Plumb Loco http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/ 39 rows en-gb 60 03. Aylesbury Shunter Delivery, 9th October 2009 & Naming, 30th October 2009. http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1766148.html Wrexham & Shropshire/Chiltern Railways took delivery of a shunting loco to Aylesbury Depot on Friday 9th October 2009. This loco is to be used for shunting Wrexham stock around the depot and any other shunting moves required. Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0DM, Works No. 468043 of 1959, "Lesley", was delivered by Allelys Heavy Haulage from their yard at Studley. The loco carries Chiltern all over blue livery, its TOPS number is 01509, though it doesn't carry this, it is allocated to Aylesbury depot in pool MBDL and was owned by Knight's Rail Services of Eastleigh, it was sold by them to DB Regio UK, Chiltern's parent company. It was officially named by Lesley Knight, Personal Assistant to Adrian Shooter, at Aylesbury depot during a ceremony on Friday 30th October 2009. Friday 9 October 2009: Wrexham & Shropshire/Chiltern Railways took delivery of a shunting loco to Aylesbury Depot on Friday 9th October 2009. This loco is to be used for shunting Wrexham stock around the depot and any other shunting moves required. Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0DM, Works No. 468043 of 1959, "Lesley", was delivered by Allelys Heavy Haulage from their yard at Studley. The loco carries Chiltern all over blue livery, its TOPS number is 01509, though it doesn't carry this, it is allocated to Aylesbury depot in pool MBDL and was owned by Knight's Rail Services of Eastleigh, it was sold by them to DB Regio UK, Chiltern's parent company. It was officially named by Lesley Knight, Personal Assistant to Adrian Shooter, at Aylesbury depot during a ceremony on Friday 30th October 2009.

2009/10/09, 01. Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0DM shunter 2009/10/09, 02. Having initially missed the turn into the depot at Aylesbury, the low-loader carrying 2009/10/09, 03. Having initially missed the turn into the depot at Aylesbury, the low-loader carrying 2009/10/09, 04. The Allelys heavy haul low-loader negotiates the entrance into the Chiltern Railways Aylesbury depot with Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0DM 2009/10/09, 05. 2009/10/09, 06. The Allelys heavy haulage low-loader crosses the bridge over the river alongside Aylesbury Chiltern depot and into the depot itself, where a hard right turn has to be made. On board is 2009/10/09, 07. Allelys low-loader has just entered Aylesbury Chiltern depot from the approach road to the left of the picture and has swung right alongside the building and is about to make a hard left turn round the rear of the building, with 2009/10/09, 08. The Allelys low-loader squeezes round the rear of the depot building at Aylesbury, road 2009/10/09, 09. After a fairly lengthy discussion between all parties concerned about how to unload the loco from the front of the low-loader, the unit is on the move again within the restricted space available, easing forward until it can clear the concrete stopblock at the rear of the trailer and then reverse onto the concrete apron over road 2009/10/09, 10. 2009/10/09, 11. 2009/10/09, 12. After the low-loader was moved into the right position, the tractor unit and front part of the trailer were unhitched and moved alongside the rest of the trailer. The front of this was then lowered to the concrete deck and tempoarary track assembled to unload 2009/10/09, 13. 2009/10/09, 14. Now back in a loco's natural environment - on rails - Chiltern's Driver/Instructor Steve Roast climbs aboard the engine to begin making 2009/10/09, 15. Chiltern staff go about the business of getting the new shunter 2009/10/09, 16. After much fiddling about beneath the engine covers and a couple of unsuccessful attempts at starting the loco up, some portable extra battery units were brought in and a successful 2009/10/30, 01. Having been delivered to Aylesbury depot three weeks earlier, Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0DM 2009/10/30, 02. Prior to the unveiling of the name of the new shunting loco at Aylesbury depot, Chiltern MD Adrian Shooter checks that the Champagne is of a suitable vintage to Christen the loco (built 1959), together with his Personal Assistant, Lesley Knight, after whom the loco is named. Friday 30th October 2009. 2009/10/30, 03. Chiltern Railways MD Adrian Shooter addresses the assembled guests and press of the virtues of his long-suffering (sorry, long-serving!) Personal Assistant, Lesley Knight, who is about to perform the unveiling ceremony at the naming of the shunter at Aylesbury depot, the loco being named after her. Friday 30th October 2009. 2009/10/30, 04. Whilst Chiltern MD Adrian Shooter extols her virtues to the guests and press at Aylesbury depot, his Personal Assistant Lesley Knight listens, perhaps with a slight air of disbelief, prior to naming the new shunter after her. Friday 30th October 2009. 2009/10/30, 05. Speeches over, Lesley Knight, Personal Assistant to Chiltern MD Adrian Shooter, unveils the nameplate on the cabside of Ruston shunter 2009/10/30, 06. Chiltern MD Adrian Shooter and Personal Assistant Lesley Knight pose in front of the Ruston shunter 2009/10/30, 07. Lesley Knight poses proudly alongside the newly named shunter at Aylesbury depot, after unveiling the nameplate on Friday 30th October 2009. 2009/10/30, 08. Lesley Knight prepares to launch the newly named shunter 2009/10/30, 09. ... and does so in fine style, though perhaps not with the words 2009/10/30, 10. Lesley Knight, Personal Assistant to Adrian Shooter, has just 2009/10/30, 11. After naming and 2009/10/30, 12. After naming and 2009/10/30, 13. Lesley Knight admires the nameplate on the Ruston shunter, newly named 2009/10/30, 14. After naming the shunter at Aylesbury depot, Lesley Knight is interviewed by the local Bucks TV, while the reporter from the 2009/10/30, 15. Nameplate on the cabside of the Ruston shunter 2009/10/30, 16. After naming the shunter after herself, Lesley Knight climbs aboard the loco for her first driving lesson! Aylesbury depot, Friday 30th October 2009.

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]]> Fri Oct 9 2009 Haddenham & Thame Parkway Station - 21 Years http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1543424.html The year 2008 marked several milestones in the history of the stations in Haddenham - it was 45 years since the original station closed in January 1963, 21 years since the replacement station was opened in October 1987 and 10 years since the rebuilt new station came into full use from July 1998! Here are some photos to look back to the original and the building and re-building of the new station. More shots to be added in the near future, hopefully! Saturday 12 July 2008: The year 2008 marked several milestones in the history of the stations in Haddenham - it was 45 years since the original station closed in January 1963, 21 years since the replacement station was opened in October 1987 and 10 years since the rebuilt new station came into full use from July 1998! Here are some photos to look back to the original and the building and re-building of the new station. More shots to be added in the near future, hopefully!

1986/11/02, 1. LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4468 1986/11/02, 2. An hour or so after 1987/10/03, 06. The ceremonial banner across the track for the official opening of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station was broken by the 10:38 train from Marylebone to Banbury formed of two three-car units, L421 leading. This was the first train to stop at the station for fare-paying passengers, Saturday 3rd October 1987. 1988/05/11. A much-loved and now sorely-missed train was the sole loco-hauled working (all other trains were worked by DMU's) which stopped at Haddenham at 07:48 on its way from Leamington Spa to London Paddington, and returned from Paddington at 17:53 - though the times varied over the years. During the Network SouthEast era, Class 50 Co-Co Diesel No. 50037 1987/10/03, 12. LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 4498 2007/02/07. Chiltern Clubman unit No. 168 111 approaching Haddenham & Thame Parkway station with the 09:12 train from Birmingham Snow Hill to London Marylebone, running slightly late at 10:51 on a very cold Wednesday 7th February 2007. Note the recently installed intermediate signal on the northbound track. 2007/02/08, 1. What a difference a day makes! The same working as photographed the day before in glorious sunshine, the 09:12 from Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone approaches Haddenham & Thame Parkway station, running rather late at 11:20 (due 10:40), 168 218 doing the honours. Thursday 8th February 2007. 2007/02/08, 2. 168 218 departs south from Haddenham & Thame Parkway as 168 112 arrives with the 10:20 train from Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill, due here at 11:07, so not doing too badly at 11:21, considering the conditions! Thursday 8th February 2007. 2007/05/25, 1. 67025 is 2007/06/30, 1. 37405 & 37422 are double-heading 1Z37, 2007/06/30, 2. 37405 & 37422 are double-heading 1Z37, 1987/10/03, 15. LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4498 1987/10/03, 14. LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4498 1987/10/03, 13. LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4498 1987/10/03, 02. The plaque to celebrate the opening of Haddenham & Thame Parkway had been unveiled earlier by Miss Rose, a member of a long-standing Haddenham family, Saturday 3rd October 1987. 1987/10/03, 01. Saturday 3rd October 1987 was a great day for Haddenham as the rail service was reinstated after the original station closed in January 1963. A new station called Haddenham & Thame Parkway was built slightly further north of the original and became part of Network SouthEast. Several 2007/11/03. EWS 66044 powers through Haddenham & Thame Parkway station with 4O69, Hams Hall to Dollands Moor intermodal train, diverted via the Chiltern line due to engineering work between Rugby and Northampton on its normal route. 12:50, Saturday 3rd November 2007. 2008/02/26. The afternoon working of the Wrexham crew trainer passing through Haddenham & Thame Parkway station at 14:45 on Tuesday 26th February 2008, topped and tailed by 67017 2008/03/07. 67002 2008/03/19, 2. With the present Haddenham & Thame Parkway station in the background, 67021 & 67016 pass the remains of the original station as they make their way up to Marylebone as 5Z23, the 14:02 from Banbury, the afternoon Wrexham & Shropshire crew training run. 14:23, Wednesday 19th March 2008. 2008/03/24. EWS 66085 heads south at speed through Haddenham & Thame Parkway station in charge of 6A42, Warrington Arpley Yard to Wembley Yard train of empty flats and Cartics. The train was diverted due to engineering works on the WCML. 17:15, Easter Monday 24th March 2008. 2008/04/06. Chiltern Railways 168 112 has just left Haddenham & Thame Parkway station and is passing through the site of the original station at 11:06 with a train for Marylebone, running dead on time despite the weather conditions! Sunday 6th April 2008. 2008/04/08, 1. Haddenham is now really on the map - as a destination for the VSOE! 67017 2008/04/08, 2. Haddenham is now really on the map - as a destination for the VSOE! 67017 2008/04/08, 3. Having dropped the passengers off at Haddenham & Thame Parkway station, to travel by coaches to the 2008/04/02, 12. View from the cab of 67020 as the train approaches my home station of Haddenham & Thame Parkway at 14:29 on Wednesday 2nd April 2008. 2008/05/01, 3. 67029 is leading the train while 67026 brings up the rear as W&S 1P33, the 15:10 Wrexham to Marylebone train, passes through Haddenham & Thame Parkway station a few minutes early at 18:29 on Thursday 1st May 2008, a day of somewhat mixed weather! 2008/05/01, 2. 67029 2008/04/28, 05. Trains pass at the site of the original Haddenham station, the remains of the down platform can still be seen on the left of the picture. The present Haddenham & Thame Parkway station can be seen beyond the bridge in the background. W&S Class 67s Nos. 67012 and 67014 head for Marylebone on the right, with 1P13, the 11:10 from Wrexham, while 165 002 heads north with the 13:54 Marylebone to Bicester North, due at Haddenham at 14:45. The Wrexham train was running a few minutes late at 14:43 on Monday 28th April 2008, the first day of full operations by W&S. 2008/05/17, 2. A diverted WCML intermodal service, 4O70, 09:16 Hams Hall to Dollands Moor, approaching Haddenham & Thame Parkway station on the Chiltern route, running a few minutes late at 12:02 on Saturday 17th May 2008. 66167 is in charge of the well loaded train. 2008/05/17, 3. A second northbound intermodal train was diverted via the Chiltern line from the WCML, this was 4M17, the 12:34 Wembley to Trafford Park train, here passing through Haddenham & Thame Parkway station a few minutes early at 13:54 with 66016 at the head of the working. Saturday 17th May 2008. 2008/05/24, 2. A southbound diverted intermodal service running early for a change! This was 4A03 with 66094 in charge, the 04:09 Trafford Park to Wembley Yard train approaching Haddenham & Thame Parkway station at 10:59 on Saturday 24th May 2008. 2008/06/14. 67023 and 67025 2008/06/28. A northbound Wrexham & Shropshire working has just passed through Haddenham & Thame Parkway station with 67013 at the head and 67014 seen here on the rear of the train. This was 1J87, the 15:17 Marylebone to Wrexham, at 16:01 on Saturday 28th June 2008. 2008/07/05. On the second Saturday of Virgin 1987/05/09, 1. The site of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station on the morning of Saturday 9th May 1987. This was the last day of that year's winter timetable and this train was withdrawn from the summer timetable, so this was the last time it ran. It was the Saturdays Only 06:40 from Stratford-upon-Avon to Paddington working, the Saturday equivalent of the Monday to Friday loco-hauled train which at that time ran from Leamington Spa at 06:55 to Paddington. Here the train is worked by a Tyseley based DMU No. T322 plus an unidentified set, forming a six-coach unit. Work started on the site to build the new station the following Tuesday, 12th May 1987. 1962/06/xx, 2. GW & GC Joint Line trespass notice at the original Haddenham station on the approach from Station Road, June 1962. Photo by courtesy Ron Fisher. 1962/06/xx, 1. The original Haddenham station on the GW & GC Joint Line, view looking north from the Station Road approach in June 1962. The station was opened to GCR trains in 1906 and for GWR trains in 1910. It was closed when the local passenger services were withdrawn in January 1963, though remained open for goods until September 1963. Photo by courtesy Ron Fisher. More of Ron's pictures can be found on his site by clicking on the link on the homepage of this site. 1987/05/09, 2. The site of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station on the morning of Saturday 9th May 1987. This is the view looking south, the original station was beyond the Thame Road bridge and before the Station Road bridge, seen in the distance. After the line was singled, only what was the up main line remained through both the new station site and the old station remains. The milepost visible by the roadbridge marks 30 1/4 miles to Northolt East Junction (South Ruislip), which is the point where the former GWR and GCR lines split, the former to Paddington, the latter to Marylebone. Work started here on the new station a few days later on Tuesday 12th May 1987. 1987/05/10, 1. An up Banbury to Marylebone Class 115 DMU passes the site for the new station to be built at Haddenham & Thame Parkway on the afternoon of Sunday 10th May 1987. This picture is taken from the point that became the ramp down to the platform, which was built on the trackbed on what was originally the down line. Note the gliders of the Upward Bound Trust at the end of the grass strip of Haddenham Airfield. Launches from here are usually made using a winch, though occasionally an aircraft tow is used instead. The returning gliders can come in pretty low over the railway, depending on wind direction! 1987/05/09, 3. General view of the site for the new Haddenham & Thame Parkway Station, looking north from the Thame Road bridge. When the track was singled years earlier, the former up line was used at this point, leaving space on the trackbed where the down line used to be for the new platform to be built, the area to the left of the picture to become the station entrance, new building and car park. In the distance the track can be see to slew over to what was the original down line, this slewing happened at various places to utilise what was the best track at the time of the singling, but made for more problems when the line was re-doubled years later! Saturday 9th May 1987. On the right of the picture is Haddenham Airfield, which apart from anything else housed large gliders during World War II, and is still used by the Upward Bound Trust for gliding to this day, though a new business park is now being built on the site, with a road entrance from the main A418 road in the distance. 1963/01/05, 1. Members of a local family pose with the driver of a northbound DMU at Haddenham station on the last day of service of local trains, Saturday 5th January 1963. The train is the 12:30 from Princes Risborough to Banbury. This was during the very hard winter of 1962/63 and the snow is quite deep. The train is standing at the down platform, the through main lines can be seen to the left, the up loop line through the far platform does not seem to have had a train so far, the track still completely hidden by the snow. The lattice girder bridge is the station footbridge, the bridge beyond carries Station Road over the railway, as it does today. I think the gentleman in the sheepskin coat is Michael Farrar-Bell, the famous stained-glass artist. The station officially closed 1963/01/05, 2. A rather out-of-focus picture, but evocative nevertheless. Possibly taken on the last day that Haddenham station was open for passenger trains, Saturday 5th January 1963 (the station closed from 7th January 1963, but there were no Sunday services!), two members of the station staff pose by the GWR style station running-in board on the up platform, in fairly deep snow. The station remained open for goods traffic until 2nd September 1963 and the small yard here certainly has some wagons in it here. The gentleman on the left of the picture is Arthur Hopkins and on the right is Frank Hopkins, stationmaster, identified by Nick Burch of Haddenham. Photographer unknown. 1987/05/10, 2. BR (S) rebuilt Bulleid 1987/05/11. Class 50 No. 50035 1987/06/10, 1. A month after construction started on the new station, and considerable progress has been made, though there is not much improvement in the weather! Class 50 No. 50044 1987/06/10, 2. A month after construction started on the new station, and considerable progress has been made, though there is not much improvement in the weather! Footings and new piers for the platform are taking shape alongside the track, while work continues on the car park and approach on the right of the picture. Wednesday 10th June 1987. 1987/06/28. This shot is taken from the same vantage point as the picture of the DMU in the snow on the closing day in 1963, the former down platform at the original station. This platform survives to this day, though in a poor state of repair! When the line was singled, the former up fast line was the only track to remain in use. The up platform, station buildings and goods yard were all demolished and the land redeveloped as a small recreational area in conjunction with a new housing estate alongside the track. At 12:30 on Sunday 28th June 1987 LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4498 1987/06/10, 3. View looking towards Princes Risborough at the site of the new Haddenham station - foundations for the platform supports are done and the piers are about to be built on the formation of the original down line, long since removed. Wednesday 10th June 1987. 1987/06/10, 4. View looking towards Princes Risborough at the site of the new Haddenham station - foundations for the platform supports are done and the piers are about to be built on the formation of the original down line, long since removed. The ramp down from the station building area to the platform is also taking shape. Wednesday 10th June 1987.

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]]> Sat Jul 12 2008 02. Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1463263.html So that the pictures of the new open access operator WS&MR don't get "lost" amongst the Chiltern pictures, I have added a collection of their own. The crew training runs started some time ago between Banbury and Marylebone, initially utilising two EWS Class 67 locos, 67016 and 67017, in "top and tail" configuration with a train of three MkIII first class coaches in BR Blue & Grey livery, provided by Cargo-D. Several changes of locos and coaching stock have taken place since then, including the use of a Sleeping-Car in the formation! There were also crew training runs further north, utilising 67029 with three coaches and a DVT, this will be the normal train formation once the public trains start to run from Spring 2008. Five Class 67 locos have now received Wrexham & Shropshire livery and through test runs commenced between Wrexham and Marylebone a while ago. The full public service started on 28th April 2008, initially with hired-in coaches, "topped and tailed", until the W&S DVTs came on stream. The operator has now been going for around 18 months - the first set of their own liveried coaches is now in service and the second is imminent! More pictures to be added as this project develops! Some pictures formerly here have been moved to the "Haddenham & Thame Parkway Station -21 Years" Collection. Friday 22 February 2008: So that the pictures of the new open access operator WS&MR don't get "lost" amongst the Chiltern pictures, I have added a collection of their own. The crew training runs started some time ago between Banbury and Marylebone, initially utilising two EWS Class 67 locos, 67016 and 67017, in "top and tail" configuration with a train of three MkIII first class coaches in BR Blue & Grey livery, provided by Cargo-D. Several changes of locos and coaching stock have taken place since then, including the use of a Sleeping-Car in the formation! There were also crew training runs further north, utilising 67029 with three coaches and a DVT, this will be the normal train formation once the public trains start to run from Spring 2008. Five Class 67 locos have now received Wrexham & Shropshire livery and through test runs commenced between Wrexham and Marylebone a while ago. The full public service started on 28th April 2008, initially with hired-in coaches, "topped and tailed", until the W&S DVTs came on stream. The operator has now been going for around 18 months - the first set of their own liveried coaches is now in service and the second is imminent! More pictures to be added as this project develops! Some pictures formerly here have been moved to the "Haddenham & Thame Parkway Station -21 Years" Collection.

2008/02/21, 2. The Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway crew training runs have so far been something of an enigma! The runs were supposed to start from 11th February 2008 but were postponed until a week later, then the locos and stock did not arrive at Banbury until the afternoon of 20th February. The first run was supposed to happen at 08:33, departing from Banbury as 5Z63 on 21st February, but problems were encountered with the stock (apparently, no Central Door Locking key was available, so the doors could not be locked internally - the train is not allowed to run with the CDL lights on the outside of the train lit) and it did not run. The problems were sorted out, and here the train is trundling around from the sidings to the up loop at Banbury station at 10:38 on Thursday 21st February 2008. The train is topped and tailed by 67017 2008/02/21, 9. 67017 2008/02/21, 7. Due to problems with the stock, the first training run for the WS&MR crews did not run at 08:33 on Thursday 21st February 2008. However, the train did still run, on a VSTP basis and still as 5Z63, from Banbury to Hinksey Yard and return as 5Z10. Here 67016 leads the train out of the up loop at Banbury and onto the mainline at 11:29, under the control of one of Banbury's remaining semaphore signals. 67017 was on the other end of the three coach train. The second train at 14:02 also did not run to Marylebone, another round trip to Hinksey Yard took place instead. Thursday 21st February 2008. 2008/02/21, 5. 67016 sits in the up loop at Banbury station prior to departing as 5Z63, VSTP working to Hinksey Yard and return with the Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone crew training run with three coaches and 67017 on the rear of the train. Thursday 21st February 2008. There is also a 2008/02/22, 2. The first of the long-awaited Wrexham crew training runs finally happened on the afternoon of Friday 22nd February 2008. 67016, topping and tailing with 67017 2008/02/22, 3. The first run to Marylebone from Banbury of the Wrexham crew training exercise stands in the station at Princes Risborough having arrived on time at 14:35, departing again after crew photos at 14:40. Whether this will be a normal stop for the train I don't know! This is 5Z23, the 14:02 from Banbury to Marylebone on Friday 22nd February 2008. 67016 is on the front of the train, while 67017 2008/02/22, 4. Crew photo opportunity at Princes Risborough as the first of the Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway crew training specials pauses on its journey from Banbury to Marylebone. The train arrived here on time at 14:35 and departed again at 14:40, running as 5Z23, the 14:02 from Banbury. Friday February 22nd 2008. Note the 2008/02/22, 7. What little light there was during the day is now fading rapidly, but this shot had to be done! The first northbound run of the Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway crew training special passes under the roadbridge near Kingsey, between Princes Risborough and Haddenham. 67017 & 67016 top & tail three first class coaches, running as 5Z16, 16:10 from Marylebone to Banbury, seen here at 17:05 on Friday 22nd February 2008. 2008/02/22, 5. Chiltern turbo unit 165 017 arrives at Princes Risborough with the 13:54 Marylebone to Bicester North service at 14:40 as 67016 departs with the first southbound run of the Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway's crew training special. This was 5Z23, the 14:02 from Banbury to Marylebone on Friday 22nd February 2008. 2008/02/22, 6. The first of the WS&MR training specials departs from Princes Risborough at 14:40 on Friday 22nd February 2008, en route from Banbury to Marylebone as 5Z23, the 14:02 from Banbury. The train is topped and tailed by 67016 and 67017. 2008/02/21, 1. The WS&MR crew training train waits in the sidings on the upside of Banbury station, prior to moving to the up loop before departing for Hinksey Yard on the morning of Thursday 21st February 2008. The engines are 67017 nearer camera and 67016 on the far end of the train. 2008/02/21, 3. The WS&MR trainer has now moved from the sidings into the up loop at Banbury, with 67016 at the head of the train. Chiltern 165 039 is just departing south from Banbury with the 09:41 from Stratford-upon-Avon to Marylebone. Thursday 21st February 2008. 2008/02/21, 4. 67016 sits at the head of the WS&MR training train in the up loop at Banbury station, with 67017 on the other end of the three Cargo-D coaches. For some reason, it then moved into the headshunt south of the station - part of the training routine perhaps? 10:40, Thursday 21st February 2008. 2008/02/21, 6. As the Wrexham crew trainer trundles off into the siding south of Banbury station with 67016 & 67017, fellow EWS 66185 passes by with northbound 4M33, the 08:10 Southampton to Burton-on-Trent intermodal service. 11:08, Thursday 21st February 2008. 2008/02/21, 8. 67017 2008/02/25, 3. The return run from Marylebone of 5Z16, the Wrexham crew trainer, 16:10 from Marylebone to Banbury is headed by 67016, with 67017 on the rear. Here it speeds past Kingsey in utterly appalling light! 17:04, Monday 25th February 2008. 2008/02/25, 2. The WS&MR trainer ran for the second time on the afternoon of Monday 25th February 2008, a different formation from the previous Friday, 67017 2008/02/25, 1. The WS&MR trainer ran for the second time on the afternoon of Monday 25th February 2008, with a different formation from the previous Friday, 67017 2008/02/26, 1. The first morning run of the Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway crew training special took place on Tuesday 26th February 2008. This was 5Z63, the 08:33 from Banbury to Marylebone, seen passing the old Princes Risborough North Signalbox and approaching the station, on time at 09:13, with 67017 2008/02/26, 9. The returning WS&MR training run from Marylebone to Banbury catches a glint from the lowering sun as it heads north near Ashendon Junction at 17:06 on Tuesday 26th February 2008. This is 5Z16, 16:10 from Marylebone, consisting of three Cargo-D MkIII first class coaches topped and tailed by 67016 and 67017 2008/02/26, 3. This was the first run of the down morning Wrexham training trip, 5Z10, the 10:17 Marylebone to Banbury train, three coaches topped and tailed by 67016 and 67017. It is seen here from a public footpath across the line near Kingsey, running on time at 11:03 on Tuesday 26th February 2008. 2008/02/26, 6. The afternoon working of the Wrexham crew trainer approaches Haddenham & Thame Parkway station at 14:45 on Tuesday 26th February 2008, topped and tailed by 67017 2008/02/27, 1. The WS&MR training specials seem to have settled down into their routine by now - 67017 & 67016 top & tail 5Z63 as they approach King's Sutton with the morning run, 08:33 Banbury to Marylebone at 08:38 on Wednesday 27th February 2008. 2008/02/27, 2. The morning return run of the WS&MR crew trainer, 5Z10, 10:17 from Marylebone to Banbury, is difficult to photograph when the sun is out as for almost the whole length of the journey the camera is looking straight into the sun. Here the train is seen from a public footpath across the line at Launton, just south of Bicester, with 67016 leading and 67017 on the rear. The line here is signalled bi-directionally. 11:12, Wednesday 27th February 2008. 2008/02/27, 3. A lone sheep completely ignores the train as 67017 leads the WS&MR crew training run, 5Z23, 14:02 from Banbury to Marylebone, just south of the former Ashendon Junction at 14:32 on Wednesday 27th February 2008. 2008/02/28, 1. The WS&MR training runs continued on Thursday 28th February 2008, though the afternoon trains did not run. 67017 is at the head of 5Z63, 67016 on the rear, as the 08:33 from Banbury comes round the curve between Launton and Blackthorn, just south of Bicester, en route to Marylebone. 2008/02/28, 2. The WS&MR training runs continued on Thursday 28th February 2008, though the afternoon trains did not run. 67017 is at the head of 5Z63, 67016 on the rear, as the 08:33 from Banbury comes round the curve between Launton and Blackthorn, just south of Bicester, en route to Marylebone. 2008/02/26, 2. The first morning run of the Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway crew training special took place on Tuesday 26th February 2008. This was 5Z63, the 08:33 from Banbury to Marylebone, here passing Princes Risborough station, on time at 09:13, with 67017 2008/02/26, 4. This was the first run of the down morning Wrexham training trip, 5Z10, the 10:17 Marylebone to Banbury train, three coaches topped and tailed by 67016 and 67017. It is seen here from a public footpath across the line near Kingsey, running on time at 11:03 on Tuesday 26th February 2008. 2008/02/26, 5. The afternoon working of the Wrexham crew trainer approaches Haddenham & Thame Parkway station at 14:45 on Tuesday 26th February 2008, topped and tailed by 67017 2008/02/26, 7. The afternoon working of the Wrexham crew trainer passing through Haddenham & Thame Parkway station at 14:45 on Tuesday 26th February 2008, topped and tailed by 67017 2008/03/03. Another week of crew training runs for the Wrexham & Shropshire trains commenced with the afternoon working, 5Z23, 14:02 Banbury to Marylebone on Monday 3rd March 2008. The pairing of locos had changed, 67016 being replaced by 67002 2008/03/04, 1. The Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway crew training run arrives at one of the places in its title! 67002 2008/03/04, 2. The Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone Railway crew training run arrives at one of the places in its title! 67002 2008/03/04, 3. Having arrived in Platform 4 at Marylebone station, 67017 2008/03/05. The southern part of the Wrexham & Shropshire crew training runs takes place between Banbury and Marylebone. Here, the afternoon working, 5Z23, 14:02 from Banbury is heading for the capital as it approaches the remains of Ardley station, with 67002 at the head and 67017 dead on the rear of the three coach train. 14:11, Wednesday 5th March 2008. 2008/03/06, 1. Soon after leaving Banbury at 08:33 with the morning southbound Wrexham crew training working, 67002 2008/03/04, 4. Having arrived in Platform 4 at Marylebone station, 67017 2008/03/04, 5. At 16:10 67017 2008/03/06, 2. Soon after leaving Banbury at 08:33 with the morning southbound Wrexham crew training working, 67002 2008/03/06, 3. The weather had turned dull again by the time the afternoon training run for the Wrexham & Shropshire drivers came through Princes Risborough. 67002 and 67017 topping & tailing 5Z23, the 14:02 Banbury to Marylebone working, pass the old North Signalbox as they approach the station, where a short stop was made. 14:38, Thursday 6th March 2008. 2008/03/07, 1. 67002 2008/03/12, 2. EWS 67017 2008/03/12, 1. 67017 2008/03/13. 67020 is on the rear of the train with 67017 on the front as the WS&MR training run heads towards Marylebone near Kingsey with 5Z63, 08:33 from Banbury, on time at 09:07 on Thursday 13th March 2008. 2008/03/19, 1. The Wrexham & Shropshire crew training runs continue with another change of locos. 67017 has now been replaced, the two locos now involved are 67021 and 67016. Rolling stock has also been changed, now consisting of two Mk.III first class coaches and a Sleeping-Car! This is the up morning train, 5Z63, the 08:33 from Banbury to Marylebone, seen near Launton, just south of Bicester at 08:55 on Wednesday 19th March 2008. 2008/03/19, 3. With the present Haddenham & Thame Parkway station in the background, 67021 & 67016 pass the remains of the original station as they make their way up to Marylebone as 5Z23, the 14:02 from Banbury, the afternoon Wrexham & Shropshire crew training run. 14:23, Wednesday 19th March 2008. 2008/03/26, 1. Another change of motive power for the WS&MR training runs starting from Wednesday 26th March 2008, 67024 and 67003 being the locos involved. The coaching stock remains the same as the previous week, including the Sleeping-Car. Here the two Class 67s head the morning train south past Chearsley at 09:05, this is 5Z63, 08:33 Banbury to Marylebone. 2008/03/26, 2. The return working of the morning WS&MR training run, 5Z10, 10:17 from Marylebone to Banbury passing Ilmer, where there used to be a Halt platform years ago. 67003 is at the head of the train, while 67024 brings up the rear, the Chiltern hills in the background. 11:03, Wednesday 26th March 2008. Photo taken from a public footpath across the line! 2008/03/27, 4. 67003 is bringing up the rear of the afternoon up training run, 5Z23, 14:02 from Banbury to Marylebone, for the WS&MR, with 67024 on the front as they head south at Ashendon Junction. This was where the GCR and GWR parted company, the up GWR line curving away from the down line to climb up and over the GCR on a flyover, now demolished and the embankment reduced in height. Milepost 0 was here for the GWR Bicester cut-off line. 14:18, Thursday 27th March 2008. Photo taken from a public footpath across the line, complete with central refuge between the tracks!

