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10-10-2008 - Friday and the first day of a three day Autumn gala and with pleasent weather as well!
5 engines in steam today with more in steam over the weekend. Today saw 4f 44422 running the goods train all day whilst GWR tank 5643 & Great Eastern N7 tank took the sub sets. Metropolitan Railway Class E tank engine No1 ran a shuttle between Carrog / Glyndyfrdwy and Pannier tank 6430 ran a full line Autotrain.
Great day out including the usual guards van ride for me

40 files, last one added on Mar 31, 2011
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21/09/2008 - Sunday, and another glorious day following on from yesterdays visit to Embsay and this time at the Middleton Railway celebrating 250 years in opertion as a railway.
3 engines in steam (Sir Berkley, Brookes No.1, & Matthew Murray) and nearly every diesal engine in the museum that could run must have been used in todays event.
A frequent service upto Park Halt and guardsvan / train rides down the rarely used Balm Road section added to the interest.
Plus a great photoshoot with a steam roller, steam wagon & Sir Berkley. Great value too and a great day out !!!

42 files, last one added on Mar 31, 2011
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20/09/2008 - A glorious sunny saturday for this years Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway - Harvest of Steam Weekend 2008
Guest engine LNER D49 No246 "Morayshire" looked great running on the line and was accompanied by two 0-6-0 saddle tanks, Monckton No1 and Darfield No1 + Class 31 D5600 deputising for a failed NCB140 running both an extensive timetable and a freight train
Great improvment on last years event

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17/09/2008 - Heading south for a family wedding in "Rain Bashed" Worthing on the Friday, I managed to escape shopping in Brighton on Saturday and headed swiftly with my father to the Bluebell Railway for a first time visit.
In the short time allowed, we managed a full line trip and a look around the engine sheds at Sheffield Park plus a stopover at Horsted Keynes on the way back for a look around the station before getting the next train back to Sheffield Park.
Engines running - "U" Class 1638 & SECR "O" Class No.65
Highly recommended and hope to visit again in much better weather

28 files, last one added on Mar 31, 2011
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16/08/2008 - A cloudy Saturday and its the "Settle - Carlisle Venturer" from York to Carlisle and 46115 "Scots Guardsman" is in charge from Hellifield to Carlisle and back.
Arriving early at Hellifield, I took a few pictures of the engine and support coaches, leaving before the train arrived to travel up the line to Ribblehead for more photographs.

18 files, last one added on Apr 03, 2011
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10/08/08 - Family commitments meant a weekend in Leicester and spoiled my plans to chase IT57 around the northern rails.
Being let out to play for a Sunday morning I headed for the Great Central Railway to see what was happening. A run down the line and back from Rothley and a look at Kinchley lane was all I had time for before heading back to Leicester.
Engines in steam - 63601 & 850 "Lord Nelson" + DMU unit & Class 25 diesel D5185
Quiet day I thought but enjoyable day out - as per usual !

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27/07/2008 - Sunday and a visit to Carnforth to the West Coast Railway Centre openday.
I relished this visit to see the freshly painted and finished 46115 "Scots Guardsman" & 70013 "Oliver Cromwell" - and magnificent they were !! Plus other steam engines 30777 "Sir Lamiel", 5690 "Leander" & 5972 "Olton Hall" in "Hogwarts Castle" guise.
Diesels galour to been seen and "Barry" scrapyard sights of Class 37`s and class 47`s diesels waiting to be refubished or scraped for spares .
10/10 for the restoration of "Scots Guardsman" Interesting Visit !

65 files, last one added on Apr 02, 2011
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19/07/2008 - Saturday and a changeable windy sort of day with showers and sunshine for my first ever visit to the Foxfield Light Railway.
6 Industrial steam engines in steam on this steeply inclined collery line through the Staffordshire countryside.
Engines in steam :- 0-6-0`s "Bellerophon," " Florence No2,""Meaford No2""Wimblebury" with Guest engine "Portbury""& 0-4-0 Beyer Peacock ST.
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.
Excellent day out and with the friendliest staff I`ve visited yet!!

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11/07/2008 - An appalling day weatherwise with constant heavy rain for a test run for 46115 "Scots Guardsman" from Carnforth to Settle and then onto Hellifield for a watering stop. From Hellifield it continued onward for Blackburn, Preston and then up the WCML back to Carnforth.
Lovely sight - Great to see it painted and finished at Carnforth open day!

23 files, last one added on Apr 02, 2011
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Slightly off topic for me - A Diesel event on the ELR.
TUESDAY 01/07/08 on holiday and nothing better to do than watch the diesel event sitting on a deck chair at Burrs Country park in the sunshine.
Diesels running , Class 40-40145 "East Lancashire Railway," Class 37-37906, Class 47-47402 "Gateshead", Class 45-45041 "Royal Tank Regiment" & Class 50 - 50015"Valient"
FRIDAY 04/07/08 - Back for more pictures on a sunny day.
Diesels being used - Class 33 D6525, Class 45 - 45041, Hymek D7076, Class 24 - D5054, Class 47 - 47402
SATURDAY 05/07/08 Running today in very changeable weather. in addition to most of the above, Class 20 20087, Class 31 31108, Class 52 - D1023 "Western Fusilier" & another Class 37 - 37901"Mirrlees Pioneer"

