Railway Photography by Tez Pickthall http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/ 12 rows en-gb 60 Whistling Wardrobe Festive Farewell http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1622064.html Class 20 D8142's last run on the Llangollen Railway on Sunday 7th December before leaving for a new life elsewhere Sunday 7 December 2008: Class 20 D8142's last run on the Llangollen Railway on Sunday 7th December before leaving for a new life elsewhere

Pop, pop, pop, splutter, BANG. You can't beat a cold EE on a cold morning. -2C at this point. Brrr Colin is actually frozen to this sleeper! I love the smell of clag in the morning.... A festive second lady Hmmm..... Scoop. Mr B at the controls of an EE Headboards in place at Carrog for the return trip Seminar! Quick phone the Daily Mail.... Don't lynch me.... Bit parky then

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]]> Sun Dec 7 2008 Location Phots http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1575951.html Location Phots Monday 8 September 2008: Location Phots

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]]> Mon Sep 8 2008 SVR Diesel Gala http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1499627.html A pleasant day spent at the SVR Diesel Gala featuring 37901 visiting from Llangollen. It was strange seeing her on another railway and not being one of the crew, but she was in capable hands and performing well. Spins behind Western Ranger and 20188 were also enjoyed. A visit to Bewdley Box was a nice interlude - many thanks to the Lynn the Bobby, who is also a regular at Llangollen and kindly granted us a trip up the steps into the warmth! Friday 25 April 2008: A pleasant day spent at the SVR Diesel Gala featuring 37901 visiting from Llangollen. It was strange seeing her on another railway and not being one of the crew, but she was in capable hands and performing well. Spins behind Western Ranger and 20188 were also enjoyed. A visit to Bewdley Box was a nice interlude - many thanks to the Lynn the Bobby, who is also a regular at Llangollen and kindly granted us a trip up the steps into the warmth!

37901 at Bewdley. I missed the double heading with Slug 6 as it only took place between Kiddy and Bewdley. A nice surprise at Kiddy. Immaculate 'Boat' D821 Bomb 188 waits for time before whistling her way off to Bridgnorth Detail shot of Vac 49's nameplate. D821 is posed next to Slug 1 at Kiddy. It'd be nice to get this line up back at Llan in the future! A shot from Bewdley Signal box. I was going for a vintage Western Region theme with D1013 glimpsed through the windows and signals. Shame about the modern fire extinguishers....doh! D1013 framed by the up platform starting signals at Bewdley. The phot was taken through the 'box window. The lever frame in the immaculate Bewdley 'box. The piece and quiet, punctuated by periods of feverish activity, was a joy to watch for the 45 minutes or so that we were there. Detail of lever 35 in Bewdley box I liked this little indicator by the door to remind you that the 'box has not been switched out. Vac 50049 drifts into Bewdley. The shot was taken from the 'box window - hence why you can see the second man ready to surrender the token.

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]]> Fri Apr 25 2008 Llangollen Diesel Gala April 2008 http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1493562.html A fantastic weekend of action at the Llangollen Railway Spring Diesel Gala. 6 locos were out, including visiting 73101 "The Royal Alex'" from the Dean Forest Railway. The little 600HP ED was immaculate in freshly reapplied Pullman livery. Everything went well with few problems and plenty of punters turned out for a spin. Monday 14 April 2008: A fantastic weekend of action at the Llangollen Railway Spring Diesel Gala. 6 locos were out, including visiting 73101 "The Royal Alex'" from the Dean Forest Railway. The little 600HP ED was immaculate in freshly reapplied Pullman livery. Everything went well with few problems and plenty of punters turned out for a spin.