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]]> Fri Feb 22 2008 Belgium and Netherlands http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1459199.html My parents lived for a while in a village near Antwerp, while my father was working on North Sea oil projects. This meant that we could visit for holidays and spend some time both in Belgium and Netherlands. This coincided with the celebrations in 1985 for the 150th anniversary of railways in Belgium, when some interesting steam-hauled specials were run. Friday 15 February 2008: My parents lived for a while in a village near Antwerp, while my father was working on North Sea oil projects. This meant that we could visit for holidays and spend some time both in Belgium and Netherlands. This coincided with the celebrations in 1985 for the 150th anniversary of railways in Belgium, when some interesting steam-hauled specials were run.

Belgium. 1985/08/24, 2. SNCB Class 54 Nohab diesel No. 5407 bursts out of a tunnel near Lustin, along the valley of the River Meuse, as it works a local passenger train from Namur to Dinant on the morning of Saturday 24th August 1985. Initial electrification works are in place, catenary poles already erected. Apparently, there is a cave which opens out into this tunnel, from which it is possible to drop down onto the track, not surprisingly, this cave is gated and access is restricted! Netherlands. 1985/08/18, 4. The headquarters of Stoomtram Hoorn - Medemblik are at Hoorn, utilising the old steam shed there. The line shares the station with the electrified state railway, NS. Here, 0-4-0WT No. 30 (Jung 1268/1908) is departing with its train of six four-wheeled balcony coaches for the 20Km trip back to Medemblik. Sunday 18th August 1985. Note the Swiss Railway restaurant car on the right of the picture. Belgium. 1985/08/24, 7. Streamlined Netherlands. 1985/08/18, 1. On the privately preserved Netherlands. 1985/08/18, 2. Numberplate and Builder's Plate on the cabside of Stoomtram Hoorn - Medemblik 0-4-0WT No. 30, Arnold Jung No. 1268 of 1908. The engine was in steam at Medemblik station in North Holland, Netherlands, on Sunday 18th August 1985. Netherlands. 1985/08/18, 3. On the privately preserved Belgium. 1985/08/23, 1. SNCB electric loco of class 23 No. 2329 has arrived at Namur at the head of a passenger train, origin unknown, and destination likewise! Friday 23rd August 1985. Belgium. 1985/08/24, 1. SNCB Class 54 Nohab diesel No. 5404 works a local passenger train along the valley of the River Meuse near Lustin with a working from Dinant to Namur. Initial signs of impending electrification are apparent in the form of the newly erected catenary poles. Saturday 24th August 1985. This engine is now preserved. Belgium. 1985/08/24, 6. SNCB Class 52 No. 5212 waits for departure time at Dinant station with a stopping train of wonderful old stock to Namur, along the valley of the River Meuse. Saturday 24th August 1985. Belgium. 1985/08/25, 2. Class 29 2-8-0 No. 29.013 is double-heading with streamlined Belgium. 1985/08/24, 4. SNCB Class 12 4-4-2 Belgium. 1985/08/24, 3. 1985 saw the 150th anniversary of railways in Belgium and various steam-hauled specials were run as part of the celebrations. Here, streamlined Belgium. 1985/08/23, 2. Alongside the line between Namur and Dinant was a quarry near Lustin in the Meuse Valley. An industrial four wheel diesel shunter rests in the exchange sidings at the quarry, the SNCB lines beyond it, electrification masts just put in place. Friday 23rd August 1985. Belgium. 1985/08/24, 8. SNCB Class 54 Nohab diesel No. 5408 comes across the level-crossing in Jambes with a local passenger train from Namur to Dinant on the rather wet afternoon of Saturday 24th August 1985. Belgium. 1985/08/24, 9. SNCB 4-4-2 No. 12.004 heads south over the level-crossing in Jambes with the 15:33 special from Namur to Dinant during the celebrations of 150 years of railways in Belgium. Saturday 24th August 1985. Belgium. 1985/08/24, 5. SNCB Class 29 2-8-0 No. 29.013 stands in the loops at Dinant station having worked there double-heading with 4-4-2 No. 12.004 from Namur a short while earlier. Saturday 24th August 1985. Belgium. 1985/08/25, 1. SNCB Class 54 Nohab diesel No. 5404 skirts the River Meuse as it passes the quarry near Lustin with a morning passenger train from Namur to Dinant on Sunday 25th August 1985.

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]]> Fri Feb 15 2008 Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1411604.html The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway was a combined venture between the Midland Railway and the London & South Western Railway, running from Bath Green Park (originally Queen Square) to Bournemouth West, over the Mendip hills. After the grouping it became joint LMS and SR and ended up as part of the BR Western Region. Prior to closure in March 1966 it had a wonderful variety of motive power and was always popular with enthusiasts. It was lovingly photographed and filmed by Ivo Peters and is sorely missed by many. A few photos here (not up to Ivo Peters standards!), more will be added, though sadly, I only made a few visits. Tuesday 20 November 2007: The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway was a combined venture between the Midland Railway and the London & South Western Railway, running from Bath Green Park (originally Queen Square) to Bournemouth West, over the Mendip hills. After the grouping it became joint LMS and SR and ended up as part of the BR Western Region. Prior to closure in March 1966 it had a wonderful variety of motive power and was always popular with enthusiasts. It was lovingly photographed and filmed by Ivo Peters and is sorely missed by many. A few photos here (not up to Ivo Peters standards!), more will be added, though sadly, I only made a few visits.

1965/12/23, 2. Although originally a joint Midland and L&SWR line, the Somerset & Dorset finally became part of the Western Region of BR. Filthy dirty and almost unidentifiable BR Standard 3MT 2-6-2T No. 82001 stands in the platform at Bath Green Park station with a rake of empty SR coaches which it is about to take out to the sidings, on a very wet and miserable Thursday 23rd December 1965. The station still stands, in use these days as a car park. 1965/12/23, 1. Filthy BR Standard 5MT 4-6-0 No. 73001 has the road and is ready to go as it waits the 1966/03/06, 3. Bulleid unrebuilt 1966/03/06, 4. A short ceremony was conducted at the bufferstops at Bath Green Park station, when a 1965/12/23, 3. 73001 has arrived at Templecombe station with the 09:53 train from Bath Green Park to Bournemouth West. It is standing at the island platform which has the L&SWR main line at its opposite face. On departure from here it had to reverse back to the S&D main line and then set forward again to pass under the L&SWR line. On the left is LMS Ivatt 2-6-2T No. 41283 shunting some stock in the S&D side of the yard. Thursday 23rd December 1965. 1965/12/23, 4. Evercreech Junction station on a very wet and miserable Thursday 23rd December 1965 is host to BR Standard 4MT 2-6-0 No. 76006. This was in charge of the 12:05 stopping train from Templecombe to Bath Green Park. The driver has climbed up on the running plate, perhaps to clean the front spectacle plate in the cab. The centre road here was formerly used to stable and service banking engines required for the heavy freights on the climb to Masbury summit. 1966/03/06, 2. Rebuilt Bulleid 1966/03/06, 1. Rebuilt Bulleid

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]]> Tue Nov 20 2007 Longmoor Military Railway http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1390923.html A selection of pictures taken on the two RCTS "Longmoor Military Railtours", the first of which ran in miserable weather on Saturday 16th April 1966. The second tour ran two weeks later on Saturday 30th April 1966, this time in glorious weather! More shots still to be added, including more recent pictures of the abandoned railway. Wednesday 17 October 2007: A selection of pictures taken on the two RCTS "Longmoor Military Railtours", the first of which ran in miserable weather on Saturday 16th April 1966. The second tour ran two weeks later on Saturday 30th April 1966, this time in glorious weather! More shots still to be added, including more recent pictures of the abandoned railway.

1966/04/16, 2. LMR 1966/04/16, 3. Watched by tour participants and supervised by Army personnel, 2-10-0 AD600 01. Map of the Longmoor Military Railway system. 1966/04/16, 1. Nameplate of LMR WD 2-10-0 No. AD600 1966/04/16, 5. Having run-round the train, 1966/04/16, 7. LMR 1966/04/16, 6. With a wonderful train of ancient coaches (including a 1966/04/30, 1. The second RCTS 1966/04/30, 2. 1966/04/30, 5. LMR WD 2-10-0 No. AD600 1966/04/30, 3. LMR WD 1966/04/30, 4. WD 1992/09/05, 1. Liss station, Longmoor Military Railway. Remarkably, the station platform was still in place alongside the car park of the BR station. The trackbed looking towards Liss Forest is now a footpath and other odd remains of the railway could be found amongst the undergrowth. The trees alongside the platform have grown during the 26 years since closure, and quite what the site is like now, another 16 years on, I don't know! Saturday 5th September 1992. 1992/09/05, 2. The trackbed of the Longmoor Military Railway at Liss Forest, looking back towards Liss. The remains of the line are now a footpath/bridleway. Saturday 5th September 1992. 1966/04/16, 4. Watched by tour participants and supervised by Army personnel, 2-10-0 AD600 1966/04/30, 6. Longmoor Military Railway WD 2-10-0 No. AD 600

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]]> Wed Oct 17 2007 Statfold Barn Railway - Open Day 2nd June 2007 http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1295361.html I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to an open day at the railway - and what a brilliant day it was! The weather was glorious and so was the railway - engines in steam round every corner. So many thanks to Kim Winter of the Imperial College Railway Society and Ffestiniog Railway Society (Lodon Area Group) for extending the invitation to me, and of course to Graham Lee, his family, staff and volunteer helpers for providing such an entertaining day! If you get the chance to go, I can thoroughly recommend the day out. More pictures to come! There are also some pictures in the "Three Dimensional!" collection. Monday 4 June 2007: I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to an open day at the railway - and what a brilliant day it was! The weather was glorious and so was the railway - engines in steam round every corner. So many thanks to Kim Winter of the Imperial College Railway Society and Ffestiniog Railway Society (Lodon Area Group) for extending the invitation to me, and of course to Graham Lee, his family, staff and volunteer helpers for providing such an entertaining day! If you get the chance to go, I can thoroughly recommend the day out. More pictures to come! There are also some pictures in the "Three Dimensional!" collection.

01. Visiting 02. Visiting 03. Visiting 04. Sitting in the sunshine outside the locomotive depot at Statfold is 05. Sitting in the sunshine outside the locomotive depot at Statfold is 06. 2'0 07. 08. Hunslet 09. Mallet 0-4-4-0T 10. 11. Peckett 0-6-0ST No. 2050/1944 12. Mallet 0-4-4-0T 13. Triple-Header! Three 14. 15. Hunslet 0-4-2ST 16. 17. 18. Hunslet 0-4-0ST 19. View from the front balcony of the train as 20. 21. Mallet 0-4-4-0T 22. Hunslet

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]]> Mon Jun 4 2007 Northern Ireland http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1278461.html BR steam finished in August 1968, but there was still main line steam operation to be found in the United Kingdom for another couple of years on the Northern Ireland Railways. This was mainly based at Belfast York Road for workings to Larne, Antrim, Coleraine, Portrush and Londonderry and was worked by the "WT" Class 2-6-4T's. Much of the work consisted of "top and tailed" spoil trains from the quarries at Magheramorne to the site of the new M1 motorway being built from Belfast on the shores of the Lough, but they also worked passenger trains as well. I travelled by overnight ferry from Heysham Harbour in September 1968, to investigate... A few photos to start, more to follow, as usual, as time allows! Sunday 13 May 2007: BR steam finished in August 1968, but there was still main line steam operation to be found in the United Kingdom for another couple of years on the Northern Ireland Railways. This was mainly based at Belfast York Road for workings to Larne, Antrim, Coleraine, Portrush and Londonderry and was worked by the "WT" Class 2-6-4T's. Much of the work consisted of "top and tailed" spoil trains from the quarries at Magheramorne to the site of the new M1 motorway being built from Belfast on the shores of the Lough, but they also worked passenger trains as well. I travelled by overnight ferry from Heysham Harbour in September 1968, to investigate... A few photos to start, more to follow, as usual, as time allows!

1968/09/xx, 11. At Whitehead, the line to Larne Harbour skirts the shores of Belfast Lough on the Antrim coast and there are fairly high cliffs at this point, the down line to Larne traversing a short tunnel through the cliff. WT 2-6-4T No. 50 is on the rear of an empty spoil train returning to Magheramorne (classmate No. 5 is on the front of the train) as they wait in Whitehead station for a southbound DMU to come off the single track section from Ballycarry. The signals here were a delightful mix of somersault semaphores, the up starter is in the 1968/09/xx, 02. While WT Class 2-6-4T No. 5 shunts the ECS for a boat-train to Larne Harbour at Belfast York Road, classmate No. 7 has reached the end of the line and is now being cannibalised to keep other engines going, before being scrapped. In the centre of the picture is one of the DMU's, still in the old green livery. September 1968. 1968/09/xx, 01. I arrived in Belfast only just in time to see this, as it had been loaded onto a flat-bed trailer to be taken away for scrap and disappeared later the same day. It is ex-Sligo, Leitrim & Northern Counties Railway 1968/09/xx, 07. Preserved ex-Great Northern Railway (Ireland) Class S 4-4-0 No. 171 1968/09/xx, 04. Perhaps because of their unusual 0-6-4T wheel arrangement, the two engines of the Sligo, Leitrim & Northern Counties Railway 1968/09/xx, 04. 0-6-0 No. 186 was one of 111 engines of Great Southern & Western Railway class 101. These engines were designed by McDonnel and built over the years from 1866 to 1903, many at Inchicore Works. 186, however, was built by Sharp, Stewart in Manchester in 1879, works number 2838. Later classified J15 by the Great Southern Railway and withdrawn by the CIE when steam traction was abandoned in 1962, 186 was acquired by the RPSI in 1965 and moved north of the border for restoration. Here, some members of the maintenance team discuss the next move while the engine is supported by the shear legs at Belfast York Road depot in September 1968. Once again, the engine is back in working order based at Whitehead. 1968/09/xx, 08. With their 6' 0 1968/09/xx, 09. The entrance to the yard and engine shed at Whitehead was protected by these wonderful somersault shunting signals at the Larne end of the up platform. WT No. 6 is at the head of a spoil train from Magheramorne to Belfast, while WT No. 51 is out of sight on the rear of the train. The yard and engine shed had already been taken over by the RPSI, and this is now their major base for steam loco operation and maintenance. September 1968. 1968/09/xx, 05. UTA No. 48 was Class UG 0-6-0, designed by McIntosh in 1937, here fitted with a Stanier type tender. The Fowler type tender which has fallen off the end of the track was from one of the 4-4-0 or 2-6-0 engines. Together with one of the WT tanks, they are dumped at the back of Belfast York Road depot. WT No. 10 is disappearing into the distance with a boat-train for Larne. September 1968. 1968/09/xx, 10. WT 2-6-4T No. 50 is on the rear of an empty spoil train returning to Magheramorne (classmate No. 5 is on the front of the train) as they arrive at Whitehead station to wait for a southbound DMU to come off the single track section from Ballycarry. The WT's were numbered 1 - 10 and 50 - 57, carrying their numbers painted on the front and rear bufferbeams and on a numberplate on the bunkersides. September 1968. 1968/09/xx, 12. It's a hazy sort of day and difficult to see where the sea ends and the sky begins in this shot from high up on the cliffs at Whitehead, County Antrim. WT 2-6-4T No. 6 is at the head of an empty spoil train (No. 51 on the rear is out of sight) which has just emerged from the short tunnel through the cliffs on the shores of Belfast Lough, returning to Magheramorne to be reloaded. September 1968. 1968/09/xx, 13. WT Class 2-6-4T No. 50 rounds the cliffs of the headland at Whitehead in charge of a loaded spoil train from Magheramorne to Belfast, a classmate bringing up the rear of the train, out of sight. The track here was double, the down line to Larne burrowing through the cliffs in a short tunnel. September 1968. 1968/09/xx, 06. Preserved ex-Great Northern Railway (Ireland) Class S 4-4-0 No. 171 1968/09/xx, 14. Some of the DMU operated services from Belfast York Road terminated at Whitehead, on the line to Larne Harbour, and then returned to Belfast. One such working is crossing from the down line over to the up line on a crossover controlled by a small somersault semaphore signal. It will then return to the station, out of picture to the left, before setting off for Belfast. September 1968. 1968/09/xx, 15. NIR 1966? From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. Perhaps because of their unusual 0-6-4T wheel arrangement, the two engines of the Sligo, Leitrim & Northern Counties Railway

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]]> Sun May 13 2007 Miscellaneous - Bits & Pieces! http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1156514.html For those shots that so far don't fit into any of the collections - but might do one day! Saturday 9 December 2006: For those shots that so far don't fit into any of the collections - but might do one day!

Whilst unable to claim any prowess at the drawing board, I do very occasionally get out the pencils and scribble a few lines! Ex-LNWR Bowen-Cooke 2004/05/31. Cunard liner RMS 1969/05/xx, 1. Having included a shot of the FR's Wickham trolley in the 1969/05/xx, 3. A volunteers' works train Wickham trolley and trailer stands on the disused double track of the fledgling North Yorkshire Moors Railway near Carter's House as the line climbs out of Newtondale. At this stage it was thought that the NYMR would be confined to the Grosmont to Ellerbeck Summit section of the line, the track south to Pickering being abandoned due to high cost. This train was returning from Levisham after some preliminary work to recover materials, and had stopped here for the sheep fence to be put back across the track! Later it became possible to use the line all the way to Pickering, though the track was singled. May 1969. 1969/05/xx, 2. The volunteers' works train has now reached Goathland station, and the leading Wickham trolley has uncoupled from the trailer and the rear Wickham trolley. In the station sidings is one of the railbuses that was on the NYMR in the early days of preservation, together with saddle tank 1969/05/xx, 4. A volunteer works train consisting of one of the NYMR's Wickham trolleys plus two trailers is being loaded with recovered signalling equipment at Levisham station in May 1969. At this time the railway was not expecting to be able to buy this part of the line and so was recovering useful material. In the end it became possible for this part of the line to be brought back into use, though as the line was singled north of here, the signalling arrangements had to be altered in any case! Then & Now. Sheep Pasture on the Cromford & High Peak line. 1972/08/xx. Hedjaz Jordan Railway 2-8-2 No. 53, one of several built by Jung, stands on shed at Amman between duties during Summer 1972. Photo by Derek Plumb. 1989/06/xx. Two members of the RAF Red Arrows display team pass each other in close proximity and at high speed during a demonstration at RAF Halton near Aylesbury in June 1989. 2004/03/10. Every so often I do manage to take shots of something other than railways! A friendly robin perching on a bramble in Saltern Cove, Torbay, alongside the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway on the evening of Wednesday 10th March 2004. 1968/04/xx. View from the rear passenger seat as my cousin Phil Plumb approaches a bend in the road near Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire, in his ex-army Austin Champ, around Easter, 1968. 1959/08/03. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. County Donegal Railways. At Ballyshannon, possibly on Monday 3rd August 1959. On the left is Class 5A 2-6-4T No. 2 1987/06/20. Tinsley depot's 2007/04/22. The sun sets in spectacular fashion over the West Cliff at Whitby on the Yorkshire coast, Sunday 22nd April 2007. 1992, 1. The King's Head in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, modelled in 2mm to the foot scale by Geoff Plumb and presented to the landlord & landlady, Mervyn & Hilary Davies, when they left the pub in 1992. 1992, 2. The King's Head in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, modelled in 2mm to the foot scale by Geoff Plumb and presented to the landlord & landlady, Mervyn & Hilary Davies, when they left the pub in 1992. 2007/07/11. The sun sets in a stormy sky over Fiddlers Ferry Power Station, seen from near Acton Grange Junction, just south of Warrington. 19:22, Wednesday 11th July 2007. NYMR. 2007/10/06, 1. Panoramic view of 0-6-2T Lambton No. 29 prior to working NYMR. 2007/10/06, 2. Panoramic view of 0-6-2T Lambton No. 29 prior to working NYMR. 2007/10/06, 3. Panoramic view at Pickering of 0-6-2T Lambton No. 29 with 2007/11/14, 3. Filming for the 2007/11/14, 2. Filming for the 2007/11/14, 1. Wednesday 14th November 2007 saw the first Eurostar trains running from St. Pancras International station to Paris and Brussels. Various trains await their inaugural passengers prior to the service commencing. 2007/12/13. This is the Voigtländer Vito CLR camera used for many of my early shots, given to me for my 14th birthday in March 1963 by my parents in what turned out to be a very good move! Color-Skopar 50mm f2.8 lens, Pronto-LK shutter from 1/15th to 1/500th & B, coupled rangefinder and coupled light meter. Full frame 35mm film with lever transport coupled with shutter tensioning. A great tool! Normally used with the addition of an ultra-violet filter and lens hood. 1997/02/08, 1. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92203 simmers in the yard at Loughborough depot on the Great Central Railway, after the day's toils during the Winter Gala, Saturday 8th February 1997. 1997/02/08, 3. GWR 1997/02/08, 5. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92203 simmers in the yard at Loughborough depot on the Great Central Railway, after the day's toils during the Winter Gala, Saturday 8th February 1997. 1997/02/08, 6. BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75029 1997/02/08, 4. GWR 1997/02/08, 2. The smokebox door is open and a member of the shed staff is about to shovel ash from the smokebox as BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92203 sits at Loughborough depot after the day's work. This was during the Winter Gala on the Great Central Railway on the evening of Saturday 8th February 1997. Cow on the line! 2008/05/03, 1. Having arrived at the foot crossing near Kingsey to see the Wrexham trains due shortly, I found a southbound Chiltern turbo crawling along behind a cow (actually a bullock, I think)! 165 025 was the 14:12 Birmingham Snow Hill to Marylebone train, here somewhat delayed at 15:53. The bullock then moved to the side of the track and the train was able to pass. Not knowing whether the signaller was aware of the situation, I phoned the BT Police to ask them to pass on the information. It seems the signaller was aware as all approaching trains were reduced to a crawl, and after a short while people appeared from local farms and Network Rail to try and get the animal off the track. Saturday 3rd May 2008. Cow on the line! 2008/05/03, 2. A northbound Chiltern turbo, 14:53 Marylebone to Stratford-upon-Avon, had been stopped a short while earlier and now the northbound Wrexham & Shropshire Railway working, 1J87, 15:17 from Marylebone to Wrexham approaches the bullock very gingerly at 16:10, having been warned by the signaller. The animal stood its ground and the train came to a stand, finally getting away again at about 16:20. This was during the first Saturday of passenger carrying trains by W&S, incidents such as this won't have helped with time-keeping. The southbound Wrexham train was also brought to a stand a short while later, though by this time the farm people had got the bullock off the track, though it was still inside the railway fence. Saturday 3rd May 2008. 2008/06/04, 1. The aftermath of the fire in the garage at home some hours later on the evening of Wednesday 4th June 2008. 2008/06/04, 2. This was the Then & Now, 1. Views of the line from High Wycombe to Maidenhead near Loudwater, looking back towards Wycombe Marsh and High Wycombe. On the left, GWR 61xx 2-6-2T No. 6143 is working the 16:15 pick-up goods (with just a brakevan at this stage) from High Wycombe to Maidenhead and on to Slough. First stop is to shunt the yard at Loudwater station until 18:38 and then continue, Friday 11th June 1965. On the right is a similar view taken in September 1991, long after closure of the line from High Wycombe to Bourne End, the rest of the line to Maidenhead remains open, together with the branch to Marlow. The railway fence is still intact, though the trackbed is very overgrown and partly incorporated into adjacent gardens. Then & Now, 2. The level-crossing at Loudwater station on the line from High Wycombe to Maidenhead. On the left, GWR 2-6-2T No. 6141 comes across the crossing with the afternoon pick-up goods, 16:15 from High Wycombe to Maidenhead and on to Slough, giving up the single-line token to the signalman as it enters the station loop. The train was then shunted here before continuing its trip. Thursday 10th June 1965. On the right is the same scene long after the section from High Wycombe to Bourne End was closed, though the line is still open from there to Maidenhead, together with the branch line to Marlow. The public footpath signposted in the older picture has now been diverted along the old trackbed, at least as far as the local school, where it reverts to its original course alongside the railway, then back onto the trackbed again. The station itself was behind the camera, the area is now occupied by a small industrial estate. Monday 30th September 1991. 1976/05/xx, 1. Grounded coach bodies in use as a dwelling in Castleford, West Yorkshire. The main part is an old clerestory-roofed carriage, perhaps ex-North Eastern Railway, at the far end another old carriage sits at right-angles to the main part, while towards the front is what could be an old boxvan type wagon body, also at right-angles to the main carriage. There were several of these old coaches along this road, the one next door can just be seen to the right of the ladder on the roof of the greenhouse. May 1976. Whether they have survived, I do not know. 1976/05/xx, 2. Next door to the green and cream painted coach was this blue and white one, though this one looks rather more dilapidated. Another clerestory-roofed carriage, again possibly ex-North Eastern Railway, this one a more modest dwelling without the extensions! Castleford, West Yorkshire, May 1976. 1976/05/xx, 3. Further along the street towards Cutsyke was another grounded coach body, though this one looks now to be abandoned and falling into dereliction. Another clerestory-roofed carriage, again possibly ex-North Eastern Railway. Castleford, West Yorkshire, May 1976. 1971/12/24, 2. The preservation site at Embsay was home to several buses as well as railway locos during its early days. On the left is a single-deck trolleybus, No. 425, which came from Liege in Belgium, beside it is a double-deck trolleybus, T282, alongside the old Midland Railway goods shed. 24th December 1971. No. 425 is a 1932 Fabrique Nationale 26 seater trolleybus with vertically mounted booms (i.e. one above the other as opposed to the usual side by side arrangement). It is now at the Sandtoft Trolleybus museum and is the oldest working trolleybus in the country! The double-decker is from the erstwhile Teesside Railless Traction Board, which became part of Teesside Municipal Transport in 1968. 2 was its original fleetnumber and it received the number T282 in the new organisation. The later fleetname can be seen through the windows of the Liege vehicle. These Teesside trolleybuses (which were early postwar chassis) carried the last trolleybus bodies built in the UK - this one dates from 1964. Teesside trolleys finished in 1971, only Bradford outlasted them. The original colour was mainly olive green. Thanks to David Beilby for information on this vehicle. 1971/12/24, 1. The preservation site at Embsay was home to several buses as well as railway locos during its early days. On the left is a single-deck trolleybus, No. 425, which came from Liege in Belgium, beyond it is a double-deck Teesside trolleybus alongside the old Midland Railway goods shed. The MR signalbox is just seen in front of the buses and on the right is a metre-gauge Peckett 0-6-0ST which came from one of the industrial ironstone lines near Wellingborough. 24th December 1971. No. 425 is a 1932 Fabrique Nationale 26 seater trolleybus with vertically mounted booms (i.e. one above the other as opposed to the usual side by side arrangement). It is now at the Sandtoft Trolleybus museum and is the oldest working trolleybus in the country! The saddle tank was from Peckett & Sons of Bristol in 1934, Works No. 1870, and is now at the Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum.

