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Misc Steam around the Preserved Railways
Various shots around the UK's Preserved Railways, Steam that doesn't really fit anywhere else.Mainly single shots with no real theme.
Two more long standing members of the SV-Rly steam fleet sitting warm and snug in the Highley Engine House Exibition Hall.4566 a GWR 2-6-2 tank that was the 8th loco to depart from Woodhams yard at Barry in 1970.It has run over 112000 miles in the 50 years since! The 2-10-0 WD Austerity is 600 'Gordon' that came from the Longmoor Military Railway in Hampshire and as such was never a BR registered engine.
..2 october 2022..
This loco 'Jinty' 47383 has been on the SVR since it originally opened,in fact their 5th loco. It arrived complete after final usage for the NCB at Williamsthorpe Colliery in Chesterfield.Currently out of ticket it has completed over 42000 miles in preservation.No doubt a few more as well in the years to come.Seen in the Engine House at Highley on the SVR.
..2 october 2022..
Whilst at Highley on the SV-Rly I visited the excellent Engine House Museum there.Here we have an ex-GWR pannier tank 5764 which was sold to London Transport for further use on engineering trains.It became L95 on their stock list.After 10 years of use there it was sold into preservation as a complete loco coming here to the SVR.It has worked here many times but currently it is a static exhibit having had a cosmetic repaint a few years ago.
..2 october 2022..
The almost 'ready to run' 2999 or as it is shown here as 2983 'Redgauntlet' sits on display on the turntable in Didcot Railway Centre.
It is only in this black livery for a short time as when it is ready for steaming in the Spring of 2019 it will be finished in GWR-Green.Luckily it was a perfect day lightwise for these one time only valedictory shots.
------17 november 2018------
BR liveried Ivatt 2-6-0 46447 is currently on loan to the East Somerset Railway from the Isle of Wight.It was restored here in Somerset at Cranmore and entered service a couple of years ago.Here seen waiting time before an afternoon departure down the line to Mendip-Vale.Of note is the coach directly behind the loco.It is the unique fibreglass experimental coach DS-S1000 rebuilt onto the salvaged frames of S4378 a Mk-1 TSO that was involved in the Lewisham rail crash way bsck in 1957.
..25 may 2019..
'Joffre' Class 0-6-0 'Axe' draws forward to couple up to its train to form the next service to Killington Lane Halt at 11:30.Note the storm clouds gathering looking westward towards Ilfracombe and the Bristol Channel.
..8 september 2018..
A view of the MPD area at Woody Bay Station on the Lynton & Barnstable Railway Trust based there.'Axe' takes a breather inbetween working todays service trains whilst D6652 a Gardner-Hunslet that was originally at Dean Hill-West Dean Wiltshire Naval Munitions Depot until 2003 looks on. I presume if this railway eventually makes progress towards Lynton this running shed will need to be moved or perhaps the line will be able to squeeze past it somehow!
..8 september 2018..
'Axe' commences its run-round at Woody Bay Station in readiness to work the 11:30 train from here to Killington Lane Halt.The train comprising of three original carriages from the pre-World War-2 Lynton & Barnstable Railway that was closed by the 'Southern Railway way back in 1935.
..8 september 2018..
Woody Bay Station is the current base of the fledgeling 'Lynton & Banstable' Railway Trust that is slowly bringing this long lost narrow guage railway from before WW-2 back to life.Current track mileage is just over a mile from here out to Killington Lane. Here is 'Axe' in Woody Bay Station having just arrived from Killington Lane with a train of restored original L&B coaches.The 1915 built loco is a Kerr Stuart Co Ltd 0-6-0 works no-2451 of the 'Joffre' class that originally worked in France on the Western Front during WW-1.Amazingly it survived to be returned to the UK in 1974.
..8 september 2018..
USA Class S-160 2-8-0 No 6046 rests in between duties at Minehead on the West Somerset Railway.Built in 1945 by Baldwin in the USA works no-70280 it went straight to France then after the war on to Hungary where it survived as MAV Hungarian Railways no-411.144. After being saved from scrap it came to the UK and is now owned by the Churnet Valley Railway although currently here in deepest Somerset.
..7 september 2018..