Low shot of 73101 in a brief sunny spell at Carrog on Friday 11th April Drivers desk of 73101. On the right is the power controller with separate levers for both electric and diesel operation Southern Region guard bellowing device. They thought of everything! Interesting ammendment to the pick up shoe control button. Those Southern Region boys really were cowboys MOTOR VEG! Looking more like the HV compartment of an AC Electric, this is the juice end of the 73. A Fascinating and quirky little beastie to say the least! Detail of 73101s Pullman coat of arms. The loco was fresh out of the Severn Valley Railways paintshop and looked immaculate Arty shot of 73101's nameplate in a break between the clouds at Llangollen. Friday 11th April Slug 1 drifts into Carrog on Friday 11th April. The 37/9 was covering for poorly D8142, which had failed on shed with an AVR fault. She was sorted for the next day though. Tractor porn as 37240 and 901 pose side by side at Carrog on Saturday 12th April 37240 at Carrog on Saturday 12th April. Beast! A telephoto shot of 25313 and 73101 arriving at Carrog on Saturday 12th April 73101 with the superb GWR Autotrailer at a damp and dismal Carrog on the evening of Saturday 12th April Mr Cooper evidently rates this bag more than the 47. Nice colours there Col My second mans turn for Sunday 13th April. D8142 and the freight. This little Type 1 is perfect for our line. Proper hellfire!

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]]> Mon Apr 14 2008 A Day with a Duchess http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1445212.html A trip up Shap with Staniers finest - 6233 with 'The Hadrian' on the of 1st July 2006. The route was York to to Carlisle via Shap and then back via the S&C. 6233 worked the train from Preston to Carlisle, then back over the S&C to Manchester Victoria. WCRC 57601 hauled the rest. One fine day out in nice weather. We topped Shap in fine style and after a quick pub lunch in Carlisle, it was back over the S&C in weather most uncharacteristic for that part of the World, i.e.you could see the hills and this big yellow shiny thing in the sky! Monday 21 January 2008: A trip up Shap with Staniers finest - 6233 with 'The Hadrian' on the of 1st July 2006. The route was York to to Carlisle via Shap and then back via the S&C. 6233 worked the train from Preston to Carlisle, then back over the S&C to Manchester Victoria. WCRC 57601 hauled the rest. One fine day out in nice weather. We topped Shap in fine style and after a quick pub lunch in Carlisle, it was back over the S&C in weather most uncharacteristic for that part of the World, i.e.you could see the hills and this big yellow shiny thing in the sky!

I started out from Stafford, joining the tour at Wigan. Whilst waiting for my plastic Voyager (which to be fair was on time and very clean), 66570 rushed through on an intermodal working. 150002 peeps out from behind the flowers as it prepares to make a journey to that scenic gem of the West Midlands that is Walsall. 57601 at Preston, about to shove off to the other end of the train and make way for something more appropriate Close up of the Royal Crown that 6233 wears above her nameplate after conveying the Queen as part of her golden jubilee in 2002. Ah, that's better. Mr Staniers finest, complete with Royal Scot headboard is fastened on and ready for the off We stopped in the loops at Carnforth for water. Next to us was 86639, presumably waiting for a tow back to Crewe after being booted off an intermodal with a fault. This phot doesn't even come close to what it was like to be behind a Duchess tackling Shap. The noise from the front and the sense of excitement amongst the passengers made it a very memorable occasion Our driver at Carlisle after making his fastest ever ascent of Shap with a steam loco. No matter where you go, you'll always find a Shed. 66109 on an intermodal. Using these rancid things under the wires while the 87's are flogged to Bulgaria is nothing short of criminal 6233 rests at Carlisle after a storming ascent of Shap. Split box DRS Tractor 37029 was messing about in the centre road. This old girl is now out of traffic and likely to be a source of spares for the other DRS 37's. Shame, but you can't save em all I s'pose. Having had to shunt her own train back in to Carlisle, 6233 is back where she should be and ready to head off over the Long Drag The unmistakeable silouette of a certain gentleman from the PRCLT on the tender at Garsdale. Ribblehead viaduct in the summer haze. End of a fine day. The Duchess and her support coach get ready to head off to Crewe (I think) while the rest of the train carries on back to York with the 57 I've started so I'll finish! A quick hop on a tram from Victoria got me to the marvellous Piccadilly, where my Voyager back to Stafford is seen in the evening sunshine. Yet another diesel worked service that runs under the wires for the whole journey to Brum. Daft innit?