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]]> Sat Dec 9 2006 France & Spain http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1155705.html Photos taken in France and Spain, some whilst in transit to Portugal, some from earlier or later years. Pictures are in alphabetical order by country and then in chronological order. As usual, more pictures will be added as and when I get the time! The Portuguese pictures have now been moved to a collection of their own! Friday 8 December 2006: Photos taken in France and Spain, some whilst in transit to Portugal, some from earlier or later years. Pictures are in alphabetical order by country and then in chronological order. As usual, more pictures will be added as and when I get the time! The Portuguese pictures have now been moved to a collection of their own!

Spain. 1969/11/01, 05. Ex-Madrid, Zaragoza & Alicante Railway semi-streamlined 4-8-2, RENFE No. 241F2102, has just been taken out of use at Miranda de Ebro depot, though it still looks in fairly good shape, and what a beast! Saturday 1st November 1969. France. 1970/11/13, 06. SNCF 2-8-2T No. 141 TC 10 glints in the evening sun as it waits for its next turn of duty on a France. 1970/11/13, 02. Soon after sunrise SNCF 141 TC Class 2-8-2T No. 141 TC 3 has just arrived at the Gare du Nord in Paris with a commuter train from Valmondois. These were worked as Spain. 1970/10/31, 4. RENFE 2-8-2 No. 141F2381 is double-heading with another member of the same class as they arrive at the head of a freight train from Pamplona into Alsasua in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Saturday 31st October 1970. Spain. 1969/11/01, 06. Another view of ex-Madrid, Zaragoza & Alicante Railway semi-streamlined 4-8-2, RENFE No. 241F2102, which has just been taken out of use at Miranda de Ebro depot, though it still looks in fairly good shape. Another classmate is in the right foreground. Saturday 1st November 1969. Spain. 1969/11/01, 01. Seen from a passing train, the loco depot at Alsasua is host to various engines. On the left are two 4-8-2's, members of the 241F4657 - 4684 series, which are now out of use, though something is in steam behind them. In steam on the turntable is one of the massive 242F 4-8-4's, in the process of being turned by its crew. These engines were known as Spain. 1970/10/31, 7. Two local kids play with their toys at Alsasua station in the foothills of the Pyrenees, oblivious to the RENFE 141F 2-8-2 simmering in the background at the head of a freight train waiting to take the line to Pamplona. Saturday 31st October 1970. France. 1970/11/13, 07. SNCF 2-8-2T No. 141 TC 10 has been sitting for most of the day just at the end of the platform at the Gare du Nord in Paris, and though in steam, its wheels have already started to rust! It was now getting ready to work a commuter train to Valmondois in the evening rush hour. In the foreground is an unidentified diesel shunter. Friday 13th November 1970. France. 1976/03/21. Long before Eurostar became a reality, boat trains met the ferries at Calais Maritime station and travelled to Paris via the Spain. 1970/10/31, 6. RENFE 141F class 2-8-2 No. 141F2381 is one of the class that was fitted with a double-chimney. The engine has been turned on the turntable at Alsasua loco depot and is now returning light engine towards Pamplona. Saturday 31st October 1970. Spain. 1970/11/01. The sun has not long risen over Fuentes de Oñoro on the Spanish side of the border with Portugal at Vilar Formoso as I arrive aboard the overnight train from Irun to Porto. The line from Salamanca to here was still partially steam operated and RENFE 4-8-0 No. 240F2207 is about to go off shed. The Spanish engine came off our train here and was replaced by a CP diesel for the run to Pampilhosa and on to Porto. Sunday 1st November 1970. Spain. 1969/11/01, 09. RENFE 2-8-2 No. 141F2292 starts away from the station and yards at Miranda de Ebro with a mixed freight train for Zaragoza, while a diesel shunter is busy in the background. Saturday 1st November 1969. Spain. 1969/11/01, 10. Having connected with an electric-hauled main line express at Miranda de Ebro station, RENFE 2-8-2 No. 141F.2251 is now in full cry with a Rapido (semi-fast passenger train) from Miranda to Zaragoza. It is crossing the bridge over the Rio Ebro as it makes its way out of the town. There wasn't much clearance on the bridge! Saturday 1st November 1969. Spain. 1969/11/01, 03. RENFE 2-8-2 No. 141F.2210 is being prepared and is about to go off shed at Miranda de Ebro depot for its next working. A couple of classmates can be seen in the background stabled around the turntable. Saturday 1st November 1969. Spain. 1969/11/01, 08. RENFE 2-8-2 No. 141F.2292 rumbles through the station at Miranda de Ebro with a mixed goods train for Zaragoza on the afternoon of Saturday 1st November 1969. Spain. 1969/11/01, 07. Only recently taken out of service, two of the ex-MZA semi-streamlined 4-8-2's are now stored at Miranda de Ebro depot. Nearest camera is 241F.2108, face to face with an unidentified classmate. If only I had been able to visit earlier and see these in action.... Saturday 1st November 1969. France. 1970/11/13, 05. Distracted by talking to the man from France. 1970/11/14. 4 cylinder compound 4-6-2 No. 231G558 was kept at Dieppe Ville station for some time after being taken out of use, here it is in one of the terminal platforms on Saturday 14th November 1970. Fortunately, it was later restored to working order and is now a regular performer on the main lines. France. 1998/06/24. Duplex (double-decker) TGV 29026 Unit No. 213, about to depart from the Gare de Lyon in Paris with the 10:00 train to Lyon and points south. Wednesday 24th June 1998. France. 1998/07/05. On the metre-gauge Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme from Le Crotoy to St. Valery-sur-Somme via Noyelles in northern France, 2-6-0T No. 1 (Corpet Louvet 1906 for the Transport de l'Aisne) is working a train from Le Crotoy near Morlay on the afternoon of Sunday 5th July 1998. Spain. 1968/04/15, 5. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. Seen from the train departing for Fuente de San Esteban, RENFE 0-6-0 No. 030 25xx (?) sits by the turntable at La Fregeneda station, having brought a train from Barca d'Alva across the border from Portugal. This cross-border line is now closed, though the track remains in situ, quietly rusting away... Monday 15th April 1968. Photographer unknown. Spain. 1968/04/15, 4. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. View from the train looking back towards Barca d'Alva having just crossed the Ponte de Pollo Valente, high above the valley of the Rio Águeda, en route to La Fregeneda on the cross-border line in Spain. The line from Pocinho to Barca d'Alva in Portugal and on to La Fregeneda in Spain closed many years ago, though the track is still in situ, at least on this section. Monday 15th April 1968. Photographer unknown. Spain. 1968/04/15, 2. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. A RENFE 0-6-0 No. 030 25xx (?) is at the head of a cross border train from Barca d'Alva in Portugal to La Fregeneda in Spain and then on to Fuente de San Esteban where it joined the line from Vilar Formoso/Fuentes de Oñoro to Salamanca. The line from Pocinho to Barca d'Alva and on to Fregeneda has long since closed, though much track is still in situ. Here the train is high on the valley side above the Rio Águeda, about to enter one of the many tunnels on the line. These were all numbered, but which one is this? Monday 15th April 1968. Photographer unknown. Spain. 1968/04/16, 1. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. RENFE 4-8-2's meet at Haro on the line from Miranda de Ebro to Zaragoza on Tuesday 16th April 1968. One of the engines from the series 241F4657 - 4684 is arriving with a short mixed train from Miranda, while another unidentified 241F of series 241F2201 - 2222 (known as Spain. 1968/04/16, 2. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. An unidentified RENFE 242F class 4-8-4 in its green livery comes through the yards at Miranda de Ebro with a freight train. Tuesday 16th April 1968. Photographer unknown. Spain. 1968/04/15, 1. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. A RENFE 0-6-0 No. 030 25xx (?) is at the head of a cross border train from Barca d'Alva in Portugal to La Fregeneda in Spain and then on to Fuente de San Esteban where it joined the line from Vilar Formoso/Fuentes de Oñoro to Salamanca. The line from Pocinho to Barca d'Alva and on to Fregeneda has long since closed, though much track is still in situ. Here the train is high on the valley side above the Rio Águeda, amidst sparsely populated countryside. Monday 15th April 1968. Photographer unknown. Spain. 1968/04/15, 3. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. View from the train looking back towards Barca d'Alva having just emerged from one of the many tunnels, high above the valley of the Rio Águeda, en route to La Fregeneda on the cross-border line in Spain. The line from Pocinho to Barca d'Alva in Portugal and on to La Fregeneda in Spain closed many years ago, though the track is still in situ, at least on this section. Monday 15th April 1968. Photographer unknown. Spain. 1969/11/01, 02. An unidentified RENFE 4-8-2 of series 241F2201 - 2222 (known as Spain. 1969/11/01, 04. Dumped in the depot at Miranda de Ebro was this outside cylinder 0-6-0T No. 030-0219 on Saturday 1st November 1969. This was one of five engines built by St. Leonard of Liege in Belgium, No. 792 of 1889, for the Torralba to Soria line, where they were numbered 30 to 34. This engine was named France. 1970/11/13, 04. SNCF 2-8-2T No. 141 TC 3 had arrived a few minutes earlier on the rear of a France. 1970/11/13, 01. SNCF 2-8-2Ts of Class 141TC still worked a few of the France. 1970/11/13, 03. SNCF 2-8-2T No. 141 TC 3 had arrived a few minutes earlier on the rear of a Spain. 1970/10/31, 1. Double-headed RENFE class 141F 2-8-2s wait in the yards at Alsasua station with a freight train eventually bound for the Pamplona line on the afternoon of Saturday 31st October 1970. Spain. 1970/10/31, 2. Double-headed RENFE class 141F 2-8-2s wait in the yards at Alsasua station with a freight train eventually bound for the Pamplona line on the afternoon of Saturday 31st October 1970. Alongside is a rather ancient EMU with a northbound local stopping train bound for Irun, while a diesel shunter is just visible at the far end of the yard. Spain. 1970/10/31, 3. Approaching Alsasua station from the Pamplona line a freight train is double-headed by class 141F 2-8-2s, still working quite hard. The pilot loco is 141F2381, the train engine unidentified. The road is set for them to enter the yard on the southbound side of the main line. Saturday 31st October 1970. Spain. 1970/10/31, 5. Approaching Alsasua station from the Pamplona line a freight train is double-headed by class 141F 2-8-2s, the pilot loco is 141F2381, the train engine unidentified. The road is set for them to enter the yard on the southbound side of the main line. Saturday 31st October 1970. France. 1980/09/xx. A freight train, double-headed by BB.4600 class electrics with BB.4651 leading, has just crossed the bridge over the river Dordogne near Souillac and heads south past the small station at Chapelle de Mareuil on the main line from Paris to Toulouse. September 1980. If anyone can enlighten me with regard to these locos I'd be very grateful! I've had several messages to say that these locos are France. 1966/12/02, 2. Michel Costes has sent me a few shots to add to the site - many thanks! SNCF de Glehn 4 cylinder compound 4-6-0 No. 230 D 55, formerly Nord Railway, waits to depart from Paris Gare du Nord, with the 17:56 train to Beauvais, on a very wet 2nd December 1966. France. 1966/12/02, 1. Michel Costes has sent me a few shots to add to the site - many thanks! SNCF de Glehn 4 cylinder compound 4-6-0 No. 230 D 55, formerly Nord Railway, waits to depart from Paris Gare du Nord, with the 17:56 train to Beauvais, on a very wet 2nd December 1966.

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]]> Fri Dec 8 2006 Cromford & High Peak Line http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1144250.html The Cromford & High Peak was a wonderful piece of railway, high in the Pennine hills. Originally conceived as a canal, it had long level sections interspersed with fearsome gradients, inclines and sharp curves. My early visits to the line were long before I had a camera, but I did manage several trips with a camera, including the final day of working on 30th April 1967. Here are a few pictures to start with, more to be added! Thursday 23 November 2006: The Cromford & High Peak was a wonderful piece of railway, high in the Pennine hills. Originally conceived as a canal, it had long level sections interspersed with fearsome gradients, inclines and sharp curves. My early visits to the line were long before I had a camera, but I did manage several trips with a camera, including the final day of working on 30th April 1967. Here are a few pictures to start with, more to be added!

1963/05/11. B1 4-6-0 No. 61004 1962/08/12, 2. Despite its ancient appearance, 0-4-0ST No. 47007 was built in 1953 as an updated version of the original Kitson design to Stanier's requirements built in 1932.. It is standing alongside the remains of the one loco engine shed at Sheep Pasture on the Cromford & High Peak line, at the top of Sheep Pasture Incline. It worked trains along the level section (more or less!) to the bottom of the Middleton Incline, where once again rope-haulage took over for the ascent. The remains of the winding engine house at Sheep Pasture are still extant and much of the former railway is now the 1964/06/27, 01. Parsley Hay was the junction of the Cromford & High Peak line and the LNWR line from Buxton to Ashbourne. The RCTS 1964/06/27, 02. I was lucky enough to ride in the cab of J94 0-6-0ST No. 68012, which together with 68079 were at the head of the RCTS 1964/06/27, 03. Seen from the footplate of 68012, fellow J94 0-6-0ST No. 68079 is the pilot engine for the RCTS 1964/06/27, 04. Seen from the footplate of 68012, the train negotiates the famous 1964/06/27, 08. The participants in the 2003/12/04. Sheep Pasture as it is today, now part of the 1964/06/27, 07. J94 Class 0-6-0ST's Nos. 68079 & 68012 have now reached Middleton Top in charge of the RCTS 1964/06/27, 06. Seen from the footplate of 68012, fellow J94 Class 0-6-0ST No. 68079 is double-heading the RCTS 1964/06/27, 09. Looking up Sheep Pasture Incline to the winding-house and bothy at the summit. The old steam winding-engine had been replaced by an electrically driven system and the incline was still in use at this time, though the participants of the RCTS 1964/06/27, 10. Ex-LNER J94 Class 0-6-0ST No. 68006 waits at Cromford Wharf at the bottom of Sheep Pasture Incline before departing with its wagonloads of tour participants to meet the main train at High Peak Junction. The steepness of the incline is apparent as the line disappears under the A6 roadbridge, the two tracks dividing as they skirt round the catchpit that was built after a spectacular runaway. That this precaution was necessary was witnessed by the fact that a wagon was still in the catchpit! Saturday 27th June 1964. 1967/04/30, 3. Ex-LNER J94 class 0-6-0STs Nos. 68006 & 68012 now make their third run up Hopton Incline with the two remaining brakevans. Having reached the top, the other two brakevans were coupled up again and the train continued to its next stop at Longcliffe for water. Sunday 30th April 1967. 1967/04/30, 1. Sunday 30th April 1967 was the last day of operation over the Cromford & High Peak line, and it certainly brought out the crowds! An SLS special comprising four brakevans is returning from Middleton Top behind double-headed J94 class 0-6-0STs Nos. 68006 & 68012. Here they are on the assault of the 1 in 14 Hopton Incline, moments before the train stalled! The train was divided and the two engines took the first two brakevans to the summit, before returning for the other two! 1967/04/30, 2. The two J94s had stalled on their first attempt to climb Hopton Incline with four brakevans in tow, so the train was divided and the engines now go all out for the summit with just two brakevans! Once at the top, these were shunted into a siding, then the engines returned for the second pair of brakevans. Sunday 30th April 1967. 1967/04/30, 4. J94s 68006 and 68012 stop for water at Longcliffe, below the special ramp that was built to accommodate the old engine tenders that were the principal means of water supply along the line. This was a last day special brakevan tour, returning from Middleton Top to Parsley Hay on Sunday 30th April 1967. This view is almost the same today, as part of the 1967/04/30, 5. For my final shot of active steam on the Cromford & High Peak line the sun did at least try to grace the scene. J94s 68006 and 68012 start away from Longcliffe having stopped for water with their four brakevan special to Parsley Hay on the last day of operation, Sunday 30th April 1967. 1962/08/12, 1. Despite its ancient appearance, 0-4-0ST No. 47007 was built in 1953 as an updated version of the original Kitson design to Stanier's requirements built in 1932.. It is standing alongside the remains of the one loco engine shed at Sheep Pasture on the Cromford & High Peak line, at the top of Sheep Pasture Incline. It worked trains along the level section (more or less!) to the bottom of the Middleton Incline, where once again rope-haulage took over for the ascent. The remains of the winding engine house at Sheep Pasture are still extant and much of the former railway is now the 1964/06/27, 05. Seen from the footplate of 68012, the train negotiates the famous

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]]> Thu Nov 23 2006 Poland http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1141023.html In view of the popularity of the pictures of Polish Railways, I have now given them a collection of their own, rather than sharing! I visited with a friend in the summer of 1974, when taking photographs of the railways was somewhat difficult, to say the least, hence the rarity of colour pictures of steam in action in the country. A quick note on Polish locomotive classifications! A capital letter comes first: T (Towarowy) denotes a freight engine, O (Osobowy) a mixed traffic engine and P (Pospiesny) an express passenger engine. The second letter is in lower case and denotes the wheel arrangement: e.g. m = 4-6-2, k = 4-6-0, l = 2-6-2, y = 2-10-0 etc. If the locomotive is a tank engine, then the second letter is also a capital – K (Kusy), to denote tank engine, the wheel arrangement letter follows this! The letters are followed by a number: 1 – 10 denote ex-Prussian or Deutsche Reichsbahn locomotives; numbers from 11 – 19 denote ex-Austrian; 20 - 99 denote a Polish construction designed from that year! 100 and above denote miscellaneous designs. So as above, Ok1 is a mixed traffic 4-6-0 of ex-Prussian origin (Prussian P8), Ol49 is a mixed traffic 2-6-2 designed and built in Poland from 1949. An example of a tank engine would be OKo1, which is a mixed traffic 4-6-4T of ex-Prussian origin (Prussian T18). Very complicated! I hope I've got that right, and apologies for not having the correct accents on letters - my English keyboard doesn't seem to support them! Sunday 19 November 2006: In view of the popularity of the pictures of Polish Railways, I have now given them a collection of their own, rather than sharing! I visited with a friend in the summer of 1974, when taking photographs of the railways was somewhat difficult, to say the least, hence the rarity of colour pictures of steam in action in the country. A quick note on Polish locomotive classifications! A capital letter comes first: T (Towarowy) denotes a freight engine, O (Osobowy) a mixed traffic engine and P (Pospiesny) an express passenger engine. The second letter is in lower case and denotes the wheel arrangement: e.g. m = 4-6-2, k = 4-6-0, l = 2-6-2, y = 2-10-0 etc. If the locomotive is a tank engine, then the second letter is also a capital _ K (Kusy), to denote tank engine, the wheel arrangement letter follows this! The letters are followed by a number: 1 _ 10 denote ex-Prussian or Deutsche Reichsbahn locomotives; numbers from 11 _ 19 denote ex-Austrian; 20 - 99 denote a Polish construction designed from that year! 100 and above denote miscellaneous designs. So as above, Ok1 is a mixed traffic 4-6-0 of ex-Prussian origin (Prussian P8), Ol49 is a mixed traffic 2-6-2 designed and built in Poland from 1949. An example of a tank engine would be OKo1, which is a mixed traffic 4-6-4T of ex-Prussian origin (Prussian T18). Very complicated! I hope I've got that right, and apologies for not having the correct accents on letters - my English keyboard doesn't seem to support them!

