The Keighley Worth Valley Railway...

Hi all. Today myself, Jenny and her best friend Alice visited the lovely Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire. Running between Keighley & Oxenhope a distance of only five miles. This would be the girls first visit to KWVR & my second visit (my previous being in 2010). After yet another early start and meeting part way with Alice at Leeds, we eventually arrived at Keighley at 11:20, tickets purchased we boarded the DMU service to Oxenhope. After a fairly reasonable trip to Oxenhope from Keighley it was time for lunch. After a visit to the railway's buffet coach for lunch we went onto the station platform to join the crowd of other people all stood around looking at LMS Black Five No.45212, the rostered steam locomotive in operation alongside the DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) in operation during our visit to Keighley Worth Valley Railway.

We decided to leave the crowds to visit the Exhibition building where LMS 8F No.48431 seen in the photo above could be found minus tender alongside GWR Pannier tank No.7775 although currently in fictional livery used in the ever popular film "The Railway Children" filmed at the KWVR in the 70s. Proberly one of mine and Jenny's joint favourite films to watch.

While in the exhibition Hall, the girls spotted a Pullman railway coach "Mary" which by coincidence shares its name with my mum (see close up photo above), course very much tongue in cheek I decided to take a photo of the name on the side of the coach before walking back onto the platform as 45212 was coupling to the other end of her train to return to Keighley. 

We decided to board the train and travel as far as Ingrow to visit the BLS (Bahamas Locomotive Society) and RailStory museum's at Ingrow before heading back to Keighley Mainline Station to head back to Leeds where we would go our separate ways to Alice. 

We left Oxenhope with the recognisable sound of a Stanier Hooter from 45212 with brief passenger stops at Haworth, Oakworth, Damens and finally Ingrow where we got off to walk down the station yard to the BLS societies small museum building in a converted engine / wagon shed. While in the museum, we found 0-6-0 Saddle Tank "Nunlow" & 0-4-0 Tank "Tiny" seen in the over all photo above.

After a taking a few photos of both engines, we headed back out into the yard to walk over to the Rail Story Museum where a collection of historic railway artefacts and coaching stock are based.

Before walking over to Rail Story we stopped to get a photo of the breakdown steam crane and yard crane where Jenny offered to pose for a photo next to it before walking over to the museum.   

While in the museum we were lucky enough to be shown round the impressive collection of artefacts and wooden bodied rolling stock which can be found in the museum, some used during the filming of the Railway Children.

After walking round looking at the various exhibits we couldn't leave the museum without going via the gift shop to buy ourselves small tub of Ice Cream each. External and Internal photos of the Rail Story museum building can be seen below.

I will add one vehicle that did catch my eye while in the museum was the small Rail bus vehicle that can be seen in the photo below in the museum workshops hidden slightly behind one of the metropolitan Suburban coaches. After exiting the museum we headed back to the station to sit in the sun and eat our ice creams and wait for the return of 45212 bound for Keighley. 

Before long the sound of 45212's whistle could be heard in the distance as she entered the tunnel before she rolled into the station before stopping to pick up passengers, we boarded the train to find the train pretty much full although we were lucky to find a seat on a slightly noisy coach which families with screaming kids... oh the joys. lol. After boarding the train, we departed Ingrow bound for Keighley.

On arriving back at Keighley we got off the train to have another up close look at 45212 before crossing over the footbridge to the Mainline Station to wait for our train back to Leeds before me and Jen said our good byes to Alice before we went our separate ways. 

While waiting for our train back to Leeds we heard 45212 as she ran round her train to return back Oxenhope. Before long our train arrived and we were all on our way back to Leeds. Another fantastic day out. Thanks to Jenny and Alice for their company throughout. Cheers all, Jake...

A Double Dose of Midland Railway Steam...

Hi all. Today saw me take a second Midland Railway Centre, Butterley in Ripley, Derbyshire to see the PRCLT (Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust) BR 4MT Standard 2-6-4 Tank Loco No.80080  & LMS Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2 Pacific No.6233 "Duchess of Sutherland in operation on the Midland Railway Trust's own site between Butterley and Swanwick Junction, unlike my previous trip a couple of weeks ago, when I arrived to find 80080 had failed, this trip would be more successful. (Click here for the post about my previous visit)

My day started once again with me waking up at around 6am, and leaving the house around 7am, catching the 07:17am Cross Country Service into Derby and taking the short walk to Derby Bus Station for my train to Butterley, departing Derby Bus Station at 08:35am and arriving outside Butterley Station around 9am. A quick walk along the footpath to Swanwick Junction as 80080 and 6233 could be heard moving around the outside of West Shed before coming down the incline to the Swanwick Junction complex. 

"Side by Side. 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland & 80080."

I quickly got my camera out and started to record the pair as they came into the station with the PRCLT's Observation Saloon, 80080 was detached and ran to Ironville (Riddings Junction) Light Engine while 6233 ran into the yard to collect her train ready to bring out into Platform 2 on 80080's return. On 80080's return, 6233 brought her empty coaching stock into Platform 2 to allow 80080 to couple to the rear to drag the empty Stock to Butterley to form the 11.00am Butterley-Riddings Service via Swanwick Junction.

After 80080 and coupled to the rear, the pair went down to Butterley Top and Tail, giving me 30-40 minutes to relax and natter to fellow photographers and videographers before the pair came back bound for Riddings Junction. Sadly unlike my previous trip here, I was unable to visit West Shed due to time constrains. I decided that while I had the chance to film both engines, I would focus on filming both of them. 

"Smile now !!"

While stood waiting for the pair to return, I was joined by several older visitors who like myself had decided to visit to see 80080 but thought about 6233 as an after thought. Before long a distant BR & Stanier Hooter Whistles could be heard marking their departure from Butterley. 

And sure enough they appeared into shot, although now under slightly menacing Sky's. With a brief stop at Swanwick Junction to allow people to alight, they set off in Top and Tail to Riddings Junction, the mainline connection of the Railway Centre, providing a connection for 6233 to go mainline.  

Following a speedy turn round at Riddings, the pair soon returned... still in top and tail format, stopping at Swanwick for a few minutes before taking their train back to Butterley.

The second trip saw the pair double heading both Chimney first towards Swanwick Junction as can be seen in the two photos above. After a fairly quick run round they returned once again in Top and Tail format with 80080 dragging dead weight 6233 into Swanwick Station. I decided to catch the train down to Butterley to film them on the second Double headed run of the day. We departed Swanwick fairly quickly and were soon passing through Butterley and across the causeway to Hammersmith where the engine in this case 80080 was to run round her train and return to Butterley for a 20 minute break to allow the crews to have a lunch break.

With the next service off Butterley not being till 14.00 I decided to take the opportunity to take a photo of 80080 side by side with the Class 08 shunter. (Seen to the right of the photo above). I then made my way up to the crossing to stand on the bank to get a video and photo of the pair departing for Swanwick. 

At 14.00 with a toot from 80080 & 6233 they set off departed in a cloud of their own steam, passing the camera I managed to grap a quick photo of 80080 piloting 6233. With last two runs being a repeat of the others i will end this post here, but will leave you with one final photo of the pair seen on a later run approaching Butterley Station from Butterley Causeway. 

As I conclude today's post, both will be sat on / inside West Shed ready for yet another day of running tomorrow before they part company next week with 80080 heading to East Lancashire Railway for the rest of the year while 6233 will be preparing to go mainline returning to the South to help pick up the slack of mainline railtour duties. Once again another fantastic day. Cheers All, Jake...