A Rather Wet Visit to Severn Valley Railway...

Evening all. Today saw me me paying yet another visit to the Severn Valley Railway, this time with Jenny's cousin Alec, on proberly what can be described as the wettest day possible for August... lol.. The day started as with most my trips out with a 6am wake up... oh what fun...lol.

Having travelled to Lichfield by bus to meet Alec before catching the train into Birmingham via the Cross City Line and then changing trains to Smethwick and eventually arriving at Kidderminster a little later than first intended (10:00)... oh well never mind...lol... We purchased tickets for Severn Valley before wandering down the high street to the nearby model shop "Footplate". See their website here for opening times. 

After a quick look round the model shop it was time to head back to the station to catch the 11:20 Kidderminster-Bridgnorth Severn Valley Railway Service hauled by 2857. With the typical journey via Bewdley, Arley, Highley and Hampton Loade, we eventually arrived at Bridgnorth in rather soggy conditions... So much for a British summer... lol...On our arrival at Bridgnorth, 41306 could be seen on platform 2 awaiting the road to depart.

A quick exit from the train saw us standing in the rain on the footbridge filming 41306 as she departed at the head of a Footplate experience course duty. Soon it was time to bolt into the gift shop to get dry before getting a quick photo of the various engines seen resting in the yard. 

Soon it was time to catch the train back down the line, stopping off briefly at Highley for a late lunch in the Engine House for an hour before catching 1501 back to Kidderminster, at this point the weather really had turned British and we decided to call it a day at around 4pm. On arrival back in Kidderminster a quick visit to the Railway museum before returning to the model shop where we BOTH ended up biting the bullet and buying something... Oh my poor wallet.. nah.. on this rare occasion, didn't cost too much. lol.

Soon it was time to catch the train home... yet another fantastic day.. Cheers all..Jake...

Summer Steam Gala: Amerton Farm Railway...

Evening all. Today saw me and Jenny pay a visit to the Amerton Railway, a small 2ft narrow gauge railway situated at Amerton Farm in Staffordshire. The railway was built in 1990 in a field next to Amerton Working Farm and opened in 1992. The railway now has a full circuit of track with two passing loops which were in use during our visit to their ever popular "Summer Steam Gala" event.

The day started at 6am with me waking up to my alarm, having breakfast and getting dressed making sure my camera kit and tripod were all packed and ready to go, before setting off in the car with my dad to meet my girlfriend Jenny at Uttoxeter just after 8am before driving to Amerton Farm.

We arrived at Amerton farm just after half 8. After parking up, we collected the camera kit and tripod before proceeding to the Amerton Railway entrance. Our first task would be to plaster ourselves with sun cream as the forecast was bright sunshine.... Not something you want if our driving a steam locomotive though....Sun Scream applied it was time to walk to the sheds and start filming.

The loco yard / sheds were a hive of activity 5 steam locomotives being prepared for service, 4 resident and 1 visiting engine. One of them by pure coincident also shares its name with Jenny, although its spelt as "Jennie" rather than "Jenny".... just to be confusing.Another engine and a childhood favourite of Jenny's dad Phil is a Bagnall 0-4-0 tank called "Isabel" which briefly displayed on a plinth outside Stafford Railway Station....Although now seeing out her retirement hauling passenger Trains at Amerton Railway.

After taking several video clips and photographs of the engines being prepared for service we decided to leave the shed area and find our first filming position for the first passenger service of the day before walking the length of the line filming...With the sun now getting hotter and hotter, this wasn't our smartest idea.

The first passenger service of the day would be double headed by resident loco"Lorna Doone" and visiting locomotive "Rishra"...both 0-4-0 tank engines. The first train departed Amerton Platform at 11.00am for a run round the 1 mile circuit of track, stopping briefly at the top end of the line at "Chartley Road", a small platform Halt with a picnic area.

After filming the double header and walking the in the field to "Chartley Road", where we decided to film the freight train and the double headed passenger train, it was time for lunch... 

We waited for the double headed passenger train to arrive at "Chartley Road" before catching the train down to "Amerton"... Possibly not our smartest move due to how busy the trains were all day during our visit.

Arriving back at Amerton Station, we disembarked and walked over to the Amerton Farm cafe which is separately owned from the Narrow Gauge Railway. Lunch finished, we decided to head back out and carry on filming again.

Back outside at the railway, we found "Isabel" had moved and was sat in the loop at Amerton Station coupled to a demonstration freight train... awaiting the return of the passenger train before tackling the short but steep gradients on the railway.

Our second discovery was that other resident locomotive "Diana" had swapped with "Lorna Doone" and "Rishra" and was now at the head of the passenger train. We decided to catch the train back up to Chartley Road Halt and carry on filming the various train workings... proberly not our wisest move with the sun now at its highest... let alone...hottest too..

Following a change of passengers at Amerton Station, we boarded the train bound for Chartley Road Halt and after a toot on the whistle from "Diana" we were soon trundling along slowing for sheep on the line.

