Having not posted much since November, I feel the need to catch up with myself and my Railway Adventures. Unfortunately, I havent had a great deal of time to myself to partake in any modelling or many visits to anywhere railway related....on a social level.
However on a career front I have now achieved one of my dreams to work on the Railways, for Arriva Cross Country. I began back in late November taking a two week induction course down in Birmingham. I've since shadowed staff from Leeds aswell as working my roster from my depot here in Newcastle. I must say it is a different world altogether and loads of fun! My role sees me join XC services anywhere from Glasgow - Doncaster/Sheffield to check all passengers travel documents looking for fraudulent tickets and/or railcards and of course passengers who decide they don't want to pay! I also look after football fans and of course my personal favourite the drunken revellers on a Friday/Saturday night. Although the details of my job are much and varied that is a short overview of my duties.
In regards to any visits to anywhere railway related I haven't been anywhere as of the turn of the year looking forward to the galas and exhibitions I enjoyed last year. I'm also volunteering my time to be part of the NRM's RailFest 2012 with a great line up of Loco's etc it should be a wonderful experience for me and everyone visiting.
My modelling has not gone further than cleaning and repairing a couple of loco's, however I've still managed to keep up the purchasing of new rolling stock which I will upload a few pictures of very soon.
So until then.....
Showing posts with label In other news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label In other news. Show all posts
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Exclusive!
Ok here's a first!
I've just returned from a late night jaunt to Newcastle Central Station to see for the first time ever a Class 390 Pendolino visit the North East. No. 390 055 entered the station at 23:45 and departed 6 minutes later to head south to Kings Cross after beginning its journey at Edinburgh Waverley on a trial run on the ECML.
One of the best looking Trains in the world and at last I've seen one at my home station! Without further ado, heres the pictures from just an hour ago...
I've seen some wonderful sights past and present in this grand old station I'm proud to call my home, but I must admit this was a massive highlight. I was joined by a few other photographers but I can say I was there that night and one of the first to see what hopefully becomes a more regular visitor to the ECML.
Until next time....
I've just returned from a late night jaunt to Newcastle Central Station to see for the first time ever a Class 390 Pendolino visit the North East. No. 390 055 entered the station at 23:45 and departed 6 minutes later to head south to Kings Cross after beginning its journey at Edinburgh Waverley on a trial run on the ECML.
One of the best looking Trains in the world and at last I've seen one at my home station! Without further ado, heres the pictures from just an hour ago...
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| Thunderbird Class 57 awaits what we've all come to see... |
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| Class 390 Pendolino no. 390 055 stands for the first time in Newcastle Central Station |
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| Under the wires of the ECML on its first trial run |
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| Me! |
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| After 6 minutes inside of Central Station the Pendolino now ready to head south to London Kings Cross |
Until next time....
Thursday, 18 August 2011
A4 Reunion?
After finding out about the possibility of the remaining Class 55 'Deltics' appearing together at Locomotion Shildon (see here), it has come to my attention that there is plans to bring the remaining 6 Class A4's together for the 75th Anniversary of the run that saw A4 No. 4468 'Mallard's set a world record by becoming the fastest steam locomotive ever, a record that remains intact today.
The National Railway Museum are planning to bring the four based in the UK, No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley', 60009 'Union of South Africa', 60019 'Bittern' (who is currently carrying the guise of sister loco 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand') and 4468 'Mallard' together, plus have queried the possibility of loaning both 60008 'Dwight D. Eisenhower' from is static museum home at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin in the States and 60010 'Dominion of Canada' which is based in Montreal, Canada at the Canadian Railroad Museum for this special event.
Sources at the NRM say it is only early days, but I'm very excited at seeing all 6 A4's together again. I will update the blog as I find out more details.
Until then.....
The National Railway Museum are planning to bring the four based in the UK, No. 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley', 60009 'Union of South Africa', 60019 'Bittern' (who is currently carrying the guise of sister loco 4492 'Dominion of New Zealand') and 4468 'Mallard' together, plus have queried the possibility of loaning both 60008 'Dwight D. Eisenhower' from is static museum home at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin in the States and 60010 'Dominion of Canada' which is based in Montreal, Canada at the Canadian Railroad Museum for this special event.
