in late autumn, 1971. “Must go again one day”. Here’s the outcome. It’s changed a bit over the years… It was cold and rather grey (ideal for exploring the gatehouse), then later in the afternoon, a spell of bright directional sunshine. Great while it lasted, which wasn’t long.
There’s almost too much to take in here in a day – we’d better come back yet again. Probably won’t leave it another 42 years…
Kenilworth Castle – English Heritage
Taking it easy…
More from yesterday’s laid-back day – visit “September at Statfold“, just published on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.
No 9 on the new line
Another great day at the Statfold Barn Railway: here’s Graham Lee’s pride and joy, No.9, in action on a new stretch of railway (yes, it’s still expanding), with the man himself at the controls. Had a fairly lazy time on this occasion – concentrated on enjoying the railway, the bacon baps and the conversations… Nevertheless, a Rail Diaries page will appear in due course…Early Autumn at Chasewater
It was described as the “Summer Steam Gala”, but the temperature was decidedly autumnal at Chasewater – great when the sun was out, chilly when it disappeared behind the increasingly threatening clouds. We timed it well, catching the first shower minutes after departing. For more pictures and video, visit “Early Autumn at Chasewater” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
geoffspages.blog 