Transport

Ex-Chinese Railways JS 2-8-2 8173 curves out of the open cast pit at Sandaoling with its 13 wagon train of coal. I learnt recently that the last great steam show in the world is no more and all the coal from the pit is now transported to the washeries by truck. The end of an era

Great Western 2884 Class 2-8-0 3802 passes the water tank at the north end of the platform at Loughborough. You may have realised that most of my fence pics have a steam engine in view.... HFF and have a safe & peaceful weekend.

A reworked & re-cropped version of an earlier post. Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 43106 darkens the skies over Lancashire while filling its tender from the archaic looking water column. Her blower is hard on to lift the smoke & get up steam ready to depart the shed for the Severn Valley Railway at Bridgnorth and a new life in preservation. Stanier 8F Class No 48476 had its day of fame on 4th August double-heading 1L50, the RCTS 'End of Steam' tour with Standard 5 73069.

Sunrise over Loughborough loco shed with British Railways Standards 4MT 2-6-4T 80080 & 5 4-6-0 73156 in the shadows.

British Railways Standard 2 2-6-0 78018 backs away from its train at the north end of Loughborough station. We had just handed over to our relief crew. H (& Peaceful) FF. Have a great weekend.

Great Western Hall 4-6-0 4965 Rood Ashton Hall hauling Vintage Trains' "The City of York" special from Tyseley to York approaches, at speed, the Whetstone foot crossing between Blaby & Enderby, south of Leicester. 4965 was thought to be 4983 Albert Hall when it was first saved from Woodhams scrapyard in Barry South Wales. However during restoration it was discovered that Swindon had actually switched frames in 1962 so it reverted to its true identity again.

Taken from the Rue Voltaire overbridge the support crew are pulling coal forward while 140C231 and its support coach are at the platform with the splendid roof of Troyes station behind. This former Chemin de fer de l'État, and subsequently SNCF engine was built by North British in 1916. The engine is preserved by AJECTA who organised the steam special to Troyes. Starting at the Gare de l'Est in Paris it ran via Melun, Montereau and Flamboin-Gouaix.

PJKA ex-Deli Railway wood-burning 2-6-4T number 55, Werskpoor (468/1920) Netherlands, at Dolok Meranggir palm oil plantation, south east of Medan with a tank train. We were living in Medan at this time & I have to confess that the combination of the constant 30 degree heat, 98% humidity and the very poor roads packed with slow dirty trucks made me not that interested in chasing steam engines more likely than not under grey skies and 3-4 hours drive away in the countryside.

First light is on the horizon in this view south from Mansion Lane bridge as an unidentified Northern Class 195 diesel multiple unit heads upgrade towards Halifax and onwards to Bradford & Leeds with 1B99 the 06.49 Hebden Bridge to York service.