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| 4468 'Mallard' still the fastest steam locomotive ever. |
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| 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' resident at the NYMR |
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| 60009 'Union of South Africa' |
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| 60019 'Bittern' in it's original form |
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| 60008 'Dwight D. Eisenhower' at the National Railroad Musuem, USA |
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| 60010 'Dominion of Canada' at the Canadian Railroad Museum |
Sources at the NRM say it is only early days, but I'm very excited at seeing all 6 A4's together again. I will update the blog as I find out more details.
Until then.....
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Support needed for Wylam to Lemington Steam Railway's 200th Anniversary
Here's a story from one of our local newspapers yesterday, which is something personally I'd be very happy to see come to fruition.
Full credit goes to the Newcastle Journal Newspaper:
A group of pensioners is campaigning for the North East to mark the 200th anniversary of what it says is the world’s oldest steam railway. A band of OAPs who live along the route of what was the Wylam to Lemington Wagonway are calling on bodies in the region to lay on events
to commemorate two centuries since it became operational in 1814.
The group, whose members live at Newburn, is led by Michael Balfour, a steam rail enthusiast.
He was researching the history of the railway several years ago for a poem, and discovered its opening in 1814 made it ‘the first steam railway (that actually worked) anywhere in the world.’
Mr Balfour, 70, of West Denton Close, has now written to Northumberland County and Newcastle City councils, The National Railway Museum and Beamish – which is said to have a working replica of the famous engine Puffing Billy which operated on the line – to ask if they would be prepared to help in the organisation of celebratory events. He has also approached Wylam Parish Council. To date, Mr Balfour has received verbal support from the parish council but no reply from the others.
He has visions of events being run simultaneously at Wylam station and Tyne Riverside Country Park at Newburn, close to Lemington and where bosses are said to be behind the group’s idea, with an engine of some kind – ideally the Puffing Billy replica – taking people across the Northumberland and Tyneside border and between the two sites.
Mr Balfour feels such events would have to be organised by a group involving the kind of bodies he has approached, and that he and his friends would not be able to manage alone.
And although the anniversary is three years away, he says events of the kind he envisages would require planning well in advance. He said: “I think in the region we really need to do something because it is the first ever commercially successful steam railway anywhere in the world coming up 200 years, that has to be a big occasion.“Unless we can get some more powerful support nothing is going to happen at all which in my view would be a tremendous shame.”
The Wylam Wagonway is said to be the first to introduce steam power via a mobile steam engine running on flat rails. It was built on a path on which initially horses used to pull wagons of coal along wooden rails from Wylam Colliery to the River Tyne at Lemington, for shipping on.
Richard Trevithick was commissioned to design an engine and his effort started running in “early 1813”.
However mine owner Chris Blackett was not impressed and asked its engineer William Hedley to come up a better design.
Together with Timothy Hackworth, they built Puffing Billy which started work in early 1814 and ran in various guises for approximately 50 years. Trackbed from the old railway still lines part of the route, which is now part of Hadrian’s Cycleway.
I've highlighted a quote from the above text, as I agree with it. Although we have a rich history of railway origins here in the North East, it is often overlooked. It can and should be remembered as the birthplace of the railways. Home to railway pioneers such as Stephenson, Trevithick & Hackworth we as a region don't really celebrate this enough. Even today Newcastle is a main stop on the ECML, wonderful bridges were created to carry these 'Iron Horses' safely across the Tyne. The region's coal mining industry would not have been such if it wasn't for the railways. Hardly anything is mentioned about these facts, which is why the above passage strikes a chord with me.
I want to see the North East celebrate its railway history a lot more. And reading the story today, it looks as though I may not be alone in this. Is there something I could do for this project mentioned in the Journal yesterday? Possibly. It seems tragic to think without support the 200th anniversary of this line will pass un-noticed.
I will watch proceedings closely and report here on this potential event.
Until then......
Full credit goes to the Newcastle Journal Newspaper:
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A group of pensioners is campaigning for the North East to mark the 200th anniversary of what it says is the world’s oldest steam railway. A band of OAPs who live along the route of what was the Wylam to Lemington Wagonway are calling on bodies in the region to lay on events
to commemorate two centuries since it became operational in 1814.