1974/07/01, 2. PKP (Polish State Railways) 2-8-2 No. Pt31-26 near Zemborzyce heading for Lublin with an early morning passenger train from Przeworsk, Monday 1st July 1974. 1974/07/01, 4. PKP (Polish State Railways) 2-8-2 No. Pt31-13 hard at work on the gradient near Krasnik with a passenger train from Lublin to Przeworsk, Monday 1st July 1974. The train consists of a baggage van, a set of four articulated double-deck coaches and two bogie coaches. 1974/06/29, 1. In southern Poland at Chabówka and sitting within the station limits was the local pilot engine, here seen getting some attention from its crew. It is ex-USATC S160 Class 2-8-0, PKP No. Tr203-182, one of many that were brought over from America immediately after the Second World War (some also worked in Britain before being shipped to the continent). Saturday 29th June 1974. 1974/06/26, 06. PKP Class Ok1 4-6-0 (ex-Prussian P8) No. Ok1-141 with a three coach train, the 12:12 Zagan to Glogow stopping passenger. The engine is nicely bulled up with red and white trimmings (the Polish national colours), though the tender has not had the same treatment! Wednesday 26th June 1974. 1974/06/28, 8. PKP Class Ty2 2-10-0 (ex-DR Class 52) No. Ty2-1083 is working a freight train from Zakopane at the foot of the snow-capped Tatra mountains in southern Poland and is nearing Nowy Targ en route to Chabówka. Friday 28th June 1974. 1974/06/26, 04. Ex-Prussian P8, PKP 4-6-0 No. Ok1-334, returning from Krosno Odrzanskie (departure at 07:43) with its one coach train as it crosses the river bridge south of Bobrowice, making its leisurely way towards Lubsko. Wednesday 26th June 1974. 1974/06/27, 11. A farm horse and cart trundle along the road as an unidentified PKP OKl27 class 2-6-2T rattles over the viaduct with a train of double-deck coaches in tow. This was a late afternoon train down the branch line from Baborow to Pilszcz, right next to the Czechoslovak border, near Nowy Cerekwia. Thursday 27th June 1974. 1974/06/28, 7. 2 unidentified PKP Class Ty2 2-10-0's (ex-DR Class 52) slog up the hill with their long freight train on the steeply graded and scenic line from Chabówka which worked its way towards the Tatra mountains to terminate at Zakopane. (Steam can still be seen in this area as there is a museum at the old depot in Chabówka, from where occasional steam ventures onto the main line). Friday 28th June 1974. 1974/07/02, 1. PKP Polish State Railways 4-6-2 No. Pm2-28 (ex-DR 03 Class) drifts along at the head of a train of four articulated double-deck coaches working from Torun to Lodz. The engine is virtually in original condition with large smoke deflectors and is nice and clean. Tuesday 2nd July 1974. 1974/07/03, 2. PKP 4-6-4T No. OKo1-11 (ex-Prussian T18 class, DR & DB Class 78) in green livery ambles through the countryside. It is working a two coach passenger train along the secondary line from Czempin, south of Poznan, to Jarocin, exact location unknown but presumably near a wayside station as there are sidings in the foreground. Wednesday, 3rd July 1974. This engine was built by Vulcan-Werke, Stettin (now Szczecin), Works No. 3892/1922, as KPEV Essen 8918, it later became DR 78 379 before taking up its final identity as OKo1-11. 1974/06/27, 07. In very wet weather, PKP Class Ok22 4-6-0 No. Ok22-46 trundles along the main line to Nysa near Prudnik with a stopping passenger train consisting of a four coach set of articulated double-deck coaches and a bogie coach. Thursday 27th June 1974. The Ok22 class was basically a re-boilered Ok1 (Prussian P8) and carried green livery. A member of the class has recently been restored to working order at Wolzstyn. 1974/06/26, 09. Polish built 2-8-2 No. Pt47-126 catches a glint from the sun at the head of a semi-fast passenger train not far from Nysa, this is the 14:32 Legnica to Nysa train. Although this is a relatively main line, like many others it is single track which is fairly overgrown, and of course, unfenced! Wednesday 26th June 1974. 1974/06/29, 7. PKP 2-8-2T's of class TKt48 were essentially freight engines, but could often be seen on passenger workings. Here, green-liveried TKt48-51 is in charge of a set of double-deck coaches, an afternoon working from Rzeszow to Jaslo. Saturday 29th June 1974. 1974/07/03, 1. Polish built 2-10-0 No. Ty43-96 is nice and clean and decorated in the Polish colours of red & white. It is working a freight train along the double track main line from Poznan to Torun, exact location not known. Wednesday 3rd July 1974. 1974/07/02, 2. PKP 4-6-0 No. Ok1-397 (Ex-Prussian P8) meanders through the fields (there is some track in there somewhere!) with an evening passenger train of wonderfully antique stock working from Mogilno to Inowroclaw, not far from Kruszwica, the grain silos in the background. Tuesday 2nd July 1974. 1974/06/26, 01. PKP 2-6-2 No. Ol49-93 blasts away from its station stop at Wezyska with a train of East German built double-deck coaches. This was a working from Zbaszynek at 07:18 to Gubin, on Wednesday 26th June 1974. 1974/06/26, 03. On the line to Lubsko, 4-6-0 Ok1-334 is returning from Krosno Odrzanskie (depart 07:43) with its one coach train, meandering through the woods near Dychow. Not much danger of fire risk as smoke curls lazily from the chimney! Wednesday 26th June 1974. 1974/06/26, 02. PKP 2-6-2 No. Ol49-93 blasts away from its station stop at Wezyska with a train from Zbaszynek at 07:18 to Gubin, on Wednesday 26th June 1974. 1974/06/29, 4. A double-header as TKt48-59 pilots an unidentified Class Ty2 2-10-0 with a northbound passenger train of modern coaching stock, en route from Nowy Sacz to Tarnow, north of Grybow, now in the valley of the river Biala near Stroze. Saturday 29th June 1974. 1974/06/29, 5. Although it has a heavier train, 2-8-2T TKt48-157 is handling it singly as it gets away from a wayside station stop (Biecz?) in fine style with a train from Jaslo to Stroze and Nowy Sacz. Saturday 29th June 1974. 1974/07/01, 9. Ex-Prussian P8 4-6-0 No. Ok1-257 bowls merrily along at the head of a passenger train from Lodz to Skarzysko-Kamienna on the evening of Monday 1st July 1974. Exact location not known. 1974/07/01, 6. PKP 2-8-2 No. Pt31-32 came along just as the sun went in - typical! It is working a passenger train from Rozwadow to Ostrowiec and looks a fine sight even in the cloud shadow. Monday 1st July 1974. This engine was built under German supervision at Fablok, Chrzanow, Works No. 791/1940 and was DR No. 19 162. It took on its PKP identitiy in 1945. 1974/07/01, 7. With a train of large bogie hopper wagons in tow, a Ty51 Class 2-10-0 No. Ty51-31 is blasting its way up the gradient from the valley below as it works eastbound from Ostrowiec towards Rozwadow. Monday 1st July 1974. 1974/07/01, 8. PKP 2-8-2 No. Pt47-35 is in charge of an express train on the line from Skarzysko-Kamienna to Lodz, here seen heading north west with an afternoon working. Quite what is happening at the rear of the train is not clear, as two coach doors seem to be open! Monday 1st July 1974. 1974/06/27, 10. 2-6-2T No. OKl27-57 is in charge of a four coach articulated set of double-deck coaches, a baggage van and a Postal coach returning from Glubczyce, very close to the border with Czechoslovakia on the line from Prudnik to Baborow. These engines were painted in a pleasing light green livery. Thursday 27th June 1974. 1974/07/01, 1. PKP 2-8-2 No. Pt31-26 near Zemborzyce heading for Lublin with an early morning passenger train from Przeworsk, Monday 1st July 1974. This engine was unusual in having light green smoke deflectors, cylinder covers and cabsides - somebody's 1974/06/27, 12. An unidentified PKP OKl27 class 2-6-2T with a train of double-deck coaches in tow. This was a late afternoon train down the branch line from Baborow to Pilszcz, right next to the Czechoslovak border, near Nowy Cerekwia. Thursday 27th June 1974. 1974/06/27, 13. The last bit of lineside action for the day was another tank engine with another set of double-deck coaches. This was 2-8-2T No. TKt48-164 (ostensibly a freight engine but frequently used on passenger services), here working hard with its train from Chalupki to Wodzislaw. Thursday 27th June 1974. 1974/07/02, 3. Panoramic view across the fields as PKP 4-6-0 No. Ok1-397 (Ex-Prussian P8) trundles along (there is some track in there somewhere!) with an evening passenger train of wonderfully antique stock working from Mogilno to Inowroclaw, north of Kruszwica. Tuesday 2nd July 1974. 1974/06/30, 2. At a spot near Rudnik on the double track main line from Przeworsk to Lublin, a southbound passenger train consisting of two bogie coaches and four coach set of double-deck coaches is hauled by a nicely cleaned up 2-6-2 No. Ol49-87, working from Lublin to Przeworsk. Sunday 30th June 1974. 1974/06/30, 3. Soon after Ol49-87 had passed, another 2-6-2 No. Ol49-72 appears from the opposite direction with an identical rake of coaches, this time working north from Przeworsk to Lublin, near Rudnik. Sunday 30th June 1974. 1974/07/01, 5. An unidentified Pt47 Class 2-8-2 now appears and drifts down the gradient near Krasnik with a train from Przeworsk to Lublin, with a rake of what seemed to be the usual coaching stock, i.e. two bogies and a four coach set of double-deckers. Monday 1st July 1974. 1974/06/28, 1. An unidentified 2-8-2T of class TKt48 has shut off steam and drifts bunkerfirst across the bridge at Podlesie over the river Sola near Kety, with a morning passenger train from Wadowice to Bielsko-Biala. Friday 28th June 1974. 1974/06/28, 2. Ty2 Class 2-10-0 No. Ty2-1205 is at the head of a three coach passenger train plus one luggage van on the line from Sucha Beskidska to Zywiec, exact location not known. The engine is in black livery apart from the cabsides, which are painted green! Friday 28th June 1974. 1974/06/28, 4. 2-10-0 No. Ty2-29 gleams in the sunshine as it works hard with its marvellous mixed train of four-wheeled coaches and goods wagons at an unknown location on the steeply graded and scenic line from Chabówka which worked its way into the mountains to terminate at Zakopane. (Steam can still be seen in this area as there is a museum at the old depot in Chabówka, from where occasional steam ventures onto the main line). Friday 28th June 1974. 1974/06/27, 01. Impressionistic shot of ex-Prussian P8 4-6-0 No. Ok1-175 against the early morning sky. Soon after sunrise the train is seen near Otmuchow, heading for Nysa. Thursday 27th June 1974. 1974/06/26, 08. On the line from Nysa to Legnica, ex-Prussian P8 4-6-0 No. Ok1-82 is in charge of the 15:58 stopping passenger train from Jaworzyna to Legnica, exact location not known. Wednesday 26th June 1974. 1974/06/28, 6. 2-10-0 No. Ty2-29 gleams in the sunshine as it works hard with its marvellous mixed train of four-wheeled coaches and goods wagons at an unknown location on the steeply graded and scenic line from Chabówka which worked its way into the mountains to terminate at Zakopane. (Steam can still be seen in this area as there is a museum at the old depot in Chabówka, from where occasional steam ventures onto the main line). Friday 28th June 1974. 1974/06/29, 8. PKP 2-8-2T's of class TKt48 were essentially freight engines, but could often be seen on passenger workings. Here, green-liveried TKt48-51 is in charge of a set of double-deck coaches, an afternoon working from Rzeszow to Jaslo. Saturday 29th June 1974. 1974/06/29, 3. Rain has set in as a steam/diesel double-header works its freight train up Grybow bank with another diesel banking at the rear. The steam engine is an unidentified Ty2 2-10-0; the diesel is ST43-229 in two-tone green livery. This location is just east of Nowy Sacz, where the line from Tarnow further north turns west to climb out of the valley towards Nowy Sacz. Saturday 29th June 1974. 1974/06/28, 3. Sitting in the sunshine under a glorious summer sky somewhere along the line from Sucha Beskidska to Chabówka, is a Class Ty2 2-10-0, in the usual livery of black with red wheels and nicely clean. This is Ty2-1059 and it is at the head of a ballast train. Friday 28th June 1974. 1974/06/27, 04. In dreadful weather conditions an unidentified Ty2 class 2-10-0 is hard at work with a heavy freight train on the double-track main line from Nysa to Prudnik, near Nowy Las, Thursday 27th June 1974. 1974/06/27, 06. PKP 2-8-2 No. Pt47-24 complete with “arrow” symbol on its smoke deflectors, working hard at the head of an express passenger near Prudnik, on the double-track main line from Nysa. Thursday 27th June 1974. 1974/06/27, 05. PKP 2-8-2 No. Pt47-24 complete with “arrow” symbol on its smoke deflectors, working hard at the head of an express passenger near Prudnik, on the double-track main line from Nysa. Thursday 27th June 1974. 1974/06/29, 6. Nicely clean 2-10-0 Ty2-619 appeared from the Jaslo direction with a freight working to Rzeszow, in glorious late afternoon light. Saturday 29th June 1974. 1974/06/29, 2. An unidentified TKt48 Class 2-8-2T in light green livery is at the head of a train of delightfully ramshackle 4-wheeled coaches and vans, out in the countryside near Raba Nizna on the line from Nowy Sacz to Chabówka. Saturday 29th June 1974. 1974/07/01, 3. Near Krasnik we found a very nice spot alongside the railway, used as a footpath and bounded by purple wild lupins. A 2-8-2 No. Pt31-27, this one in standard livery but with the addition of some sort of floral headboard, is working hard up the gradient with what looks like a proper express train consisting of a baggage van and eight bogie coaches. Monday 1st July 1974. 1974/06/26, 05. PKP Class Ok1 4-6-0 (ex-Prussian P8) No. Ok1-141 with a three coach train, the 12:12 Zagan to Glogow stopping passenger. The engine is nicely bulled up with red and white trimmings (the Polish national colours), though the tender has not had the same treatment! Wednesday 26th June 1974. 1974/06/26, 07. Polish built 2-8-2 No. Pt47-126 at the head of a semi-fast passenger train near Jaworzyna, this is the 14:32 Legnica to Nysa train. Although this is a relatively main line, like many others it is single track which is fairly overgrown, and of course, unfenced! Wednesday 26th June 1974. 1974/06/26, 10. Polish built 2-8-2 No. Pt47-126 at the head of a semi-fast passenger train not far from Nysa, this is the 14:32 Legnica to Nysa train. Although this is a relatively main line, like many others it is single track which is fairly overgrown, and of course, unfenced! Wednesday 26th June 1974.

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]]> Sun Nov 19 2006 Crewe Works http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1111034.html During the 1960's I was fortunate enough to visit Crewe Works quite a few times, both officially on Railtours or organised events and also accompanying my father who was involved in the modernisation of the works mechanical services. This meant replacing many old loco boilers, that supplied miles of ancient steam and hot water pipework which had grown piecemeal over the years, with a new central boilerhouse and custom designed distribution system. I was with him on many occasions as "semi-official" photographer, dispatched to take pictures of obscure pipework and fittings, only to find that locomotives and such like would get in the way! Subsequent visits have been at Open Days and the like, in more recent years. More pictures will be added as time permits. Sunday 15 October 2006: During the 1960's I was fortunate enough to visit Crewe Works quite a few times, both officially on Railtours or organised events and also accompanying my father who was involved in the modernisation of the works mechanical services. This meant replacing many old loco boilers, that supplied miles of ancient steam and hot water pipework which had grown piecemeal over the years, with a new central boilerhouse and custom designed distribution system. I was with him on many occasions as "semi-official" photographer, dispatched to take pictures of obscure pipework and fittings, only to find that locomotives and such like would get in the way! Subsequent visits have been at Open Days and the like, in more recent years. More pictures will be added as time permits.

1966/02/22. Inside the old boiler-house at Crewe Works which was still in use at the time. The shot shows the tops of the Lancashire Boilers complete with domes, steam mains and manhole doors. Considering that this was a sort of 1963/10/13, 3. LMS 1963/10/13, 2. LMS 4F 0-6-0 No. 44373 is one of the shunters at Crewe Works, carrying duty board W13. It is standing out of use for the weekend by the boiler dump at the works, in somewhat dramatic lighting conditions. Sunday 13th October 1963. 1965/11/02, 1. The unique BR Standard 8P 4-6-2 No. 71000 1966/11/04. The boiler from an LNWR G2a class 0-8-0 has been re-used to supply steam and hot water for part of the works mechanical services, this was one of many similar boilers scattered around the works that were replaced by the new central boilerhouse in the mid-1960's. Friday 4th November 1966. 1965/12/29, 1. Two ex-LNWR G2a 0-8-0 boilers in use as part of the mechanical services for Crewe Works to supply hot water and steam for parts of the system, whose pipework can be seen on the overhead gantries. All these old boilers were replaced by the new central boilerhouse in the mid-1960's. Wednesday 29th December 1965. 1965/12/29, 3. Stanier 8P 1965/11/02, 2. BR Standard 1965/11/02, 4. Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48514 is a Tyseley (2A) allocated engine, but is busy at Crewe Works shunting two English Electric diesels of Class 40 and Class 37, both unidentified. Tuesday 2nd November 1965. 1965/11/02, 3. LMS 1965/12/29, 2. LMS 1967/02/14. Hanging on the wall of the 1967/10/17. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92220 1963/10/13, 1. In the pink! LMS Ivatt 2-6-0 2MT No. 46509 has been undergoing maintenance at Crewe Works and so far has received just a coat of pink primer paint. After a full repaint and being reunited with its tender, it may return to the depot whose code it carries - 89B, Croes Newydd MPD (though that shed had been recoded 6C in September 1963!). Sunday 13th October 1963.

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]]> Sun Oct 15 2006 London Transport http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1094493.html Despite using London Transport a fair amount, I don't know that much about it! So if anyone can help with information for captions, or correct what I've already written, I would be very grateful! I lived in Pinner (on the Metropolitan Line) for several years, so was lucky enough to see quite a lot of LT steam in the form of the ex-GWR "Pannier Tanks", some of which appear here... Some of these pictures and several more now appear in the recently published book "Red Panniers - Last Steam on the Underground" by John Scott-Morgan and Kirk Martin from Lightmoor Press in association with the London Transport Museum. A very good read and profusely illustrated with pictures from a variety of photographers, including R.C. Riley! Tuesday 26 September 2006: Despite using London Transport a fair amount, I don't know that much about it! So if anyone can help with information for captions, or correct what I've already written, I would be very grateful! I lived in Pinner (on the Metropolitan Line) for several years, so was lucky enough to see quite a lot of LT steam in the form of the ex-GWR "Pannier Tanks", some of which appear here... Some of these pictures and several more now appear in the recently published book "Red Panniers - Last Steam on the Underground" by John Scott-Morgan and Kirk Martin from Lightmoor Press in association with the London Transport Museum. A very good read and profusely illustrated with pictures from a variety of photographers, including R.C. Riley!

1969/06/xx, 7. London Transport No. L89 (ex-GWR 57xx Class 0-6-0PT No. 5775, now preserved on the K&WVR) shunts the tip at Croxley having arrived via reversal at Watford Metropolitan station with the Monday to Friday spoil train from Neasden depot. Note the steam cranes! June 1969. 1966/09/08. London Transport 0-6-0PT No. L94 (ex-GWR & BR No. 7752) trundles along the up fast line at Pinner Green with a ballast train, presumably working back to Neasden depot, but where it had come from I do not know! Thursday 8th September 1966. 1966/12/30, 2. London Transport de-icing unit Nos. ESL118A & 118B (nearest camera) is converted from ex-Metropolitan Railway 1988/05/28. An unusual sight on the Chiltern line was this train of 1983 design Jubilee Line Underground stock en route from the builders in Birmingham to West Ruislip LUL depot, here taking a break in the sidings north of Princes Risborough station with 31311 in charge. Saturday 28th May 1988. 1968/06/xx. A familiar location but before the old Grand Union canal wharf was regenerated into today's leisure marina, the old infrastructure gradually falling apart. An unidentified LT 0-6-0PT has run round its train and watered at Watford station and is now making its way to the tip at Croxley with the spoil train from Neasden. Date unknown, but around June 1968, a misty, murky sort of day! 1970/03/xx, 2. Two LT Battery Electric locos 1969/06/xx, 6. LT 0-6-0PT No. L89 (ex-BR & GWR No. 5775) works up the gradient from the underpass out of Neasden depot and is approaching Wembley Park station with the works train to Croxley tip, as a southbound Bakerloo Line train of 1938 stock heads for Baker Street (no Jubilee Line then!). The tracks in the foreground are the BR lines from Marylebone. June 1969. 1969/09/xx, 1. LT Pannier Tank No. L89 has arrived at Watford station to run-round its works train from Neasden and is now being watered by its crew from the tower on the end of the platform before returning to the tip at Croxley. September 1969. The water tower was later dismantled and re-erected at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road. 1972/07/16, 1. During the summer of 1972 LT ran two 1970/03/xx, 1. A Metropolitan Line set of A60 stock works north west across the girder bridge just south of Northwood station with a stopping train for Watford on a chilly day in March 1970. 1968/05/xx, 2. Driver's eye view from the cab of LT 0-6-0PT No. L94 as it shunts on the tip at Croxley after arrival with the spoil train from Neasden, May 1968. 1969/01/xx, 3. On a sunny but freezing cold day in January 1969, LT 0-6-0PT No. L94 approaches Croxley station from Watford, where it has run-round its works train from Neasden and is now heading for the tip at Croxley. Note the steam crane in the consist of the train. 1969/09/xx, 2. LT 0-6-0PT No. L89 has propelled its works train out of Croxley Tip and onto the main line from Watford and is now setting off back to Neasden at Watford South Junction. The lines in the background are from Aylesbury and Amersham. September 1969. The return train from Croxley was usually empty, but this one has a load of logs in the first wagon! 1972/07/16, 2. Metropolitan Railway Electric No. 5 1972/07/16, 4. The brakevan special to celebrate 50 years of the Met Electrics has been to Uxbridge and has now reversed and is on its way to Acton Town, here having just passed Sudbury Town station with No. 5 1966/12/30, 3. Garston depot in North Watford had several of these Guy single-deckers for some of the local country routes, this is GS60 on route 309A at the bus stand near Rickmansworth station on Friday 30th December 1966. I only had a passing interest in buses and didn't take many pictures, but I couldn't resist this! 1966/12/30, 1. London Transport de-icing unit Nos. ESL118A & 118B is converted from ex-Metropolitan Railway 1971/06/06, 1. Circle Line trains surplus to requirements on a Sunday are stabled in the sidings at Farringdon on 6th June 1971. The nearer train consists of CO stock and the further one of CP stock. Note the total lack of graffiti! 1962/07/xx, 1. London Transport Trolleybuses finished running on 8th May 1962. Here, some of those remaining have reached their final resting place, waiting to be scrapped at the former Trolleybus depot in Colindale, though the last depot to operate them was Fulwell. Prominent is L3 class No. 1499, still carrying its Fulwell depot plate, whilst on the left is N1 class No. 1641. This picture, taken in about July 1962, is on Ektachrome 120 reversal roll film, 1969/01/xx, 1. Now situated rather a long way from where it was originally used, this relay box bears the legend 1967/06/xx, 1. LT 0-6-0PT No. L89 works bunkerfirst through Croxley station en route for Watford. There it ran round its train and took water before returning through Croxley to the tip just by Watford South Junction. This was a regular working during the demolition of the old power station at Neasden. June 1967. 1967/06/xx, 2. Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT, LT No. L89, has arrived at Watford with the spoil train from Neasden, it has run round and taken water and is now on its way back to the tip at Croxley. It is crossing the Grand Union canal just outside Watford station - a classic photographic location. The old canal wharf has fallen into disuse and disrepair, this was later swept away and a new leisure marina built in its place. June 1967. 1962/07/xx, 2. London Transport Trolleybuses finished running on 8th May 1962. Here, some of those remaining have reached their final resting place, in the process of being scrapped at the former Trolleybus depot in Colindale, though the last depot to operate them was Fulwell. This picture, taken in about July 1962, is on Ektachrome 120 reversal roll film, 1969/06/xx, 4. General view of Lillie Bridge depot as seen from the West Cromwell Road bridge in June 1969. On the left are the tracks of the West London Extension Joint line (GWR, LNWR, LSWR & LBSCR Joint) with the sidings full of wagons overshadowed by the bulk of the Earls Court exhibition centre. Lillie Bridge signalbox can just be seen at the far end of the LT depot. A District Line train of R Stock which has just left West Kensington station for Earls Court is diving under these tracks at West Kensington East Junction, the low level lines in the foreground heading to Olympia. In the centre, London Transport ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No. L95 is propelling a works train into the yard of the depot, having just arrived from the Addison Road direction (now Kensington Olympia), while various Battery Electric locos and pilot units stand around between duties. The four chimneys of the Fulham Borough Council Power Station which was close by Wandsworth Bridge can be seen in the distance. This whole area is transformed today, much of it covered by the extension to the Earls Court exhibition complex, though some of the depot tracks are still in use! 1969/06/xx, 3. Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No. 5764 is now London Transport No. L95, and is here arriving at Lillie Bridge Depot, seen from the West Cromwell Road bridge, with a train of empty wagons from Addison Road (now Kensington Olympia) on a lovely June day in 1969. 1969/06/xx, 2. LT pannier tank No. L90 is shunting at Lillie Bridge depot with some ballast wagons beyond the overhead gantry crane in the permanent way yard. In the foreground an eastbound District Line train of clerestory roofed Q stock has just left West Kensington station for Earls Court. June 1969. 1969/06/xx, 1. The skyline above Lillie Bridge depot is dominated by the Empress State building as 0-6-0PT No. L90 shunts in the permanent way rail yard at the depot. The bridge in the left foreground with the Land Rover parked on it is over the District Line tracks near West Kensington station. June 1969. 2006/12/11, 1. View looking north from an office block in Bishopsgate, showing work going on for the East London line extension on the old approach viaducts to Broad Street station. Three tube cars can be seen at the present southern end of the viaduct, the remains of the Broad Street area now tree-grown. The lattice girder bridge over Shoreditch High Street can be seen in the right distance. Monday 11th December 2006. 1967/06/xx, 3. London Transport ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No. L89 (GWR & BR No. 5775) sits in the sunshine at Croxley Tip, having just arrived with the spoil train from Neasden via reversal at Watford. After shunting the loaded wagons it then departed with empty wagons to return to Neasden depot. June 1967. 1968/05/xx, 3. The driver of London Transport 0-6-0PT No. L94 has one hand on the regulator and keeps a good look-out as the empty spoil train is propelled out of the sidings at Croxley Tip and onto the main running line from Watford at Watford South Junction, before reversing and heading back to Neasden depot. May 1968. 1970/06/xx, 1. An eastbound District Line train sets off from Ravenscourt Park station, the first two cars being of clerestory-roofed Q Stock, the leading car is of Q27 stock, unidentified, the second car is numbered 08070 and is a Q35 car. The third car is of a more modern design Q38, numbered 4419, one of those built to work with the older cars when they were converted from hand-operated doors to air operated doors. June 1970. 1970/06/xx, 2. Two westbound trains approach Ravenscourt Park station, running neck and neck. On the left is a Piccadilly Line train for Hounslow West (I understand this train is one of the three 1956 built Gloucester RCW prototype units, which resulted in the 1959/62 squadron sets) while on the right is a District Line train (R38 stock) for Ealing Broadway. This was during the transition period when District Line trains' livery was being changed from the traditional red to silver. June 1970. 1970/06/xx, 4. At South Ealing station on the Piccadilly Line, on the right a train of 1959 built stock, while on the left is a four-car train carrying 1970/06/xx, 3. London Transport ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No. L94 is heading east along the District Line tracks having just passed Ravenscourt Park station as it makes its way with just a brakevan in tow from Acton Works to Lillie Bridge depot, June 1970. 1970/04/xx, 4. View from high up on the boiler-cum-turbine hall of London Transport's power station at Lots Road, Chelsea. An unidentified Class 33 diesel is heading north along the West London Extension line having just crossed the River Thames and passing the busy yard at what is now Chelsea Harbour since the yard was closed and sold off for development. The four chimneys of the Fulham Council power station (since demolished) can be seen in the distance, close by Wandsworth Bridge. April 1970. 1970/04/xx, 1. Interior view of the turbine hall at London Transport's Lots Road power station alongside the River Thames in Chelsea, looking towards the western end of the building. The boilers were in the adjacent part of the building, beyond the gantries along the back of this view. April 1970. 1970/04/xx, 2. Looking through the pipework for one of the Parsons steam turbine generators, an interior view of the turbine hall at London Transport's Lots Road power station alongside the River Thames in Chelsea, looking towards the western end of the building. April 1970. 1970/04/xx, 3. Seen from the gantries in front of the boilers, looking down into the turbine hall from the western end of Lots Road power station. This was one of several generating stations owned by London Transport to power the underground system. In common with many installations of this sort, the whole place was kept clean and smart. This power station, along with the others has now gone and power is taken from the National Grid for the London Underground. April 1970. 1972/07/16, 3. During the tour to celebrate 50 years of the Met Electics, No. 5 1966/12/30. It's not only the railway scene that has changed tremendously over the last 40 or so years, the roads have moved on a bit as well! Here, London Transport Guy single-decker No. GS57 is about to turn into the station forecourt at Rickmansworth whilst working route 309 to Chorley Wood. Remember non-international signs and traffic lights on black and white poles? Behind the bus is a Morris Minor, whilst across the road a Triumph Herald follows (possibly) an Austin Cambridge, a couple of interesting looking lorries complete the scene. Friday 30th December 1966. 1968/05/xx, 1. LT 0-6-0PT No. L94 has arrived at the tip at Croxley with the spoil train from Neasden and the driver walks round to examine the engine before shunting operations commenced. Usually the full wagons were left at the tip to be unloaded by one of the steam cranes, and the engine took an empty set back to Neasden. May 1968. 1968/05/xx, 4. The crew of LT 0-6-0PT No. L94 offered to take me all the way to Neasden on the footplate, but sadly I had to turn the offer down as my motorbike was at the tip at Croxley, Accordingly, I got down from the engine after it had propelled its train out of the tip and was deposited on the trackside adjacent to the third rail! L94 now sets off towards Neasden at Watford South Junction, the points for the tip (just visible on the other side of the bridge) having been reset. May 1968. 1971/06/06, 3. Watched by the crowd of onlookers, LT 0-6-0PT No. L90 (ex-GWR & BR No. 7760) trundles through the yard at Neasden depot with a demonstration engineering train during the celebrations to mark the end of steam on the underground on Sunday 6th June 1971. The engine was later preserved at the Great Central Railway, Loughborough. 1971/06/06, 2. Metropolitan Railway Electric loco No. 12 1971/06/06, 5. Metropolitan Railway Electric loco No. 12 1970/03/xx, 3. An unidentified LT Electric Sleet Locomotive (ESL) is presumably keeping the conductor rails clear as it heads north along the down fast of the Metropolitan line just south of Northwood station, after a snowfall in March 1970. 1971/06/06, 4. De-icing unit (Electric Sleet Locomtive) Nos. ESL118A & 118B is made up of two former 1967/02/10. Taken on a dull day from a passing train, this is not the best quality of shots, but about all I have that shows one of the LT ex-GWR 0-6-0PTs, No. L95, standing at the coaling stage at Neasden depot, in front of the old power station before it was demolished. Friday 10th February 1967. 1969/09/xx, 3. A Metropolitan Line train of A62 stock (Nos. 5138, 6138, 6139 & 5139 are the first four cars) comes under the bridge on the approach to Harrow-on-the-Hill station en route from Baker Street to Watford. It is about to pass a wondrous platelayer's trolley on its own short section of track! September 1969. 1971/02/xx, 1. A District Line train of wonderfully mixed stock (Q38 Trailers and Q27 {ex-K Stock} Driving Motors) arrives at Wimbledon station during February 1971. A

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]]> Tue Sep 26 2006 Mexico http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1035901.html As may be seen from some of the pictures in my "Personal & Work" collection, I was lucky enough to be in Mexico for six weeks filming with the England Football Squad during "Mexico '86" for ITV Sport. I managed a few days off here and there and got a few pictures on the railways. Here are a few to start with - my knowledge of American diesels is sketchy, so if anyone can confirm or correct any of the captions, I would be most grateful... Saturday 29 July 2006: As may be seen from some of the pictures in my "Personal & Work" collection, I was lucky enough to be in Mexico for six weeks filming with the England Football Squad during "Mexico '86" for ITV Sport. I managed a few days off here and there and got a few pictures on the railways. Here are a few to start with - my knowledge of American diesels is sketchy, so if anyone can confirm or correct any of the captions, I would be most grateful...