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]]> Mon Jan 21 2008 Modern Railway: Modern History http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1444793.html Although the modern railway is becoming less and less photogenic every year, one thing it is not is stationary. The shots in this gallery are from 2006 and, despite being only 18 months old, are already modern history. We see some phots of GNER 91's, Valenta powered HST's, Transpennine 158's and some other scenes from around the modern Railway. The photos were taken on three separate occasions. First was at Fenwick, North of Doncaster on the ECML, where there is a delightful, gated and manned level crossing. The date was 15th of April. The second was a beautiful hot summers day at Northallerton, where I found myself with a couple of hours to spare. Knowing the days of the Paxman Valenta were numbered, I wanted to capture a little slice of history. Who'd have thought that the last few Valenta powered East Coasts HST's would outlive GNER! Finally, my wife and I travelled on a Cotswold Rail tour to York on 24th June. The working used their distinctively liveried, but sadly short-lived HST power cars and project Rio trailers. It was a super trip, where I was able to meet up with some fellow members of the HST Group, whose definition of travelling in the front coach seemed to include one that contained a beasting great Paxman engine! Sunday 20 January 2008: Although the modern railway is becoming less and less photogenic every year, one thing it is not is stationary. The shots in this gallery are from 2006 and, despite being only 18 months old, are already modern history. We see some phots of GNER 91's, Valenta powered HST's, Transpennine 158's and some other scenes from around the modern Railway. The photos were taken on three separate occasions. First was at Fenwick, North of Doncaster on the ECML, where there is a delightful, gated and manned level crossing. The date was 15th of April. The second was a beautiful hot summers day at Northallerton, where I found myself with a couple of hours to spare. Knowing the days of the Paxman Valenta were numbered, I wanted to capture a little slice of history. Who'd have thought that the last few Valenta powered East Coasts HST's would outlive GNER! Finally, my wife and I travelled on a Cotswold Rail tour to York on 24th June. The working used their distinctively liveried, but sadly short-lived HST power cars and project Rio trailers. It was a super trip, where I was able to meet up with some fellow members of the HST Group, whose definition of travelling in the front coach seemed to include one that contained a beasting great Paxman engine!

An unidentified GNER HST speeds North through Fenwick. I like the job GNER did on facelifting the front end of some of their power cars with these smart new Headlights and reckon the HST still looks the dogs, despite it's 30 year vintage! Southbound 43049 A lucky panned shot that turned out just right. Stealth Bomber No 91024 Northallerton on 8th June 2006. An unidentified GNER 91 hammers South Another site that is no more, 158972 on a Transpennine Express working. These ultimate developments of the BR Sprinter concept have now been cascaded elsewhere by Class 185's What I'd come to phot. A Northbound GNER HST flies through Northallerton station at full line speed. Note that lovely Valenta heat haze from the roof! Another Valenta powered HST on her way South to York And the rapidly retreating rear power car..... The somwehat uninspirationally named 91104 91104 stopped in Northallerton station. A stationary 225 set allowed for a better study. The red stripes are now grey to show National Express have the prestigious ECML franchise and the new grey livery is being gradually applied. However, other than paint, it will be interesting to see if NatEx really improve long distance ECML services. Power and speed personified in a design classic that's, for me anyway, up there with Concorde and the E Type Jag. Silver suits the lines of 43070 as the Cotswold HST rounds the curve into Telford Central at the start of our 24th of June trip to York. Close up of 43070 at Telford 43070 approaches the mighty Severn Bridge box through a forest of GWR semaphores at Shrewsbury Awww spoilsports! Thrash limiting noise abatement sign at Crewe Gresty Bridge sidings. Demic 47829 dumped at the remains of Crewe Diesel Depot. The Spoon is now owned by DRS and has moved up the road a bit to Gresty bridge, although it's not clear if she'll ever run again. A sad lineup of demic Class 37's and 47's in the yard at Healey Mills. Diesel preservation is very fashionable at the moment, so most will probably get saved! The other Cotswold power car, 43087, which was inspirationally painted into a bright red Hornby livery, after our arrival at York. Bring it back! Two emotive little letters that someone took the trouble to stamp into the surface of the door window opening bar in one of the HST trailer vestibules. In something more akin to the pages of the Reverend Awdry, we were signalled off our correct route back home somewhere outside Wakefield. Good job the driver knew where he was going. He's not pointing out the wrong way, just acknowledging the warning horn of an approcahing Freightliner 66 while he tells the signallers that they've dropped a clanger! The end of a great day out as 43087 beasts away from Telford with the characteristic puffs of clag as her Valenta loads up. This power car now works for FGW and has acquired a modern, quiet MTU power unit. 43070 brings up the rear. Check out the left-hand light cluster cover, which appears to have had a bash with something!

