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Saturday 12/02/2011 and a fine sunny day for a first day of a weekend at the feburary steam gala at the Ribble Steam Railway.
Two small industrial engines were guests for this gala - Pecket 0-4-0 No.1370 "May" from the ELR and Bagnall 0-4-0 saddle tank "Linda" from the Battlefield line plus two home industrial running - 0-4-0 "John Howe" & 0-6-0 "Walkden"
I arrived late morning to find the gala in full flight with all four engines double heading or top & tailing plus early & late freight demos
A ride along the short line by myself was followed with me taking pictures from around the swingbridge area.
Work comittments meant an early departure mid afternoon but I was not disappointed by my short visit.

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Saturday 22/01/2011 - A gloomy start to the day with the sun threatening to break through but never actually did.
The gala started with a very well attended photo shoot at Burrs Country park with 2-6-0 Ivatt 2mt - 46443 on a mixed freight set doing lots of run pasts to the gallery.
Other engines in steam - 71000"Duke Of Gloucester"
BR Std caprotti 5 - 73129
Black 5-44871.
Black 5 - 45337 was failed at very short notice with boiler problems but it didnt detracted from a very good day out as usual.

30 files, last one added on Mar 18, 2011
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29/01/2011 - The final day of a three day event on the Great Central Railway for their winter steam gala which featured engines from most region of British Railways. Hence it was called "The Banbury Cross" a place were all these region would cross.
8 engines in steam on sunday with regular passenger services on the double tracks with freight , mineral and mail trains running between these slots meant lots to see and lots of traffic to photograph.
Engines running - 30777 "Sir Lamiel," 61994 "The Great Marquess" LMS Black 5 - 45305, 4953"Pitchford Hall," 3717"City of Truro" GWR 2-6-2 Tank -5526, 0-4-2 GWR 14XX class - 1450 + Autocoach & GWR 2-8-0 No 3850.
Great day out lineside at Woodthorpe & Kinchley Lane

40 files, last one added on Mar 18, 2011
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After a slow start to the year, it turned out quite busy

