A return to the Ribble Valley Railway situated around Preston Docks for their first event of 2010. The Gala started on friday with a full day photo charter with GWR tank 5643 with a coal train followed by an evening shed photoshoot at 5.00 pm just as it started to go dark with all engines being used for the gala in light steam. Having other committments on friday I chose to go to the shed photoshoot only and attend the gala on the saturday.
Engines being used for the gala included GWR 0-6-2 Tank -5643, " Austerity 0-6-0 Tanks "Cumbria" & "Walkden" and 0-4-0 saddle tank "John Howe."
All services were "Top & Tailed" to allow for 45 minute interval between services.
Very Well organised and enjoyable photoshoot and a good day out also on saturday. Nice to see some familar faces also

Work In Progress

Like their January steam event in 2009, it had a very atmospheric start on the freight photo shoot at Burrs country park - Misty & gloomy !! None the less, the light slightly improved as (Dub Dee) WD 8F - 90733, guest engine from the K&WVR put in a some very spirited performances along the straight with the freight
Other engines running included Ian Rileys newly restored Black 5 - 44871, K4 61994 "The Great Marquess" 0-6-0 Jinty 47324 & 0-6-0 No32 "Gothenberg"
Excellent day out ! and nice to see steam in quantity & quality again running on the line.

A collection of Mainline steam working during the year of 2009 from around the Northwest of England.(Picture Qty)
21/01/09 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" on a test Run (7)
31/01/09 - 45407 "Lancashire Fuselier" on the "Cotton Mills Express"(5)
07/02/09 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" on the "Cumbria Fellsman"(5)
28/03/09 - 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" on the CME(6)
02/04/09 - 62005 "Lord of the Isles" on a L.E. Movement from Carnforth to Barrow Hill.(5)
08/04/09 - 34067 "Tangmere" on the "Great Britain II" at Flag Lane Farington(3)
09/05/09 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" on the "Scot over Shap" tour(1)
17/05/09 - 5690 "Leander" approaching Selside on the "Settle - Carlisle Express"(4)
30/05/09 - 5690 "Leander" crossing the River Kent at Arnside on the "Cumbrian Coast Express"(3)
30/05/09 - 6233"Duchess of Sutherland" passing through the Lune Gorge on "The Royal Scot"(2)
20/06/09 - 5043 "Earl of Mount Edgecombe" on "The Castle Over Shap"tour at Fowler Lane.(3)
23/06/09 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" on a test run from Carnforth to Scarborough.(9)
14/07/09 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" on a special charter following the route of "The Cotton Mills Express"(7)
29/07/09 - 5690 "Leander" with the first running of the "Fellsman" over the S & C route from Lancaster via Preston & Hellifield.(3)
02/08/09 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" leaving Hellifield on a "Cumbrian Mountain Express" (1)
05/08/09 - 45231 "Sherwood Forester" at Farington heading south with "The Welsh Mountaineer"(2)
05/08/09 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" on a running of "The Fellsman"(5)
12/08/09 - 5690 "Leander" again on the 3rd running of the "Fellsman"(7)
19/08/09 - Jubilee "Leander" takes another trip onto the S&C with the 4th "Fellsman"(5)
22/08/09 - 6201"Princess Elizabeth" on the "Cumbrian Mountain Express" (1)
23/08/09 - 45231"Sherwood Forester" on a York - Carlisle "Cumbrian Mountain Express"(6)
26/08/09 - Another running of LMS Jubilee 5690 "Leander" on the "Fellsman" No.5 (4)
29/08/09 - 6201"Princess Elizabeth" on another running of the "Cumbrian Mountain Express"(1)
02/09/09 - Jubilee 5690 "Leander" yet again with No.6 of the Fellsman series of tours (1)
06/09/09 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" on "The Yorkshire Scot" from Liverpool to York.(1)
09/09/09 - 5690" Leander" in charge yet again on the "Fellsman" with No.7 in the series.(1)
23/09/09 - Season finale of the "Fellsman" with 45231 "The Sherwood Forester"in charge(1)
03/10/09 - 60163 "Tornado" on the "Waverley" over the Settle & Carlisle Railway at Selside (7)
04/10/09 - 60163 "Tornado" with the "Waverley" over the Settle & Carlisle at Ribblehead (4)
18/10/09 - Black 5`s 45407 & 45231 with "The Tin Bath Extra" at Copy Pit(3)
29/11/09 - 5690 "Leander" with the "St Nicholas Steam Express" from East Lancs via Carnforth to York.(5)
13/12/09 - 6201 "Princess Elizabeth at Eastwood with the "York Yuletide Express" from Liverpool.(2)