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]]> Sun Jan 20 2008 A Rat and a 108 at Llangollen http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1444394.html Some shots from the 19th January EMRPS charter using Class 25 No 25313 and a Class 108 DMU at Llangollen. I was one of the support crew for this event, signing on at 10.30 to clean the Rat up a bit and not finishing until midnight when we finally shut our 08 shunter down. In between cleaning, shunting and sitting very still in the Rat cab (now I know how the plastic driver figures inside Hornby locos feel), I also managed to bag a few shots. Thanks again to Jason Cross and the other lads from the EMRPS for supporting the railway with another excellent charter, the extra donations and being happy to let the bloke with the filthy orange jacket get in the way with his camera! Sunday 20 January 2008: Some shots from the 19th January EMRPS charter using Class 25 No 25313 and a Class 108 DMU at Llangollen. I was one of the support crew for this event, signing on at 10.30 to clean the Rat up a bit and not finishing until midnight when we finally shut our 08 shunter down. In between cleaning, shunting and sitting very still in the Rat cab (now I know how the plastic driver figures inside Hornby locos feel), I also managed to bag a few shots. Thanks again to Jason Cross and the other lads from the EMRPS for supporting the railway with another excellent charter, the extra donations and being happy to let the bloke with the filthy orange jacket get in the way with his camera!

25313 is seen propelling the wagons for the charter back into Llan. She started first try after a bit of juice via jump leads from the 08. Having fetched the wagons from Pentre Felin sidings, the venerable Gronk ticks over on the left. And so to the dark bits. The 108 in her first floodlit pose in Llangollen station The Dee was a roaring torrent and the Valley was on flood alert The 108 from the properly lit end. She's in the wrong road and the destination blind is a little over confident, unless the crew have some rubber tyres for the wheels! With the tail lamps lit, the 108 is now correctly 'heading' to Ruabon. This shot was taken from the four foot. As a lad, blue and grey DMU's were 10 a penny and I barely turned an eye. How times change The 25 was shut down for the charter to avoid that lovely Sulzer tick over rattle upsetting the neighbours. The 08 was used to move her and the wagons around. Here we see her posed to recreate a DMU drag from the footbridge. Another shot of the DMU drag. A rusty BR blue Rat and unit on a rain washed Welsh platform? 80's Tastic!! The 25 on the freight viewed looking towards Carrog. The rain was really heavy by this point and photography was beginning to get very difficult Retreating to the dry of the tunnel of the Dee road bridge to dry out I thought the lamp on the buffer stop of the run-round loop headshunt would make a nice shot with the cracked buffer beam and stone wall. I'm quite pleased with the result. Another view of the 25 on her freight with the tailamps of the 108 on platform 2 in the background One final shot before I packed up, fearing for my camera in the wet. Very atmospheric with those shiny platforms. No 80's railway revival would be complete without a Black and White shot. This is how I remember seeing most Class 25's on the mainline - phots in the pages of my Dads copies of Rail (when it still had Enthusiast on the end) and Railway World. Usually thumbed through whilst watching Star Wars on an industrial sized VHS video as well. Ah, happy days!