'Alice' a 2-6-0 loco built in 1984 by 'Simkins & Vere' exits the short tunnel on the approach to Trago-Central.One of the three stations on this quite extensive 10-1/4''gauge miniature railway. It trades under the name of 'The Bickington Steam Railway' in Trago Mills shopping centre on the outskirts of Newton Abbot in Devon.
..17 july 2018..
Here is the other side of the limited production commercially produced 'Live' steam model.It comes from a firm called 'Roundhouse' and this is their 'Katie' loco.It is an 0-4-0ST in G-scale.All the walschaerts valve gear is accurate and working as per a full size version.This particular version is radio controlled and it runs superbly.It is rather costly though working out at about £1503:00 c/w the radio gear.The owner is in the process of laying the track all around the garden....all very impressive!
..30 july 2017..
Here is a limited production commercially produced 'Live' steam model. It comes from a firm called 'Roundhouse' and this is their 'Katie' loco.It is an 0-4-0ST in G-scale.All the walschaerts valve gear is accurate and working as per a full size version.This particular version is radio controlled and it runs superbly.It is rather costly though working out at about £1503:00 c/w the radio gear.The owner is in the process of laying the track all around the garden....all very impressive!
..30 july 2017..
With all the buggies and various people holding mobile phone camera's at arms length this was the best I could come up with of the 14:00 departure from Cranmore to Mendip-Vale.Tender first 46447 with 41313 inside gets away in a brief glimpse of sun with Mk-1 fibre-glass carriage S1000S well in evidence.In the distance can be seen the Running Shed where both these locomotives were rebuilt back to working order.
..24 june 2017..
The newly overhauled Ivatt 2-6-2T 41313 on its first day in service since withdrawal from Eastleigh Shed in 1966 (51 years ago) prepares to depart Cranmore with the 14:00 service to Mendip-Vale and return.Of interest is the coach directly behind the loco.It is S1000S the only Glass-Fibre Mk-1 carriage ever built,originally it was SR-Green but currently in BR-Maroon.It is a preservationists dream! No corrosion problems with this carriage.It is literally the only rust free BR Mk-1 in the country!
..24 june 2017..
This is the view from the Signal Box at Cranmore which for many years was David Shepherds Art Gallery.Currently it is slowly being returned to use as an operating Signal Cabin.We can see Ivatt 2-6-0 46447 returning with the 13:00 service from Cranmore to Mendip-Vale and back.This is another Loco restored here in the small but extreemly proficient workshops on this preserved line.
..24 june 2017..
Here is the reason for the visit to the ES-Rly.The just finished fully overhauled Ivatt 2-6-2T 41313 was making its debut into traffic after a wait of over 50 years since it was withdrawn from Eastleigh Shed way back in 1966.As it was built as Crewe in 1952 it only had a service life with BR of just 14 years.It has been overhauled here at Cranmore on behalf of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway as part of a complicated deal involving several locomotives including this one. Before the end of the year it will return to Havenstreet in the IOW for use there.View here sitting in the platform 'run-round' loop at Cranmore station.
..24 june 2017..
GWR 0-6-2T 5637 sits in the gloom of the running shed at Cranmore on the East Somerset Railway.Along side of it is an ex-Balfour Beatty Mk-1 coach receiving extensive bodywork attention at the start of what will be almost certainly a long long overhaul to operational condition.
..24 june 2017..
80146 (80104) canters over Corfe Common with the last train of the day,the 17:20 from Norden back down to Swanage.Effectively an ECS working,I think I saw 2 people on it.More people were obviously on the final journey up to Norden to collect their cars etc after a hot hot day at the seaside!
..20 june 2017..
Although it is numbered as 80146 this loco is in fact 80104.Here it is seen between Norden and Corfe Castle working the 16:00 from Norden to Swanage.The stock being five Mk-1 coaches in Southern green livery.
..20 june 2017..
30053 which continues to give good service as it has done since it was returned to steam in 1992 (25 years ago now) gets the 14:00 service to Norden away from Swanage passing the small loco depot situated there.
..25 may 2017..