1986/06/27, 4. Nacionales de Mexico Bo-Bo diesels Nos. 9123 & 9159 (9123 is a General Electric U23B built 1975) run light engines towards the main terminal station in Mexico City, while a freight train disappears in the distance having come off the branch line to the left. Friday 27th June 1986. 1986/06/27, 5. Nacionales de Mexico Bo-Bo diesels Nos. 9123 & 9159 (9123 is a General Electric U23B built 1975) run light engines towards the main terminal station in Mexico City, which is near the 1986/06/27, 7. NdeM No. 8824 (Electro-Motive 1973) Class DE34 Bo-Bo diesel propels a train of empty stock towards the main terminal station in Mexico City, as pedestrians wait to cross the unfenced track. Friday 27th June 1986. 1986/06/27, 1. This 0-4-2WT 1986/06/09, 01. NdeM Bo-Bo diesel No. 8567 stands in Monterrey station with Train 4, the 09:10 to San Luis via Saltillo (13:15) on which I had a cab ride to Saltillo, where arrival was at 12:34, some 40 minutes early! Monday 9th June 1986. 1986/06/09, 02. The 1986/06/27, 6. NdeM No. 8824 (Electro-Motive 1973) Class DE34 Bo-Bo diesel propels a train of empty stock towards the main terminal station in Mexico City, as pedestrians cross the unfenced track after its passage. Friday 27th June 1986. 1986/06/27, 2. Also plinthed in the square outside the main station in Mexico City was this Two-Truck Shay 0-4-4-0 TCC No. 2, built by Lima in 1887. According to the large notice attached to the engine, TCC was the Teziutlan Cooper Company. Friday 27th June 1986. 1986/06/27, 3. Inside the almost deserted terminal station in Mexico City was a haven of peace and tranquility compared to the frenetic city. Presumably, this was disturbed every so often by the arrival and departure of a train, but it looked as though they were few and far between! Friday 27th June 1986. 1986/06/09, 03. Seen through the cab-front door of No. 8567 at the head of Train 4, a passenger train arrives from the opposite direction at Monterrey station behind double-headed diesels Nos. 9215 and 9202. This was rather late arriving and delayed our scheduled 09:10 departure time until 09:30. Monday 9th June 1986. 1986/06/09, 04. View through the cab windscreen of 8567 at the head of Train 4 from Monterrey to Saltillo as it makes its way out of town alongside the highway in Monterrey. We are coming up to a level-crossing which appears to have no protective signals on either road or rail - just a free-for-all hope for the best! Monday 9th June 1986. 1986/06/09, 05. Seen from the cab of 8567 at the head of Train 4 from Monterrey to San Luis, a double-headed freight train comes the other way into Monterrey behind diesels of Class 8700, the lead engine being 8721. Monday 9th June 1986.

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]]> Sat Jul 29 2006 BR Scottish Region http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c1030111.html Pictures on former LMS and LNER lines in Scotland, including the East Coast Main Line north of Edinburgh. A few pictures to start with, more to be added as time permits. I made some early visits to Scotland with the RCTS in 1957 and 1960, plus some family holidays, all before I had a camera. I saw some wonderful things and have very happy memories, so I have been lucky enough to fill in some of those gaps with original slides from other photographers, some of whom are sadly now deceased. I'm very grateful that they took the shots! Much additional information about the engines themselves has come from this invaluable site: http://www.britishsteam.com/ Many Thanks! Sunday 23 July 2006: Pictures on former LMS and LNER lines in Scotland, including the East Coast Main Line north of Edinburgh. A few pictures to start with, more to be added as time permits. I made some early visits to Scotland with the RCTS in 1957 and 1960, plus some family holidays, all before I had a camera. I saw some wonderful things and have very happy memories, so I have been lucky enough to fill in some of those gaps with original slides from other photographers, some of whom are sadly now deceased. I'm very grateful that they took the shots! Much additional information about the engines themselves has come from this invaluable site: http://www.britishsteam.com/ Many Thanks!

1989/11/09, 2. Class 26/1 No. 26042 awaits the signal at Glasgow Queen Street station to return light engine up Cowlairs bank to Eastfield depot, 9th November 1989. 1989/11/09, 3. Class 47/7 No. 47709 1989/07/17, 2. Class 26/1 No. 26025 climbs away southwards from Montrose at Usan with the train of fertiliser wagons, bound for Dundee, 12:16, Monday 17th July 1989. 1989/07/17, 3. 47562 with a down ScotRail express from Edinburgh to Aberdeen passes the signalbox at Usan as it enters the single track section to Montrose, 13:27, Monday 17th July 1989. 1989/07/27. View from the train as Railfreight Class 47/0 No. 47114 rounds the bend on to the Tay Bridge with the 17:15 ScotRail Express from Edinburgh to Aberdeen, about to pass a southbound Sprinter coming off the bridge from Dundee. Thursday 27th July 1989. 1989/07/17, 1. Railfreight Class 26/1 No. 26025 shunts in the yard at Montrose with a trainload of fertiliser before setting off southwards towards Dundee. 10:11, Monday 17th July 1989. 1964/09/26, 5. 1991/05/08, 2. Class 26/1 Bo-Bo diesel No. 26046 sits in the sunshine outside Eastfield TMD in Glasgow on the late afternoon of Wednesday 8th May 1991. Keeping it company are Class 20's Nos. 20122 in Railfreight grey livery with red solebar and large BR logo and 20206 in BR Blue. Alongside is Class 26/0 26015, also in BR Blue. 1989/11/09, 4. Class 47/7 No. 47709 1989/11/09, 1. Class 26/1 No. 26042 sits at the bufferstops at Glasgow Queen Street having brought in the empty stock for the 18:03 ScotRail express to Inverness. This departed behind 47630, leaving 26042 to make its own way back to Eastfield depot. Thursday 9th November 1989. 1991/05/08, 1. Class 37/0 No. 37087 passes through Springburn station with a couple of newly refurbished Mk.II coaches in tow at 18:25 on the afternoon of Wednesday 8th May 1991. The engine was then in Departmental all-over grey livery. 1988/09/28, 1. At 07:45 on a dismal morning, 37410 1988/09/28, 2. At 07:45 on a dismal morning, 37410 1964/09/26, 1. LNER A4 class 4-6-2 No. 60007 1964/09/26, 6. LNER A4 class 4-6-2 No. 60009 1964/09/26, 3. A4 60009 1968/08/21. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. The classic view of Oban station, overlooked by McCaig's Tower, with North British Type 2 Bo-Bo diesel No. D6119 about to depart with a train for Glasgow, with a rather interesting leading vehicle. These engines were built in 1959/60 and became Class 21, though this loco was one of the class re-engined with a more powerful Paxman power unit and re-classified Class 29. The class was not a success and all had been withdrawn by 1972. Wednesday 21st August 1968. Photographer unknown. Note the semaphore signals originally supplied by Stevens & Sons, complete with the Stevens Orb Finials, though the original lower quadrant arms have been replaced with newer upper quadrants. 1958/xx/xx, 4. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. LNER D40 Class 4-4-0 No. 62277 1964/03/07. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. Dundee MPD is host to various locos, ex-NBR 0-6-0s of LNER Class J37 Nos. 64602 and 64597 being prominent. On the left is BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T No. 80123, half hidden in the shed is a Pacific, most probably one of Dundee's own A2 Class engines, while on the right is V2 2-6-2 No. 60844. Saturday 7th March 1964. Photographer unknown. 1958/xx/xx, 2. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. Caledonian Railway 1958/xx/xx, 5. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. Drummond North British Railway 1964/09/26, 4. A4 60009 1991/05/08, 3. Class 26/1 Bo-Bo diesel No. 26046 sits in the sunshine outside Eastfield TMD in Glasgow on the late afternoon of Wednesday 8th May 1991. Keeping it company is Class 20 No. 20122 in Railfreight grey livery with red solebar and large BR logo. 1959/xx/xx, 1. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. LNER J36 0-6-0 No. 65300 was a member of a very long-lived class, originally introduced in 1888 by Holmes of the North British Railway. Several engines were shipped overseas during the First World War and were named appropriately when they returned. One of these, No. 65243 1959/xx/xx, 2. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. Sunshine, shadow and smoke at St. Margaret's MPD in Edinburgh. Ex-works LNER Class B1 No. 61244 1964/09/26, 2. LNER A4 class 4-6-2 No. 60007 has stopped at Hawick station on the Waverley route from Carlisle to Edinburgh with the RCTS 1958/xx/xx, 8. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. LMS Fowler 2P 4-4-0 No. 40621 was a member of the class introduced in 1928 as a development of the original Midland Railway 1912 built Johnson locos, with cut-down boiler mountings and 6' 9 1959/xx/xx, 3. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. Caledonian 1962/06/02. LNER D40 Class 4-4-0 No. 62277 was preserved as Great North of Scotland Railway No. 49 1958/xx/xx, 6. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. Caledonian 1958/xx/xx, 1. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. Two Caledonian Railway engines alongside each other at Forres in the summer of 1958. On the left in steam is Pickersgill 3P 4-4-0 No. 54473 class 1989/07/28. Class 26/0 No. 26005 shunts railfreight vans in the yard alongside Montrose station, much of this traffic being for the fertiliser depot. Friday 28th July 1989. 1958/xx/xx, 7. From the Geoff Plumb Collection of original slides. Caledonian Railway McIntosh 1958/xx/xx, 3. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. LNER D40 Class 4-4-0 No. 62277 1991/05/08, 4. Carrying large logo Railfreight grey livery, an unidentified Class 26 sits at the head of the breakdown train at Eastfield TMD in Glasgow, while on the right two Class 37s, in rather past its best InterCity Mainline livery, await their next duties. The front loco is 37404

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]]> Sun Jul 23 2006 Italy http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c986223.html I don't have much material from Italy, mainly because in the early days of my travels abroad it was a difficult country for railway photography. Much of what I have was taken during work trips ("Italia '90" World Cup & "Blind Date!") or family holidays - here are a few shots for starters - more to follow as usual! Friday 9 June 2006: I don't have much material from Italy, mainly because in the early days of my travels abroad it was a difficult country for railway photography. Much of what I have was taken during work trips ("Italia '90" World Cup & "Blind Date!") or family holidays - here are a few shots for starters - more to follow as usual!

Italy, Rome. 1990/07/10. FS (Ferrovie dello Stato - Italian State Railways) Class ETR 450 FIAT Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/18, 4. On the narrow gauge FdS system in Sardinia, on the line from Cagliari to Arbatax and Sorgono, there was a depot at Mandas Junction. Here there were several dumped steam engines in various states of dereliction, but also this treasure! 2-6-0T No. 43 Italy, Bologna. 1990/06/24. The symbol for the Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/18, 1. The narrow gauge FdS (Ferrovie della Sardegna -950mm gauge) had its own terminus in Cagliari at the Piazza de Republicca, which was just a small two road affair with a sort of shop front onto the square! The passenger service was operated by Fiat Railcars - the two coach unit on the right (in the new livery) has just arrived from the north, while the single unit on the left (ADe18 in the old livery) is the 09:51 departure for Laconi, on which I travelled as far as Mandas Junction. From there the line split with a branch north to Sorgono and a branch eastwards to Arbatax. Both these lines travel through very hilly terrain with many loops and tight curves, though I did not have time to travel beyond Mandas. Monday 18th June 1990. Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/07, 2. Another FS 740 Class 2-8-0 dumped in the yard at Cagliari was 740.151, in company with a delightful old clerestory roofed matchboard carriage, both having seen better days! There was also another 740 2-8-0 which looked as though it might see occasional use (on specials, perhaps?), but it was uncomfortably close to the yard office so I didn't photograph it. Having taken these shots, I then went to the Railway Police office on Cagliari station to ask permission to take photographs - it was promptly refused! I was allowed to take photos around the station, however... Thursday 7th June 1990. Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/18, 2. The FdS system's main works and depot was at Monserrato, just outside Cagliari, where there was also a small station. There were various dumped steam engines at the depot as well as several Bo-Bo diesels, one of which was in the station passing loop. It is No. LDe 600, built by Brown Boveri in 1957, seen from the passing Railcar. Monday 18th June 1990. Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/07, 1. FS 740 Class 2-8-0 No. 740.303 is out of use in the shed yard by the turntable at Cagliari depot, Sardinia. By this time the main lines from Cagliari to Sassari and Olbia were diesel operated as were the branches, but there were a few relics from the steam age! Thursday 7th June 1990. The electric catenary only reached a few kilometres from Cagliari and was not brought into use! Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/07, 3. FS 744 Class 2-8-2 No. 744.003 is plinthed in the main station concourse at Cagliari in Sardinia. The engine was built by Breda Milano, Works No. 2174/1927. Thursday 7th June 1990. Italy, Sardinia. 1990/06/18, 3. FdS Fiat Railcars pass at Mandas Junction station (not an architectural masterpiece, but at least it had a bar!), on the left heading for Cagliari and on the right is ADe18 with the 09:51 from Cagliari to Laconi on the Sorgono line. In the background is the loco depot where several steam engines were dumped as well as servicing of railcars. Monday 18th June 1990.

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]]> Fri Jun 9 2006 Isle of Wight and Isle of Man http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c938786.html Whilst a long way from each other, these islands have much in common, including some ancient relics running around their venerable transport systems! Both are delightful holiday destinations and their transport systems were geared for the tourist hordes! So it's back to the sixties again - pictures are either in chronological order - oldest first, or work from Ryde towards Ventnor and to Cowes. A few shots to start with, many more to be added! Thursday 27 April 2006: Whilst a long way from each other, these islands have much in common, including some ancient relics running around their venerable transport systems! Both are delightful holiday destinations and their transport systems were geared for the tourist hordes! So it's back to the sixties again - pictures are either in chronological order - oldest first, or work from Ryde towards Ventnor and to Cowes. A few shots to start with, many more to be added!

IoM. 1963/08/28, 09. Isle of Man Railway Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T No. 8 IoM. 1963/08/28, 10. Isle of Man Railway Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T No. 10 IoM. 1963/08/28, 11. Isle of Man Railway Beyer Peacock 2-4-0T No. 10 IoW. 01. 1969/07/xx. One of the delights of the islands was the sea crossing - short in the case of the Isle of Wight, but with luck you would get to sail on one of the paddle steamers which lasted until the end of the 1960's. One of the SR built paddle steamers PS IoW. 05. 1964/08/30, 1. Ex-LSWR O2 Class 0-4-4T No. W14 IoW. 06. 1964/08/30, 2. O2 Class 0-4-4T No. W24 IoM. 1963/08/28, 02. Isle of Man Railway Beyer, Peacock 2-4-0T No. 11 IoM. 1963/08/28, 01. The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company handled most of the sailings from the mainland, with regular routes from Liverpool and Heysham. Here, SS IoW. 02. 1969/07/xx. The line from Smallbrook Junction to Cowes was closed from 1966, together with the line from Shanklin to Ventnor, and the remains from Ryde to Shanklin electrified. In traditional fashion, however, the trains used were hardly new! Here, former LT 1925 built tube stock formed a train to Shanklin departing from Ryde Pier Head in July 1969. IoW. 17. 1964/08/31. 0-4-4T Class O2 No. W16 IoW. 08. 1964/08/30, 3. O2 Class 0P 0-4-4T No. W35 IoW. 04. 1964/09/03. O2 No. W31 IoW. 24. 1964/09/02. O2 Class 0-4-4T No. W21 IoW. 27. 1964/08/29. O2 class 0P 0-4-4T No. W22 IoW. 28. 1964/09/03. No. W22 IoW. 21. 1964/08/29, 2. O2 Class 0-4-4T No. W30 IoW. 20. 1964/08/29, 1. O2 No. W22 IoW. 22. 1964/08/29, 3. O2 0-4-4T No. W16 IoW. 23. 1964/08/29, 4. O2 No. W30 IoW. 19. 1962/09/07. Seen from a Ventnor to Ryde train entering Shanklin station, O2 Class 0-4-4T No. W36 IoW. 26. 1964/09/03, 2. The daily (Monday to Friday) goods train from Medina Wharf to Ryde St. John's Road crosses the River Medina bridge soon after passing through Newport station with its load of coal wagons. The train is hauled by O2 0-4-4T No. W35 IoW. 25. 1964/09/03, 1. O2 Class 0-4-4T No. W20 IoM. 1968/09/xx, 05. Isle of Man Railway Beyer, Peacock 2-4-0T No. 12 IoM. 1968/09/xx, 01. Isle of Man Railway Beyer, Peacock 2-4-0T No. 12 IoM. 1968/09/xx, 02. Isle of Man Railway Beyer, Peacock 2-4-0T No. 12 IoM. 1968/09/xx, 03. Isle of Man Railway Beyer, Peacock 2-4-0T No. 12 IoM. 1968/09/xx, 04. Isle of Man Railway Beyer, Peacock 2-4-0T No. 12 IoW. 13. 1964/08/30. Tankside of ex-LSWR IoW. 11. 1964/08/30. A couple of IoW. 12. 1964/08/30. IoW. 10. 1964/08/30. Seen from the station footbridge under the roadbridge across the station, IoW. 09. 1964/09/01. LSWR IoW. 07. 1964/09/02. LSWR IoW. 03. 1964/08/30. On a beautiful summer's afternoon, Ryde Pier Head station hosts the 15:28 departure for Ventnor with W14 IoW. 14. 1964/09/01. W14 IoW. 15. 1964/09/01. On the section between Ryde St. John's Road station and Smallbrook Junction, W28 IoW. 16. 1964/08/30. The fireman of No. W17 IoW. 18. 1964/09/02. 0-4-4T No. W18 IoM. 1968/09/xx, 07. Inside the engine shed at Douglas station on the Isle of Man Railway in September 1968. The railway had been closed a while earlier but was resurrected under the patronage of the Marquess of Ailsa. Working locos were repainted in IoM. 1963/08/28, 07. Snaefell Mountain Railway tram No. 4 descends from the summit and is now approaching the terminus at Laxey, alongside the Manx Electric Railway tracks. No. 4 was the sole remaining tram carrying the rather drab green and cream livery introduced in 1957, all the others carrying the replacement red livery similar to the MER trams. Wednesday 28th August 1963. IoM. 1963/08/28, 06. Snaefell Mountain Railway tram No. 6 has just departed from Laxey station for the ascent to the summit (2,036 feet above sea level), the centre rail of the Fell system (used for braking purposes) clearly visible. Unusually, the normal way of working here is right-hand running on the 3' 6 IoM. 1968/09/xx, 08. Isle of Man Railway Beyer, Peacock 2-4-0T No. 12 IoM. 1963/08/28, 03. Snaefell Mountain Railway tram No.2 at the lower station at Laxey, alongside the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas to Ramsey. The six trams of the SMR were built in 1895 by G. F. Milnes for the opening of the line and are still in service today, though No. 5 was rebuilt after a fire in 1970. The 3' 6 IoM. 1963/08/28, 04. Dating back to the opening of the Manx Electric Railway in 1893, G. F. Milnes built tram No. 1 sits alongside the depot at Laxey, between duties. This car and No. 2, built at the same time, still survive in service today! Wednesday 28th August 1963. IoM. 1963/08/28, 05. Manx Electric Railway tram No. 9 has a IoM. 1963/08/28, 08. SMR tram No. 4 was the last of the six on the line to carry the rather drab 1957 livery of green & cream, soon to carry the more attractive MER style livery. One of six built by G. F. Milnes in 1895 for the 3' 6 IoM. 1968/09/xx, 06. Isle of Man Railway Beyer, Peacock 2-4-0T No. 12 IoM. 1968/09/xx, 09. Manx Electric Railway tram No. 9, together with a IoM. 1968/09/xx, 10. The Ramsey terminus of the Manx Northern Railway had just closed for the second and final time on 6th September 1968 - it had previously been closed from November 1965 but reopened in 1967 under the patronage of the Marquess of Ailsa, alas without success. The station had originally opened in September 1879 and there was a branch to the dockside until the mid 1950s. In this view the track still looks used and some stock is scattered around the site, the whole approach controlled by a woundrous semaphore signal. The track was lifted in 1974 and the site is now covered by a supermarket.

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]]> Thu Apr 27 2006 BR London Midland Region http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c922444.html Pictures on the former LMS lines of England and Wales not having their own specific collections! Photos are in chronological order, oldest first. Plenty more to add in the future! This also includes some pictures on the old Great Central lines which were transferred from the Eastern Region not long before closure. Thursday 13 April 2006: Pictures on the former LMS lines of England and Wales not having their own specific collections! Photos are in chronological order, oldest first. Plenty more to add in the future! This also includes some pictures on the old Great Central lines which were transferred from the Eastern Region not long before closure.