Arrival at Chartley Road Halt saw us pass the freight train with Rishra at the helm, after disembarking and quick toot on the whistle from the guard with a reply from the crew on "Diana" the passenger train left one way with Rishra heading the other leaving the halt pretty silent apart from the noise from the near by main road and slight bird song. 

After a while the sound of an engine approaching could be heard as Rishra approached with the demonstration freight, it wasn't long before the sound of two double headed engines could be heard with "Jennie" & "Lorna Doone" this time doing the honours on the passenger train.

As the passenger train approached Jenny decided that she needed the toilet and boarded the train back to Amerton. As both trains left I was left in opposite directions leaving the halt almost empty apart from myself and a few other people on the platform.

The peace between trains allowed me to flick through video footage filmed and photographs that I had taken during the course of the day....In the distance the sound of "Diana" could be heard as she attacked the climb up to Chartley Road Halt from Amerton bunker first with the second of the two freight trains.... And wasn't long before she arrived into the loop at the halt and stopped, waiting for the passenger service.

Having had enough of the extreme heat with the sun now at its hottest and highest, I decided to call it a day and caught the passenger train back down to Amerton to meet Jenny who was looking in the museum. Having arrived back at Amerton, I was caught out when the locomotives were changed and Isabel was then coupled to the passenger train....Typical.

I was lucky to get a quick photo of Isabel, Jennie & Lorna Donne (Both still coupled together) before Jennie left for the circuit with the passenger train leaving Jennie, Lorna Doone and Rishra in the passing loop.

With all operational locomotives now photographed and caught on video, we decided to call it a day. Having retrieved my fleece from Jenny's car and bought nice cold drinks, it was time to was time to part company and head our separate ways...

With Jenny driving back to Hilderstone, I caught the vintage bus back to Stafford Station before catching the train back home to Burton, Another great if not hot day out!! Cheers all, Jake...

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway...

Hi all. Today saw me and Jenny paying our first ever visit to the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Steam Railway....A line I've been wanting to visit for the last few years but never got round to doing so. Today saw us with our typical early start of 6am, driving from home to Burton Railway Station for around 7am and catching the train to Birmingham New Street. 

On arrival at Birmingham New Street, we changed trains for a train bound for Cheltenham Spa Station in the form of a Cross Country 220/221 Voyager. After a fairly lengthy train journey to Cheltenham Spa Station, we arrived and changed for a shuttle bus that operated between Cheltenham Mainline Station and Cheltenham Race Course. 

On arrival at Cheltenham Race Course, we proceeded to walk up the hill to Cheltenham Race Course Station - Operated by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR).

Tickets purchased we walked onto the platform to find a Class 117 DMU Railcar waiting in the platform ready to take us to Toddington. Before long we were on our way to Toddington stopping briefly at Gotherington to swap tokens over with the other train in service 7820 "Dinmore Manor" & at Winchombe to disembark / board the train to Toddington and eventually Broadway.

On our arrival at Toddington we found Ex GWR King Class 6000 4-6-0 No.6023 "King Edward II" simmering in the yard in preparation for what we discovered later would be a double headed journey to Broadway and back. After disembarking at Toddington and taking several photos of 6023 in the yard, it was time for lunch.After lunch, we found that 6023 has moved to take water in the platform and decided to take several more photos of the engine. Before long 7820 "Dinmore Manor" arrived with her train ready to go to Broadway with the final steam hauled service to Cheltenham.

Not wanting to miss our train back to Cheltenham and a opportunity to ride on the newly opened extension into Broadway, we boarded the train (now double headed between Toddington-Broadway) in both directions for Cheltenham....Needless to say its amazing just how much noise a Manor and a King can make when double heading together...

Back at Toddington it was time to say fairwell to 6023 as 7820 prepared to take the rest of the journey to Cheltenham. The return to Cheltenham was fairly smooth apart from a brief stop on the way just south of Gotherington due to a lineside fire.. which was soon dealt with by the crew on 7820. Soon we were on our way once again arriving at Cheltenham were 7820 would run round her train ready to take the train back to Toddington.

With that it was time to return to the Bust Stop to catch the bus back to Cheltenham Spa Station ready for the journey home. Once again another fantastic day out. With thanks to Jenny for her company as always. Cheers all, Jake...

BMES: Another Driving Turn..

Hi all. Today saw me once again down at the Riverside Miniature Railway operated by members of the Burton Model Engineering Society for April 'Steam Up' day which are held on the third Sunday of the month from April to October from 11am-pm weather and volunteer availability permitting. For more information see the club's website here. Unlike more usual trips out to heritage railways which usually entail a 6am wake up, today would see a 7-8am wake up which is rare due to the nature of visiting heritage railways. 

I arrived at the club at around 09:30 am and found the gate to the site open, on my arrival I discovered one of the members Dave was on site preparing his engine for service. I quickly leaned my bike up against the side of the club house and went to help Dave with moving his Steaming up kit from his car to the steaming bay for his engine.

