The Railway

Nikon D2Xs + Tokina SD 50-135mm f/2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

Pentax Optio S30.

Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D lens on a Nikon D700.

On board an old Two Car DMU at the East Somerset Railway. Photographed with a Nikon D700 and a Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D lens.

Photographed at the East Somerset Railway with a Nikon D700 and a Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D lens.

Photographed at the East Somerset Railway with a Nikon D700 and a Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D lens.

Photographed at the East Somerset Railway with a Nikon D700 and a Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D lens.

East Somerset Railway with a Nikon D700 and a Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D lens. See www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/No46447.aspx

East Somerset Railway with a Nikon D700 and a Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D lens.

Nikon D50 + 18-135mm Nikkor.

Steam engine at East Somerset railway. Nikon D2Xs + Nikkor 28mm f/3.5 AI lens.

I visited the East Somerset Railway near Cranmore in Somerset on 1st July, a hot day such as Edward Thomas immortalised in 'Adlestrop'. I reflected on what enables preserved railways such as this to thrive. Enthusiasm, of course - of volunteers and visitors alike. And the availability of locomotives and rolling stock, thanks to Dai Woodham at Barry not being in a rush to break up the scrapped BR locomotives. But - paradoxically perhaps - it is the motor car which makes preserved steam possible, for it often operates in the back of beyond, and is accessible only by private transport for all practical purposes. Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro and Tokina SD 50-135mm f/2.8 DX AT-X Pro lens.

I visited the East Somerset Railway near Cranmore in Somerset on 1st July, a hot day such as Edward Thomas immortalised in 'Adlestrop'. I reflected on what enables preserved railways such as this to thrive. Enthusiasm, of course - of volunteers and visitors alike. And the availability of locomotives and rolling stock, thanks to Dai Woodham at Barry not being in a rush to break up the scrapped BR locomotives. But - paradoxically perhaps - it is the motor car which makes preserved steam possible, for it often operates in the back of beyond, and is accessible only by private transport for all practical purposes. Nikon D2Xs and Tamron Di II SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR LD Aspherical (IF) lens.

For almost forty years these elegant machines have been plying the London to Bristol railway. Soon they will be superseded by new electrified trains. Canon EOS 30D with Canon 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 EF USM lens.

Bath, Somerset. Nikon D2Xs and Tamron Di II SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR LD Aspherical lens.

The numbers indicate the distance from this bridge to Paddington, the railway terminus, in this case 89 miles and 76 chains (there are 80 chains in a mile, 10 chains in a furlong, 8 furlongs in a mile, but the early railway engineers did not bother with measurements in furlongs). 'MLN' provides further information indicating the bridge is on the Great Western main line. Canon EOS 30D + Canon EF100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM lens.