2004/08/06. Freightliner 66606 takes the Walsall line at Bescot with 6F01, the 16:17 from Bescot Virtual Quarry to Stud Farm empty stone wagons, 15:55, Tuesday 8th June 2004. 1966/05/07, 20. LMS Stanier Class 4MT 2-6-4T No. 42616 stands at the head of an express passenger train from Birkenhead Woodside to Paddington which it worked as far as Chester where the train reversed and had more coaches added. It is facing the stygian depths of the tunnel which led towards Rock Ferry. Saturday 7th May 1966. 1966/05/07, 01. Stanier 1966/05/07, 02. 1966/05/07, 03. 1966/05/07, 04. LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48723 has just passed the LNWR Chester No. 2 signalbox as it makes its way from the station to the engine shed at Chester, with a wonderful array of semaphore signalling. Saturday 7th May 1966. 1963/08/29. Dinas Junction station on the erstwhile LNWR line from Menai Bridge to Afon Wen via Caernarfon was already closed as can be seen from the grass-grown platforms, and work seems to be going on around the signalbox and associated equipment. The 'box has lost its nameboard and the foreground signal has lost its control wires. Part of the platform has been repaved, apparently for a visit by the Royal Train a while before. The junction was with the Welsh Highland Railway and part of the trackbed from Caernarfon to Dinas has been used for the rebuilding of that line. Thursday 29th August 1963. 1963/05/11, 2. LNER B1 Class 4-6-0 No. 61004 1963/05/18, 2. Seen from the footplate of LMS 2-6-4T No. 42087, 1963/05/18, 4. LMS 1963/08/27, 4. Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41226 was one of those fitted with equipment for working 1966/05/07, 07. 1966/05/07, 05. Tucked away at the back of Chester MPD is 1966/05/07, 06. Utterly filthy BR Standard 7MT 1963/10/13, 1. LMS Hughes/Fowler Class 5 2-6-0 1964/05/09, 1. LMS Stanier 1964/05/09, 2. LMS Stanier 1968/06/01, 1. In June 1968 I took what turned out to be my last trip to see 1968/06/01, 2. 1963/05/11, 1. LNER B1 Class 4-6-0 No. 61004 1963/05/11, 4. LNER B1 Class 4-6-0 No. 61004 1963/08/27, 3. LMS 4F 0-6-0 No. 44504 alongside the MPD at Bangor with a brakevan in tow. The engine is fitted with a tender cab and its LMS chimney has been replaced by a BR standard version. It still has the old BR 1963/10/13, 5. All the fours! LMS 4F 0-6-0 No. 44444 meets its fate on the scrap road at Horwich Works amid the remains of fellow steam engines. The works themselves are now but a memory... Sunday 13th October 1963. 1963/05/18, 1. An LMS 4F 0-6-0 in an unusual state - clean! No. 44414 stands at Uppingham station with an RCTS special, 1963/05/18, 3. Seen from the footplate of 4-6-0 No. 45238, the setting sun adds a rosy glow to the sky as the 1966/05/07, 08. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92078 is in the usual BR standard state - filthy! It is standing alongside Chester station by a wonderful LNWR water column with a goods train and has just got the road from the signal on the gantry. Saturday 7th May 1966. 1962/04/14. LMS 2P 4-4-0 No. 40646 was the last survivor of its class and is here taking over an SLS Special at Luton Bute Street station from GNR 0-6-0ST No. 1247 (seen in the background left) which had brought the train from Hatfield. 40646 continued to Leighton Buzzard and then north along the WCML. Saturday 14th April 1962. 1965/12/04. Stanier 1963/08/27, 1. LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41234 is a Bangor (6H) engine and is shunting in the yard at Amlwch, terminus of the branch from Gaerwen on the main line to Holyhead in Anglesey, Tuesday 27th August 1963. 1963/08/27, 5. LMS Ivatt 2MT Class 2-6-2T No. 41226 is one of the class fitted with auto-train equipment for working 1963/08/27, 2. LMS Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41226 is one of the class fitted with auto-train equipment and is in charge of the two-coach auto-train working between Amlwch and Bangor. Having just arrived back at Amlwch from Bangor, it is leaving the station to take water in the yard, there being no water column on the platform. Tuesday 27th August 1963. 1964/08/01. A 4-Car DMU runs into the passing loop at Dolwyddelen station on the Conwy valley line from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog, with a train from Llandudno on Saturday 1st August 1964. 1963/10/13, 6. L & Y R 0-6-0ST No. 11368 (still carrying its LMS number) is one of the works shunters at Horwich Works on Sunday 13th October 1963. Introduced in 1891, this was an Aspinall rebuild of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Barton Wright Class 23 0-6-0, originally introduced in 1877. Photo taken during a visit by the RCTS 1963/10/13, 4. L & Y R 0-6-0ST No. 11324 (still carrying its LMS number) is one of the works shunters at Horwich Works on Sunday 13th October 1963. Introduced in 1891, this was an Aspinall rebuild of Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Barton Wright Class 23 0-6-0, originally introduced in 1877. Scrawled in chalk on the engine is the legend 1968/06/03, 2. LMS Stanier 1968/06/01, 4. LMS Stanier 1968/06/01, 3. LMS Stanier 1968/06/01, 5. 1963/10/13, 3. LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48343 is just ex-works and repainted in the yard at Horwich Works. It is carrying a 2B shedcode plate, at this stage Nuneaton MPD, but later Oxley (Wolverhampton) after BR regional boundary changes. Sunday 13th October 1963. Beyond is another unidentified 8F, also just out of the works. 1966/05/07, 15. LMS Hughes-Fowler 1966/05/07, 19. Carrying class 1 headcode lamps, Stanier 2-6-4T No. 42616 has just backed onto its train and the driver is supervising the coupling up to the coaches at Birkenhead Woodside station. This engine took the train, a through working to London Paddington, as far as Chester, where more coaches were added and the train reversed. Saturday 7th May 1966. 1965/11/02. Seen from the front of a DMU from Stoke-on-Trent to Macclesfield and Manchester, LMS 1967/12/27. A very wet, windy and cold Wigan Wallgate station looking west as an unidentified Class 25 heads north from Wigan North Western station with a train of mineral wagons. Below the embankment a Class 37 is lurking in the gloom. Wednesday 27th December 1967. 1966/09/24. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. LMS Hughes/Fowler 1966/08/28. From the Geoff Plumb collection of original slides. LMS 1963/10/13, 2. LMS 1967/08/23, 4. Grassington & Threshfield station would appear to be well-named in this shot! BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75015 has arrived at the terminus of the branch from Skipton via Embsay Junction with a pick-up goods train and is now in the process of running round, watched by my father Derek. The branch had closed to passengers on 22nd September 1930, though excursions ran until the 1960s. Goods services were withdrawn from 11th August 1969, though the line is still open to the Swinden limeworks at Rylstone. Friday 23rd August 1967. 1967/08/23, 6. 75015 has now run-round its brakevan in the platform at Grassington & Threshfield station and can now return to Skipton via Rylstone and Embsay Junction. It had left some wagons in the goods yard which is hidden behind the engine beyond the platform. The line had closed to passengers in 1930 but goods traffic lasted until 11th August 1969. After closure, the station was demolished and the site is now occupied by houses. Friday 23rd August 1967. 1988/10/09. BR Sulzer Type 2 No. D7561, later Class 25/2 No. 25211 on display in the upside yard at Bescot during the open day held there on Sunday 9th October 1988. The engine had been withdrawn from service in June 1986 and cosmetically restored, it was later scrapped at MC Metals in Glasgow in June 1995. 1963/10/13, 7. Horwich Works had its own internal narrow gauge system built to 18

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]]> Thu Apr 13 2006 North Wales Narrow Gauge Lines http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c921297.html Following several requests from visitors to the site, I have set up a new collection for these lines rather than include them with the Cambrian Coast Lines. Pictures are in alphabetical railway order, then chronological order, oldest first. Many more to be added as time permits! Wednesday 12 April 2006: Following several requests from visitors to the site, I have set up a new collection for these lines rather than include them with the Cambrian Coast Lines. Pictures are in alphabetical railway order, then chronological order, oldest first. Many more to be added as time permits!

Vale of Rheidol Railway. 1963/08/30, 2. GWR built Vale of Rheidol Railway 2-6-2T No. 8 Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway. 1963/08/31, 2. Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway Beyer, Peacock 0-6-0T No. 1 Vale of Rheidol Railway. 1963/08/30, 4. Vale of Rheidol Railway 2-6-2T No. 8 Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/26, 1. Ex-Penrhyn Railway Hunslet 1893 built 0-4-0ST Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/26, 8. The Ffestiniog Railway had been running from Porthmadog Harbour to Tan-y-Bwlch for some years by this time, but the section from there to Dduallt was still virtually untouched, almost as Talyllyn Railway. 1963/08/30, 2. Talyllyn Railway No. 2 Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/29, 1. Ffestiniog Railway Double Fairlie 0-4-4-0T No. 10 Vale of Rheidol Railway. 1963/08/30, 5. Vale of Rheidol Railway 2-6-2T No. 7 Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/29, 2. Ffestiniog Railway Double Fairlie 0-4-4-0T No. 10 Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/26, 5. FR George England 1863 0-4-0STT No. 2 Snowdon Mountain Railway. 1963/08/25. No. 4 Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/26, 2. Watched by my youngest brother Keith, FR Double-Fairlie 0-4-4-0T No. 10 Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/26, 4. Ex-Penrhyn Railway 0-4-0ST Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/04/20, 03. One of the George England 0-4-0STT engines is dumped in Glan-y-Mor yard on the seaward side of Boston Lodge works and shed across Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/11. Seen from the cliffs overlooking the Glaslyn estuary, Boston Lodge Works, running shed and Glan-y-Mor yard bask in the summer sunshine. The track running out of the picture bottom left led to the gunpowder store sheds and the coach on the left is derelict No. 10. The three-way stub point that had been part of the layout at Porthmadog Harbour station had been replaced and was now in the process of being relaid in Glan-y-Mor yard (this was part of my first volunteering work as a 15 year old - it took most of the two weeks I was there to relay the pointwork!). In the centre is the cab from Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/04/20, 04. FR George England 0-4-0STT No. 1 Talyllyn Railway. 1963/08/30, 1. Talyllyn Railway No. 2 Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/26, 7. Tan-y-Bwlch station as it used to be before platforms, fencing and a footbridge were constructed! Double-Fairlie No. 10 Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/13. The first of the new build coaches, No. 24, has just had its bogies fitted and is wheeled out of the erecting shop at Boston Lodge for the first time. It was finished in varnished teak livery and looks very smart. Thursday 13th August 1964. It was later renumbered No. 104 and is still running today. Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/07/30, 2. FR George England 0-4-0STT No. 2 Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/02, 1. By this time, sister Penrhyn Railway engine Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/02, 2. Ex-Penrhyn Railway 0-4-0STT Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/07/30, 3. Ex-Penrhyn Railway 0-4-0STT Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/02, 2. Ex-Penrhyn Railway 0-4-0STT Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/02, 3. FR Double-Fairlie 0-4-4-0T No. 10 Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/02, 4. FR Double-Fairlie 0-4-4-0T No. 10 Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/07/31. FR 0-4-0STT No. 2 Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/04. Ex-Penrhyn Railway 0-4-0STT Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/14, 3. FR Double-Fairlie 0-4-4-0T No. 10 Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/14, 2. FR Double-Fairlie 0-4-4-0T No. 10 Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/07/30, 1. George England 0-4-0STT No. 2 Ffestiniog Railway. 1964/08/14, 1. Double-Fairlie No. 10 Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/26, 6. FR Double-Fairlie No. 10 Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/29. The ex-Lynton & Barnstaple Railway coach that was rescued and rebuilt as a Buffet Car, No. 14 the Talyllyn Railway. 1963/08/30, 3. TR 0-4-0WT No. 2 Talyllyn Railway. 1963/08/30, 4. TR 0-4-0WT No. 2 Ffestiniog Railway. 1965/07/09, 1. Ex-Penrhyn Railway Hunslet 0-4-0STT Ffestiniog Railway. 1965/07/09, 2. Ex-Penrhyn Railway Hunslet 0-4-0STT Ffestiniog Railway. 1963/08/26, 3. George England 1863 0-4-0STT FR No. 1 Ffestiniog Railway. 1965/10/23. FR George England 0-4-0STT No. 2 Ffestiniog Railway. 1966/02/12, 1. The London Area Group (whose members were known as Ffestiniog Railway. 1966/02/12, 2. One of the delights of the working parties was the possibility of a Ffestiniog Railway. 1966/02/12, 3. One of the delights of the working parties was the possibility of a Snowdon Mountain Railway. 1964/07/31, 01. Snowdon Mountain Railway No. 5 Ffestiniog Railway. 1966/05/29, 1. Ex-Penrhyn Railway Hunslet 0-4-0ST Ffestiniog Railway. 1966/05/30, 1. The first Garratt locomotive built by Beyer, Peacock was No. K1, an 0-4-0 + 0-4-0 for the Tasmanian Government Railways North East Dundas Tramway. K1 and K2 were built in 1909 and unusually for Garratt locos were compounds with the cylinders on the inner end of the engines. This was at the insistence of the buyers, but was not replicated on any other Garratts. The line closed in 1929 and K1 was repatriated by Beyer, Peacock for their museum in 1947, later being sold on to the Ffestiniog Railway when Beyer, Peacock closed down. Here, the loco is on display at Porthmadog Harbour soon after arrival, it was later loaned to the National Railway Museum. It is now on the Welsh Highland Railway and has been restored to working order. Monday 30th May 1966. Ffestiniog Railway. 1966/05/29, 2. Ex-Penrhyn Railway Hunslet 0-4-0ST Ffestiniog Railway. 1966/05/29, 3. Ex-Penrhyn Railway Hunslet 0-4-0ST Ffestiniog Railway. 1966/05/30, 2. FR No. 2 Ffestiniog Railway. 1966/06/01. 0-4-0STT

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]]> Wed Apr 12 2006 01. New Additions! http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c900316.html Now that there are around 3,500 pictures in this gallery, it is becoming difficult for new additions to be found amongst the existing collections. In future, I will upload new pictures to this collection and leave them here for a few days before moving them to their relevant collections. I hope that makes sense! All other collections are mainly in alphabetical order below. When a new collection is added, it will become "03. xyz 123" for a while before taking its place in alphabetical order. The Wrexham & Shropshire collection has now been designated 02, as it seems to be a popular subject! Thursday 23 March 2006: Now that there are around 3,500 pictures in this gallery, it is becoming difficult for new additions to be found amongst the existing collections. In future, I will upload new pictures to this collection and leave them here for a few days before moving them to their relevant collections. I hope that makes sense! All other collections are mainly in alphabetical order below. When a new collection is added, it will become "03. xyz 123" for a while before taking its place in alphabetical order. The Wrexham & Shropshire collection has now been designated 02, as it seems to be a popular subject!

East Coast Main Line. 1962/08/04, 1. LNER East Coast Main Line. 1962/08/04, 2. LNER Isle of Wight. 1964/08/29. O2 class 0P 0-4-4T No. W22 Isle of Wight. 1964/09/01. O2 class 0-4-4T No. W22 Isle of Wight. 1964/08/31, 1. Working bunkerfirst back from Cowes with the 10:24 train to Ryde Pier Head, No. W22 Isle of Wight. 1964/08/31, 2. O2 No. W22 Chiltern & Cherwell Valley Lines. 2009/10/30, 2. Inside Chiltern's Aylesbury Maintenance Depot is 168 110 on the left, while 82301 is with the second set of Wrexham & Shropshire's newly refurbished coaches on the right of the picture. 12:36, Friday 30th October 2009. Photo taken with permission and under supervision. Thanks to Chiltern Railways staff for allowing this visit! Wrexham & Shropshire. 2009/10/30, 1. Inside Chiltern's Aylesbury Maintenance Depot is 165 015 on the left, while 82301 is with the second set of Wrexham & Shropshire's newly refurbished coaches on the right of the picture. 12:36, Friday 30th October 2009. Photo taken with permission and under supervision. Thanks to Chiltern Railways staff for allowing this visit! Wrexham & Shropshire. 2009/10/30, 2. Seen from the raised walkway inside Chiltern's Aylesbury Maintenance Depot, the First Class Restaurant car of Wrexham & Shropshire's second train of refurbished Mk. 3 coaches is in for attention prior to its launch into service. 12:37, Friday 30th October 2009. Photo taken with permission and under supervision. Wrexham & Shropshire. 2009/10/30, 3. 67012 Chiltern & Cherwell Valley Lines. 2009/10/30, 1. 66018 + 66087 cross over from the old Thame branch and into the platform at Princes Risborough before reversing towards Aylesbury with the Chiltern RHTT set, running as 3J73. 09:56, Friday 30th October 2009. Wrexham & Shropshire. 2009/10/30, 5. Seen between two Chiltern Turbo units, the second set of WSMR refurbished Mk.3 coaches is at the depot in Aylesbury for final adjustments before entering squadron service. 12:48, Friday 30th October 2009. Photo taken with permission and under supervision. Wrexham & Shropshire. 2009/10/30, 4. Seen from inside Chiltern's Aylesbury depot, 67012 Germany. 1971/02/12. DB 01.10 class 4-6-2 No. 012 052-7 had backed its empty stock into Rheine station earlier and now gets away in pouring rain to Münster as a DMU leaves alongside for Osnabrück. The light has just about run out as the afternoon draws on, Friday 12th February 1971. Germany. 1971/02/13. DB 2-8-2 No. 042 073-7 drifts south towards Rheine, heading out of the rain with a mixed freight, then opens up as it gets the road to pass through Rheine station. Saturday 13th February 1971. This is a colour picture by the way! Germany. 1971/02/14. There was the odd burst of sunshine during this trip! 012 063-4 arrived at Rheine with D734, the 11:02 departure from Norddeich to Münster and Köln, which it now takes out with a nice smoky start! Sunday 14th February 1971. Wrexham & Shropshire. 2009/11/04, 1. On Wednesday 4th November 2009, the 16:07 train from Shrewsbury to Marylebone, 1P33, was double-headed by 67015 Wrexham & Shropshire. 2009/11/04, 2. On Wednesday 4th November 2009, the 16:07 train from Shrewsbury to Marylebone, 1P33, was double-headed by 67015 Three Dimensional!. 2009/10/30, 2. Seen from inside Chiltern's Aylesbury depot, 67012 Three Dimensional! 2009/10/30, 1. 67012 South East Asia. Java. 1973/07/19, 2. PNKA DD52 class 2-8-8-0 Mallet No. DD52 03 is en route from Tjibatu toTasikmalaja with a short freight train - though there are plenty of passengers on board. The train has just arrived in the station at Malangbong, to be met by a crowd of people, now unloading or loading their goods. Thursday 19th July 1973. DD52 03 was built by Hanomag in 1923, works No. 10223. Isle of Wight. 1964/09/03, 2. W22 Isle of Wight. 1964/09/03, 3. No. W22 Isle of Wight. 1964/09/03, 1. O2 class 0-4-4T No. W20 BR Eastern & North Eastern Regions. 1967/07/67, 2. BR Standard Class 3MT 2-6-0 No. 77002 sits with other stored locos at Wakefield MPD as the weeds begin to grow around them. On the left is B1 Class 4-6-0 No. 61012

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]]> Thu Mar 23 2006 BR Eastern & North Eastern Regions http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c898405.html Pictures on the former LNER lines that became the Eastern & North Eastern Regions of British Railways - apart from the East Coast Main Lines and the Chiltern Lines! Photos are in chronological order, oldest first - many more to be added! Tuesday 21 March 2006: Pictures on the former LNER lines that became the Eastern & North Eastern Regions of British Railways - apart from the East Coast Main Lines and the Chiltern Lines! Photos are in chronological order, oldest first - many more to be added!

2005/04/21. 60014 2004/04/21. 60089 2004/06/25. 66223 at Milford Junction, Monk Fryston, with a Gascoigne Wood to Drax power station loaded coal train, Friday 25th June 2004. 2004/06/25. 66552 comes off the line from York at Milford Junction, Monk Fryston, and takes the Knottingley line with 6M25, Seaham to Earles Sidings empty cement tanks, Friday 25th June 2004. 2005/04/21. 66131 northbound at Colton South Junction, near York, with 6E05, Llanwern to Lackenby steel empties, Thursday 21st April 2005. 2006/03/19. Class 09/2 diesel shunter No. 09201 reverses a rake of ex-National Power coal hoppers into the down sidings at Milford Junction, 10:38, Sunday 19th March 2006. 2006/03/17. 66232 heads north through Sherburn-in-Elmet station with an empty MGR coal train, 13:08, Friday 17th March 2006. 1965/08/03, 2. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92097 (one of several fitted with air pumps to work the doors on the iron ore hopper wagons) sets off under the signal gantry at Tyne Dock with just a couple of brake vans in tow and heads towards Consett. Tuesday 3rd August 1965. 1965/08/65. J27 Class 0-6-0 No. 65804 brings a heavy coal train out of the sidings at Seghill Colliery and onto the Blyth & Tyne line across the level crossing, before heading towards Percy Main. Wednesday 4th August 1965. 1965/08/04. Ex-NER P3 Class 0-6-0 (LNER & BR Class J27) No. 65805 has steam to spare as it passes the level-crossing and enters the disused station at Hartley on the Blyth & Tyne line as it works a loaded coal train from Seghill to Blyth. A local bus on route 11a is held at the crossing for the train to pass. Wednesday 4th August 1965. 2004/06/15. GBRf Class 66/7 No. 66708 approaches Manea station under semaphore signals with 4L78, the 11:41 Selby to Felixstowe container train at 17:26 on Tuesday 15th June 2004. 170 398 is disappearing in the distance with a westbound working. 1979/07/xx. Class 47/0 No. 47004 in BR Blue livery with Stratford white roof, works a container train (mainly Ford cars) along the branch from Manningtree to Harwich approaching Mistley station on a lovely July day in 1979. 1962/04/08. Ex-GCR 1962/08/12. LNER O1 Class 2-8-0 No. 63663 simmers at Staveley GC MPD on Sunday 12th August 1962. This engine was one of the ex-GCR rebuilds from LNER Class O4 with a 100A boiler, commencing in 1944. 2004/04/10. Anglia liveried 150 227 departs from Somerleyton station under the control of semaphore signals and heads towards the swingbridge over the river en route to Norwich with a train from Lowestoft, 12:52, Saturday 10th April 2004. 1963/09/14, 6. BR Hunslet Class 05 204hp 0-6-0DM No. D2611 stands at Reedness Junction on The Isle of Axholme Light Railway (Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway & North Eastern Railway Joint line) on the branch south to Epworth and Haxey during an RCTS Brake Van Special which ran from Goole, Saturday 14th September 1963. Note the North Eastern Railway slotted-post signal on the left of the picture. 1963/09/14, 1. 61435 was the last surviving ex-NER 4-6-0 of Class B16/2, one of those rebuilt by Gresley from 1937 with outside Walschaerts' valve gear and cunjugate motion for the inside cylinder. Here, it is coming off shed at Goole for its next working, unfortunately, it did not survive for long enough to make it into preservation. Saturday 14th September 1963. 1963/09/14, 2. Seen from a passing Brake Van special, the last surviving NER 4-6-0 No. 61435 of Class B16/2 is coming off shed at Goole for its next duty. Considering it is the last of its class, someone has lavished a bit of care and attention on the engine as it is pretty clean. It does, however, seem to be missing its tail lamp! Saturday 14th September 1963. 1963/09/14, 4. Hunslet 204hp 0-6-0DM No. D2611 (BR Class 05) stands at Reedness Junction on the Isle of Axholme Light Railway (Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway and North Eastern Railway Joint line) with an RCTS Brake Van special which started from Goole. It is now about to run to Fockerby at the end of the branch, before returning and taking the other line south towards Haxey. Saturday 14th September 1963. D2611 was a member of the class built between 1955-61 and was withdrawn in December 1967, being sold to the NCB for further use at Yorkshire Main Colliery, finally being scrapped in December 1976. 2006/04/07, 1. GBRf 66712 comes across the swingbridge at Selby on the former ECML with 4L78, the 11:49 from Selby Potter Group to Felixstowe intermodal train at 11:56 on Friday 7th April 2006. 2006/04/06, 4. Hull Trains Class 222 passes the junction and approaches the station at Gilberdyke at speed under semaphore signals at 15:40 on Thursday 6th April 2006 with a working from King's Cross to Hull. 1963/09/14, 3. Seen from the leading brakevan of an RCTS special from Goole, Hunslet Class 05 204hp 0-6-0DM No. D2611 takes the branch from Marshland Junction onto the Isle of Axholme Light Railway (Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway & North Eastern Railway Joint Line) and heads for Reedness Junction. Note the NER milepost 9 (measured from Staddlethorpe Junction, now known as Gilberdyke) at the base of the signal post. Saturday 14th September 1963. 1963/09/14, 5. Seen from the cab of Hunslet Class 05 0-6-0DM No. D2611, participants in the RCTS brakevan special from Goole reboard the train at Reedness Junction, before heading down the branch to Fockerby. This was on the Isle of Axholme Light Railway, a Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway & North Eastern Railway Joint Line. The wagons in the sidings appear to be loaded, but don't look as though they have moved for a long time! Saturday 14th September 1963. 2006/04/06, 1. Freightliner 66613 comes under the ECML and approaches Heck Ings level-crossing with a loaded coal train bound for Drax power station at 12:23 on Thursday 6th April 2006. 2006/04/06, 2. 66207 has just passed Kellingley Colliery with westbound empty HAA coal hoppers heading towards Knottingley from either Drax or Eggborough power station. 13:41, Thursday 6th April 2006. 2006/04/06, 3. 156482 is working to Bridlington as it passes 158906 with a Hull to York train just east of Giberdyke station under semaphore signals. 15:20, Thursday 6th April 2006. 2006/04/07, 2. EWS 66239 crosses over at Colton South Junction at the head of 6D78, the 12:14 Redcar to Scunthorpe train of coke in HEA wagons. 15:20, Friday 7th April 2006. 1963/05/18. 1971/01/19. A single unidentified Class 20 Bo-Bo Type 1 diesel comes around the bend at Kirkham Abbey alongside the River Derwent with a Class 8 mixed goods train from Scarborough to York. Tuesday 19th January 1971. Esk Valley Line, 07. 1969/03/xx, 1. With steam making a comeback on the line from Whitby to Grosmont and Glaisdale, here are a few photos from the archives around that area. Ruswarp station on the Esk Valley line looking towards Whitby from the bridge over the River Esk, before the track was singled from Whitby to Grosmont. The signalbox was manned by Charlie Hart (aka Esk Valley Line, 08. 1969/03/xx, 2. A two-car Class 101 DMU in BR Blue livery departs from Ruswarp station with a train from Darlington and Middlesbrough to Whitby on the afternoon of a pleasant day in March 1969. When the line was later singled, the near platform was demolished, buildings, gas lighting et al. The station is, however, still open. Esk Valley Line, 10. 1969/03/xx. At Grosmont station the old signalbox was still in use between the lines on the left from Whitby and the fledgling North Yorkshire Moors Railway to the right, the original Esk Valley Line, 11. 2005/04/22. Grosmont as it is today! 156443 arrives with the 16:05 train from Whitby to Middlesbrough, squealing round the extremely sharp curve. The old signalbox stood about at the far end of the train, where there is now a new footbridge (hidden behind the train) into the car park in the old iron works on the left of the picture. Friday 22nd April 2005. Esk Valley Line, 02. 1975/07/xx. Having run-round its train outside the station, K1 2-6-0 No. 2005 then propelled it back into Whitby station and posed alongside the signalbox. When the railway was “rationalized” here, the signalbox was demolished and parts were used to build the new signalbox at Grosmont on the NYMR. The goods shed alongside the signalbox was also demolished and a supermarket was built on the site, leaving only one platform operational. St Mary's Church and the ruins of the Abbey can be seen perched on the East Cliff. July 1975. Esk Valley Line, 04. 1975/07/xx. LNER Class K1 2-6-0 No. 2005 ran a series of shuttle trains from Whitby to Battersby in July 1975. After returning to Whitby, the engine has run round its train which it is now propelling back into the station near Bog Hall. St Mary's church and the Abbey dominate the skyline on the east cliff, as they do to this day, but the area between the railway and the River Esk is now built up with a supermarket, car parks and a larger marina. July 1975. The railway is now very basic at Whitby, though run-round facilities do still exist. Esk Valley Line, 03. 1979/04/xx. A rather smoky BR Blue DMU departs from Whitby with a working to Middlesbrough and Darlington in April 1979, the goods yard beyond the signalbox also still in use.. The platform from which the DMU is leaving is now truncated and has no track, just a single track serving the far right platform (out of picture, hidden by the DMU). The bay platforms, staff Esk Valley Line, 09. 1975/07/xx. K1 2-6-0 No. 2005 passes through Sleights station with a special from Whitby to Battersby in July 1975. The track was still double from Whitby to Sleights, but had already been singled from Sleights to Grosmont. The goods yard was still in use for coal traffic at this time. The line has since been singled and the near platform taken out of use. The building on this platform was removed and re-used at Grosmont where it is now the Booking Office. The station building survives as a private house and the signalbox still stands, though derelict. 1971/09/30, 1. A two-car DMU heads south along the coast near Blackhall colliery with a train from Sunderland to Hartlepool and Middlesbrough on the glorious sunny afternoon of Thursday 30th September 1971. In the distance, note the overhead bucket-line carrying colliery waste to be dumped straight into the North Sea! 1971/09/30, 2. Class 37 EE Type 3 Co-Co No. 6758 (37058) heads south along the coast line between Seaham and Hartlepool near Blackhall Colliery working as 9J78 with just a brakevan in tow. Thursday 30th September 1971. 1971/09/30, 3. Class 37 EE Type 3 Co-Co No. 6758 (37058) heads south along the coast line between Seaham and Hartlepool near Blackhall Colliery working as 9J78 with just a brakevan in tow. Thursday 30th September 1971. 1971/09/30, 4. Class 37 EE Type 3 Co-Co No. 6758 (37058) reappears, now heading north along the coast line between Hartlepool and Seaham near Blackhall Colliery, still working as 9J78 but now with 24 full coal hoppers in tow. Thursday 30th September 1971. 1971/08/31, 04. New Holland Pier was a wonderful anachronism in the 1970's! A two-car DMU is just leaving, presumably for Grimsby, having just connected with one of the ex-LNER paddle steamers that sailed the ferry service to Hull across the Humber estuary. The lower quadrant semaphore signals are Great Central Railway and the swan-necked lights were probably gas originally. A wagon of coal stands at the buffer stops, waiting for its load to be transferred to one of the steamers. All this came to an end with the opening of the Humber Bridge, when the service ceased. Tuesday 31st August 1971. 1971/08/31, 07. Having started from New Holland Pier, a two-car DMU now sets off from New Holland Town and crosses the level-crossing before joining the branch from Barton on Humber to Ulceby Junction and on to Grimsby. Tuesday 31st August 1971. 1971/08/31, 10. One of the LNER built paddle steamers which sailed the ferry service from Hull to New Holland Pier across the Humber estuary, departing from Hull with another load of passengers and cars on the afternoon of Tuesday 31st August 1971. This vessel, PS 1971/08/31, 12. Ship's bell aboard PS 1977/04/28, 1. A DMU in BR Blue livery sets off from Seamer station with a train from York to Scarborough across the level-crossing. The signal has already been returned to 1977/04/28, 2. View of Seamer station on the line from York to Scarborough, looking towards Scarborough. The original signalbox at Seamer East had been replaced by a later structure, but the original still stood. Both have now been replaced during re-signalling. The station was an island platform. Thursday 28th April 1977. 1977/04/28, 3. A 4-Car DMU arrives at Hunmanby station on the Hull to Scarborough line with a train from Hull to Huddersfield, passing the traditional gated level-crossing and approaching the NER signalbox. It looks like some of the passengers have arrived only just in time! Thursday 28th April 1977. 1977/06/11, 2. EM1 Class 76 Bo-Bo 1500v DC electric No. 76046 heads east towards Woodhead Tunnel alongside Torside Reservoir with a train of 16 ton mineral wagons and hoppers, some of which seem to be loaded with scrap. Saturday 11th June 1977. 1977/06/11, 1. EM1 Class 76 Bo-Bo 1500v DC electric No. 76046 heads east towards Woodhead Tunnel alongside Torside Reservoir with a train of 16 ton mineral wagons (some newly repainted) and 21 ton hoppers, some of which seem to be loaded with scrap. Saturday 11th June 1977.