The group, whose members live at Newburn, is led by Michael Balfour, a steam rail enthusiast.
He was researching the history of the railway several years ago for a poem, and discovered its opening in 1814 made it ‘the first steam railway (that actually worked) anywhere in the world.’
Mr Balfour, 70, of West Denton Close, has now written to Northumberland County and Newcastle City councils, The National Railway Museum and Beamish – which is said to have a working replica of the famous engine Puffing Billy which operated on the line – to ask if they would be prepared to help in the organisation of celebratory events. He has also approached Wylam Parish Council. To date, Mr Balfour has received verbal support from the parish council but no reply from the others.
He has visions of events being run simultaneously at Wylam station and Tyne Riverside Country Park at Newburn, close to Lemington and where bosses are said to be behind the group’s idea, with an engine of some kind – ideally the Puffing Billy replica – taking people across the Northumberland and Tyneside border and between the two sites.
Mr Balfour feels such events would have to be organised by a group involving the kind of bodies he has approached, and that he and his friends would not be able to manage alone.
And although the anniversary is three years away, he says events of the kind he envisages would require planning well in advance. He said: “I think in the region we really need to do something because it is the first ever commercially successful steam railway anywhere in the world coming up 200 years, that has to be a big occasion.“Unless we can get some more powerful support nothing is going to happen at all which in my view would be a tremendous shame.”
The Wylam Wagonway is said to be the first to introduce steam power via a mobile steam engine running on flat rails. It was built on a path on which initially horses used to pull wagons of coal along wooden rails from Wylam Colliery to the River Tyne at Lemington, for shipping on.
Richard Trevithick was commissioned to design an engine and his effort started running in “early 1813”.
However mine owner Chris Blackett was not impressed and asked its engineer William Hedley to come up a better design.
Together with Timothy Hackworth, they built Puffing Billy which started work in early 1814 and ran in various guises for approximately 50 years. Trackbed from the old railway still lines part of the route, which is now part of Hadrian’s Cycleway.
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| 'Puffing Billy' at Beamish Museum, Co. Durham (Picture from Jims Train Pics) |
I've highlighted a quote from the above text, as I agree with it. Although we have a rich history of railway origins here in the North East, it is often overlooked. It can and should be remembered as the birthplace of the railways. Home to railway pioneers such as Stephenson, Trevithick & Hackworth we as a region don't really celebrate this enough. Even today Newcastle is a main stop on the ECML, wonderful bridges were created to carry these 'Iron Horses' safely across the Tyne. The region's coal mining industry would not have been such if it wasn't for the railways. Hardly anything is mentioned about these facts, which is why the above passage strikes a chord with me.
I want to see the North East celebrate its railway history a lot more. And reading the story today, it looks as though I may not be alone in this. Is there something I could do for this project mentioned in the Journal yesterday? Possibly. It seems tragic to think without support the 200th anniversary of this line will pass un-noticed.
I will watch proceedings closely and report here on this potential event.
Until then......
Sunny Sunday Snaps
With all the wonderful weather at the weekend, I spent most of it outdoors sipping Cider in the local's beer garden. With a little bit of a headache on Sunday, I chose to walk it away with a little jaunt to Saltwell Park in Gateshead which is just 5 mins walk from my front door. After wandering around in the 30 degree heat I decided to grab a drink and an Ice Cream and sat down next to the boating lake within the compound.
It was here where I gazed across the way and saw a few older gentlemen busy at the water's edge. I watched with interest as they lowered something into the water. It was a remote controlled model tug boat followed by a few more that I couldn't make out. Although my main modelling interests lie with railways, I always appriciate other types of model and the hard work that goes into creating the miniature versions.
Saltwell Park itself is a real gem of a location and has plenty to do and see. Features include Saltwell Towers, which was once the main residence of the grounds. It has been converted to include a small Museum and Cafe. Other attractions here are the Bird Avieries and small Petting Zoo. It has nostalgic Bandstands, Rose Gardens, Waterfalls, 3 Childrens Play Areas, Tennis Courts,
the Boating Lake and many large grass covered open areas perfect for Picnics or a kick about with a ball.
I also remember being a kid coming here and it having a full sized plane next to the play park. It was a 017 Vickers Viscount which you could board using stairs, walk through the empty fuselage and exit down the inflatable slide. It had no wings, but we didn't care....it was bloody great!
