NRM Steam Shuttle Weekend - York to Shildon....and back.

Apologies for the delay in posting these pics so late after the event, here's my report on the wonderful day out travelling on the Steam Shuttles between the NRM York and Locomotion, Shildon.

Saturday 24th September:

Leaving home around 8am, My Grandad, Cousin Joe and Myself headed down the A1 towards York for their Steam Shuttle Weekend. As mentioned here before this was one of the Railway Adventures I was most looking forward too. Not only was it the first of its kind, joining the two Museums in York and Shildon, but the return of 4472 'Flying Scotsman', which was due to haul the shuttles in its first services back on the mainline. Being my favourite Loco, it added to the excitement. However, it transpired in July that another set of cracks were located in the chassis of 4472 and put paid to it's re-emergence.

Still, this didn't stop me wanting to take part in this unique event, which featured not only the Shuttle service but a special LMS Gala at York and the 7th Annual Steam Gala at Shildon (the previous weekend had been shuttle runs only). If your wondering why I travelled all the way from Gateshead (passing Shildon) to York rather than the shorter trip of going to Shildon, here's the method behind the madness - Had we started at Shildon, the timetable only allowed a short stay in York (around 40 minutes), whereas the other way round was allowing 90 minutes in Shildon, enough to see everything there and giving us more time to get around the much larger site at York when we returned.

With a plethora of steam loco's to see, we arrived into the NRM car park around 9:10am and made our way to the South Yard where we were met by this wonderful sight.

LMS Duchess Class No 6229 'Duchess of Hamilton' in the September
morning sunlight. What a Beauty!

I've seen the Duchess many times before, inside the Great Hall, but it's really something else here, outside basking in the morning sun that picks up on those gold stripes and streamlined casing. Great Start! We then headed towards the specially erected platform, passing Princess Royal Class No 6201 'Princess Elizabeth' that was one of the loco's present and in steam. LMS Stanier Black 5 No. 45305 (built in Newcastle in 1936) stood awaiting as 'push' on our 'push-pull' service to Shildon with the one and only GWR Hall Class No. 5972 'Olton Hall' or now better known as 'Hogwarts Castle' made famous by appearing in a few of the Harry Potter films, on the 'pull'.

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who had turned up for the journey, not just that but the amount of youngsters that were present. This is why events like this are important for me; it's not just about those avid trainspotters, older generations reliving the past, younger railway enthusiasts (such as me) wanting to enjoy Steam travel, but those kids who will remember this for years to come and will demand events like this when they're older. This will cement loco's such as the ones in attendance today safe for even more generations to share and enjoy in experiencing the history of our railways.

LMS Princess Class 'Princess Elizabeth' No 6201 stands in light steam

Complete with headboard, LMS Class 5 No. 45305 ready for the off,
Grandad and Joe lead the way

Royal Class 47 'Prince William' and Class 37 D6700 standing idle in
the NRM South Yard.

LMS Fairburn No. 42085 in light steam, South Yard NRM, York

The view from my window, looking back towards the Depot Building,
Black 5 No. 45305 in the background brings up the rear

West Coast Class 37 no. 37706

Siemens Class 185 making its way northward from York on the ECML

With a green signal, we leave the surroundings of the NRM and head
north towards Shildon

Passing a Class 66 in GBRf livery with a long coal load on the ECML

We boarded and found some good seats in coach D. We made ourselves comfortable, paying for the ticket once onboard. I had planned to stand near to a door so I could hang out of the window and get some good snaps as we left York, but so many people had the same idea! Not to be defeated, I had to use our open window to take shots of what I could! My neck is still stiff now as it was a squeeze between the table and seat to swivle myself into position!

But hopefully I did get a few good shots.

We stopped at Northallerton to quite an audience and then off towards Darlington station. As we arrived we slowed up to the stop signal within the confines of the station to the delight of passengers awaiting their East Coast service that rolled into the station a couple of minutes later, many scurrying around to have thier picture taken in front of the 'Hogwarts Castle'. Once the EC service had arrived, we had a clear line to head out of the station and swing left towards Shildon. Another pick up point at Darlington North Road station that adjoins the Head of Steam museum and then steamed our way through Bishop Auckland and into Shildon where the platforms were crammed with people awaiting our trains arrival.

East Coast Service seen with Class 91 No 91128 at the
rear leaves Darlington as we head North for Shildon

Network Rail owned Loram Rail Grinder (C2102) seen just North of
Darlington Station

Leaving Darlington North Road for Shildon, looking towards 'Olton Hall'

Black 5 on the Push, out of Darlington North Road

Coming into Shildon around 11:30am

We had around 90 minutes to get around Locomotion and to see what Loco's where present one of which was the famous GWR 'City of Truro'. We alighted and left the station behind and towards the museum covered by the atmospheric steam of 5 loco's adorning the outside entrance to the building. A fairground organ played music to add to the vintage feel of the day.