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]]> Tue Mar 21 2006 Personal & Work! http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c879634.html Whilst working recently with a former colleague from London Weekend Television, she suggested that I should put some stuff on the site with regard to my personal history and working assignments, so here are a few shots for starters... Saturday 4 March 2006: Whilst working recently with a former colleague from London Weekend Television, she suggested that I should put some stuff on the site with regard to my personal history and working assignments, so here are a few shots for starters...

1996/07/xx. 10000 feet over Blackpool with the RAF Falcons parachute display team in the open back of a Hercules aircraft. 1986/06/18. LWT PSC (Portable Single Camera) Crew 3, Sound Recordist Ian O'Donoghue on the left and Cameraman Geoff Plumb on the right, team up with England's Gary Lineker on the pitch at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City prior to the match against Paraguay during the World Cup tournament in Mexico 1986. Wednesday 18th June 1986. England won 3-0! 1953/04/25. I've been at this game a long time now! Four year old Geoff Plumb in the cab of Midland Railway 1P 0-4-4T No. 58077 at Wirksworth station during the SLS/MLS 1955/09/25. 2 ex-North London Railway 0-6-0T's are at the head of a special train organized by 1955? LMS 1999/09/xx, 1. The rigours of working on location! 1997/06/xx. The Blind Date camera has been set up for a 1999/09/xx, 2. In view of the impending new rules concerning 1997/09/13. Unusual crew transport to cross the river from the Chitwan National Park in Nepal at the start of our journey back to Kathmandu. Having originally crossed the river in dug-out canoes as seen in the background, we thought elephants would be preferable! This was the 1998/11/25. 1997/08/22, 1. During a break in filming for 1990/07/04. Prior to the World Cup match in Turin on 4th July 1990, between England & Germany, yours truly & camera behind one of the goals. Photo taken by the German cameraman operating the camera alongside me. England lost 4-5 after a penalty shoot-out and 1999/07/xx. On location for 1956/xx/xx. Family holiday in the Isle of Wight, Summer 1956. My brother Barry on the left, I am in the centre and my sister Gwyneth on the right. We are posing for my father in front of ex-LB&SCR E1 Class 0-6-0T No. W2 2006/04/21. On location for 1956/07/12. FR George England 0-4-0STT No. 2 1986/06/11, 1. LWT PSC Crew 3, left to right, Geoff Plumb (Cameraman) & Ian O'Donoghue (Sound Recordist), together with Sport Reporter Jim Rosenthal and Lighting Electrician Billy Wilson, prepare for another World Cup Match at Monterrey stadium during the first stages of the Mexico '86 tournament prior to one of England's games. June 1986. The caption referred to a remark made by another member of the ITV Sport team later on in the event! 2004/09/10. On location for 1986/06/22. It looks as though my eyes are in need of a rest prior to the match between England and Argentina in the Azteca Stadium during the World Cup Mexico '86. Argentina went on to win the match 2-1, thanks to Maradona's 2006/06/30, 1. Setting up a camera position 95 feet or so above Hawley Lake in a 2006/06/30, 2. The view looking straight down from the 1997/07/24. Octogenarian 1997/08/06. 1998/11/27. Nana was one half of a 1974/01/xx. Taken at Windsor Racecourse during the de-rig after a Horse-Racing Outside Broadcast (LWT for ITV Sport) in January 1974. L to R: Ron Gristwood (Links Rigger-Driver), Eric Gibb (Links Rigger-Driver), Ken Manning (Senior Cameraman, Camera Crew 4), Dave Lowe (OB Rigger-Driver) behind the camera (EMI 2001!) and Geoff Plumb (Camera Crew 4). 1956/xx/xx. Whilst spending a day by the Lickey Incline we made a visit to the Church Yard in Bromsgrove where the crew of a Norris 4-2-0 banking engine were buried after an accident in which the boiler of their engine exploded in November 1840. On the right by one of the grave stones is my brother Barry, while I am standing next to the left hand stone. Date unknown, but mid-1950's. 1986/06/11, 2. A bit of role reversal here - I'm on the pitch in the stadium at Monterrey, while Gary Stevens of Tottenham Hotspur and England operates the camera... During the warm-up prior to one of England's games in the first round of Mexico '86, not that much warming-up was required as the temperature was well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit! June 1986. 1997/08/22, 2. Whose turn is it to take a photo now? On location for 2000/06/16. Sunlight streams down from the entrance to Alum Pot some 150 feet above, from where I have just been lowered, complete with camera and equipment, on the end of a rope tied to a tree! This was whilst filming for 1970/05/06. 21 year old Geoff Plumb (I was a bit eccentric even in those days!) during my first trip to Germany in search of steam, and I had a wonderful time! I had arrived in Tübingen on board an Ürdingen railbus (like the one in the background) from Horb and the driver offered to take me and a German enthusiast to the loco depot on the ECS working. The Lokleitung (depot foreman) gave us permission to take photos at the depot and here I am posing in front of 2-6-2T No. 064 250-4. Wednesday 6th May 1970. 1967/06/xx. Until I was sixteen years old, I had to get to locations for photography either by walking, bicycle, public transport or prevail upon my father for a lift. I then learnt to ride a motorbike (initially under 250cc until the driving test was passed). One of several motorbikes I owned over the years prior to moving onto cars was this 1955 Norton Dominator 99 600cc model, registration SNB384, in silver grey and maroon. Here it is parked on the lane by Watford South Junction, sometime in June 1967. Great fun! 1995. 1975/03/25. My wife-to-be Jackie by candle-light at the dinner table at our then home in Harrow, taken during dinner to celebrate my birthday, 25th March 1975! 1977/06/xx. My wife Jackie in the garden of her parents' house in Castleford during our holiday to celebrate our first wedding anniversary! June 1977. 2007/09/19, 3. As the old adage goes - never work with animals & children! On an assignment at Woburn Safari Park, the lemurs in their enclosure took a real shine to my waterproof jacket and proceeded to lick it within an inch of its life. At one stage as well as carrying the camera I had about five lemurs festooned about my person, making it rather difficult to film them! Wednesday 19th September 2007. Photo by Steve Mealing, sound recordist. 2007/09/19, 1. As the old adage goes - never work with animals & children! On an assignment at Woburn Safari Park, the lemurs in their enclosure took a real shine to my waterproof jacket and proceeded to lick it within an inch of its life. At one stage as well as carrying the camera I had about five lemurs festooned about my person, making it rather difficult to film them! Our young presenter waits for me to be able to frame a shot... Wednesday 19th September 2007. Photo by Steve Mealing, sound recordist. 2007/09/19, 2. As the old adage goes - never work with animals & children! On an assignment at Woburn Safari Park, the lemurs in their enclosure took a real shine to my waterproof jacket and proceeded to lick it within an inch of its life. At one stage as well as carrying the camera I had about five lemurs festooned about my person, making it rather difficult to film them! Wednesday 19th September 2007. Photo by Steve Mealing, sound recordist. 1965/06/13. This became my means of transport soon after my sixteenth birthday - an Ambassador 250cc Villiers 2T twin two-stroke motorbike which enabled me to get about independently and was used to get me to many locations photographed and seen on this site! Sunday 13th June 1965. 1965/05/08. As soon as I was turned sixteen years old, I started to borrow my sister's humble Honda 50, until I got a motorbike of my own. This meant I could get a little further afield independently and widen my horizons. Here, the bike is parked on a bridge just north of Gerrards Cross as a southbound Class 47 passes by with a Birmingham to Paddington express, Saturday 8th May 1965.

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]]> Sat Mar 4 2006 South East Asia http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c864566.html On another tour organized by David Thornhill of "World Steam", I was able to visit Java, Malaysia and Singapore in 1973, when there were some incredibly ancient steam locomotives still in use as well as more modern traction. Here are a few for starters - more will be added as time permits. As usual, the pictures are in alphabetical country order, then in chronological order. I was also able to grab a few stills shots whilst filming on board the "Eastern & Oriental Express" for LWT's "Blind Date" programme in 1998! Saturday 18 February 2006: On another tour organized by David Thornhill of "World Steam", I was able to visit Java, Malaysia and Singapore in 1973, when there were some incredibly ancient steam locomotives still in use as well as more modern traction. Here are a few for starters - more will be added as time permits. As usual, the pictures are in alphabetical country order, then in chronological order. I was also able to grab a few stills shots whilst filming on board the "Eastern & Oriental Express" for LWT's "Blind Date" programme in 1998!

Java. 1973/07/19, 4. PNKA DD52 Class 2-8-8-0 Mallet No. DD52 03 works a mixed goods train from Tjibatu to Tasikmalaja, approaching Tjipeundeuj in the mountains of south western Java on the afternoon of Thursday 19th July 1973. This engine was built by Hanomag in Germany in 1923. Java. 1973/07/21, 1. PNKA (Indonesian State Railways) Class CC50 2-6-6-0 Mallet No. CC50 06 pulling away from Purwokerto with the 09:00 mixed train to Prupuk in Central Java, Saturday 21st July 1973. This engine was built by Werkspoor of Amsterdam in 1928. Java. 1973/07/23, 2. PNKA (Indonesian State Railways) B52 Class 0-4-0 No. B52 02 with the 07:18 train from Kudus to Rembang, somewhere between Djuana and Rembang on the northern coast of Central Java. Some of the local kids play with the water buffaloes to keep cool! Monday, 23rd July 1973. This engine was one of a batch built by Hartmann in 1908. Java. 1973/07/24, 3. PNKA (Indonesian State Railways) Class B50 2-4-0 No. B50 11 at speed with the 14:15 train from Madiun to Slahung in southern East Java - the engine is an oil-burner and the fire is no longer confined to the firebox! Tuesday, 24th July 1973. This engine was one of a class of 14 built by Sharp Stewart between 1880 & 1885 - a mere 90 years old at the time of the picture! Java. 1973/08/01. PNKA (Indonesian State Railways) Class CC50 2-6-6-0 Mallet No. CC50 03 starts away from Tontang station with an early morning train from Kedungdjati to Ambarawa in mountainous Central Java, across a river flood plain. Wednesday, 1st August 1973. This engine was built by Werkspoor of Amsterdam in 1928. Malaysia. 1973/08/06, 7. KTM Malaysian Railways Co-Co diesel No. 201.04 “Bunga Melor”, looking resplendent in its new maroon paint at the head of the 08:30 train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, with a rake of immaculate chocolate & cream coaches in tow, arrives at a rather wet Kluang station. Monday 6th August 1973. These engines (known as “Bulldogs”) were named after Malaysian flowers. 20 locos from EE in 1957, 6 more in 1958. Singapore. 1973/08/05, 2. KTM Malaysian Railways green-liveried Co-Co EE 1957 diesel No. 201.20 “Bunga Tonking” approaches Singapore station with an impressive looking 15 coach train (including a TPO coach) in chocolate & cream livery, plus a van on the back. This was the 08:30 train from Kuala Lumpur. Sunday 5th August 1973. Malaysia. 1973/08/06, 1. The 08:00 train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur at Kluang, KTM No. 221.35 “Geliga” (221-class Co-Co, EE 1971) being in charge. It is in maroon livery, complete with gold “speed whisker”, as is the 201-class diesel 201.26 “Bunga Putri Malu” in the platform behind. The train gets away under the control of some wonderful signals! Monday 6th August 1973. 40 221-class delivered from EE in 1971, named after places in Malaysia. Malaysia. 1973/08/06, 4. North British built 3 cylinder 4-6-2 KTM No. 564.36 “Temerloh” . This was a member of a fairly modern class, several of which are plinthed around Malaysia these days. They were oil-burners and had rotary cam valve gear. Not much TLC has been shown towards this engine for some time though - it is absolutely filthy! It was being prepared to work a mixed train to Gemas at the small loco depot at Kluang, Monday 6th August 1973. Malaysia. 1973/08/06, 6. KTM 4-6-2 No. 564.36 Java. 1973/07/17, 1. PNKA (Perusahaan Negara Kereta Api - Indonesian State Railways) Class B51 2 cylinder compound 4-4-0 No. B51 35 (with the tender from B51 19) is prepared by its crew for a train from Tanahabang to Rankasbetung in West Java later the same day. 39 engines of this class were built by Hanomag, Hartmann & Werkspoor between 1900 and 1909, this engine being built by Werkspoor in 1907, Works No. 180. They were basically Prussian P4's scaled down to 3'6 Java. 1973/07/17, 4. PNKA C300 Class 0-6-0D No. C300 01 (270hp, one of twenty built by Karl Marx, Works Number 263002-021 in 1966) threads its way through the crowds thronging the tracks as it approaches Tanahabang station with a passenger train from Djakarta Kota. The railway was used as a general thoroughfare, with people just wandering around as well as living, working and conducting their businesses on the tracks. When a train came along they just upped sticks for a while and then returned after its passing! Tuesday 17th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/17, 5. In a scene almost incomprehensible in today's climate of Health & Safety awareness, life goes on in the yards at Tanahabang station, just south of Djakarta. Almost lost in the sea of people, a train from Rankasbetung is arriving behind B-B diesel No. BB300 16 (30 engines built by Krupp in 1958/59, works numbers 3727-3756) and has stopped in the yard. All the tracks see some use, but there is a sort of Java. 1973/07/17, 2. 4-6-4WT No. C27 35 billows a cloud of oily smoke over the environs of Tanahabang as it shunts classmate C27 10 around the yard at the depot, the imposing station allover roof in the background. Tuesday 17th July 1973. There were 39 Class C27 from SLM, Werkspoor and Armstrong Whitworth from 1916-1922. C27 10 built by SLM in 1916, C27 35 by Armstrong Whitworth in 1922. Thailand. 1998/11/25, 1. SRT (State Railway of Thailand) Co-Co diesel No. 4203 sits with classmate 4207 (?) in the loco sidings alongside Hua Lamphong station in Bangkok, Wednesday 25th November 1998. Thailand. 1998/11/25, 2. At Hua Lamphong station, Bangkok, with an SRT diesel at the head, the Java. 1973/07/17, 6. B51 class 4-4-0 No. B51 35 departs from Tanahabang station with a rather overloaded passenger train to Rankasbetung on the late afternoon of Tuesday 17th July 1973. The two coaches looked as though they might not last the length of the journey, so perhaps it was preferable to sit outside! Java. 1973/07/17, 3. 4-6-4WT No. C27 05 has just undergone a boiler washout at Tanahabang depot and is now having its boiler refilled via a rather evil-looking hosepipe! This engine was one of the original batch built by SLM, Winterthur, in 1916. Java. 1973/07/18, 1. 4-6-4WT No. C27 35 waits for its next duty just outside the overall roof at Tanahabang station on the morning of Wednesday 18th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/26. One of the remarkable 2-12-2T's of Class F10, No. F10 05, has just arrived at Malang with the 04:00 mixed train from Blitar and is now on the turntable (or is it the water table?) at the depot on the morning of Thursday 26th July 1973. This engine was built by Hanomag in 1913. Java. 1973/07/21, 2. This was the first sugar mill line we came across - the Kalibagor Mill at Sokaraja. This was the loco depot on the 700mm gauge system and locos Nos. 6 & 7 are on shed. Both are apparently in steam, but both have their dome covers removed (for maintenance?) and No. 7's valve gear is also stripped down! No. 7 was at some stage of its career named Java. 1973/07/21, 3. At the Kalibagor sugar mill loco depot in Sokaraja, the system's No. 6 Java. 1973/07/21, 5. Also in steam and minus its dome cover is Kalibagor No. 5, another Maffei built 0-8-0T (No. 3967/1920), on shed at Sokaraja. This engine later went to the mill at Sumberharjo. Saturday 21st July 1973. The engines here were oil-burners, whereas at many mills the engines burnt Java. 1973/07/21, 4. At the Kalibagor sugar mill loco depot in Sokaraja, the system's No. 6 Java. 1973/07/24, 2. PNKA Class B50 2-4-0 No. B50 11 trundles along the main street in Madiun with a mixed train for Slahung, adding somewhat to the already chaotic nature of the traffic, though the local population seem to take it in their stride! This was the 14:15 departure from the main station. Tuesday 24th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/24, 4. PNKA Sharp Stewart 2-4-0 No. B50 11 is at the head of the 14:15 mixed train from Madiun to Slahung and has stopped in the middle of nowhere with its fire no longer confined to the firebox! The engine was an oil-burner and it looks as though spilled oil has ignited where it shouldn't. The crew succeeded in extinguishing the flames and were soon on their way again! Tuesday 24th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/24, 1. Incredibly, this is the state of the boiler backhead and firehole door of an engine in steam and about to work a train! This is PNKA Sharp Stewart 2-4-0 No. B50 11, built in 1880 and an oil-burning engine. We were later offered a footplate ride, but strangely, everyone declined! Madiun, Tuesday 24th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/28, 4. PNKA 0-4-0Tr (Tram Engine) No. B12 21 was built by Beyer, Peacock, Works No. 2576/1884, in Manchester. It is carrying the blue livery of the Surabaja steam tram system and is here being re-fuelled with logs at Wonokromo Kota, the main depot on the system. The large roof in the background keeps the station in the shade! Saturday 28th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/28, 1. PNKA 0-4-0Tr No. B12 21 is working the Surabaja steam tram not far from the docks at Udjung. From here it ran through city streets and markets, then onto a central reservation and on to Wonokromo, then going out into the country at Karang Pilang. Saturday 28th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/28, 2. Beyer, Peacock built 0-4-0Tr (Works No. 2576/1884), PNKA No. B12 21 has stopped in one of the market places as it works its way from the docks at Udjung to Wonokromo Kota, mainly through the streets of Surabaja, working the steam tram. It may be a while before progress can resume! Saturday 28th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/28, 3. Beyer, Peacock built 0-4-0Tr (Works No. 2576/1884), PNKA No. B12 21 has stopped in one of the market places as it works its way from the docks at Udjung to Wonokromo Kota, mainly through the streets of Surabaja, working the steam tram. It may be a while before progress can resume! Saturday 28th July 1973. Malaysia. 1973/08/06, 5. North British built 3 cylinder 4-6-2 KTM No. 564.36 “Temerloh” . This was a member of a fairly modern class, several of which are plinthed around Malaysia these days. They were oil-burners and had rotary cam valve gear. Not much TLC has been shown towards this engine for some time though - it is absolutely filthy! It was being prepared to work a mixed train to Gemas at the small loco depot at Kluang, Monday 6th August 1973. Singapore. 1973/08/05, 1. General view inside the station at Singapore Keppel Road and the rake of coaches with a diesel shunter at the country end. The coaches had destination boards with “Singapore - Kuala Lumpur” on them. The shunter is a 151-class 0-6-0DE No. 151.12 and looks like a BR Class 08 with an extended cab back, in exotic orange livery. Nos. 151.01 – 151.20 were built by English Electric in 1947. Sunday 5th August 1973. Malaysia. 1973/08/06, 3. English Electric Malaysia. 1973/08/06, 2. North British built 3 cylinder 4-6-2 KTM No. 564.36 “Temerloh” . This was a member of a fairly modern class, several of which are plinthed around Malaysia these days. They were oil-burners and had rotary cam valve gear. Not much TLC has been shown towards this engine for some time though - it is absolutely filthy! It was being prepared to work a mixed train to Gemas at the small loco depot at Kluang, Monday 6th August 1973. Java. 1973/07/21. PNKA 2-8-2 No. D51 03, Hartmann No. 4131 of 1920, is working the 13:30 mixed train along the branch line from Kutoardjo to Purworedjo and has stopped here at Batoh station in southern Central Java. The loco is one of ten originally ordered for the Hedjaz Railway. Saturday 21st July 1973. Java. 1973/07/26, 2. PNKA Mallet 2-6-6-0T No. CC10 03 trundles along with its one coach train on the branch line from Klakah to Pasirian, near the southern coast of East Java. This was the 13:25 from Klakah, seen amongst the paddy fields. The loco was built by Hartmann in 1904, works No. 2859. Thursday 26th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/23, 1. PNKA Class B52 0-4-0 No. B52 02 is in charge of the 07:18 train from Kudus to Rembang in northern Central Java, soon after leaving Djuwana. The loco was built by Hartmann in 1908, works No. 3314. Monday 23rd July 1973. Java. 1973/07/26, 1. PNKA Mallet 2-6-6-0T No. CC10 03 trundles along south of Klakah with its one coach train on the branch line from Klakah to Lumadjang and Pasirian, near the southern coast of East Java. This was the 13:25 from Klakah, seen amongst the paddy fields. The loco was built by Hartmann in 1904, works No. 2859. Thursday 26th July 1973. In the background is a classic stratovolcano, Mount Lamongan, whose highest point is known as Gunung Tarub, 5,417 feet above sea level (1,651 metres). Java. 1973/07/20. PNKA Class D52 2-8-2 No. D52 019 does some shunting at Maos in the fading light on Friday 20th July 1973. The loco was working a mixed train along the south coast main line, presumably here dropping off some wagons for the branch to Tjilatjap. It looks like several of the local kids would like to be engine drivers when they grow up! This is a panning shot - the effect has been slightly enhanced in Photoshop! This engine was one of 100 built by Krupp in 1951, essentially a scaled down Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 41. Java. 1973/08/03. PNKA 4-4-0 No. B51 05 is in charge of the 03:45 train from Rankasbetung to Tanahabang - its two coach train rather overloaded! It is departing from Kebajoran station on Friday 3rd August 1973 with rather a lot of passengers and their baggage - quite how they got on the roof with all their stuff is something of a mystery! B51 05 was built by Hanomag in 1900, works No. 3362. Java. 1973/08/04. PNKA 4-6-4T No. C27 09 is in charge of the 03:45 train from Rankasbetung to Tanahabang which is formed of its usual incredibly battered rolling stock, here entering Kebajoran station to pass a diesel hauled freight going in the opposite direction. The train is, to say the least, somewhat full! Quite how all the baskets and other commodities as well as the passengers get on the roof - and stay there - is something of a mystery! Saturday 4th August 1973. C27 09 was built by SLM in 1916, works No. 2583. Java. 1973/07/19, 1. PNKA DD52 class 2-8-8-0 Mallet No. DD52 03 is en route from Tjibatu to Tasikmalaja with a short freight train - though there are plenty of passengers on board. Despite the apparent hard work, the train is just entering the station area at Malangbong, to be met by a crowd of people. Note the water buffalo grazing alongside the railway! Thursday 19th July 1973. DD52 03 was built by Hanomag in 1923, works No. 10223. Java. 1973/07/18, 2. PNKA 4-4-0 No. B51 24 is a two cylinder compound loco, one of the class built by Hartmann, No. 2899 of 1905. Other members of the class were also built by Hanomag and Werkspoor. The engine is in charge of a train which has arrived from Rankasbetung into the yard at Tanahabang where it stopped amongst the crowds of people wandering around, before proceeding the final few hundred yards into the station. Wednesday 18th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/18, 3. PNKA C300 Class 0-6-0D No. C300 19 (270hp, one of twenty built by Karl Marx, Works Numbers 263002-021 of 1966) threads its way through the crowds thronging the tracks as it shunts wagons in the yards near Tanahabang station, while 4-4-0 No. B51 24 has stopped with a passenger train from Rankasbetung, before proceeding into the station. The railway was used as a general thoroughfare, with people just wandering around as well as living, working and conducting their businesses on the tracks. When a train came along they just upped sticks for a while and then returned after its passing! Wednesday 18th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/18, 4. PNKA B51 class 4-4-0 No. B51 24 had arrived a short while earlier with its ramshackle train from Rankasbetung and stopped in the yards near Tanahabang station while some passengers unloaded their produce to sell to the many residents who lived on and around the tracks. It is now making progress gingerly towards the station to complete its journey, while diesel C300 19 continues to try and shunt wagons on the left. Wednesday 18th July 1973. Java. 1973/07/19, 3. PNKA DD52 class 2-8-8-0 Mallet No. DD52 03 is en route from Tjibatu toTasikmalaja with a short freight train - though there are plenty of passengers on board. The train has just arrived in the station at Malangbong, to be met by a crowd of people, now unloading or loading their goods. Thursday 19th July 1973. DD52 03 was built by Hanomag in 1923, works No. 10223.

