6229 "Duchess of Hamilton" then and now...

46229 on The Limited Edition run on 10th May 1980. This special charter was for the people who had either contributed to the Duchess's restoration or had purchased a copy of Cuneo's limited edition print of the loco (my Dad had bought the print and as such we were lucky enough to get tickets to ride that day. Photo above courtesy of G A Cryer ( www.geoffspages.co.uk/grp/copyright.html)


How 46229 looks now in NRM York with authentic 1930's streamlined casing. Not quite the same but still very imposing!!

Prairie Tank Engine 4141 at the Great Central in April 2009

I spent many hours in my younger days inside the water tanks and the boiler/firebox of this loco scraping off rust with a wire brush whilst it was under restoration at Hampton Loade on the Severn Valley Railway. Unfortunately I never got to see her in action and will now have to wait until she returns to traffic in the future?

Tommies on the Woodhead Line

I toured the north west in the late 70's with my Dad when we managed to see most of the 76's before their very quick demise and removal from the railway network. Our visit included both Guide Bridge and Reddish where we saw lots of the class in various states of degredation aswell as some still in operation with pantographs up and ready for work.

The famous stacks of 25's at Vic Berry's scrapyard in the early 80's

No fewer than 34 stacked up in this photo - never to be seen again in railway history. Vic Berry's yard of course no longer in existence, now a housing estate!!!

Spotters taking a rest at Crewe works open day back in the early 80's - you wouldn't be able to do that now...health & safety you see !

37 at Worcester Shrubb Hill - you don't see that anymore...shame

Type 3 at Crewe

I was working in Crewe and heard this one coming in just enough time for me to snap this shot of 37401 passing our construction site travelling back towards Crewe light engine.

Leander storms Lickey Bank

Unassisted up Lickey bank on a damp March afternoon in 2007. The noise could be heard from miles away as she approached, and the run up was nothing short of amazing. Storming through a packed Bromsgrove station at speed following a standing start form Stoke Works due to us having to wait for a service train! Dad and I were in the 3rd coach and by the time we got to the top had half of what came out of the chimney either in our hair or our eyes!!!...it was worth it though. Many stood in the fields at the usual photo spots such as Vigo to capture this truly great moment.

Brush Power at Carlisle

More evocative pictures of A4 Pacific "Bittern"

DOH!!!!!!

Look closely to see Homer in the engine compartment window of class 57, no. 57601 at Crewe.

The "Duchess" 6233

The next generation.......

The nippers at Shrubb Hill with a special visitor, Royal Train Class 67, 67005 "The Queens Messenger" arrives with a special charter train, and a close up of the insignia and royal appointment.

Semaphores at Worcester Shrubb Hill

A great example of semaphore signalling still in full working order at Worcester Shrubb Hill, one of the few remaining areas in the UK where this sight is common place on our 21st century railway network. Another very rare occurrence, if not the only surviving example of this type of signalling on the entire network is the banner repeater signal mounted on the roof of the platform canopy at Shrubb Hill, and still in operational use.

Deltic memories.....

Photos from top to bottom in this selection.....top, 55011 at the end of another sprint down the ECML taking a breather at K Cross. Middle, the final day at Doncaster in Feb '82 when I copped the class with the last being 011 (far left in the line up). Bottom, what a sight for any Deltic fan! four in a row at Kings Cross!! would have made any spotters day I'm sure.

Grimey Black Five

One of the original stars of the final day of BR steam in August 1968 is BR Standard "Black Five" 45110 looking authentically grubby at Kidderminster station in the summer of '09.

AC electrics still going after 45 years of service

Class 86, 86610 languishes between the freightliner container wagons at Crewe Gresty Rd between duties in late August 09. Looking a little tired in its faded Freightliner green and yellow its still good to see them at work. I remember spotting these at B'ham New Street with my Dad in the seventies and thrashing through Stafford and up the WCML at 100mph!

"Deltic" 55022 Royal Scots Grey

The most iconic diesel ever to grace BR metals, the "Deltic". Built at the famous, but now long since demolished Vulcan foundry this machine was the most powerful and graceful of all the main line passenger deisel fleet. Only a short stint as far as railway careers go for locomotives at around 20 years from '62 to 81/82.
I managed to see them all, with the final "cop" being 55011 Royal Northumberland Fusiliers at the infamous Doncaster Works open day when the final members of the class looking somewhat deshevelled were together for one last time before being broken up or dispersed for preservation or dismantling.

Green Arrow

Green Arrow at Glos & Warks in beautiful crisp LNER apple green

rust n prime at its best

cool van, seems like the guys were enjoying the festival, this van had the most amazing interior and exterior finishes.....

Nice work

the inside finish on this splitty is just coool!

My Dad's book - a great read, go and buy it!!

This is a link to my Dad's book titled "Trailing Clouds of Glory". It contains a collection of short semi auto-biographical stories of events and people that Dad has experienced and known throughout life, as well as some evocative poetry at the end. He is currently working on his second book, which he hopes to publish next Spring.

A4 no. 60019 Bittern at Worcester Shrubb Hill 19th April 2008

Bonfire night

Had a great firework night tonight, rockets were brill! and even managed to get most of them to land on next doors garden! Baked potatos and doughnuts mmmm lovely with a nice glass of Merlot.
The rain stopped just at the right time too to let the kids enjoy the show, even had the nippers from next door come round, with their Dad to re-live a snippet of his own childhood.

Cashmores Newport

Cashmores Newport

we thought this was the best camper

Sir Nigel graces the SVR

"Jubilee" no.5690 Leander at Newport 27/3/07