A quick call-in at the Gala en-route to Leicester with family & friends meant a curtailed visit and no chance for me to go linesiding with my camera.
Guest engines for the event were 70013 "Oliver Cromwell, 9F -92203 "Black Prince WD 8F 90733 from the K&WVR plus Fairburn Tank 42085 still on loan from the L&HR, and home fleet of BR Std 2-78019, 30777 "Sir Lamiel,"Robinson 04 63601 & Stainer 8F 48305 - which managed to elude me on several occasions - passing me every time whilst traveling.
A extended timetable with freight trains with different stock between very passenger service meant lots of train movements using the double tracks. Full passenger services seemed to be the norm as well and all stations were very busy in the nice weather.
Only complaints were that I couldnt have stopped longer because I had to return for work on sunday.
Excellent Gala

Another poor Harvest for the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway with only two steam engines running due to breakdowns but a class 31 - D5600 diesel was used as a substitute. Back in 2007 the event was cancelled and replaces with a frequent timetable when this happened, but the importing of BR STD 2 - 78019 working the rounds from the GCR meant that the event went ahead. The other engine was 0-6-0 saddle Tank "Darfield No1."
Nice to see a decent freight train on the line and also the "Stately Train Set" being used.
Perhaps dropping the Gala fares might have enticed more people to attend, but some nice photo opportunities were to be had on a mild cloudy autumn day

Autumn Steam gala at the Middleton Railway and after last years 250th aniversary event I didn`t want to miss this one either, but work limited me just to a saturday afternoon visit.
Not as high key as the previous year but they managed to pack just as many line movements into the timetable with passenger services to Park halt and freight / guards van runs to the hardly used Balm Road, double heading ending the day with a full line freight & passenger services.
Steam engines running were "Sir Berkley" & MSC No.67 plus Diesel shunters D2999 & LMS 7051.
Another enjoyable visit to this friendly industrial line in Leeds.

Another visit to the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston Docklands for their Steam Gala. Work prevented me from going for the full day but I managed an afternoon trip with a run along the line, a quick look around the museum and also a look around the workshops to see what was under restoration and repair and also lineside for some photographs.
3 engines in steam and a shunter were working a small freight and a 3 coach set. - 0-4-0 saddle Tank "John Howe,"0-6-0 Saddle tank "Cumbria" on loan from the Furness Trust & 0-6-0 Saddle Tank "Walkden"+ 03 Shunter D2595
Another day sunny day out and an interesting visit to the workshop - must be one of the best workshop facilities I`ve seen.

Friday and the first of a three day steam gala and a glorious sunny warm day as well!!
Engines running were BR Std 2 - 78019 visiting from the GCR, newly restored BR - Std 4 80072, Black 5 - 44806 & GWR Pannier tank 6430 between an autotrain.(GWR 3802 & 5643 due to be running later in the gala)
A enjoyable run up and down the line (with an interesting start behind 78019 at Llangollen) was followed by going lineside with my camera in the sunshine.
Not as high key as the "Steel Steam & Stars II" gala earlier in the year but still a nice day out on a beautiful line.

Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester - Great Garratt Gathering.
I wasnt too sure what to expect for this event - I thought a couple of Garratts plus and engine or two in steam and that would be it - How wrong I was !!! - Garratts in all shapes and sizes from oo guage up to the full size monsters - hundreds of them (mainly models - with a good percentage steaming!)
L&Y Ironclad 957 from the K&WVR plus 2-2-0 "Planet" & 0-4-0ST Beyer Peacock No1827 from the Foxfield railway pulling trains and too many on static display here to mension all.
Model Railways & tramways in the halls , trade stalls plus another warehouse full of aircraft cars & motorbikes made for a teriffic day out.
Im busy planning a time for another trip - too much to take in on an afternoon. Brilliant !!

Saturday and a cloudy sort of day with showers and sunshine for my second visit to the Foxfield Light Railway.
Yet again, 6 Industrial steam engines in steam on this steeply inclined collery line through the Staffordshire countryside.
Engines in steam :- 0-6-0`s "Bellerophon,"partnered again with Beyer Peapock 0-4-0 " Florence No2,""Meaford No2""Wimblebury" and guest engine 0-6-0 saddle tank No.47.
All the engines worked a passenger service from Caverswall Rd to Dilhorne Park and a coal empties train to the Foxfield Collery and back to Dilhorne Park up the steeply graded 1 in 19 climb.
Another excellent day out and with this little gem of an Industrial railway!