M7 30053 prepares to depart Swanage with the 14:00 service to Norden.Note the 'Devon-Belle' observation coach behind the loco.Also present in the station area was nicely restored 'Crompton' D6515 quietly sitting in the bay platform having a day off!
..25 may 2017..
ex-LSWR M7 0-4-4 tank loco 30053 runs into Swanage bunker-first with the 13:20 service from Norden.This 1905 built loco after its withdrawal by BR went to the USA for preservation in 1967 and thankfully after 20 years there was repatriated back to the UK to the Swanage Railway where it has been ever since.Certainly a more suitable location than Bellows Falls in Vermont-USA that is for sure!
..25 may 2017..
Replica Broad-Gauge 2-2-2 locomotive 'Firefly' pokes its nose out of the 'Tranfer-Shed' on the section in the Didcot Railway Centre given over to the GWR era when broad gauge was considered as the way to go! Interestingly it can be seen the standard gauge track as well here in this dual-gauge platform.A very lucky 'find' at Burlescombe in Devon yielded enough original broad gauge track and pointwork to allow this representation here to be constructed.A very unique example of the old GWR system that died before the turn of the 19th century.
..25 march 2017..
The Wantage Tramway Engine No-5 'Shannon' is quite a relic.Built way back in 1857 (160 years ago) it is the only standard gauge loco built by George England to survive.4 more narrow gauge loco's still exist as well on the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales.This National Collection loco hasn't steamed in over 40 years due to serious cracks in the firebox and so is firmly a static exhibit albeit kept in immaculate external condition.Seen here deep in the depths of Didcot Main Running Shed.
..25 march 2017..
The infamous Blue 'cut-down' King 6023 sits in the sunshine at Didcot Railway Centre.In fact it was the only thing in steam today.Nothing was operating on the demo-lines which probably accounted for the place being largely deserted.Quite nice because of that having the place virtually to myself with no pushchairs and children getting in the way! Its a sad indictment of the state of the main railways through Didcot on a sunny saturday that I was reduced to visiting this preservation site.The main station and surrounding area is now totally ruined anyway by the ugly and disgustingly over engineered unnecessary electrification crap!
..25 march 2017..
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST 1719 'Lady Nan' built in 1920 has been a resident here for many years.Its main function these days is just as 'Yard Pilot' and use on the 'Driver for a Fiver' scheme at weekends in the Summer. Here it is on shed along with 46447 at Cranmore.Use of 1600- iso camera setting being needed in this dark dark building!
..17 september 2016..
The very recently restored Sentinel 7109/1927 'Joyce' steams away from Midsomer-Norton Station keeping up with the also departing visiting 'Jinty' 47406 with its 14:00 departure to Chilcompton. This 4wVBTG loco was steamed for the first time in 56 years (1960) just nine days ago and was one of just eight built which inspired the LMS to order a pair (BR numbers) 47190/47191 to work in Radstock just a mile or so away.Those are now of coarse long scrapped but this almost identical engine from Croydon Gasworks serves as a perfect reminder of their local connection!
..27 february 2016..
With the sun sinking well on to the horizon 7820 works '2C38' the 15:05 from Laverton to Cheltenham Racecoarse over the Stanway Viaduct on the northern extension between Toddington and Laverton.
..29 december 2015..
7820 'Dinmore Manor' continues on it journey to Laverton from Cheltenham racecoarse as '2L19' still in tail-end drag mode.Here it is passing Hailes nearing its stop at Toddington.
..29 december 2015..
Today this 'Christmas-Cracker' event at the GWR was billed as 'Mixed Traction'.Most working were both steam and diesel.On the rear of '2L19' the 11:30 from Cheltenham to Laverton was BR-liveried ex-GWR 7820 'Dinmore Manor' looking superb glinting in the low level winter sunlight.Here it is seen edging slowly backwards into its station stop at Winchcombe.The reason all trains are currently T-n-T is because the run-round loop at Laverton is not in use making single loco haulage between there and Toddington not possible.Hence it is much simpler to T-n-T the entire route instead!
..29 december 2015..