18/03/2010 - LMS 2-8-0 8F 48151 travels alongside the flood plains of the River Ribble approaching Long Preston on a test run.
19/03/2010 - "The Roaring Monster" - 70013 "Oliver Cromwell"at Denthead Viaduct and speeding along past Barton on a Cumbria Mountain Express towards Lancaster and onto Carlisle
27/03/2010 - 48151 pilots 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" out of Standedge Tunnel with the "Help for Heros" steam special from Carnforth to York
08/04/2010 - Black 5 - 44871 pilots 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" pass by at Farington on the Great Britain III
14/04/2010 - 60163 "Tornado" passes Leyland truck factory heading towards Preston and at Arnside viaduct with the "Cumbrian Coast Tornado"
17/04/2010 - 6201 "Princess Elizabeth" and support coach wait at Hellifield station and Sheriffs Brow with "The Hadrian" onto Carlisle and round to York
24/04/2010 - LMS 8F - 48151 approaches Hellifield with the "Steaming Through the Dales" excursion from Whitby to Carnforth
22/05/2010 - 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" now painted in LMS lined black heads north bound from Crewe to Carlisle with the "Royal Scot" seen here passing Leyland Trucks at Farington south junction and freturning at barton footbridge.
02/06/2010 - LMS 8F 48151 in charge on the first running of the season of the "Fellsman" approaching Billington foot crossing.
05/06/2010 - 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" with the "Flyde Coast Express" heading to Blackpool at Darkinson Lane, west of Preston
24/06/2010 - 60163 "Tornado" opening up coming off Whalley Viaduct at Billington footcrossing heading towards Blackburn with the rescheduled "Border Raider"
30/06/2010 - Closer shot of Black 5 44932 on a loaded ECS test run approaching Long Preston ,Hellifield. and Wilpshire.
03/07/2010 - 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" and train rushes northbound on the WCML at Fowler Lane with the "Cumbria Coast Explorer"and returning at Billington
17/07/2010 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" approaching the summit of Copy Pit with a re-run of the failed "Cotton Mills Express" earlier in the year
24/07/2010 - 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland"rushes towards Pleasington station in very poor drizzly conditions with a CME heading for Liverpool
25/07/2010 - 2-8-0 8F 48151 replaces the failed 46115 at the last minute on the Waverley, Seen here approaching Hellifield.
28/07/2010 - 8F 48151 rushes down the mainline at Flag Lane, Farington on "The Welsh Mountaineer" from Preston to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
28/07/2010 - 5690 "Leander" at Farington junction and coming off Whalley Viaduct with "The Fellsman" heading for Settle & Carlisle.
31/07/2010 - 6201 "Princess Elizabeth"starts the climb to Wilpshire passing out of Billington on the "Cumbrian Mountain Express"
02/08/2010 -5972 "Oulton Hall" in "Hogwarts Castle" guise approaches Hellifield station on a Carnforth to York movement.
07/08/2010 - 6201 "Princess Elizabeth" in Barton googs loop and getting into its stride on the WCML at Barton footbridge with the "Cumbrian Mountain Express"
11/08/2010 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" returning on the 4th "Fellsman" tour. Captured here approaching the footcrossing at Barrow between Clitheroe & Whalley
18/08/2010 - 48151 returns on the "Fellsman" heading towards Whalley at Barrow footcrossing
21/08/2010 - 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" approaching Whalley at the first of the two footcrossing at Barrow on the returning "Cumbria Mountain Express" to Liverpool
22/08/2010 - Black 5 44932 at Blea Moor with a running of "The Waverley"
25/08/2010 - 5690 "Leander" back in the charge of this weeks "Fellsman" hauling the outgoing train out of Whalley at Barrow (Spread Eagle) footcrossing and returning at Standen hey, Clitheroe
28/08/2010 - 6233"Duchess of Sutherland"coasts out of Clitheroe at Standen Hey crossing with the last run of the "Cumbrian Mountain Express" season for 2010
29/08/2010 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" heads away from Bell Busk and Helwith Bridge with a running of the Waverley from York to Carlisle
01/09/2010 - 5690 "Leander" at Standen Hey Crossing on the "Fellsman" at Standen Hey Crossing approaching Clitheroe and retuening leaving Langho behind.
04/09/2010 - 46115 "Scots Guardsman" hauls "The Lune Rivers Trust" special off Whalley viaduct at Billington footcrossing
05/09/2010 - The last of this seasons "Waverley" and Black 5 - 44871 returns pulling its load onto Ribblehead Viaduct in the failing evening twilight
08/09/2010 - 5690 "Leander" again heads the "Fellsman" seen here at Barrow footcrossing on a misty morning running 30 mins late and rurning across whalley viaduct in failing light.
15/09/2010 - Last of the summer "Fellsman" with 5690 "Leander"storming Whalley Banks on the return at Langho station
18/09/2010 - 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" approaches Long Preston and also at Hellifield with "The Tyne Valley Tourer" in poor drizzly conditions
19/09/2010 - Newly restored Black 5 - 45337 arrives at Ramsbottom with its train on the first day in revenue earning service.
15/10/2010 - Castle Class 5043 "Earl of Mount Edgcumbe" heads northup the WCML towards Carnforth with support coach passing Leyland Trucks
30/12/2010 - Black 5 44871 pilots Jubilee 5690 "Leander" on the Winter Cumbrian Mountain express seen here bursting under the bridge at the summit of the S & C at Ais Gill

116 files, last one added on Mar 18, 2011
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27/11/2010 - A beautiful sunny freezing cold day with a light sprinkling of snow overnight in places meant perfect conditions for photography and a chase following LMS Jubilee class - 5690 "Leander" along the Blackburn branch to Hellifield and up the S&C as far as Selside in the winter sunshine with the "Fellsman"on the way to Carlisle.
This trip coinceded with the retirement of Bill Andrew who has been on the footplate of steam locos on the mainline for sixty years, this being his last trip in charge on the footplate.
Lovely morning out and enjoy your retirement Bill !

