Bad Timing

Despite all the technology availably it was just bad timing that meant we didn't arrive soon enough to have time to get set up to video and photograph 46115 Scots Guardsman with the Robin Hood.

Perhaps it's due to a summer off from mainline steam photography that was the cause. With a summer long steam ban on locomotives operating on the mainline in the eastern region photographic opportunities within a reasonably distance from home have been very few and far between. It's been a summer and autumn of Heritage Railway photography.

61994 The Great Marquess at the East Lancashire Railway Autumn Gala October 2014

So despite tracking times quite carefully with Realtime Trains we didn't manage to make it to Swinderby Road level crossing with any time at all to do any preliminary setting up. Unfortunately we were slightly delayed on our journey and the train was running a few minutes early which meant it was approaching Swinderby Road crossing as we got out of the car. A cry of, "It's coming!" and a whistle from Scots Guardsman meant it was panic stations to get cameras up and running as the train passed never mind any scene setting or thought about best camera location.

46115 Scots Guardsman with The Robin Hood at Swinderby Road level crossing

The sun was bright and I couldn't tell whether of not the video camera was set to record. All I could do was hope it was filming as checking at this stage would guarantee missing the train in any case. My luck was sort of in and the camera did turn out to be recording.

Here's my video in any case.

We certainly didn't have any time hanging about waiting for Scots Guardsman to arrive but next time I would like to arrange it so I get at least a few minutes to decide on a location before having to press the record button.

Copyright: Original post from http://steamdaysblog.blogspot.co.uk/author M Garrett

48151, 45699 Galatea and 46115 Scots Guardsman Triple Head to Dereham

The weather was pretty naff as rain continued for the second day in a row but it did mean that any gardening was out of the question. It had come to my attention that three steam locomotives were moving from Carnforth to Dereham where they will take part in the Mid Norfolk Railway’s steam gala. I've tried in the past to photograph what I suppose are best called positioning moves for locomotives without a great deal of success. Timetables seem to go out of the window if I’m attempting to find a suitable spot for a bit of video or a few photographs. I couldn't remember ever seeing a main line triple header so I decided to give this one a go. It was scheduled to pass through Woodlesford station at 15:27 which isn't too far from home. But would it be on time.

There had been some rumours on social media site that a diesel would be involved in the makeup of the train but that wasn't the case.

The locomotives making up the train were:

• LMS Class 8F 48151
• LMS Jubilee Class 45699 Galatea
• LMS Royal Scot Class 46115 Scots Guardsman

As it happens the triple header arrived just a few minutes behind schedule and as a bonus the train made a short stop in the station as though rehearsing for the “Scarborough Spa Express” steam hauled summer service which picks up and drops off passengers at Woodlesford.

After a short stop they were off on their journey to the Mid Norfolk Railway where they will be in action over the weekend.

   Below is a short video of the rare triple header as it passed through Woodlesford Station.

Copyright: Original post from http://steamdaysblog.blogspot.co.uk/author M Garrett

46115 Scots Guardsman with the Scarborough Spa Express

Went down to the station in Wakefield to get some footage of the Scarborough Spa Express. I'm going to have to try somewhere else as just too many "enthusiasts" now visit the station and provided they get the shot they want they're quite prepared to walk straight in front of someone else’s shot. Perhaps they don't do it on a purpose but just don't think what they're doing. Either way it makes getting a good video impossible.

Here’s my footage of The Scarborough Spa Express with 46115 Scots Guardsman once again in charge. The train was running around 20 minutes late at Wakefield Westgate and still rather frustratingly timed its arrival to coincide with a Northern Rail DMU stopping train in the station at the same time.

Copyright: Original post from http://steamdaysblog.blogspot.co.uk/author M Garrett

Didn't Quite Work Out

I started the week full of good intentions to get some pictures of this weeks Scarborough Express steam hauled trains. The week started well enough and I got some pictures and video of 46115 Scots Guardsmen returning through Wakefield Kirkgate with the Scarborough Spa Express.