One thing Saltwell Park doesn't have and in my opionion would benefit from having a miniature railway that could circle the boating lake, similar to the one I have frequented for years at South Shields. This narrow gauge railway called the Lakeshore Railroad features American Loco's running clockwise around the Boating Lake. To this day I refuse to leave the park until I've had my ride, a rule I've had since 1984.
Until next time.....
It was here where I gazed across the way and saw a few older gentlemen busy at the water's edge. I watched with interest as they lowered something into the water. It was a remote controlled model tug boat followed by a few more that I couldn't make out. Although my main modelling interests lie with railways, I always appriciate other types of model and the hard work that goes into creating the miniature versions.
| Through cider induced bleary eyes, I take 5 minutes out to enjoy these miniature nautical models |
Saltwell Park itself is a real gem of a location and has plenty to do and see. Features include Saltwell Towers, which was once the main residence of the grounds. It has been converted to include a small Museum and Cafe. Other attractions here are the Bird Avieries and small Petting Zoo. It has nostalgic Bandstands, Rose Gardens, Waterfalls, 3 Childrens Play Areas, Tennis Courts,
the Boating Lake and many large grass covered open areas perfect for Picnics or a kick about with a ball.
I also remember being a kid coming here and it having a full sized plane next to the play park. It was a 017 Vickers Viscount which you could board using stairs, walk through the empty fuselage and exit down the inflatable slide. It had no wings, but we didn't care....it was bloody great!
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| Vickers Viscount 017, Saltwell Airways! Brilliant |
One thing Saltwell Park doesn't have and in my opionion would benefit from having a miniature railway that could circle the boating lake, similar to the one I have frequented for years at South Shields. This narrow gauge railway called the Lakeshore Railroad features American Loco's running clockwise around the Boating Lake. To this day I refuse to leave the park until I've had my ride, a rule I've had since 1984.
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Santa Fe Loco 3440 'Mountaineer' awaits departure on the South Shields Lakeshore Railroad |
Until next time.....
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
My New Timetable
With impending Model Railway Exhibitions coming up, plus a few adventures planned, I've decided to make a timetable of forthcoming events to attend.
First off is the weekend of 9th/10th July with the Hartlepool MRC & Hornby Live event, held at the Wynyard Rooms in Wynyard Park, Hartlepool, followed by a weeks break in the Lake District where I'll be once again visiting the Ravensglass and Eskdale Narrow Gauge Railway and also my first visit to the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.
August sees the return of the 'Flying Scotsman' to the NRM York taking pride of place on the turntable of the Great Hall, now repainted in the famous LNER Apple Green livery as seen below:
Another Model Rail Exhibition follows that on the 27th/28th of August in North Shields, which is organised the Blyth & Tyne MRC. Into September, and I can be found at the NRM for two steam gala's linked by the mainline running of the one and only 'Flying Scotsman', which will be hauling shuttle services between York and Shildon! Closely behind is another Steam Gala during September, only a 10 minute drive from me up at Tanfield Railway.
So plenty to do and see all which will appear on the blog in the forthcoming months, look out for them by signing up for updates to the right hand side of my blog....thanks!
Until then.....
Craig
First off is the weekend of 9th/10th July with the Hartlepool MRC & Hornby Live event, held at the Wynyard Rooms in Wynyard Park, Hartlepool, followed by a weeks break in the Lake District where I'll be once again visiting the Ravensglass and Eskdale Narrow Gauge Railway and also my first visit to the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.
August sees the return of the 'Flying Scotsman' to the NRM York taking pride of place on the turntable of the Great Hall, now repainted in the famous LNER Apple Green livery as seen below:
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| LNER Class A3 No. 4472 'Flying Scotsman' |
Another Model Rail Exhibition follows that on the 27th/28th of August in North Shields, which is organised the Blyth & Tyne MRC. Into September, and I can be found at the NRM for two steam gala's linked by the mainline running of the one and only 'Flying Scotsman', which will be hauling shuttle services between York and Shildon! Closely behind is another Steam Gala during September, only a 10 minute drive from me up at Tanfield Railway.
So plenty to do and see all which will appear on the blog in the forthcoming months, look out for them by signing up for updates to the right hand side of my blog....thanks!
