Transport

Great Western Railway 57xx pannier tank 0-6-0PT 4612 climbs the final 100 metres into Bodmin General station arriving from Boscarne Junction. The combination of steep gradient and tight curve brought the loco down to walking pace as she was blasting her way up.

Up the Junction. In the darkness at 07.05 an unidentified TransPennine Express Class 185 diesel multiple unit takes 2J51, the 06.49 Huddersfield to Leeds service, off the ex-Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Calder Valley route at LNW Junction. It will shortly pass through Ravensthorpe station en route to Batley & Leeds. The London & North Western Railway disappeared almost a 100 years ago but the junction still carries its abbreviated name!

Two shots were stitched to create this image of the footplate of Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 as we coasted down the hill from Quorn. Bridge 340 and the Quorn Up Auto-Distant are visible through the cab window. If you really squint you can see the double yellow on the Down Auto-Distant. The only pressure gauge in view shows 10psi is going through the steam heating system.

I'm prepping in the rain, what a glorious feeling, I'm happy again... Our loco is on the right - Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 46521 - but the main subject is on the adjacent road - BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 92214.

On this beautiful January day I joined the Wednesday lineside clearance gang and we were chopping back the undergrowth south of Rothley Brook when a distinctive chime whistle was clearly heard. LNER A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado duly appeared light engine from Loughborough, stopped beyond the Down Home signal seen here, reversed and shot off back to Loughborough. We missed it the first time but on hearing it again I walked up to the loco and spoke to Dave the driver. It turned out they were Human Element testing the European Train Control System (ETCS) or is that ATMS - Advanced Train Management System now we are apparently no longer European?

It was pouring down with rain but the departure had to be recorded. This is the delayed 12.50 service with new-build LNER A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado on the front heading south out of Loughborough Central station & approaching Beeches Road bridge. Mark the morning fireman peers out of the cab looking to call the Section signal.

Burma Railways YD 2-8-2 967 leaves a smoke trail as its train rumbles across the river bridge heading northwards near Taungzun south of Kyaikto on the Moulmein branch.

The Shadow as seen from the footplate! Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 46521 heads south tender-first with the 13.00 diner. We were reduced to 5mph to cross over Bridge 348 and then stopped on the reservoir for 20 minutes to let the diners enjoy their meal with a view. HFF and have a great weekend. The fence is lost in the hedge so maybe that should be HHF!

New-build LNER A1 4-6-2 60163 Tornado really draws the crowds. The gallery (including me of course) lined up 3 deep to capture its departure from the Down Loop at Loughborough with the 11.50 goods train during the East Coast Main Line weekend