Transport

Firing 70013 Oliver Cromwell on the East Coast Main Line.

British Railways Standard 4-6-2 70013 Oliver Cromwell at the head of its train at London Liverpool Street station awaits the off, destination Norwich. This was the first time I had taken a train from Liverpool Street since the 1980s and I was shocked by the Birmingham New Street gloom of the country end of the platforms. I knew the station had been rebuilt but the remaining splendid trainshed beyond fooled me into thinking it had not been too badly butchered. Greater Anglia DVT electric 82133 on the left looks more at home in this sterile environment than a Britannia. The wreath was carried in memory of Richard 'Dick' Hardy, a great railwayman, speaker, author and well-respected man who died the previous Sunday at the age of 93.

On the Saturday of the 2019 Winter Gala I was rostered fireman on visiting Great Western Railway Manor 4-6-0 7802 Bradley Manor. On our first trip we had double-headed with Modified Hall 6990 Witherslack Hall on the 09.00 train to Leicester but this shot was taken prior to our second trip, the 11.15, and we were waiting in the Down Loop in Loughborough as 6990 departed steamily out of the station with the 10.45 train.

The picture postcard scene at Mevagissey harbour.

Sunrise over Little Petherick Creek off the River Camel just east of Padstow. This attractive curving iron bridge was built by the North Cornwall Railway, later London and Southwestern Railway in 1899 when the line was extended from Wadebridge to Padstow. Padstow at the end of the “Withered Arm” was the final destination of the Atlantic Coast Express from London Waterloo but the line was closed completely in October 1966., It is now part of the Camel Trail foot and cycle path. HFF & have a great weekend.

Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge, built for the Cornwall Railway in 1859, spans the River Tamar separating Devon and Cornwall. A short four-car GWR Class 43 diesel HST - power car 43098 Walton Castle at the head and 43155 on the rear is just about to exit Cornwall with 2P17 the 13.50 Penzance to Plymouth service. The HSTs have been progressively withdrawn from the ECML and Midland routes but they are still very active in the southwest. HFF & have a great weekend everyone.

On its way from Lancaster to Seascale the Class 101 diesel multiple unit pauses by the signal box at Rothley! During the Railways at Work Gala the dmu ran a shuttle between Loughborough & Rothley. Here it was waiting to return north at 10.16 having just reversed at Rothley Brook.

Grand Central Trains Class 180 Adelante diesel multiple unit 180103 on 1A59 the 06.56 Bradford Interchange to London Kings Cross service bypasses Ravensthorpe station. It is taking the ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway route via Wakefield Kirkgate. HFF to everyone & have a great weekend.

It's all red lights for British Railways Standard 7 Pacific 70013 Oliver Cromwell at the head of the returning Cheshireman railtour in platform 1 of Sheffield Midland station after a stirring journey through the Peak District via Edale.