117 year old 0-4-4T Metropolitan No-1 eases away from Bitton going to Oldland Common.Seen passing the recently restored 0-4-0VBT Sentinal at the throat of the yard here at Bitton.-------------17 october 2015-----------
GWR 2-6-2T 4160 appears from the trees at Castle Hill shortly after it had departed from Williton on the West Somerset Railway.It was working the 14:25 from Minehead to Bishops-Lydeard.Sadly its Boiler-Ticket is set to expire in a few weeks time which will result in quite a long period of time out of service.Amazingly it is now over 40 years since this loco was rescued as a rusty stripped hulk from Woodhams Yard at Barry in S-Wales.
..05 september 2015..
J94 type 'Earl David' WPR No-15 accelerates smartly away from the confines of Bitton-Yard as it runs parallel with the cycleway towards Oldland Common.This being the 14:45 from Bitton.No chance on such a busy day like this to expect nobody on the cycleway.Sometimes as many a 10 cycles in a group would wobble by!
..04 may 2015..
The fireman on J94 No-15 leans out of his cab preparing to surrender the tablet to the gateman as the 14:20 from Avon-Riverside leaves that section on the approach to Bitton.The Avon Cycleway follows the line here for miles and as today was a Bank Holiday was infested with hundreds of cyclists enjoying the level Sustrans path next to be railway.
..04 may 2015..
J94 type 0-6-0 Industrial SaddleTank Number 15 'Earl David' from when it was owned by the Wemyss Private Railway prepares to depart Bitton on the Avon Valley Railway with the 14:00 going to Avon-Riverside.
..04 may 2015..
The clarity and sharpness of this shot is amazing considering that it was taken with a EF-S17-85mm -IS lens at just 250th/sec on F5.6 using 1000ASA due to the extreme lack of light because it was now 16:00 in the afternoon on late October! So here is 'Jinty' 47406 rolling towards Oldland Common on the Avon Valley Railway.Not many pushbikes now on the adjacent Sustrans path!----------------------------------18 october 2014------------
Ex-WD 71529 makes plenty of noise as it heads towards Oldland Common on the Avon Valley Railway.This line runs parallel with a very busy cycleway the entire length of the line.--------18 october 2014-------
A4 Pacific 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' passes Moorgates with the 13:44 from Grosmont going to Pickering.Today was the first day of a 3-day Steam Gala but after this working passed I regretfully had to leave as a long journey home was about to start after spending a full week sampling Yorkshire and most it had to offer with the family.
..26 september 2014..
GWR 2-8-0 2807 visiting from the Gloucester&Warwick Rly is seen approaching Moorgates shortly after departing Goathland with the 12:29 from Grosmont to Pickering.
..26 september 2014..
Now this place took a bit of finding,particularly as I have never visited this line before. Ex-NCB Lambton-Tank No 29 rounds the bend at Darnholm on the approach to Goathland with the demonstration Freight (11:02 off) from Grosmont.As this was a Steam-Gala day the congestion in the narrow back roads was terrible and car parking was even worse.If I ever go to this line again the way to go is by motorcycle!
..26 september 2014..
Whilst having a week long break in a Holiday Cottage at Pickering-Yorkshire a trip up to Aidensfield (As featured in the old TV show Heartbeat) was called for. In truth this place is actually Goathland so a chance to grab another shot on this Heritage Railway was not to be missed. Here is Black-5 44806 getting away from Goathland heading for Pickering with the 15:40 from Grosmont. Parking around this Village is impossible for free and I was forced! to pay the £2:50 parking charge.I still had to walk nearly a mile to get to this location.No matter,the coffee and cake on the Station was nice!
22 september 2014..
After the short delay incurred when 50026 failed 80104 gets away across Norden Common on the approach to Corfe-Castle with yet another working the Swanage.
..12 may 2012..
Coming from Norden 80104 is again getting in on the action passing Victoria Avenue. Swanage Station is less than 1/2 a mile away hence 'no steam' and a virtually silent passing of this train.
..12 may 2012..
BR Standard Class 2-6-4T 80104 headed the first train south.The Railway had no option but to include a steam engine on the diagram due to the traction shortages.Note the front numberplate has an additional 'D' prefix to legitimise its presence! Puffing well the Tanky gets away from Corfe-Castle in fine style.
..12 may 2012..