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]]> Sat Feb 18 2006 British Industrial Systems http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c853638.html As steam traction was run down on BR lines, so interest in industrial systems rose. There were many places around the country with a wealth of ancient and modern machines still hard at work in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Here are just a few to start with, the pictures are in chronological order, oldest first. Plenty more to be added! Tuesday 7 February 2006: As steam traction was run down on BR lines, so interest in industrial systems rose. There were many places around the country with a wealth of ancient and modern machines still hard at work in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Here are just a few to start with, the pictures are in chronological order, oldest first. Plenty more to be added!

1971/01/19, 1. Alongside the line from Leeds to Selby at Micklefield was Peckfield Colliery. Here, on the left is 0-6-0T (OC) NCB No. S.100 (Hudswell Clarke 1822/1949), while on the right Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) No. 3891/1965 propels some coal wagons towards the tip sidings on a cold but sunny winter's day, Tuesday 19th January 1971. The Hunslet saddle tank was originally built by Hudswell Clarke (No. 1763/1944) but was bought by Hunslet and rebuilt on the Gas Producer system and acquired a new identity! No. S.100 was also modified on this system and is now based at the Chasewater Railway. 1971/01/19, 2. A BR DMU with a train from Leeds to Hull via Selby is on the ex-NER line passing Peckfield signalbox and colliery at Micklefield. On the left in the colliery yard is 0-6-0T (OC) NCB No. S.100 (HC1822/1949), while on the right is Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) No. 3891/1965 (previously Hudswell Clarke No. 1763/1944). Tuesday 19th January 1971. Both engines were modified with the Gas Producer Combustion System and No. S.100 is now on the Chasewater Railway. 1971/01/19, 4. NCB 0-6-0T (OC) WHIT No. 4 (HC1844/1951) simmers in the winter sunshine after propelling a train of coal wagons from the colliery at Water Haigh, Woodlesford, Yorkshire, to the barge loading facility alongside the Aire & Calder canal. The bridge in the background carries the Midland main line from Sheffield to Leeds. Tuesday 19th January 1971. 1967/12/19, 1. NCB 0-6-0T (OC) WHIT No. 4 (Hudswell Clarke 1844/1951) looks newly repainted in its Yorkshire area Maroon livery as it stands in a sea of coal slurry at Water Haigh Colliery, Woodlesford, between duties on Tuesday 19th December 1967. This engine was one of several non-austerity types modified with the Gas Producer Combustion System. 1969/08/xx, 1. Ex-GWR/BR 57xx Class 0-6-0PT No. 7754 had been sold to the NCB for further use on the line from Abersychan & Talywain to Blaensychan Colliery in South Wales. It is on its way from Talywain with a train of empty wagons returning to the colliery along the steep, grassy track! Built by North British (24042/1930), the engine had been re-painted in bright green livery and carried the number NCB 7754. August 1969. 1969/08/xx, 2. Ex-GWR/BR 57xx Class 0-6-0PT No. 7754 had been sold to the NCB for further use on the line from Abersychan & Talywain to Blaensychan Colliery in South Wales. It is on its way from Talywain with a train of empty wagons returning to the colliery along the steep, grassy track! Built by North British (24042/1930), the engine had been re-painted in bright green livery and carried the number NCB 7754. August 1969. 1969/08/xx, 3. NCB Barclay 0-4-0ST (OC) 1969/06/xx, 03. A nice coincidence at Backworth station on the North Tyneside Loop line, as a DMU (in original green livery) on duty B5 gets ready to depart for Newcastle from the Whitley Bay direction as 0-6-0ST NCB No. 60 crosses over the bridge running light engine from West Allotment to Backworth Colliery. The North Tyneside Loop was electrified in LNER days but changed to diesel traction when the equipment became life-expired. It has since been re-electrified as part of the Tyneside Metro system. 2005/05/11. 66112 waits at Oxcroft Disposal Point as one of the site's shunters propels a rake of HAA hopper wagons under the loading plant, while another shunter is stabled in the foreground loop. 08:15, Wednesday 11th May 2005. 1971/01/19, 3. NCB 0-6-0T (OC) Whit No. 4 (HC1844/1951), in clean maroon livery poses in the winter sunshine with a tipper wagon on the line from Water Haigh Colliery to the staithes on the Aire & Calder canal near Woodlesford, at the point where the line crossed under the Normanton to Leeds main line. Tuesday 19th January 1971. 1971/01/19, 6. A very nicely kept maroon-liveried Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST (HE 2879/1943 - at some stage named 1965/08/03, 2. William Doxford & Sons Ltd. 0-4-0CT (OC) 1969/03/xx, 05. The foreground is dominated by United Automobile Services Bristol Lodekka bus No. 517 (Reg No. KHN 717D) on route 359 to Newcastle, while in the background 0-6-0T (OC) NCB No. 39 (Hudswell Clarke 1824/1949) shunts coal wagons across the level crossing near Eccles Colliery on the Backworth system, March 1969. 1969/03/xx, 10. 0-6-0ST (OC) NCB No. 58 shunts at the Weetslade Washery on the Burradon system. It is snowing heavily and is now settling, the engine crew have fitted their foul weather boards into the cab windows to try and keep the worst of it out! After all, work (and photography) must go on! March 1969. 1969/06/xx, 08. Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) NCB No. 48 (Hunslet 2864/1943) has just come across the level crossing over the BR Blyth & Tyne line (protected by signals) with a loaded coal train and is heading into the backshunt on the left of the picture from the exchange sidings with BR to the right of the picture. The line straight on goes to Fenwick Colliery which can just be seen in the distance above the rake of wagons in the sidings, where another engine is waiting. June 1969. 1962/08/10, 2. Seen from the West Gate bridge on Rockingham Road, Stewarts & Lloyds steelworks at Corby, alongside the former Midland main line. S&L 0-6-0ST No. 7 (Andrew Barclay No. 1268/1912) shunts some steel cauldron wagons, while in the background LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 No. 48285 is in the yard. Friday 10th August 1962. Originally sold to Easton Gibb & Son in 1912 and used in the construction of Rosyth Dockyard, S&L No. 7 was scrapped at Corby Works in 1968 1962/08/12. Staveley Iron Works near Chesterfield had its own internal rail system, but hired in motive power from the Midland Railway. It apparently had a 100 year contract, which rather outlasted the provision of Midland power, but did ensure some ancient engines survived! Here, Johnson 1969/06/xx, 02. NCB Wagons in the sidings at West Allotment on the line from Backworth to the staithes at Whitehill Point on the Tyne. The coal industry was something of a harsh environment! June 1969. 1965/08/03, 3. Barclay 0-6-0T 1963/08/07, 1. Not all industrial railway systems were in the 1969/03/xx, 02. Whoops!! Ex-LMS & BR Fowler 1969/03/xx, 04. Whoops!! 3. Ex-LMS & BR Fowler 1969/03/xx, 03. Whoops!! 2. Ex-LMS & BR Fowler 1968/06/01, 2. Ex-LMS & BR Fowler 1968/06/01, 1. Ex-LMS & BR Fowler 1968/06/01, 3. Ex-LMS & BR Fowler 1969/03/xx, 01. Ex-LMS & BR Fowler 1971/09/30. Sadly now dumped and out of use, NCB Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) stands alongside the BR coast line from Sunderland to Hartlepool and Middlesbrough at Blackhall Colliery. It is identified by the legend 1977/04/24. Lambton Hetton & Joicey Collieries Railway 0-6-2T No. 29 (Kitson 1904) speeds down the gradient from Ellerbeck summit towards Moorgates with 1967/12/19, 4. Inside the Winding-House at Water Haigh Colliery at Woodlesford in West Yorkshire, the whole interior so beautifully kept that visitors were required to remove their shoes! Only part of one half of the winding engine can be seen in this view, the steam chest for the left hand cylinder is prominent in the foreground, the actual cylinder is half out of the picture to the left. The other half of the two cylinder engine is out of picture to the right. The winding drum is highlighted by a shaft of sunlight on the right of the picture. The engine is working, as can be seen from the blurring of the valve motion painted red on the left of the picture. All this was swept away in the name of progress....Tuesday 19th December 1967. 1967/12/19, 2. NCB 0-6-0T (OC) WHIT No. 4 (Hudswell Clarke 1844/1951) looks newly repainted in its Yorkshire area Maroon livery as it stands in a sea of coal slurry at Water Haigh Colliery, Woodlesford, between duties on Tuesday 19th December 1967. This engine was one of several non-austerity types modified with the Gas Producer Combustion System. In the background is 0-6-0T (OC) No. S112 1967/12/19, 3. NCB 0-6-0T (OC) No. S.112 1969/06/xx, 04. A rare occurrence at Backworth it seems - the sun has come out! Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) NCB No. 54 stands on the level-crossing at Eccles Colliery before taking the line towards Fenwick Colliery. In the background are two more engines in the colliery yard. June 1969. 1969/03/xx, 08. Austerity 0-6-0ST IC NCB No. 59 (Vulcan Foundry 5300/1945) had presumably been transferred from the Philadelphia system (it has the cut-down cab for use on that line) and is here seen in front of a wondrous 1969/06/xx, 07. Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) NCB No. 48 (Hunslet 2864/1943) crossing the BR Blyth & Tyne line on the level from Eccles Colliery as it makes its way with a loaded coal train heading for the exchange sidings with BR. The signalbox controlling the crossing is just out of the picture to the left. June 1969. 1965/08/05, 3. 0-6-0ST OC Area No. 23 (Bowes Railway No. 12, Hawthorn Leslie 2719/1907) approaches the flat crossing of the Bowes Railway with the Tanfield branch of BR as it heads towards Marley Hill Colliery with a loaded train of coal, perhaps from Blackburn Fell Drift, Thursday 5th August 1965. From the point just behind the engine, this cutting is now filled in to the bridge in the background to form a car park for the present day Tanfield Railway. The flat crossing still exists, but only as a headshunt from Marley Hill engine shed. 1995/07/09. The NER Tanfield branch is now partially re-opened as the Tanfield Railway. Signalman Neville Whaler is outside the re-commissioned Marley Hill Crossing signalbox to receive the token from the crew of No. 20 1965/08/05, 2. Under a glorious summer sky, nicely clean 0-6-0ST IC Area No. 83 (Bowes Railway No. 20, Hunslet 3688/1948) takes water from the rudimentary facilities just outside Marley Hill engine shed (out of the picture to the left), while in the background gleaming in the sunshine is 0-6-0ST OC Area No. 23 (Bowes Railway No. 12, Hawthorn Leslie 2719/1907) shunting wagons in front of Marley Hill Colliery, Thursday 5th August 1965. This area is now the headquarters of the Tanfield Railway, based at Marley Hill engine shed. 1965/08/02, 2. Seaham Harbour Dock Co. Ltd No. 18, 0-4-0ST built by Lewin of Poole in 1863, Works No. 693, as an 0-4-0WT for the Londonderry Railway and later rebuilt. Here, it has been working at the lower level below the staithes at Seaham Harbour, and after standing for a while to build up boiler pressure it mounts an all out assault on Dogger Bank, the gradient back to the upper level! Monday 2nd August 1965. 1965/08/02, 3. Seaham Harbour Dock Co. Ltd No. 18, 0-4-0ST built by Lewin of Poole in 1863, Works No. 693, as an 0-4-0WT for the Londonderry Railway and later rebuilt. Here, it has been working at the lower level below the staithes at Seaham Harbour, and after standing for a while to build up boiler pressure it mounts an all out assault on Dogger Bank, the gradient back to the upper level! Monday 2nd August 1965. 1965/08/02, 4. Having made the trip up from the dock bottom to the higher level, Seaham Harbour No. 18 joins other engines at the shed. The engine was built by Lewin of Poole in 1863 as a 0-4-0WT for the Londonderry Railway, later being rebuilt as a 0-4-0ST OC. Due to its diminutive size (illustrated by the relative size of the fireman) it was able to work under the staithes at the lower level of the harbour. Monday 2nd August 1965. 1965/08/02, 5. Seaham Harbour Paddle Steam Tug 1965/08/03, 1. At the Pallion Shipyard of William Doxford & Sons Ltd. in Sunderland, one of the 0-4-0CT OC Crane Tanks, 1969/03/xx, 07. A rare beast indeed is NCB No. 41, the sole surviving Consett Iron Company's 0-6-0PT, built on the Stephenson 1969/06/xx, 06. 0-6-0ST (OC) NCB No. 47 (RSH 7849/1955) brings a train of ancient ex-NER wagons over the level crossing of the BR Blyth & Tyne line as it works from Fenwick Colliery towards Eccles Colliery on the Backworth system. The signal protecting the crossing has already been put back to danger. June 1969. 1969/06/xx, 09. Austerity 0-6-0ST (IC) NCB No. 6 (WB 2749/1944) passing Tyne Improvement Commission No. 9 signalbox at Whitehill Point, above the staithes on the north bank of the River Tyne, June 1969. 1963/09/21, 09. Barclay Fireless 0-4-0F No. 2373/1956 1963/09/21, 03. Barclay Fireless 0-4-0F No. 1561/1916 is coupled to the rudimentary steam re-charging equipment in order to replenish its steam reservoir whilst working at the Empire Paper Mills in north Kent. Saturday 21st September 1963. 1963/09/21, 08. Peckett 0-4-0ST No. 1950/1938 1963/09/21, 05. At the Empire Paper Mills in north Kent, Peckett 0-4-0ST No. 1880/1935 is bringing in a train from the exchange sidings with BR (judging from the length of the coupling chain and the distance between the buffers of the engine and the wagon, this was definitely

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]]> Tue Feb 7 2006 China, November 2002 http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c808429.html Subsequent to a message being left on this site asking "where is the Chinese steam?", I've made a start on adding it to the gallery! I was able to participate in the tour organized by "Steam in Paradise" for readers of "The Railway Magazine" in November 2002, and a very memorable and brilliant tour it was! Photos taken using Pentax Z-70 and MZ-6 SLR cameras with a variety of Pentax lenses on Kodachrome 200 slide film Wednesday 28 December 2005: Subsequent to a message being left on this site asking "where is the Chinese steam?", I've made a start on adding it to the gallery! I was able to participate in the tour organized by "Steam in Paradise" for readers of "The Railway Magazine" in November 2002, and a very memorable and brilliant tour it was! Photos taken using Pentax Z-70 and MZ-6 SLR cameras with a variety of Pentax lenses on Kodachrome 200 slide film

2002/11/04, 1. SY Class 2-8-2 No. SY1753 crosses the river bridge en route to the steel works at Chengde with a loaded coal train, 08:48, Monday 4th November 2002. 2002/11/04, 5. JS Class 2-8-2 No. JS6403 comes off the depot at Shuangtashan on the Chengde steelworks branch and opens its blow-down valves to clear sediment from its boiler water spaces, 14:20, Monday 4th November 2002. 2002/11/04, 8. 2-8-2 SY0872 crossing the river bridge with another train of coal for the Chengde Steelworks - the engines had to work quite hard with these heavy trains! 16:00, Monday 4th November 2002. 2002/11/05, 3. With one of the many blast furnaces towering in the distance, a loco servicing crew enjoy a joke as they go about their duties with 2-8-2 SY1568 at Anshan steelworks, Tuesday 5th November 2002. The railway system here used steam, diesel and electric traction (one of the diesels can be seen in the background). The steel works is vast, covering 37 square kilometres and employing around 200,000 people! 2002/11/06, 1. Sunrise at Daqing loco depot on the Tiefa coal-mining system. On the left SY1771 glints in the early sunshine as a fellow SY 2-8-2 goes off depot in the distance. The level-crossing had been closed for this move - it has now reopened to allow coal-miners on their bikes to head for the nearby pithead, 06:45, Wednesday 6th November 2002. 2002/11/07, 2. Sunrise at Daqing loco depot, Tiefa coal-mining system, 06:40, Thursday 7th November 2002. SY0860 is in the foreground, SY1769 in the background, both being prepared for work. 2002/11/07, 3. Dusk at Daqing loco depot on the Tiefa coal-mining system, and there is now a light covering of snow on the ground as SY1769 is prepared for its next duty. In the background, the steam crane used to coal the engines trundles along its siding. 16:45, Thursday 7th November 2002. 2002/11/04, 7. 2-8-2 SY0872 blackens the sky as it crosses the river bridge with another train of coal for the Chengde Steelworks. 15:59, Monday 4th November 2002. 2002/11/07, 4. At Diaobingshan station in Tiefa, the snow has been blowing around in flurries as SY1751 runs round its passenger train to form the 17:31 departure, Train 303, for the east line. Thursday 7th November 2002. 2002/11/12, 1. JiTong Railway 2-10-2s Nos. QJ6735 & QJ6763 slog their way up the line from Jing Peng to the summit at Shangdian with an eastbound freight train of around 2000 tonnes at 08:15 on the morning of Tuesday 12th November 2002, the temperature still well below freezing! 2002/11/13, 1. Double-headed QJ Class 2-10-2s Nos. QJ6876 & QJ6905 in charge of train 22844, the 04:00 freight from Daban to Haloukou cross the Galadesitai viaduct at Reshui at sunrise, 07:30 on Wednesday 13th November 2002 on the westbound climb of the Jing Peng Pass. 2002/11/09. JiTong Railway 2-10-2 QJ6631 sets off from Lindong with a westbound freight train to Daban, the famous Pagoda in the foreground, 10:20, Saturday 9th November 2002. 2002/11/11, 1. Driver's eye view from a QJ 2-10-2 as it blasts its way across Simingyi 2002/11/13, 2. QJs Nos. 6998 & 6630 are on the eastbound climb of the Jing Peng Pass at Simingyi 2002/11/15. JF1 Class 2-8-2 No. JF1 304 with the Mao Tse Tung (Maozedong) decorated headboard in the Beijing Railway Museum, Friday 15th November 2002. 2002/11/12, 2. A while later and the same train (QJs 6735 & 6763) rounds one of the loops and crosses the Brickworks viaduct in 2002/11/05, 1. SY Class 2-8-2 No. SY0835 is nicely bulled-up in the industrial environment of the huge steelworks at Anshan, dwarfed by the blast furnaces towering over it, Tuesday 5th November 2002. 2002/11/04, 4. 2-8-2 SY1753 working tenderfirst light engine comes off a short industrial branch off the line to Chengde steelworks near Shuangtashan, Monday 4th November 2002. The strange formation in the background is presumably an ancient volcanic plug, with a Pagoda built on top! 2002/11/13, 3. QJ Class 2-10-2s Nos. 7012 & 6878 battle their way the last few yards to the summit of the Jing Peng pass as they approach Shangdian's outer home signals, still going 2002/11/06, 2. Sunrise at Daqing loco depot on the Tiefa coal-mining system. On the right SY1771 glints in the early sunshine as a fellow SY 2-8-2 goes off depot in the distance. The level-crossing has been closed for this move - it is about to be reopened to allow coal-miners on their bikes to head for the nearby pithead, 06:45, Wednesday 6th November 2002. 2002/11/05, 2. Some wag asked if this was a Brush Type 4! SY Class 2-8-2 No. SY0902 has just been through works for an overhaul and is now in steam at the depot in Anshan Steelworks, while a member of staff makes sure everything is tidy. Tuesday 5th November 2002. 2002/11/04, 3. 2-8-2 No. SY1422 shunts cauldron wagons of molten metal at the Chengde Steelworks, Monday 4th November 2002. 2002/11/05, 4. The driver of 2-8-2 SY1566 watches as a fellow engineman polishes up the numberplate of SY0836 as they await their next turns of duty at the steam engine depot within Anshan Steelworks. Tuesday 5th November 2002. 2002/11/11, 2. The sun fights its way through the clouds and smoke to light up the boiler of 2-10-2 No. QJ6274, the lead engine of a pair at the head of an eastbound freight on the climb of the Jing Peng pass. Monday 11th November 2002. 2002/11/06, 3. While a member of the local population goes about his business aboard a horse-drawn cart, SY 2-8-2 SY0435 shunts in the yard at Dalong Colliery, alongside the triangular junction at Sanjiazi on the Tiefa system, Wednesday 6th November 2002. 2002/11/04, 2. Supershine SY Class 2-8-2 No. SY1522 stands in the yard at Shuangtashan on the Chengde steelworks line as a fellow SY No. 1753 passes it with a train off the local colliery branch line. Monday 4th November 2002. 2002/11/07, 1. Sunrise over Daqing depot on the Tiefa coal-mining system finds JS class 2-8-2 JS5029 simmering in the early light while SY0860 is being prepared for duty. The steam crane used for coaling the engines also awaits its next customer. Thursday 7th November 2002. 2002/11/04, 9. 2-8-2 SY0872 has crossed the river bridge with another train of coal for the Chengde Steelworks - the engines had to work quite hard with these heavy trains! 16:00, Monday 4th November 2002. 2002/11/04, 6. Lovingly polished-up JS Class 2-8-2 No. JS6403 comes off the depot at Shuangtashan on the Chengde steelworks branch to take up its next duty, catching a glint from the sun, 14:25, Monday 4th November 2002. 2002/11/11, 3. The afternoon sunshine creates lengthening shadows as a flock of sheep and goats are herded westwards across the frozen fields - in the background double-headed QJ class 2-10-2s Nos. 6638 & 6630 flog their way up the Jing Peng pass near Hadashan with an eastbound freight train, 16:15, Monday 11th November 2002.

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]]> Wed Dec 28 2005 Three Dimensional! http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/c807096.html No, you won't need special glasses to see this, though you might do afterwards... Tuesday 27 December 2005: No, you won't need special glasses to see this, though you might do afterwards...

2004/07/10. A pretty unremarkable portrait shot of SR 2006/01/05, 1. Chiltern 2006/01/05, 2. Chiltern 2006/01/24, 10:19. Network Rail Class 31 No. 31233 has just arrived at Acton Main Line station, topping and tailing with 31105, and is just about to reverse with 4Z07, 09:58 from Old Oak Common to Derby RTC Serco Test Train, 10:19, Tuesday 24th January 2006. The photos are a 2006/01/24, 10:14. Network Rail Class 31 No. 31105 has just arrived at Acton Main Line station, topping and tailing with 31233, and is just about to reverse with 4Z07, 09:58 from Old Oak Common to Derby RTC Serco Test Train, 10:14, Tuesday 24th January 2006. The photos are a 2006/01/24. 66117 has just reversed the empty MEA wagons onto the up main line after propelling them out of the LUL headshunt in the background, and is about to run round the train (6V73) before departing for Acton Yard. 16:32, Tuesday 24th January 2006. The photos are a 2006/02/27. LMS 2006/03/03. A very familiar scene - EWS 66060 sits in the loco holding sidings at Didcot Parkway station. 13:10, Friday 3rd March 2006. However, te photos are a 2006/03/14. Marylebone station with work going on at the right for the new platforms 5 & 6, the first one of which is due to be commissioned by May 2006. 08:38, Tuesday 14th March 2006. The photos are a 2006/03/18. LH&JCR 0-6-2T No.29 (Kitson 1904) sits in the platform at Pickering station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway having arrived with 2006/04/03. BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75029 awaits departure time at Grosmont station, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, with the 11:45 train to Pickering. Monday 3rd April 2006. The photos are a 2006/08/21. 66049 is stabled in the centre road at Bristol Temple Meads station with 6B99, the MO 12:26 St. Blazey to Cardiff Tidal scrap train consisting of 5 SSA wagons. Alongside is Virgin Voyager No. 220 010 about to depart for Newcastle at 17:58 on Monday 21st August 2006. The photos are a 2006/12/24. 66138 is topping & tailing a works train at Princes Risborough with 66177 on the other end. This was during the relaying of the crossover south of the station on Christmas Eve, Sunday 24th December 2006. Parts of the prefabricated new crossover can be seen in the foreground. The photos are a 2007/03/17. GWR 2007/06/02, 2. 2007/06/02, 3. 2007/06/02, 1. Mallet 0-4-4-0T 2007/06/16, 1. GWR 2007/06/16, 2. GWR 2007/08/18. Former rivals rub shoulders at the National Railway Museum in York on the morning of Saturday 18th August 2007. On the left is LMS Stanier 2008/02/21. 67016 sits in the up loop at Banbury station prior to departing as 5Z63, VSTP working to Hinksey Yard and return with the Wrexham, Shropshire & Marylebone crew training run with three coaches and 67017 on the rear of the train. Thursday 21st February 2008. The photos are a 2008/03/04. Having arrived in Platform 4 at Marylebone station, 67017 2008/04/11. Wrexham & Shropshire Railway Class 67 No. 67014, newly outshopped from Toton in its dedicated livery is stabled on one end of the crew training train in the sidings at Banbury station, together with a Civil Engineering self-propelled track machine. Friday 11th April 2008. The photos are a 2008/05/12. Wrexham & Shropshire liveried 67012 stands in the north bay platform at Banbury with 67025 2008/07/15. Wrexham & Shropshire. W&S liveried 67014 was the last of the four dedicated locos to be named and is seen here shortly after arrival from Crewe in the centre road at Wellington station, waiting to crossover and return into the up bay, where the ceremony was conducted a short while later. Tuesday 15th July 2008. The photos are a 1972/09/08. South Africa. At New Clydesdale Colliery, near Witbank, South Africa, this is an ex-SAR 4-8-0 engine from Class 1, No. 1248, built by North British in 1904. Here it gleams in the sunshine at the shed yard. Friday 8th September 1972. The photos are a 1971/09/13. Germany. Dumped in an old depot at Pieschen, Dresden, was former Saxon XVIII H, DR Class 18/0, 3 cylinder 4-6-2 No. 18 010, built in 1918 by Hartmann, one of a class of ten engines. Did it survive into preservation? Monday 13th September 1971. The photos are a 2009/03/30. GWR 56xx Class 0-6-2T No. 6619 at Grosmont station ready to depart with the 10:30 train to Pickering on a bright Monday morning, 30th March 2009. The photos are a 2009/06/16, 1. The starting signals at the south end of platform 7 at Shrewsbury are delightful GWR lower quadrants with short arms combined with spectacle plates - each arm is different! These are Severn Bridge Junction signalbox's signals No. 11, the box itself beyond the signals. The left hand arm is for departures towards Wolverhampton while the right hand arm is for the Hereford line. Tuesday 16th June 2009. The photos are a 2009/06/16, 2. W&S 67015 1968/04/xx, 1. Seen from the cab of dumped WD 2-8-0 No. 90642, a line-up of stored 1968/04/xx, 2. At Wakefield MPD, a dumped WD 2-8-0 is seen through the water tower from right alongside the tender of WD 2-8-0 No. 90642, while on the adjacent main line the signals are 2009/09/10, 1. I was privileged to be invited by WSMR to travel on board the test trains of the newly refurbished set of Mk. 3 coaching stock on Thursday 10th September 2009. This is the interior view of Standard class coach 12145, showing the high levels of comfort to which these coaches have been refitted. The photos are a 2009/09/10, 2. W&S newly refurbished Mk. 3 stock was undergoing testing on Thursday 10th September 2009. Interior view of the First class coach, showing the high levels of comfort to which these coaches have been refitted. The photos are a