Until then.....
Craig
Thursday, 16 June 2011
My Friends Blog
Just a quick mention for a good friend of mine, Jim Harker, who is a rail enthusiast and a wonderful artist who has just opened up a very funny blog about his other great love, cycling. Saying that, most of the posts are done by another member, basically ribbing Jim about his lack of directional sense, but a very funny read nonetheless! http://blackhorsecycleclub.blogspot.com/
So why would you as a railway enthusiast want to have a look?
The answer to this is that there are a lot of old derelict railway lines surrounding us here in Gateshead that have now been converted into cycle paths. Jim knows a lot about the history of these lines and I always learn something from this blog, about these long gone railway beds. Jim has offered me the use of one of his many railway photographs below from a recent visit to Tyne Yard of Class A1 No 60163 'Tornado' taken in February. It was during a water stop during the 'Peppercorn Pioneer' railtour.
So why would you as a railway enthusiast want to have a look?
The answer to this is that there are a lot of old derelict railway lines surrounding us here in Gateshead that have now been converted into cycle paths. Jim knows a lot about the history of these lines and I always learn something from this blog, about these long gone railway beds. Jim has offered me the use of one of his many railway photographs below from a recent visit to Tyne Yard of Class A1 No 60163 'Tornado' taken in February. It was during a water stop during the 'Peppercorn Pioneer' railtour.
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| Tyne Yard Tornado |
Go have a look, until next time,
Craig
Friday, 10 June 2011
Another New Steam Loco!
Due to the recent success of their now famous Class A1 'Tornado', the A1 Trust based in Darlington have recently looked into a new project that would see them attempt to create another Loco in similar fashion, a lost class brought back from the dead, in particular the resurrection of the Gresley P2 Locomotive No. 2001 'Cock o' the North'.
Here's a snippet from the A1 Trust website:
The P2 is the most frequently requested locomotive the Trust is asked to build next. In addition to its striking looks, incredible power and undoubted glamour it also has around 70% commonality with Tornado, including the boiler, tender and many other detailed fittings. However, the design was never fully developed and the locomotives failed to reach their full potential. The Trust is therefore conducting a feasibility study into the construction of a new Gresley P2, to be numbered 2007 as the next in the series. As a part of this study we are examining the commercial, engineering and certification challenges that we would face in completing that development work to make a new P2 a success. Initial conversations with the regulatory bodies have been very positive but we have a long way to go yet.
The aim of the study to answer the question once and for all as to whether the Trust can successfully and commercially build, certify and operate a P2. If the answer is yes, then we will launch the project. If no, then we will look at an alternative locomotive to build.
Today I read an interesting article from the Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust, (see here). They have already paid the National Railway Museum £5,000 for the required blueprints for 'Cock o' the North'. They plan to have this project completed within 10 years and have gone ahead with an order for steel to create the main framework.
Does this mean we could see two new P2's? Or will it be commissioned by only one trust? And which one?
I see little point in both trust's creating the same loco, but could we see them putting their heads together since Doncaster have the Blueprints and Darlington the experience?
Either way it will be interesting to see what comes of all this. Let's just hope we see this powerhouse of the railways return once more. I'll keep you posted......
Until next time....
Craig
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| Class P2 Loco No.2001 'Cock o' the North' |
Here's a snippet from the A1 Trust website:
The P2 is the most frequently requested locomotive the Trust is asked to build next. In addition to its striking looks, incredible power and undoubted glamour it also has around 70% commonality with Tornado, including the boiler, tender and many other detailed fittings. However, the design was never fully developed and the locomotives failed to reach their full potential. The Trust is therefore conducting a feasibility study into the construction of a new Gresley P2, to be numbered 2007 as the next in the series. As a part of this study we are examining the commercial, engineering and certification challenges that we would face in completing that development work to make a new P2 a success. Initial conversations with the regulatory bodies have been very positive but we have a long way to go yet.
The aim of the study to answer the question once and for all as to whether the Trust can successfully and commercially build, certify and operate a P2. If the answer is yes, then we will launch the project. If no, then we will look at an alternative locomotive to build.