D80104 clanks past the ex-SR gangers huts here at Woodyhyde heading for Swanage,next stop Harmons-Cross,about 1/2 a mile away.
..11 may 2012..
Also helping out due to the chronic diesel locomotive shortage was resident steam 2-6-4 tank 80104 given a temporary 'D' prefix for the duration of the weekend.Here it is seen heading towards Swanage shortly after departing Harmons-Cross at Quarr Crossing.
..11 may 2012..
A view inside the Workshop here at Buckfastleigh.Undergoing a major overhaul is 6412....To read all about the fascinating history of this engine go to the SDR website HERE
These Workshops were extremely dark requiring an exposure of 1/2 a second at 5.6 400asa. Hand-held using an image stablized lens....
..25 june 2011..
One of the most important GWR locomotives in Preservation is 'City of Truro' here numbered as 3717 but more usually known as 3440.Its claim to fame was it is thought to be the first steam locomotive to exceed 100mph way back in 1904 (Well over a century ago). Here it is seen minus its tender having been prepared for movement away from The G&W-Rly here at Toddington.--------------------------------------02 october 2010--------------
A recently restored Bullied rebuilt Pacific 34046 'Braunton' positively gleaming as it departs Minehead with the 14:15 going to Bishops-Lydeard.
..04 april 2010..
Here is a passing portrait of 6100 'Royal Scot' during its short eventful visit to the West Somerset-Railway.After suffering fire damage on its journey here it was thankfully repaired to enable it to run a couple of times at least.Livery was not quite finished,particularly the tender however it still looked really smart.Apparantly subsequent work revealed it was a long way from being in truly 'mainline' condition and it wasn't until early 2016 (7 years later) that it finally made it onto the mainline albeit in BR-Green as 46100.
..29 march 2009..
Here is a passing portrait of 6100 'Royal Scot' during its short eventful visit to the West Somerset-Railway.After suffering fire damage on its journey here it was thankfully repaired to enable it to run a couple of times at least.Livery was not quite finished,particularly the tender however it still looked really smart.Apparantly subsequent work revealed it was a long way from being in truly 'mainline' condition and it wasn't until early 2016 (7 years later) that it finally made it onto the mainline albeit in BR-Green as 46100.--------29 march 2009--------
The very recently restored 6100 the 'Royal Scot' approaches Doniford on the West Somerset Railway with an afternoon train from Bishops-Lydeard going to Minehead.It was a miracle this loco ran at all as it suffered fire damage on the way here when the low-loader it was mounted on caught fire! However thing were sufficiently sort to enable it to make this run,albeing very late in the day!
..29 march 2009..
Visiting GWR 4936 'Kinlet Hall' gets away from Doniford Halt on the West Somerset railway with an afternoon service from Minehead going to Bishops-Lydeard.
..29 march 2009..
This is the controversial preservation reconstruction into a GWR-Mogul type 2-6-0 9351 from the Barry Island derelict 2-6-2T 5193. It certainly looks quite authentic seen here as it gets away from Minehead with a departure heading for Bishops-Lydeard on a superb early spring day.
29 march 2009..
45231 with 34028 'Eddystone' produce a fairly good representation of the Pines Express that used to run down over the S&D to Bournemouth although maroon coaching stock instead of WR Choc-n-Cream would have been preferred.Here seen starting away from Washford on the West Somerset Railway with the train from Bishops-Lydeard to Minehead.
..29 march 2009..
Former Woodhams Scrapyard resident 7903 'Foremarke Hall' passes Didbrook heading for Toddington on the G&W-Rly in the last light of the day.
..30 december 2008..
Here is the famous GWR 4-4-0 3440 'City of Truro' whilst it was in use on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway.It is seen in the platforms at Toddington in between duties.The extreme cold of the late December afternoon creating a very steamy looking scene.Today over seven years later this iconic loco is back in the Great Hall at the NRM in York as a main exhibit.With its boiler-certificate now expired I expect it will remain there for a long time as a purely static Item.
..30 december 2008..
Here is a pair of venerable old 'Tank' locomotives from the two main Companies in the South of England.Ex-L&SWRly 30587 a Beattie Class-0298 2-4-0WT and 813 a former GWR 0-6-0ST (Ex-Port Talbot Rly) that originated in S-Wales.Both were here at Merehead-Quarry for the Cranmore 150 Quarry Gala giving demonstration freight runs upand down the main yard.