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]]> Sun Jan 20 2008 Llangollen Diesels http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1437123.html Phots from my various visits to Llangollen. I have been a volunteer with the diesel Group since October 2006, having enjoyed a superb drivers experience day on 37901 in August 2006. To find out more about the Llangollen Diesel Group and our diverse collection of traction, please visit our excellent website: http://www.llangollen-diesels.co.uk/ Sunday 6 January 2008: Phots from my various visits to Llangollen. I have been a volunteer with the diesel Group since October 2006, having enjoyed a superb drivers experience day on 37901 in August 2006. To find out more about the Llangollen Diesel Group and our diverse collection of traction, please visit our excellent website: http://www.llangollen-diesels.co.uk/

The loud beast! 37240 seen on 17th September 2006 at Carrog 240 on the approach to Berwyn as she works back to Llangollen on 17th September 2006. The 2006 October diesel gala sees unique, Mirrlees powered Class 37 'Slug' number 37901 running onto her train The 2006 October diesel gala sees Class 20 D8142 waiting to leave Llangollen Class 20 D8142 drifts into Llangollen whilst 37901 waits to take over After a bit of haulage from the 20 and the slug, followed by lunch and a pint, it was time for a bit of lineside. Here's the Slug at Glyndyfrdwy 901 makes her way out of Glyn and over the LC In January 2007, the EMRPS held a floodlit photographich charter using 37240 and 37901 at Llangollen station. I grabbed a few cheeky shots as well as helping with all the shunting required. Here is a B/W shot of 37240. Many thanks to Jason Cross and the boys for letting me join in On the EMRPS charter, 37240 seen from the footbridge with an engineers train And another with more of the crane in this time Another B/W shot of 240 in the station Last EMRPS shot. 240 framed nicely by the footbridge 16th March 2007 sees 240 waiting to leave Llangollen on a drivers experience Something a bit different. Pannier tank 6430 crossing 37240 at Glyndyfrdwy Later 240 is seen in the Spring sunshine I love the smell of cold start clag in the morning. The usually super clean Mirrless in 901 coughs into life on the cold morning of the Spring gala, 16th March 2007 240's turn to obliterate the Dee Valley now and she is determined to outdo 901 Those responsible for wiping the Dee Valley out - bad tractors! The Saturday of the Spring gala was an awful dull day, as can be seen in this shot of 46010 waiting for the token at Goods Junction Spposedly in store pending repairs, 25313 had been carefully coaxed back into life the previous weekend and worked the Saturday evening brake van special faultlessly (apart from spraying the punters with a bit of oil). The poor old girl is seen at Llangollen waiting for the off Mr C in the cab doorway of 240, the best place to appreciate the roar from the full power that's just been applied to get 240 away from Carrog D1566 (47449) is seen at Carrog deputising for a poorly 37901 on Tuesday February 15th 2008. Being Thomas week, the Spoon was top and tailing with GWR 0-6-2T No 5643

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]]> Sun Jan 6 2008 The Foxfield Rat http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1395599.html EMRPS photo charter with GCR(N) Class 25 No D7629 during her landmark visit to the Foxfield Railway. This was the first photo charter I have attended. Despite poor weather, it was an enjoyable day, the sight and sound of the little Sulzer Type 2 blasting up the 1 in 19 gradient out of the colliery was well worth witnessing! Sunday 23 September 2007: EMRPS photo charter with GCR(N) Class 25 No D7629 during her landmark visit to the Foxfield Railway. This was the first photo charter I have attended. Despite poor weather, it was an enjoyable day, the sight and sound of the little Sulzer Type 2 blasting up the 1 in 19 gradient out of the colliery was well worth witnessing!