22 files, last one added on Mar 18, 2011
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13/11/2010 - Oh what a fun day I had !! -Not a day for photography but traveling on the line.
I arrived at Froghall at just after 10.00 am and queued and bought my rover ticket. Went onto the station and boarded what I thought was the local train to Cheddleton thinking I missed the first train to Cauldon Lowe. The train was full but I managed to find a seat with no problems. The train set off and the TTI inspected my ticket and said I shouldnt be on that train as it was a fully "booked in advance train" .... and asked me to alight at Consall which I did without objecting. Little did I know of the coach failure and this was the first train running 40 mins late.
Caught the waiting DMU set back to Froghall pulled by Eddystone and seeing the crowds at Froghall waiting decided to stop on board for the ride back to Cheddleton behind the DMU.
At Cheddleton I waited or the next train to Cauldon Lowe which was behind Eddystone. On boarding. I got no further than the carriage doorway as we were packed in like sardines and couldnt get into the carriage.
The schuduled banker was changed to a diesel but what a lovely ride up the line for what I saw through a door window.... well done to all concerned !!
The pull back to Cheddleton was mainly uneventfull behind the diesel with a few getting off the train at Cheddleton and reviving the jam slightly for the run to Froghall.
Might not have been on the first train to Cauldon Lowe but was the first to been thrown off a train on the line to Cauldon Lowe (albeit nicely).
Engines running - 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" ,34028 "Eddystone" Black 5 - 44767 "George Stevenson" LMS 8F 8624 & Type 33 Diesel 33021
All in all - enjoyed my day out - will be back again on a quieter day

22 files, last one added on Mar 19, 2011
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23/10/2010 - A rainy saturday afternoon at Burrs watching the action at the East Lancashire Railway - Autumn Steam festival with special guest engine - new build A1 - 60163 "Tornado" & BR Std 5 73129 plus LMS Jubilee 5960 "Leander" back for a return visit. Other engines running included 71000 "Duke of Gloucester and newly restored Black 5 - 45337.
Just 5 engines in total but any more wernt required as these 5 put on some great performances along the Burrs straight in various combinations making up for standing around in the rain and showers - nice afternoon out !
24/10/2010 - Sunday and a complete contrast in weather with brillient sunshine and remains of frost from the night before gave perfect conditions for photography. So I headed for the Irewell Vale area before traveling to Ramsbottom and then home.
Great morning out - just a pity I had to work later in the day.

30 files, last one added on Mar 21, 2011
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Sunday, last day of three for the "Steam Railway" magazine sponcered "Eastern Feel " steam gala and the sun broke through the cloud towards midday for a glorious gala.
I wanted to catch the action line side and made my way to Kinchley lane were about 20 photers were already there. This grew to over 100 I reckon wanting to capture the action of a full extended timetable of freight and passenger services using the double line.
Engines running -
•Visiting unique BR Standard 8 No. 71000 'Duke of Gloucester'
•Visiting sole surviving D49 No. 246 'Morayshire'
•Visiting sole surviving K4 No. 61994 'The Great Marquess'
•Visiting sole surviving J72 No. 69023 'Joem'
•GCR O4 No. 63601
•BR Standard 2 No. 78019 running as scrapped classmate 78054
•Pitchford hall replacing failed GNR N2 tank 1744
•Newly restored Black 5 - 45305
It was Sunday 10/10/2010 and another 10/10 for this Classic Gala !!

38 files, last one added on Mar 22, 2011
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Friday 8/10/2010 and the first of a three day steam festival which started off in dull & damp misty conditions
I had just time to visit for a few hours in the morning due to work committments but it was well worth the visit just to see one of the guest engines in steam - BR Std 5 - 73129 and listen to the noise it made coming up through the Worth valley.
The other guest engine making a return to the railway was 0-6-0 Bellerophon but not being used today.
The other engines in steam from their home fleet included - BR Std Tank 80002, Jinty 47279, L&Y 957, WD 90733 plus Ivatt 41241 seen in light steam.
Nice morning out with the gala at its usual high standard.