The next task would be to fetch the water hose pipes from the containers to and set them up one in the steaming bay and the other near the water tower, situated next to the raised level track platform area. Soon after Keith, the club chairman and his wife arrived followed by several others, soon there was a fair amount of locos in the steaming back including a lovely 5 inch model of a N7, seen in the photo below. I'm not gonna ramble on too much as I don't have enough photos to do a full 'steam up' report blog post on here sadly. Please click the link here for a full post from a previous steam up from August last year. 

During the day there were many conversations had between all who attended including myself as well as a chance to have go at driving the club's 7 1/4 inch ground level Battery diesel shunter hauling passengers. Over all a fantastic day, thanks again to all who made it enjoyable..Till next time..cheers all, Jake...

Five Friends Reunited...

"Smile Now" (Pic - K.Evans)

Hi all. Today saw me joining the usual duo of my girlfriend Jenny and her best friend Alice for a trip up to York to meet our good friends Kieran and Casey before spending a day at the National Railway Museum in York. My day started at 06:00, catching the train from Burton to Derby at 07:50 to meet Jenny and Alice in Derby before catching the train from Derby to York at 08:40 eventually arriving at York at 10:34... What a long journey... On arrival at York we were met off our train by our friends Kieran and Casey who were feature in my post from our visit to Ecclesbourne Valley Railway last year, see post here. After getting off the train in York, we went over to get a group photo in front of 68024 "Centaur" which was parked up in the bay platform. 

"York Station front" (Pic - J.Davies)

After taking a group photo, we went out the station and headed for the National Railway Museum home to worlds famous LNER racing thoroughbreds 60103 "Flying Scotsman" & 4468 "Mallard". 

We entered the NRM via the Great Hall where both 60103 & 4468 can be found, although the first engine you see on entering the museum is 35029 which has been sliced in half as a demonstration to help explain how steam engines work.

Having walked past No.1 Stirling Single which can be seen in the photo below sat on the Turntable. We slowly made our way to the Flying Scotsman exhibit. We soon discovered that the exhibit was reasonably quiet. so decided to make the most of it.

The girls were quick to pose for a photo on a specially constructed platform splitting 60103 from her tender. Thanks to Kieran for allowing me to use some of his photos in this post.

"On The Footplate Of Flying Scotsman" (Pic - K.Evans)

After taking multiple photos of Flying Scotsman, we headed over to the workshops to have a look outside on the outside viewing gallery looking towards York Railway Station.

Of course couldn't resist a overall high up photo looking across the Great Hall with the two main centre pieces being 4468 "Mallard" and 6229 "Duchess of Hamilton" both currently in streamlined condition. 

After taking a few photos, we wandered up to the workshop viewing gallery where we saw 60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley" which can be seen in the photo below currently in pieces for a 10 year overhaul.

After looking around the workshop viewing gallery, we decided it was time for lunch so headed back into the Great Hall before wandering over to the other hall "The Station Hall" for lunch.

Course I couldn't miss the opportunity to take photos of the iconic LNER A4 Pacific No.4468 "Mallard though. 

For those interested, 4468 Mallard was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and built at Doncaster Locomotive works on the 3rd March 1938. In July the same year she become the first and only steam locomotive to reach 126 mph record (Miles Per Hour), interestingly though a fellow class mate 4464 "Bittern" was allowed to do a 90mph run on the East Coast Mainline in June 2013, the same route used by Mallard in 1938.

After having lunch in the Station Hall, we decided to wander round the hall before venturing out into the unusually hot sunshine for April. While looking round the exhibits, I was lucky to get a photo of Jenny, Casey & Alice (pictured above) on the footplate of one of the older style Midland Railway / LMS Steam locomotives. Great photo girls.

In the photo above, Jenny poses in front of one of the tank engines which can be found in the Station Hall, giving us a great perspective of how big even a tank engine is at track level.

We slowly made our way outside to find a little 0-4-0 saddle tank Acecroft No.1 seen in charge of Steam Rides up and down South Yard. We were quickly joined by fellow enthusiasts Xav and Tayger. Kieran and the girls decided to have a ride on the train leaving me, Xav & Tayger to keep an eye on their stuff. 

After their ride behind No.1 we decided to get out the sun for a few minutes and wandered into the diesel depot or as I call it "The Pop Up Tent" which was empty with just a DMU Railcar, a class 47 diesel, a few wagons and a Class 09 to look at. 

After walking round the diesel shed, we said 'bye' to Tayger, who disappeared back to the Great Hall while we bought ourselves an Ice Cream before heading back into the museum. After a quick look round the gift shop before heading back to the station for one last photo in front of the Class 68.

"All lads together" (Pic - C.Johnson)

After one final photo in front of the 68 this time just us four lads: Myself, Kieran, Xav & Tayger. It was time for all of us to go our separate ways, me, Jenny and Alice headed to platform 9 kindly waved off by Xav and Tayger, Cheers lads. Another fantastic day out. Thanks to Jenny, Alice, Kieran for their company and thanks to Xav and Tayger for joining us this afternoon. Cheers all, Jake...