Today I read an interesting article from the Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust, (see here). They have already paid the National Railway Museum £5,000 for the required blueprints for 'Cock o' the North'. They plan to have this project completed within 10 years and have gone ahead with an order for steel to create the main framework.
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| The later streamlined version of No.2001 |
Does this mean we could see two new P2's? Or will it be commissioned by only one trust? And which one?
I see little point in both trust's creating the same loco, but could we see them putting their heads together since Doncaster have the Blueprints and Darlington the experience?
Either way it will be interesting to see what comes of all this. Let's just hope we see this powerhouse of the railways return once more. I'll keep you posted......
Until next time....
Craig
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
125 Group
The 125 group was created 15 years ago with the aim of restoring to mainline operation the HST Prototype no.41001 (or 252 001) which is currently housed at the NRM York. I'm always interested in the current preservation and restoration movement of historic Loco's and there's not many more more loved than the HST.
As a child of the 80's it was the HST that captured my heart as a young lad standing watching them whiz past us (me and my grandfather's) along the ECML near Birtley, Co. Durham and I'm still very fond of these quite remarkable Train sets.
So it is with great pleasure to say that the 125 Group's aim is now coming into fruition, with the agreement of loaning the Loco from the NRM to restore to it's full working glory near to Neville Hill Depot in Leeds.
Here's hoping it's successful and we get to see this unique loco in operation.
To read the official statement from the website Click Here
Friday, 11 March 2011
Ever wondered?
Ever wondered what a Pendolino would look like had GNER ran them down the ECML, what Intercity would look like on more modern trains? Well I have, so what a nice surprise when I found the following website.
Its called Fictitious Liveries and if you haven't already guessed, depicts loco's in all sorts of different guises, just for sheer fun. It's well worth a look!
http://www.fictitiousliveries.co.uk/index.php?=
Its called Fictitious Liveries and if you haven't already guessed, depicts loco's in all sorts of different guises, just for sheer fun. It's well worth a look!
http://www.fictitiousliveries.co.uk/index.php?=
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
News
I caught some interesting developments on the local news this evening in regards to the Intercity Express Program that will see new trains replace the current HST fleet on the ECML and GWR.
The order has been placed with Hitachi for these great looking trains along with a purpose built facility to house the assembly of these Bi-mode Electro/Diesel trains in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Although it is good for the North East's Economy I still would have loved for them to be built on the Tyne Yard site nearer to my home.
These new Trains should begin service in 2016.
The order has been placed with Hitachi for these great looking trains along with a purpose built facility to house the assembly of these Bi-mode Electro/Diesel trains in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Although it is good for the North East's Economy I still would have loved for them to be built on the Tyne Yard site nearer to my home.
These new Trains should begin service in 2016.
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| Hitachi Super Express |
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Newcastle to Liverpool...and Back
I've just returned from Liverpool this morning after an emergency visit to see my mum for a few days, who disastrously has managed to break her ankle very badly. I traveled down with my Nana who kept me company on the three hour journey there and back this morning changing both times at York. We took an EC 91+Mk4 set to York where we boarded one of the recently rolled out Trans Pennine Express Class 185 stock for the first time.
I found them to be pretty impressive in all, very clean and bright and....well still new! Much better than the Class 156 (Northern) we then changed onto at Manchester Piccadilly! However we managed to cut this out of our return, boarding another Class 185 direct from Liverpool to York and then another 91+Mk4 EC set into Newcastle Central.
I also managed to catch a glimpse of the new Alsthom Pendolino as we were leaving Liverpool Lime St. Bonus!
Although I didn't have time to get a shot of it myself, here's one from one of my favourite online railway magazines, Railway Herald. Check it out here - http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/magazine/
It is a nice addition to Virgin's Red and Silver mix and after a bit more digging around, I found that Hornby will be releasing a model version in the near future! Well....it would be rude not too!
Until next time....
Craig
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| TPE Class 185 |
I found them to be pretty impressive in all, very clean and bright and....well still new! Much better than the Class 156 (Northern) we then changed onto at Manchester Piccadilly! However we managed to cut this out of our return, boarding another Class 185 direct from Liverpool to York and then another 91+Mk4 EC set into Newcastle Central.
I also managed to catch a glimpse of the new Alsthom Pendolino as we were leaving Liverpool Lime St. Bonus!