20 files, last one added on Mar 22, 2011
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02/10/2010 - The 2nd of a 3 day event with a Somerset & Dorset flavour with a glorious autumn sunny day following a rain lashed first day. A great gathering of steam engines actually in steam and running must have given the rosterers a problem fitting them all in.
Guest engines 60163 "Tornado" plus 34070 "Manston" together with S & D 53809 & 9F 92214 giving a Somerset & Dorset flavour. Other engines in steam -Southern 4-6-0 S 15 - 825 , BR Std class 4 - 76079, Q6- 63395, Super D - 49935, J72 - 69023, Black 5`s 45428 & 45212
The timetable ran slightly behind most of the day following an incident along the line at Eller Beck with Tornado but was a much more enjoyable day out than the spring gala.
In my opinion, was just missing the Levisham shuttles to add something extra to the timetable rather than full length trips but non the less, an excellent gala !

39 files, last one added on Mar 22, 2011
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Friday 17/09/2010 - An organised photoshoot at the Middleton Railway for their "Manchester Ship Canal Gala" with guest steam Engine small tank 0-6-0 "Gothenberg" & also long tank 0-6-0 MSC 67.
An excellent shoot started in glorious sunshine, clouding over partially later in the day.
The shoot was joined later in the day with with ex York Council steam roller DN2005 with interesting shoots crossing Moor Rd & along Beza Rd.
The day finished with a talk by Donald Thorpe about the history of the MSC plus beer tent ouitside
Another guest MSC engine for the weekend was shunter MSC 4002 which alas had a flat battery on the day.
Many thanks to Martin Creese, Andy Hardy and every one at Middleton Railway for organising a great day out.

31 files, last one added on Mar 21, 2011
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18/07/2010 - The Foxfield Railways Summer gala of Industrial Steam power!! This is another of these events that should not be missed.
This year the dull & damp weather seemed to me to keep the numbers down a little but they missed a real treat on the Foxfield Banks.
Engines in steam - 0-6-0`s - Guest Engine "Mech "Navvies Ltd,"plus "Whiston,""Wimblebury,""Meaford No2""Bellerophon""Florence No2"+ 0-4-0`s "Bagnall No2" & "Dubs Crane Tank 4101" on station pilot duties.
The Foxfield personnel certainly pulled out all the stops at this gala to put on a great show and it worked once again. One of the most friendly lines I visit. This is certainly not one to be missed for seeing industrial engines being worked hard and doing what they were designed for !!

35 files, last one added on Mar 22, 2011
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20/06/2010 - Back in Sept 2007 I said I would be back at this 2 foot narrow guage railway in the Staffordshire countryside and although I`ve called in on a number of occasions mid week, nothing was running.
Today was the second day of their Summer steam gala in beautiful sunshine with 5 engines in steam. The passenger set of coaches running clockwise whilst 2 freight trains ran anticlockwise between the two line loops on the one mile of track.
Engines running - "Isabel," Kerr Stuart "Peter Pan," "Jennie," "Paddy" & O&K "Max"
A steam gala with something different and a interesting dayout.

30 files, last one added on Mar 22, 2011
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19/06/2010 - A return to one of my favorite galas from over the past few years at the Middleton Railway and its the 50th Anniversary Gala this time.
3 - 0-6-0 engines in steam - MSC 67, "Sir Berkley" & "Matthew Murrey" plus 2 diesel shunters - LMS 7051 & D2999 on the Saturday I was attending.
This time they had coalwagon / guards van rides upto Park Halt & passengers coaches down to Balm Rd with very frequent services.
Always lots of action happening at Moor Rd station meant a very enjoysble & unusual gala here at this railway which has never disapointed me yet.
Excellent time & excellent value also.
P.S. Dont put your best gear on if traveling in the coaltruck!! - It will come back covered in soot smuts & I needed a shower when I arrived home - Good fun though ! ;)

46 files, last one added on Mar 22, 2011
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Sunday 30/05/2010 on the Great Central Railway and a complete change in the weather from Saturday on the ELR. Something unusual to photograph I thought!!
Engines running Replica of "Rocket" from the NRM,Replica of "Planet" from MoSI, "Furness Railways No20" from the Furness Trust, "Sir Berkeley" from the Middleton Railway, Beattie Wells Tank - 30585, plus G N R N2 1744 & G C R 04 - 63601
After a trip down the line & a look around the sheds, I decided to go lineside at "Woodthorpe Lane Bridge" as most of the lineside action was to be seen between Loughborough & Quorn.
A Vintage Gala with Vintage engines - In my opinion, best gala since SSS11 !!! Excellent day and glad I didnt miss it!!