More runpasts were staged a bit further up the bank. With the rolling Staffordshire hills in the background, this is my favorite shot of the day. RSH 0-6-0T Meaford Number 2 joined the evening shoot after working the days passenger trains. Night shoot heaven. Deep blue sky and perfectly lit subjects. How the EMRPS boys got the big headstock lit so well was nothing short of genius! A very long exposure of Meaford number 2. Believe it or not that's an oil lamp on the front, not a fixed-beam halogen headlight The fire now back up to scratch, the fireman ponders what all the idiots in the orange vests with cameras are doing out in the rain! A quick mooch round the shed in the morning - when we had a brief glimpse of the sun, gave some nice shadows and highlights The two headstocks at Foxfield Colliery, our main location for the day and night shoots The 25 was accompanied by a Ruston 0-4-0 to assist with shunting. With a vigilant gaze on the road ahead, the driver approaches the sidings The Rat glimpsed between a headstock and appropriately styled new building - which houses the bogs! A view of the colliery with the 25 posed in front of it framed through the doorway of an old lean-to The afternoon saw D7629 perform a number of storming run-pasts up the fearsome 1 in 19 gradient out of the colliery. The size of the exhaust plume gives a clue to how slowly the train was moving......serious Rat thrash! Another shot of the train attacking the 1 in 19. The spluttering roar of the little Sulzer 6LDA accompanied by the squealing and clanking 16 tonners was superb Although this looks like the fire is being removed, it's actually being de-clinkered. The day fireman had left his relief with a proper box full and there was some colourful language issuing from the footplate! As dusk approached, the 25 was posed in position ready for floodlighting. What a backdrop for a coal train! Dusk approaches and the floodlights are on Another dusk shot of the floodlights reflecting off the immaculate paintwork on D7629. Her condition was a credit to those that look after her. Meaford Number 2's oil lamp with the beam shining out through the slowly escaping steam After some helpful sudden rain and an associated floodlight failure, everyone rushed to get some shots with the wonderful deep blue of the early night sky I struggled to get a good focus when it got properly dark, but this one wasn't too bad, although I had to loose the big headstocks An alternative view from the non-action side of the 25, the bodyside catching the light used on the headgear. With the sky now properly dark, another shot of the colliery. The illuminated roof windows are a neighbouring factory, but compliment the colliery well Meaford Number 2 catches the floodlights during positioning for the final scene of the day Last shot of the day. An evocative scene of industrial steam meeting mainline diesel

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]]> Sun Sep 23 2007 Narrow Gauge http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1395167.html Being a big fan of 16mm scale modelling, I always enjoy a trip on a narrow gauge line. The W&L isn't too far from home and is always worth a visit. The other Welsh lines never fail to impress either. They all have their unique charm and character Wednesday 24 October 2007: Being a big fan of 16mm scale modelling, I always enjoy a trip on a narrow gauge line. The W&L isn't too far from home and is always worth a visit. The other Welsh lines never fail to impress either. They all have their unique charm and character

Friday 1st September 2006. Arty shot during a trip with original W&L Beyer Peacock 0-4-0T Detail of the plate on the Austrian Zillertalbahn coach Fire buckets in the sun at Raven Square. The Earl runs round at Raven Square, Welshpool on 1st September 2006 W&L, Saturday 2nd September 2006. Sierra Leone Hunslet 2-6-2T arrives at Llanfair. All the stuff going on this phot sums up why I love the W&L W&L Steam Gala, Sunday 3rd September 2006. Tubize tank makes her last ever run up Golfe Bank before leaving the railway to return home to Finland. Returning from a long weekend in West Wales in 2006 provided the opportunity to call it at the Vale of Rheidol. Although the weather was pretty awful and most of the climb was in cloud, it was still amazing trip. The climb of the line up the valley side has to be seen to be believed. Number 9

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]]> Wed Oct 24 2007 Severn Valley Railway Diesel http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1394861.html Shots from the 2003 and 2004 diesel galas and the triumphant return of Slug 6 in June 2007 Tuesday 23 October 2007: Shots from the 2003 and 2004 diesel galas and the triumphant return of Slug 6 in June 2007

Another shot of 56078 leaving Hampton Loade under an interesting sky, October 2003 Ex-works large logo blue 'Grid' 56078 screams towards Highley in October 2003. How fortunes change - after a stint in France on TGV construction work, she now sits festering at Dollands Moor. What a waste One for the livery frothers. Two green 50's - 50007 and 50044 nose up at Kidderminster during the 2004 gala. A wet October 2004 gala sees the infamous green Vac 50007 at Hampton Loade. I think she looks great! The Beast is back! 37906 obliterates the Valley as she works her first public train in preservation away from Hay Bridge on Saturday June 9th 2007. Slug 6 prepares to run round at Birdgnorth on her first day back in service. Less than 2 weeks after I took this photo, the railway was hit by the infamous storm Clag and flailers! The view from the front coach as Slug 6 powers away from Hampton Loade on Saturday 9th June 2007.