47 files, last one added on Apr 03, 2011
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27/06/2008 - FRIDAY and the first day of a three day event at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway 40th Anniversary Gala.
Eleven engines lined up for this event with trips on the mainline up to Settle junction and Ribblehead over the weekend behind 30777. Plus incoming steam excursions from Manchester.
K4 61994 "The Great Marquess" had still to arrive and was replaced with Black 5 45212 for its trips on Friday. The other engines used on the line were the usual suspects of ,90733, 41241, 80002, No85.
"Nunlow" & "Sir Berkley" giving guards van rides at Ingrow West. 47279 & 957 were in reserve at Haworth sheds being used later in the gala.
Great day out - just a pity 30777 wasnt used on this day
SATURDAY - After a wasted journey up the S & C to see 30777 which was failed at Skipton, I made a detour home via Haworth sheds which made up for my disapointment earlier - excellent sight seeing most of the engines in the yard
WELL DONE THE STAFF OF K&WVR AFTER ALL THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE GALA !!!!

41 files, last one added on Apr 04, 2011
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15/06/2008 - Fathers Day so I decided to treat myself to a trip to the Lake District to see the two Fairburn Tanks running together on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. Locations for todays photographs were mainly at Newby Bridge Halt and Lakeside.
This would be the last time they run together here for a while as 42085 goes to the GCR for repairs and TLC.
Nice enjoyable dayout combined with a run around the lakes as well.

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31/05/08 - 34067 "Tangmere" on the Settle & Carlisle line was a event I didnt want to miss.
Calling in at Hellifield station to see if it was running , I arrived just as the Class 47`s arrived with the special. My intension was to of drive to Ribblehead Viaduct and then walking to my favorite spot on the hillside at the far end from the viaduct. but too much unexpected caravan traffic on the A65 heading for Appleby put me too far behind schudule to make it their so I stopped just before Selside.
Tangmere appeared going very slowly at Selside with its 13 coach load which enabled me to beat it to the road junction at Ribblehead and take more pictures of it on the way - an unexpected bonus.

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Sunday 25/05/08 and after last years event, a return trip to this 3 day event was a must. Lots more cameos and military vehicles to be seen and performances and shows at the various station made this visit unmissable.
ELR Engine running was 9F 92214 with guest engines USA S160 - No5197 from the Churnet Valley Railway & 0-6-0 Peckett No.2000 from Barrow Hill.

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17/05/2008 - A cloudy Saturday at the Ribble Steam Railway second annual Steam Gala.
An interesting display of three industrial engines in steam which include 0-4-0 Tank "John Howe", 0-4-0 Saddle Tank "Agecroft No.2" and 0-4-0 Sentinal 8024 "Gasbag" which made for an interesting addition to the normal traction running.
Enjoyable dayout, a look around their museum (see earlier collections) and something unusual to see running.

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03/05/2008 - A lovely Saturday and a hazy sunny day at the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Gala of Steam narrow 15"guage railway.
Most of their home fleet was in action and guest engines from the R.H.& D.R. ("Typhoon" & "Hurricane") and the Bure Valley Railway ("Wroxham Broad") plus "Sian" made for an very interesting gala with an extended timetable being used.
A ride on the scenic route heading into the english lake district topped the event of me and made it well worth the visit.
One not to be missed next year. Excellent !

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20/04/2008 - A dull, cold and rainy sunday at the Llangollen "Patroit" spring steam gala. On this occasion, my wife came along also bringing the dog. We managed to do a round trip along the line which we enjoyed immensley before having to return home early.
Engines running were 4F 44422, LMS Mogel 42968 as guest engines. 7822 "Foxcote Manor", GWR tank 5643, Pannier Tank 6430 with the Auto train, LMS Black 5 44806 and GWR goods 3802.
An excellent gala but I was disappointed with the turnout which was a pity because you dont know what you missed! even the wife enjoyed herself and the dog seemed interested as well.

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Sunday 30/03/08 - I arrived late at Burrs country park after my trip the day before to the NYMR and also forgetting about the clocks going forward.
Four engines in steam. 71000 "Duke of Gloucester" and 4936 "Kinlet Hall" possibly on its last outing on the ELR for a while on the passenger services and Black 5- 45407 & BR STD 4 - 76079 both working a goods train with 18 vehiciles on the spare path, over the full length of the line.
A nice afternoon out after the wet weather the day earlier.

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29/03/08 and its the first Saturday of a two week LNER Festival
featuring for the first time, a line-up of 3 - A4 Pacifics , 60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley" 60009 "Union of South Africa" 60019 "Bittern" and V2 4771 "Green Arrow." Also running B1 - 61264, K1 - 62005, Q6 63395 and J15 65462. The weather started out with brillient sunshine and by lunchtime it had clouded over and followed by heavy rain an hour later for the rest of the day.
Certainly the best steam festival for me this year and well worth the late drowning

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23/02/2008 - A cloudy saturday and I`ve a limited time for this steam gala due to family celebrations and committments
I arrived early at Cheddleton station and wandered around for a few minutes taking pictures of the static exhibits and locos waiting in the shed lines. I fitted in one round trip to Kingsley & Froghall station and stopped off at Consall on the way back.
5 Engines in steam include LNER 4771"Green Arrow" 80098 BR std Tank, 4F 0-6-0 44422, L&NWR "Super D" 49395 & USA S160 - No5197
A great turnout for the gala which I enjoyed immensely.
Wish I could have stopped longer.

43 files, last one added on Apr 07, 2011
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