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

North Yorkshire Moors Railway - August 2014

On a lovely summers day we set out for the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Our intention was to walk the Rail Trail from Grosmont to Goathland which follows George Stephenson's original railway line of 1836. After walking to Goathland our plan was to take the train back to Grosmont.

With a total steam ban in place on mainline charters throughout Yorkshire this would be an opportunity to photograph and video steam trains in action. 

Our day began at Levisham station as we called in to see the Grosmont Pickering trains cross at 11:20.

Afterwards we moved on to Grosmont for lunch and to see what was going on at this busy station on a normal operating Monday in August.

After lunch we walked along the Rail Trail to Goathland a distance of about 3 miles. We had a coffee from the “Tea Shop” at Goathland before taking the train back to Grosmont.

The locomotives featured in the video are:

45428 - Eric Treacy
75029 - BR Standard 4
37264 - EE Class 37 (Diesel)
61264 - LNER B1 (as 61034 Chiru)

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

Lincolnshire Wolds Railway

After a week of wall and step building I was in need of a bit of steam train photography but with steam locomotives banished from the main line in Yorkshire due to the fire risk they cause it meant a visit to a Heritage railway. I decided on a visit to the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, somewhere we hadn't been before.

I knew from a bit of web research that it is only a small heritage railway operating steam trains between Ludborough and North Thoresby a distance of about 5 miles.

After watching one train depart off up the track to North Thoresby we headed for the “Steaming Kettle” buffet for a sandwich, some homemade cake and drinks whilst we waited for the train to return. After lunch we caught the next train along the short stretch of track. The railway seemed to be busy with visitors of all ages eager for their trip on the train.

Below are some video highlights of our visit.

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

No Surprises

Tuesday 15 July 2014 saw the first Scarborough Spa Express of the summer season. After the steam ban at the weekend I wasn't expecting steam haulage although I did think that there might be a token 46115 Scots Guardsman in there somewhere.

As you can see there wasn't a whiff of any smoke at all just diesel fumes. Fireman's strike or Eastern Region steam ban I'm not sure which or whether both were the cause.

Perhaps next week we might be treated to a steam hauled Scarborough Spa Express.

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

No Smoke without Fire

Saturday was a day of decision making about where to try and photograph some steam locomotives. There were basically two choices head for the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria or stay much more local within West Yorkshire. Each location or locations would offer the chance to film a couple of steam charter trains.

In the end because of time commitments we opted for staying local which with hindsight was a bit of a mistake. 

46233 Duchess of Sutherland with The Scarborough Flyer

We opted for some pictures and video shots at Burton Salmon as two charter trains one hauled by 46233 Duchess of Sutherland with The Scarborough Flyer and the other by 5972 Olton Hall (known to many as Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter films) with The Wizards Express. The two trains were scheduled to pass our location around 30 minutes apart.

Checking the Realtime Trains web site as we headed to Burton Salmon both trains appeared to be on schedule. Once we arrived at our chosen location things started to go a little pear shaped. The first train to pass by should have been 5972 Olton Hall but North of Leeds updates on the progress of the train stopped. We were left to ponder whether the steam locomotive had broken down or perhaps been rerouted through Garforth to York avoiding our chosen spot.

Either way as it happened the Duchess arrived first a few minutes early and passed by with barely a hint of any exhaust smoke.

Perhaps this should have been our clue but we didn't latch on. There wasn't any up dates for The Wizards Express for ages then the Realtime trains web site started updating with the train’s progress. It was running about an hour late at this point.

5972 Olton Hall at the rear of The Wizards Express

Eventually The Wizards Express arrived but with diesel haulage in front and 5972 Olton Hall ignominiously been towed along at the back of the train. A rather disappointing day’s steam photography.

Once back home it was apparent that Network Rail had banned steam locomotives from operating due to the risk of them setting off lineside fires. The Duchess had only made it as far as York before Network Rail insisted she be replaced by diesel power. 

This doesn't really bode very well for the rest of the summer if a couple of warm sunny days have this effect. Locally July is turning out to be a wet month. Obviously the problem is the build up year after year of dead vegetation along the trackside  just waiting for a hot spark to set it alight.

With the summer steam season in Yorkshire about to get into full swing with the annual weekly runs of The Scarborough Spa Express, Scarborough Flyer and The Waverley it looks like we could have a repeat performance of last year with the trains being diesel hauled and a token steam engine at the front in light steam only.

On Monday West Coast Railways are planning to move empty coaching stock hauled by a steam locomotive from Carnforth to York presumably to operate the first Scarborough Spa Express of the summer on Tuesday. I wonder how that's going to pan out.

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

Should Have Been Three!

I'd made a note of Saturday 14th June in my diary early in the year as no less than three steam locomotives were heading for York on the same day and it must surely provide a good photo opportunity. Of course it all depended on the timing of each train as I'm not the sort of person who can hang around for hours waiting for a train. I haven't got the patience. 

The timings for each train didn't appear until a few days before the scheduled event. It wasn't good news as a couple of hours separated each train. I settled on Sherburn in Elemet for pictures of LMS Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2 Pacific 46233 Duchess of Sutherland hauling the Yorkshire Coronation from Derby to Scarborough. I thought about also photographing it before it stopped at Milford Loop to take on water but as it would probably be coasting at that point I decided on the one location. The locomotive should be working hard at Sherburn as it gets away from the water stop at Milford Loop.

After this I thought we had time to travel to Fenwick Lane near Doncaster to capture Rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific Locomotive No 34046 Braunton which I’d discovered on Saturday morning was replacing LNER A4 Class 4464 Bittern. It was a chance I didn't want to miss as it’s one of the steam locomotives I haven't seen making a rare trip up north. However on the way to Doncaster there had been a bad traffic accident and the road was closed. The route around the closure was far too long and by the time we would have got there 34046 Braunton would be in York. We headed for the small village of Great Heck which is situated on the East Coast Main Line and hoped to find a suitable spot there. 

We didn't have long to wait before 34046 Braunton raced past on its way to York from Kings Cross with The White Rose II. I even managed a little bit of video at Great Heck which is included below. 

The rain which had fallen on and off throughout the morning held off whilst we photographed both trains. The locomotive we didn't get round to seeing was LNER A4 Class 60009 Union of South Africa with The Cathedrals Express.

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

Wizards Express

I picked up on the UKsteam info web site many weeks ago now that 5972 Hogwarts Castle was to haul a charter train between Carnforth and York. The date was added into the diary but the details of timings and route were only posted the day before the scheduled run. 

The locomotive in question is the Great Western Railway 4-6-0 steam locomotive No. 5972 Olton Hall. Olton Hall and its red carriages starred as the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films and the steam locomotive was renamed Hogwarts Castle in the films. 

The location chosen for taking pictures was close to Milford Junction in West Yorkshire. It’s a location I've used before and usually gives satisfactory results. However the weather decided to play its part with plenty of clouds and rain around.

The trains progress from Carnforth was tracked on Realtime Trains and in general the locomotive was on or a little in front of time as it headed for York.

As the smoke from the locomotive almost merged with the dull grey of the sky as it came into view. Fortunately the heavy rain which had been falling held off for a few minutes.

Like all the main line shots it was all over quickly as the train steamed past us on its way to York. My video of the locomotive and train is shown below.

Another journey with the same locomotive is planned for early July.

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