Luckily this week no one dashed out in front of my camera at the last moment.

Wednesday was a wet day with rain on and off all day so I decided not to bother with any filming as I don't think my best pictures are taken in dull and rainy conditions. Thursday was an absolute scorcher of a day with the temperature nudging into the thirties centigrade and as I was on the allotment in the afternoon I decided to see if I could film 60009 Union of South Africa on a light engine move from the National Railway Museum to Crewe in preparation for hauling Friday's Scarborough Flyer.

I didn't manage a particularly good bit of video but it was interesting to note that 60009 made its move without diesel assistance so I'm assuming the steam ban due to fire risk has been lifted due to the recent heavy rainfall.

On Friday morning  I made the short trip to Horbury to film 60009 Union of South Africa on the Scarborough Flyer. I made it just in time and got a nice chime from the locomotive as she headed for Wakefield Kirkgate.

In the evening I intended to try a new location but hadn't done enough investigation work and failed completely to capture any video. I did manage a pretty good picture of a thunderstorm forming over Castleford.

Ah well there's always another week.

Copyright: Original post from http://steamdaysblog.blogspot.co.uk/author M Garrett

The Scarborough Spa Express

Woodlesford Station - Thursday 02 August 2012

It was a pleasant enough evening so I took a trip down to the station at Woodlesford to see what was pulling the Scarborough Spa Express. From the information available on web sites it was due to be LMS Class 5MT 4-6-0 No 45407. On arriving at the station I soon discovered that this loco had failed yesterday and was diesel hauled. So what to expect today?

I'd arrived at the station in good time and tested out my camera position on a few other passing trains. Firstly on this through train.

There were  a couple of stopping services running between Leeds and Sheffield.

By now there was quite a crowd awaiting the arrival of the Scarborough Spa Express which arrived on time as it pulled into the station. The replacement loco was 46115 Scots Guardsman which is making a habit of pulling this express train.

Just a short stop to drop off some passengers and it departed on its final leg of the journey to York.

I had time to capture a couple of stills whilst the passengers alighted. Despite its hectic schedule Scots Guardsman is looking really smart in its British Railways livery.

You may be interested in viewing one of our webpages http://ossettweather.com/artwork/trains.html where some photos taken during this visit have been uploaded for using as greetings cards or wall art designs

The Yorkshire Coast Express

Sherburn Station - Saturday 14th July 2012

This week "LMS 7P class 4-6-0 Scots Guardsman" has spent a week in Yorkshire. On Saturday 14th July it hauled The Yorkshire Coast Express from Milford Loop south of York through to Scarborough with a return journey back to York. The train had been diesel hauled from Llandudno to Milford Loop.

This is Scots Guardsman heading through Sherburn Station just after leaving Milford Loop some 15 minutes early. The video below shows just how hard 46115 was working to gather speed with The Yorkshire Coast Express as it headed towards York.

I had intended to catch 46115 reversing down to Milford Loop from the National Railway Museum at York but it did this part of the journey earlier than anticipated.

The Scarborough Spa Express

Wakefield Westgate - Tuesday 17th July

Scots Guardsman's next job in Yorkshire was hauling The Scarborough Spa Express on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday making the round trip from York to Scarborough via  Normanton, Wakefield, Woodlesford and Castleford.

First video is Scots Guardsman queueing for an evening arrival back at Wakefield Westgate station amongst the commuter and East Coast Main line trains on Tuesday.

Woodlesford Station - Thursday 19th July

The Scarborough Spa Express was running a little early on Thursday morning and I had just enough time to capture it coming to a standstill on Platform 2. I should have considered arriving a few minutes earlier but I didn't think it would be early as it was still picking up passengers at this point.

The final video is arriving at Woodlesford Station on Thursday evening on the last run of the week for The Scarborough Spa Express.