A miniature railway had been erected and ran about 30 metres in length from the entrance of the main building which Joe immediately spotted. Full sized steam rides were also on offer, hauled by the loco 'Sir Berkeley' a 0-6-0 Saddletank that resides here at Shildon. We decided to have a look indoors first as most loco's were ringed with visitors wanting to get up onto the footplates.

Inside there were many trade stands selling everything from model railways to real Loco nameplates. We saw a few layouts and picked up a couple of bits for Joe but unfortunately there wasn't anything for me (I have recently decided not to just buy things that catch the eye only the Loco/Coaches/Rolling Stock I need for my layout). Never mind, a quick cuppa and back outside. Here we climbed onto the footplates of all the GWR loco's, spoke with the firemen and drivers, took pictures and throughly enjoyed being up close and personal to these engineering marvels. Alas, quick passed the time and we had promised Joe a go on the miniature railway and into the play park. After that it was back into Shildon station.

We leave our train behind and head towards Locomotion

The GWR line up appears ahead

A Class 03 Shunter in BR Green

A local J21, No 65033

The famous 'Orion' miniature locomotive, the last surviving Crewe built
LNWR loco.

Tubby the tram, looks familiar?

The miniature section, totally for the kids.....didn't have the chance to
have a go :-(

Cross shot towards 'City of Truro'

Tom the Tank Engine......hang on!

A class 107 DMU Unit stands in the spot recently vacated by 4468 'Mallard'

MODELS!!!

A close up of a fire station, with a Blackpool Balloon Tram mocked
up in a Sunderland Corporation livery.

The real Sunderland tram

'Tornado' waits for a green light

GWR 0-6-2 Tank

Joe on Furness No.20, the oldest surviving Steam Loco in the world

He could make a fireman one day!

First time I've seen this loco as close

Joe and me infront of this famous nameplate

Grandad's turn.

The most loved loco's in Britain, the GWR

Sir Bekerley pulls into the platform with the shorter shuttles, between
Hackworth House and the main loco building

As close to the drivers eye view of the 'City of Truro' I'll ever be

The footplate

Our train to York awaits in Shildon Station, now headed by the Black 5

This time around, it wasn't as easy to find seats. It seemed there was a lot more passengers wanting to travel to York and we just managed to find two seats in the last carriage even though we boarded with plenty time spare. However in a lucky twist for us they were in one of the first class carriages which were mightly impressive. Three bums do not go on two seats, but I'd already decided on a trackside doorway berth as my own for the return to York. We were soon on our way and as we steamed out of the station and back past the main building at Locomotion, hoards of people lined the route with their camera's ready. Me, hanging out of the window must have got in all of those pictures!!! Well I did smile...

Leaving Shildon, camera's aimed at our departure

Leaving Shildon behind

Half of our day done, it was back through Darlington (again with a EC service present) and then thundered south stopping off at Northallerton (again hanging out of the window) and back into York. I managed to film a Class 185 overtaking us on the straight stretch of line outside of York, both of us on the move! Go to my Youtube channel via the link at the top right of the blog to view my videos of the day.

A class 185, number 185106 ready to head North from Northallerton Station

Held just short of the NRM South Yard, A Class 66 waiting to haul it's
train out of the Freightliner Depot which backs onto the Museum

A class 221 Super Voyager heads into York Station on ther ECML with
a Cross Country Service to Plymouth

So it was back into the NRM York where we stopped short of the platform for Olton Hall to be uncoupled. Each time I'd wanted to take a picture of this smart Loco I couldn't because each time we were in station, the loco was passed the end of the platform. I had hoped to walk up near to it to get a good shot when we'd alighted but it was uncoupled and steamed off! I had crossed paths before with 'Hogwarts Express' at Shildon in May so I wasn't to disappointed, plus there was plenty to snap when I got back to the South Yard.

My only shot of 'Olton Hall' now uncoupled, it steams is way back onto the
Mainline. It later ran Tender first through York Station destination unknown

End of our Journey, we say goodbye to our Black 5

The famous LMS Princess class, 'Princess Elizabeth' No. 6201

Just look at this piece of engineering!

Another famous Loco to chalk off my wanted list

Royal Scot Class 'Scots Guardsman' No 46115

LMS Stanier Class No. 5000

The 8F Stanier Class 'Gauge 'O' Guild'

LMS Fairburn No. 42085

West Coast Railways Class 37 No. 37706 now heads the second shuttle
of the day, York - Shildon - York

Another shot of the wonderous 'Duchess of Hamilton' by which time Joe
(seen just to the left) pronounced this was today's favourite.

The Kerr Stuart 'Wren' Class

The new layout at the NRM's refurbished shop area

He'll grow into it!!

So another Railway Adventure taken care of and in all truth one of the best I've had. There were times when my head was out the window speeding along the ECML with tears from the wind (and soot) rolling down my face when I closed them and thought of how it must have been working mainline steam loco's. There was a part of the day for each of our age groups and another massive thanks to the NRM for a well ran event.

Next up it's 'Deltic 50' where I'll be returning to Shildon. I should have shares in the NRM!