Railway Photo Gallery
November 2008
Click on the thumbnails to view a larger image.
1st November 2008 - Last
Weekend of the Blackpool Illuminations
I could not resist one last trip up to
Blackpool before the 2008 illuminations finished. This year, the final week also
coincided with the school's half term week, so the last weekend was rather busy.
I visited on the Saturday, and by my reckoning there were 33 trams in service.
These included several elusive trams that had not made many appearances prior to
the final week, these being Balloon car 702, Brush car 626, Coronation 660 and
three of the five twin sets. The weather was sunny for most of the day enabling
quite a few sunny shots to be taken before rounding off the day with a selection
of night shots. A very enjoyable day.
8th
November 2008 - Grrrrrrr!!!!!
What a frustrating day! First of all we went
to Stenson Junction for 37417 on the Sinfin tanks which I missed as it departed
over 3 hours early. We then tried to chase it to Winwick as it was booked a
circuitous route through Manchester which gave us a chance of beating it. In the
event, it took a more direct route and we missed it again. So a quick divert to
Rowton for ex-works 37218 on 3J96 water cannon from Holyhead. We stood in
glorious sunshine for quite a while, but the train must have been held at
Chester for a while and by the time it turned up the sun had died. So, the net
result from the day was a sunny shot of a Voyager at Stenson Junction and a
cloudy shot of a 37 at Rowton. I have made an attempt to create a sunny shot of
37218, but it is no substitute for nailing it properly. When you click on the
thumbnail of the 'sunny' 37, it also opens the original image for comparison.
15th
November 2008 - Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, plus a bonus pair of
tractors.
The SKLR is currently threatened with
closure, and on this day a group of photographers got together lead by David
Fletcher to raise a bit of money to help the railway's cause. Not only did we
raise some needed cash, but we also had a bloody good day on an absolutely
charming little railway.
This railway needs help. To read more about their plight and how you can
help, please visit the SKLR website
I journeyed down to Sittingbourne via Didcot so I could get a night phot
of 37401 and 37417 on a Pathfinder tour. Nailing a decent night shot of the 37's
was just the start of a super day of photography.
21st
November 2008 - Top Tractor Night Shoot
The EMRPS has already done three night shoots
involving 37314. However, with it now being at the Great Central Railway, it
made a nice excuse to do a fourth - you can never get enough of large logo
tractors! This night shoot was based around Loughborough Central station and saw
the 37 at the head of a rake of ballast hoppers. It was a very enjoyable night
shoot and we all came away with some nice photographs. I still say that the
northbound shot entering Loughborough Central's platform 2 is one of the best
night shots in preservation, the station and the pegs make a superb backdrop. A
big thanks to the lighting team for a top job, the staff and volunteers of the
GCR and the Class 40 Appeal lads who did a great job for us in providing 37314
for our use and crewing the loco for the evening.
22nd
November 2008 - Sunless Grids
Having watched all the postings on various
gen groups during the week of people nailing the 56's on the Immingham to
Washwood Heath steel working, I was hoping to nail them on Saturday. However, with a
backdrop of a clear blue sky, the grids flew past Wychnor Junction in dull light
which was very disappointing. I did manage a sunny shot later in the day of the
O4 at the GCR, but it fell way short of making up for the earlier disappointment
with the grids.
29th November 2008 -
Farewell to 679
English Electric Railcoach 679 has been
aquired by the Lancastrian Transport Trust who plan to restore the tram to
1930's condition with streamlined ends. Before the work begins, the LTT
organised a 'Farewell to 679' day in Blackpool. This was sadly spoiled by the
weather, especially the fog which ruined all the night shots. Still, it was an
enjoyable day out nevertheless.
30th November 2008 - Heaton
Park Works Car Event
The Heaton Park Tramway staged a 'Works Car'
event following the acquisition of Blackpool railgrinder 752. Joining 752 in
action were Hull 96 which was painted up as Leeds Works Car 6 (in which guise it
ran after it was sold by Hull to Leeds) and Manchester 765 which was the main
passenger tram for the day. The staff at Heaton Park could not have been more
friendly, and went out of their way to line up a few special shots after dark
for me. This was my first visit to the Heaton Park Tramway, and I found the
place fascinating, so will look forward to visiting again soon.
