60103 Flying Scotsman

Having missed 60103 Flying Scotsman on its return to steam on the East Lancashire Railway last month I see it's due for a test run today.

I'm assuming if all goes well it will be in charge of the Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express on Saturday heading over Shap to Carlisle on the West Coast Main Line and returning over the Settle and Carlisle.

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

The Elusive Flying Scotsman

It's been quite a while since I last posted on my blog. The start of a new year gives me the opportunity to make a fresh start.

Nowadays through the summer there is almost no steam on the main line in Yorkshire. A few years ago through the summer months there were four trains each week heading to Scarborough but now following troubles with line side fires we're lucky to get a couple all summer.

There's some newly restored locomotives to look out for, including 46100 Royal Scot and of course the world famous 60103 Flying Scotsman.

I contemplated making the trip over the Pennines to see Flying Scotsman undergoing trials on the East Lancashire Railway but never made it unlike hundreds of other enthusiasts. I did have a plan to see Flying Scotsman hauling its inaugural main line tour over the Settle and Carlisle to Carlisle returning via Shap. Unfortunately, due to braking issues with 60103, Ian Riley's two Black Fives 44871 & 45407 stood in.

We'd decided on one of our more favoured photographic locations but with time running short before the first Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express was due we came across a small masonry arch bridge  that was closed due to flood damage. This blocked our way and so we had to very quickly find a alternayove location and make the most of it.

That was it , just a few seconds and the train was in and out of view. Time to check out my video and see if I'd got any usable footage.

I've noticed that the next Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express scheduled to be hauled by Flying Scotsman is now the 06 February, replacing 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, assuming suitable repairs and a main line test run has been completed. However, should Flying Scotsman not be available then the Duchess will be on standby to take charge of the train.

For me that first photo of the newly restored 60103 Flying Scotsman remains elusive.

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

Steaming to The Lindum Fayre

The Christmas Lindum Fayre is an annual event in Lincoln and usually attracts a couple of steam hauled charter trains to the city. Saturday 06 December 2014 was a day not to be missed for the steam enthusiast with not one but two locomotives heading for the city.

The first charter heading into Lincoln was Vintage Trains Limited Christmas Lindum Fayre from Tyseley Warwick Road in Birmingham hauled by GWR Hall Class no 4965 Rood Ashton Hall. Our plan was to head to Swinderby Road for our first video and photo location spot.

We arrived at Swinderby Road in good time but the ground was still white over with frost. All was going well as 4965 Rood Ashton Hall needed to be on time or at best only a few minutes late if we were to make our second location of Metheringhan station.

It was now a case of heading off to Metheringham station to catch the second charter train of the day this time The Railway Touring Company's charter hauled by LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 no 60009 Union of South Africa. We arrived at the station earlier than anticipated and had a few minutes to wait in the still freezing conditions.

As it turned out we had even more time than we thought as by the time 60009 Union of South Africa arrive it was running a few minutes late.

Our extra time in the cold was rewarded with an excellent chime as she speed through the station.

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

Out To See Bittern

On a cold damp December morning we set out to the East Coast Main Line to see LNER A4 Pacific 4464 Bittern hauling the Cathedrals Express from London Kings Cross to York. Following the trains progress on Realtime Trains it was making good time and would be on schedule north of Templehirst Junction where we were planning to take some video and photos.

The clouds were low so the position of the sun wasn't going to be a problem. We didn't manage to get our usual parking spot. We had about twenty minutes to wait before the Cathedrals Express was due. A few test videos were made as main line services raced along the main line.

Then a problem as a tractor with an enormous piece of spaying equipment attached seemed as if it wanted to start crop spraying exactly where we were standing although there didn't appear to be a crop. It wasn't clear whether we would have to move position. At the same time I spotted smoke on the horizon. It turned out that we didn't have to move as the tractor did a 360° turn and headed away from us down the grass verge but by this time Bittern was into view. In a panic I pressed the photo shutter button instead of starting the video. Eventually I realised my mistake and I hit the right button and started the video.

This maybe a last video of Bittern for some time as it's due to be retired from service for a major overhaul at the end of the year.

However 4464 Bittern has one more journey planned before overhaul on the 30 December 2014 with The Bittern Farewell Tour once again travelling from London Kings Cross but this time to Lincoln.

LNER Steam Locomotives

I've steadily been updating my Zenfolio portfolio with my photographs of LNER steam locomotives. These locomotives have been broken down into five main groups to make searching for a particular locomotive as simple as possible.

These five groups are as follows:

• A Class 4-6-2 Pacific Locomotives
• B Class 4-6-0 Locomotives
• K Class 2-6-0 Moguls
• D Class 4-4-0 Locomotives
• Goods Classes

These are shown in Zenfolio as indicated below.

More photographs of each locomotive will be added as these are photographed. Photographic opportunities are a little more limited as we move into the winter season.

LMS Steam Locomotives

I've been busy updating my Zenfolio portfolio with my photographs of LMS steam locomotives. These locomotives have been broken down into four main groups to make searching for a particular locomotive as simple as possible.

These four groups are as follows:

• Black Fives
• Jubilee & Royal Scot Classes
• Coronation & Princess Royal Classes
• Good Classes

These are shown in Zenfolio as indicated below.

More photographs of each locomotive will be added as these are photographed. Photographic opportunities are a little more limited as we move into the winter season.

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

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