Introduction to Wales - 11 August 2013

The drive into north Wales was via Oswestry, still in England, the old headquarters of the Cambrian Railways. This was to see IOWERTH, Adam Barber's charming 2008 mini vertical boiler single-cylindered loco.

 
The diminutive engine was operating on a very short line on the Oswestry station platform.

The next stop was a brief call at the Bala Lake Railway, where Hunslet quarry tank MAID MARIAN was operating trains.

Running round at the Bala terminus

In the shed at Llanwchllyn were four sister locomotives.

 

1902-built HOLY WAR

1885-built WINIFRED, freshly arrived from Canada

Porthmadog's Festiniog/Welsh Highland Railway station was the next port of call.

Funkey B-B DH Vale of Festiniog, used as station pilot for all Welsh Highland trains

George England 1867 WELSH PONY cosmetically restored and on display preparatory to a return to service.

Graham Lee's 1899 Hunslet KING OF THE SCARLETS on display in Spooner's Bar

The 1879 built Fairlie MERDDIN EMRYS just off a Festiniog train

Finally on the way up to Lewis Esposito's Salem Chapel B and B (recommended), a Welsh Highland train hauled by number 138, a Beyer Peacock Beyer-Garratt built for South African Railways in 1958.

Passing the Glanrafon slate tips north of Rhyd Ddu

Coming up to the Castell Cidwm overbridge

West Lancashire Light Railway - 10 August 2013

All other measures having failed the old laptop has been temporarily retired and I am now on another device.

The 2013 Gala at this lovely little railway was excellent. A sensible approach for accommodating enthusiasts was to sell photo permits for those who wished to station themselves along the line with hi-vis vests to be worn.

There were two visiting steam locomotives and three of the home-based steam locomotives running. Also on display were three locomotives for restoration.

Bagnall SYBILof 1906 being placed by 1907 Orenstein and Koppel UTRILLAS

1923 Fowler 0-6-0WT being shunted by the Kerr Stuart JOFFRE, last seen at Thirkeld

1903 Hunslet quarry tank IRISH MAIL temporarily
without a boiler.

There is an interesting collection of diesels such as this 1934 Simplex.

"Breadbin' cab Simples

An intensive service was run, with locomotives being rotated at Becconsall and the terminus at Delph.

UTRILLAS and fellow O&K MONTALBAN with a 'Planet' diesel

Hudswell Clarke Lautoka 19 and Kerr Stuart JOFFRE

MONTALBAN on demonstration freight train

Visiting Hunslet SYBIL MARY

Bressingham Gardens - 7 August 2013

Having discovered how to give Microsoft Outlook the equivalent of a good dose of Ritalin, I hope to be able to resume the blogging. (I'm not sure how long it will take to catch up.)

Bressingham Gardens in Norfolk once had wonderful displays of flowers but the land concerned now mostly lies waste. There were once two 2ft gauge railways but now only one remains. There are now two 1ft 3in gauge lines as well as the standard gauge museum. I went to see the 2ft gauge so I will concentrate on that.

There was just one train in operation on the 2ft gauge Nursery Line.

GEORGE SHOLTO, a 1909 Hunslet Quarry Tank, is well presented.

BEVAN, probably one of the ugliest 2ft gauge steam locomotives ever built (in 2009)

This 'Toby the Tram Engine' is a disguised Simplex diesel

BOVIS, a rare Hunslet battery electric locomotive of 1971

GWYNEDD, an 1883 Quarry Hunslet on display awaiting boiler work

Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway - 4 August 2013

Off to Kent to visit Bill Best's private railway, and what a delight it was once again. The Open Day was well attended and the trains were packed. Three steam locomotives and two diesels were in operation. The presentation of everything is first class and photographic opportunities are good.

1912 Orenstein & Koppel EIGIAU and 1930 Fowler LIMPOPO

Ex-Queensland 1897 Decauville 0-4-2T VICTORY with freight wagons

Hudswell Clarke underground diesel conversion

  

Ex-Mozambique Fowler 0-4-2T of 1912, ZAMBEZI

BICKNOR, a 1953 Simplex

 

A beautiful carriage built on site.

EIGIAU arriving at Stony Shaw

VICTORY climbing to Warren Wood station

EIGIAU on the turntable

LIMPOPO has also been repatriated from Mozambique

Great Bush Railway - 3 August 2013

This steam preservation centre at Hadlow Down in Sussex has a 2ft gauge railway. This weekend was their railway gala and for the occasion, they had a visiting steam locomotive. The track is a U shape through the site with a passing loop at one end. The two Orenstein & Koppel locos that both worked in Portugal were handling alternate trains.

Visiting 0-6-0WT ELOUISE from the Old Kiln Light Railway

A demonstration freight train was in operation handled by two SImplex diesels

SAO DOMINGOS waits in the terminal siding to take over the train from ELOUISE

This 2ft gauge tram was on display

ELOUISE moving to await the next train's arrival

SAO DOMINGOS

South Tynedale Railway - 29 & 30 July 2013

The 30th Anniversary of the South Tynedale Railway in far northern England was on this weekend. The railway runs on the trackbed of the old branch line railway from Alston towards Haltwhistle. Monday's visit was good but unfortunatelystaff shortages meant that no steam locomotive was in service. This required a second visit the following day.

HELEN KATHRYN, a 1948 Henschel, was on display

This 1937 Hunslet 0-4-2T from South Africa is awaiting restoration.

A small Moes diesel

A rebuilt 1952 Hunslet underground mining locomotive

NAWORTH, a rebuilt Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0DM loco was the train locomotive on Monday

NAWORTH on carriage shunting on Tuesday morning

A 1961 Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0DM nearing completion of a rebuild

THOMAS EDMONDSON, the 1918 Henschel, receiving the staff at Alston

THOMAS EDMONDSON running around its train at Lintley

Heading back over Gilderdale Viaduct on the return journey to Alston