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]]> Tue Oct 23 2007 Severn Valley Railway Steam http://tezstrainphots.fotopic.net/c1394459.html An assorted collection of steam locos working on my favourite preserved line. They have been taken over the last 5 years or so during both Galas and regular workings. Most of my visits are to Hampton Loade, where I run my SM32 fleet on the Paddock Railway The SVR has had a very tough year following extensive flash flood damage to the trackbed at 45 separate locations in June. A massive programme of repairs is still ongoing, with trains only running between Kidderminster and Bewdley. Financial help is still needed, please visit: http://www.svr.co.uk/appeal.php Tuesday 23 October 2007: An assorted collection of steam locos working on my favourite preserved line. They have been taken over the last 5 years or so during both Galas and regular workings. Most of my visits are to Hampton Loade, where I run my SM32 fleet on the Paddock Railway The SVR has had a very tough year following extensive flash flood damage to the trackbed at 45 separate locations in June. A massive programme of repairs is still ongoing, with trains only running between Kidderminster and Bewdley. Financial help is still needed, please visit: http://www.svr.co.uk/appeal.php

46443 crosses the Victoria Bridge with a demonstration freight at the 2002 steam gala Before I had a digitial SLR, my Samsung compact got this shot of 6233 visiting for the 2002 steam gala on the Victoria Bridge Ok, ok, it's in to the sun, but I rather like this shot of 1501 taken from the front window of the train in November 2002 A bright and frosty morning at Hampton Loade in January 2003 as 46443 heads for Bridgnorth A cold dull day in January 2006 was far from ideal for phots, but the volcanic exhaust from large Prairie 5164 was too tempting not to have a go I'm not much of a GWR fan, but couldn't fail to be impressed by the sight of King 6024 visiting the line on the 18th June 2006 Another shot of the King storming away from Hampton Loade on 18th June 2006 The Super D arrives at a wet Hampton Loade on the Friday of the 2006 Autumn steam gala Another view of 6233 in the twilight at Hampton Loade. There is no post image processing on this, the sky and lighting conditions were perfect Night shot of Stanier's finest. 6233 at Hampton Loade on Saturday 23rd September 2007, the Autumn Steam Gala. This train had a 20 minute layover, creating an impromptu photo charter! Just to try something different, I wondered up to the foot crossing and tried a telephoto shot of the station before the Duchess left. I was quite pleased with the result. Itself a war veteran having seeing service in Iran in the Second Wolrd War (and being derailed when she hit a camel!), Stanier 8F 48773 with a remembrance day special on 12th November 2006 Surreal image of 7903 Foremarke Hall at Hampton Loade during the 2005 steam gala Branch line gala, 10th March 2007. Large Prairie 4566 with an authentic rake of stock at Hampton Loade. Apart from the TV aerial on the station, there's not much here to tell you it's 2007 Visiting S&D 7F 2-8-0 at the Branch line gala, 10th March 2007 Visiting from the WSR, Prairie 4141 climbs out of Bewdley on 10th March 2007 A brace of Prairies drift into Bewdley on 10th March. They are resident large 5164 and visiting small 4566. 11th March 2007 sees Stanier Mogul 42968 on a demonstration freight Big job for a little loco. Pannier 5764 gets the SVR Limited and a route code on the smokebox on the 11th March 2007 Manor 7802 on Friday 22nd September. Converted to B&W due to poor light. Well before my time, but this is what I imagine 60's Cambrian steam was like The Super D leaves Hampton Load for Kidderminster on Sunday 24th September during the 2006 Autumn steam gala. Shortly after taking this phot, I fell off a gate and badly sprained my ankle, preventing further photting in the nice light!

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]]> Tue Oct 23 2007