Although I didn't have time to get a shot of it myself, here's one from one of my favourite online railway magazines, Railway Herald. Check it out here - http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/magazine/
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| Alsthom Liveried Class 390 Pendolino |
Until next time....
Craig
Thursday, 27 January 2011
My favourite ‘spot’ for spotting!
One of my favourite places to photograph trains, passenger and freight, can be found in Lamesley, a small village setting which is overshadowed by a huge Railway Marshalling Area, Tyne Yard which I have lived near to for most of my 28 years. It is currently owned by DB Shenker, but was an EWS Yard during the time shortly following privatisation and a busy BR Yard previous to that.
Once a bustling, busy, noisy Yard, it’s now a shadow of its former state, only seeing a few freight movements per day but it is visited by CrossCountry Trains Class 220/221 'Voyager' units whilst stabling overnight, and sees a fair bit of Charter Services stopping by on their steam hauled way via Newcastle for coal and water top-ups.
Not only that but as a bonus, the ECML runs right alongside its full length making it a decent place for a good photo opportunity.
Although it brings back many memories every time I stop of watching the trains go by with both my Grandad and Great-Grandad, I can’t help wonder just how many Loco’s, Freight Trains and Shunters hustled and bustled all day and all night! It must of been quite a place to see heyday!
There was recent talk about the site being shortlisted as the place to build the new Hitachi Super Express, however a new site was found further off into the Durham Countryside….shame, it could have seen the re-emergence of Tyne Yard as a busy bustling place once more! If I ever get to build a large model railway layout, I’d love to base it on this, my favourite spot.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
New Blog Title
Here is my logo for this Blog which was chosen by me to represent a Engine's name and shed plates. I cannot say it was created by me but a man I call the magician, my friend and colleague John Boundy. He works as a digital artist creating all sorts of fantastic imagery for use in card making, digital stamping and even tattoo ideas. It just so happens I work with him and he kindly created this especially for this blog!
You can see his other work at www.justinklined.com
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
New East Coast Livery
My favourite livery of any Privatised TOC was the wonderful Blue/Red combo with those large Gold lettering announcing that a GNER train set has just turned up!
However, gone are the days of GNER, the hugely popular owners of the ECML stock and we were left with, first, National Express’s largely unchanged white stripe technique and now Government owned East Coast Trains logos being added. Imaginative to say the least!
So it was a relief to see the choice for a total rethink (and repaint) was the strikingly bold Silver and Purple ensemble that I caught speeding along the stretch of line between Tyne Yard and Lamesley Junction.
Here are a few shots I found on a google search of the new livery which I think could be a good replacement for the iconic GNER colours.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Charity
My good deed for 2010 was finally achieved around 10th December after one of the things I had wanted to do all year was to donate to a charity!
After much deliberation I found one I really believe in....the 'Steam Our Scotsman' appeal by the National Railway Museum in York (I know, I know it's not a 'charity' as such!).
It's a request from the NRM for donations towards getting the most famous locomotive in the world, and my personal favourite No.4472, Class A3 'Flying Scotsman' back in steam and running mainline duties.
I cannot wait until this day happens!
Anyway, I donated in double figures to them and here is my lovely certificate for my kind act:
I'm now part of the 4472 club and am to recieve newsletters on the progress of the 'Flying Scotsman' restoration. My name will appear on the SOS Wall of Fame too, nice little touch.
If you'd like to donate or want to know more about the cause please visit http://www.flyingscotsman.org.uk/sos.aspx and give genorously!
After much deliberation I found one I really believe in....the 'Steam Our Scotsman' appeal by the National Railway Museum in York (I know, I know it's not a 'charity' as such!).
It's a request from the NRM for donations towards getting the most famous locomotive in the world, and my personal favourite No.4472, Class A3 'Flying Scotsman' back in steam and running mainline duties.
I cannot wait until this day happens!
Anyway, I donated in double figures to them and here is my lovely certificate for my kind act:
I'm now part of the 4472 club and am to recieve newsletters on the progress of the 'Flying Scotsman' restoration. My name will appear on the SOS Wall of Fame too, nice little touch.
If you'd like to donate or want to know more about the cause please visit http://www.flyingscotsman.org.uk/sos.aspx and give genorously!
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