57 files, last one added on Mar 22, 2011
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On a short 2 week loan to the ELR - LMS 2-8-0 8624 from Peak Rail before travelling onto the CVR just in time for the War Weekend.
21/05/2010 - A lovely sunny friday and whilst passing on the way back from the airport, I called in at Burrs for a few snaps along the line.
29/05/2010 - The first day of the usual 3 day event with 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" and 8F 8624 called into action for this long weekend. Nearly full trains were to be seen between Bury, Ramsbotom & Rawtenstall with bands and singers performing on the stations & hundreds of people dressed in period costumns for the occasion. Only let down today was the weather, but I expect larger crowds with the better forcasts for Sunday and Monday

15 files, last one added on Mar 22, 2011
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08/05/2010 - A cold. cloudy & windy middle saturday of an event spread over three weekends.
An event originally advertising up to 12 engines in steam, had been reduced by failures to 60019 "Bittern," Black 5`s 45407 & 44871, BR Std 3 76079, S&D 7F 2-8-0 53809 & another guest engine N2 GNR 1744
I arrived to find a timetable running forty minutes late after one hour & all freight trains cancelled from the published timetable. I managed to catch the N2 with the teak set returning at Darnholme only to find that the engine then was dispatched to the sheds after just one trip along the line. Later in the day, the BR Std 3 returned to Grosmont double heading Black 5 - 45407 and a diesel was put on the Pickering / Levisham shuttles for the rest of the day. I gave up on the timetable at this point as engines were turned and sent back along the line with the next service.
Some sterling efforts were to be seen from "Bittern" & specially 53809 at Moorgates.
Whilst lots of action was to be seen, it was spoiled for me by all the changes on the day to the timetable taken from the website the previous evening. I came away disappointed after a 250 mile round trip hoping to see lots more from this top billed event.

32 files, last one added on Mar 22, 2011
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Sunday 28th March, and the last day of a four day "1960`s" Gala.
Following my last visit to the Autumn gala last year, this time I decided to go line side at one of the popular lineside bridges at Kinchley Lane between Quorn and Swithland Reservoir.
Guest engines running included A1 60163 "Tornado", 5690 "Leander", Std Tank 80097, Black 5 45231 "Sherwood Forester" plus home fleet of newly restored Jinty 47406 and Diesels - "Peak" Class 45 - D123, Class 27- D5401 & Mett Cam DMU unit.
Other traction running on previous days included Black 5 44767 "Georgson Stevenson", Diesels - Class 20 D8098 & Class 25 D5185
Reasonable weather and the usual extensive timetable with freight trains between passenger services meant another good Gala and a good day out.

28 files, last one added on Mar 23, 2011
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A two day event on the East Lancashire Railway with a Fridaynight Photoshoot before the action started on saturday 21st february. Guest engines for the gala were 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" & 30777 "Sir Lamiel" with 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" plus newly restored Black 5 44871, LMS Jinty 47324 & No.32 Gothenburg.
A day on saturday behind the engines after the Friday night photoshoot followed, but finding a fresh fall of snow on Sunday sent me linesiding between Heywood and Bury and also west of Irwell vale station for a morning viewing.
So was it a "BR Green weekend" this time, No - more of a Spectacular. An ELR Gala at its best !!

37 files, last one added on Mar 23, 2011
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Friday 12/02/2010 and a cold day with sunny intervals for the first day of a 3 day event. Working early morning unfortunately meant only half a day on the line .
The guest engine for this event was ex-Great Northern Railway Class N2 steam locomotive No.1744. Other engines running were WD 2-8-0 90733, BR Std tank 80002, Ivatt Tant 41241 & 0-6-0 Tank No. 1704 "Nunlow"

15 files, last one added on Mar 23, 2011
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