..22 june 2008..
S160 5197 and 9F 92203 stand in the yard at Merehead Quarry.Both locomotives were engaged in doing demonstration starts with a 2000 ton stone train for about 1/2 a mile up the yard at full regulator.Sometimes individually and sometimes double headed! To sound and the clag was amazing! all this happened at the 2008 Quarry Open-Day.
..21 june 2008..
A unique combination of a USATC S-160 and a BR-9F stand in Merehead Quarry about to haul a demonstration 1000 ton stone train for about 1000 yards down the yard.The locomotive USATC 2-8-0 No-5197 was built by Lima in the USA in 1945 and went straight to China where it worked until its withdrawal in 1995.It was then bought and brought to the UK for preservation.The 9F is 92203 'Black Prince'. This spectacle was available at the June-2008 Open-Day held at this famous Somerset Quarry.
..22 june 2008..
Rebuilt Bullied West Country-Class 34046 'Braunton' accelerates from Minehead on a superb spring day in Somerset making a spirited getaway.It was heading the 14:05 from Minehead to Bishops-Lydeard.The hillside overlooking the town of Minehead forming the background.
..4 april 2008..
GWR 5764 from the SVR was brought in and displayed (In steam) on the car-park of Bradford-on-Avon Station to celebrate 150 years since it was formally opened in 1857. Note the bevy of local felines having a groupie-picture being taken!
..21 july 2007..
A pair of ex-Woodhams GWR 'small' prairies 5552 and 5521 hustle their train of maroon mk-1's away from Blue-Anchor on the West-Somerset-Railway heading for Minehead. Nice!
..17 march 2007..
Prussian Blue S&DJ-Rly No 88 or if you prefer 53808 rolls into Blue Anchor with a working from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard on the preserved West Somerset Railway.
..17 march 2007..
Preserved 45407 was temporarily renumbered as 45440 for this Somerset&Dorset Railway themed Steam-Gale here on the West Somerset Railway.Here it is seen running into Williton on a Minehead bound service. 45440 was of course a long serving Black-5 allocated to Bath-Green Park for use on the line to Bournemouth.
..18 march 2006..
Black-BR Pannier Tank 7714 slowly pulls the coaching stock out of the old Bitumen yard at Cranmore ready to shunt down into the Station to commence the days 'Santa-Specials'.
..14 december 1996..
The famous Flying Scotsman now owned by the NRM visited the Torbay & Dartmouth Railway in the summer of 1993.At this time it was running in its final BR condition with a double chimney and German-type smoke deflectors.To my mind this was its finest hour!.Here it is pulling away from Goodrington-Sands going to Kingswear from Paignton.
..Summer 1993..
This is how I remember 60103 'Flying Scotsman' is service.I saw her in Kings-Cross looking exactly like this.The german-type deflectors for me transformed the look of these engines and in that guise remains my favourite locomotive type. This shot is at Paignton during the locomotives visit to that preserved line for the summer. Footnote--This image is used by the NRM on Fridge-Magnets for sale to raise cash towards its restoration costs.
..Summer 1993..
Due to a shortage of working locomotives at Cranmore on the East-Somerset-Rly they managed to borrow SECR 'P' Class 0-6-0 Tank 323 'Bluebell' from the Bluebell-Railway for a few years.Here it is next to 92203 'Black Prince' receiving some additional coal from the loading dock in the shed area.This 'Bank Holiday' event was marked by the attendance as well by the replica 'Stephensons-Rocket' working in steam in the yard and also by a flypast from a Flying-Fortress B17 American WW2 Bomber.
..31 august 1981..
EX-GWR Hall-Class 7903 'Foremarke Hall' sits on its trailer that had, over the previous day or so transported this engine away from Barry Scrapyard.It called in at the Swindon-Works Open-Day for a spot of publicity for both the locomotive and its initial destination 'The Swinden&Cricklade Rly' at Blunsden.Now fully restored to immaculate condition it is currently performing on the G&W-Rly based at Toddington.