Sunday. and the last day of three, and a trip to "The Dark Side" for me photographing diesels at Burrs Country Park on the E L R. As usual for this event, the Railway as excelled itself with a great lineup of traction over the three days and running to timetable today.
Traction running today included 10 Diesels!! - BR Class 52 - D1062 "Western Courier",Class 24 - D5054 "Phil Southern".Class 40 - 40145 "East Lancashire Railway" Class 37`s 37248, 37418"Pectinldae",37901"Mirlees Pioneer". Class 47s 47843 "Vulcan" & 47292. Class 25 - D7629. Hymek - D7076.
The weather was very reasonable whilst I was there with just one small rain shower between trains and lots of sunny periods. Overall - a nice day out

Having scanned some recently discovered colour photographs which where mainly of the "Cumbrian Mountain Express" taken locally over the past twenty years, I decided to start this collection and transferred some pictures from other galleries into this one.
I was surprised to see the variety of steam used on this excursion and help filling in some dates would be helpful as they have been long lost. There will be a gap of a few years between some pictures - I had go at videoing them for while - no doubt some gems to follow when I get chance to up load them

Saturday, Day 2 of a 3 day of the Summer Steam Gala on the K&WVR .
Two guest engines for this event - 1) LNER Robinson Type O4 7F No, 63601 from the GCR and 2) Jubilee Class 5690 "Leander" running mainline making 3 trips from Keighley up to Settle Junction & one trip onto Ribblehead.
The usual suspects make their usual appearances for the gala (90732, 80002, 41241, 47279, Taff Valley No.85 & L&Y 957 Plus "Nunlow" which eluded me again). A failure of 63601 in the morning lead to the using of No.85 as the spare engine - a small bonus.
Good day out and upto it usual high standards !!

Monday - 15/06/09 = Finally decided a trip to the National Railway Museum at York was required to view the recently displayed "Duchess of Hamilton" in its recently rebuilt streamlined form. Whilst I think it looks stunning, the verdict on whether it should have been has not been decided by me yet. Perhaps if it is made mainline runable, I could possibly make up my mind after seeing it on the WCML
It must be about five years since my last visit and not too much as altered since then apart for a few changes in the Locomotive line up.
Always a good day out !!

Saturday and the first day of a 3 day event on the East Lancashire Railway when the line is invaded by the military and the trains running are of little consequence except for the enthusiasts.
Engines running though were L&Y No1300 & Jinty 47324 doubleheading, USA S160 -5197, newly repainted 0-6-0 No32 on a freight + Diesals D335 & the Thumper on the Heywood Shuttle. Not forgetting a "Dakota" flypast.
A quick run up the line and back from Ramsbottom to Bury with the wife shopping lead to a few photos here.
... A great day for traveling and enjoying the flavour of the event and especially well done Ramsbottom High street shops which seemed to have been taken over by the war effort.
Well organsied and another interesting dayout

Saturday 2nd May with fine weather and a much awaited trip to the NYMR Spring Gala for my first sightings of the new build A1 60163 "Tornado".
Other engines running included some of my favorites - 60009 "Sir Nigel Gresley" & Ian Riley`s "Pocket Rocket" - BR Std 4 -76079 plus 6619 GWR Class 56XX 0-6-2T, BR Std Class 5 75029 & Ex NER Q6 - 63395.
Other engines lined up later for the gala includes Black 5`s 45212 & 45407 plus S&D 7f - 53809, 30926 "Repton" & SR 825 if repairs to these 3 engines are completed in time.
In my opinion Tornado was a great crowd puller but needed other engines running shuttles between stations to fill the gap in the timetables with train services or freights.
Still an enjoyable day out and worth the travelling

This collection contains scanned pictures which my father - Geoffrey Robinson took back in the early 1960`s during the last days of steam on the old Rose Grove - Padiham - Gt Harwood - Blackburn loop line.
Pictures include Wake Week Holiday specials to the seaside and the demolishion of the railway station and track removal. plus a few pictures from surrounding areas.

Phew !! What an event... and I went on one of the quieter days.
Thursday and I arrived early and had time for a walk around the sheds before the first train.
It was a 4-4-0 day, the engines running - Dukedog 9017, 3440 "City of Truro", and D49 - 246 Morayshire. After a journey up and down the line with breaks at various stations to view the exhibits, it was time to visit the beer festival before going line side followed by the evening photo shoot back at the sheds.

Could have spent a week here but work spoilt my plans to be back again
Excellent is an understatement - well done Betton Grange lads!!

While on my travels photographing Steam Trains, I usually encounter other types of traction on the lines as well.
Grouping all these together, both vintage and modern, I have made this collection from pictures taken over the past two years.
So, for all who arn`t steam buffs - enjoy !

Another of the ELR novel ideas for a steam event which I didnt want to miss. All the engines running down the line in BR Black.
Turned out to be a cloudy day with sunny intervals and after visiting Burrs,I went to Ramsbottom and onto Townsend fold at the Rawtenstall end of the line.
Engines running were Black 5 45407 "Lancashire Fuselier", Std Class 4 76079, Std Tank 80098 as 80086 and Jinty 47324 plus the Peckett at Bury station. Black 5 - 45231 failed to appear, being stuck due to an holdup down south which spoiled the double heading of Black 5`s but the rest where extremely well turned out
Another enjoyable day on the ELR !
A couple of pictures added taken at Irewell Vale on 12/04/09 - Easter Sunday of the last scheluled run day of Std 4 Tank 80098 on the ELR