Foxfield Gala 18 July 2009

Brian Burrows and I had a really enjoyable day at Foxfield, despite missing out on the best of the weather. With a good forecast large numbers of photographers were in evidence around the line. Unfortunately some of the best vantage points around the sit of the pit on the lower section of the gradient were obscured by wagons.

Locomotives in action were visitor Moorbarrow and from the local fleet: Wimblebury, Meaford No.2, Florence No.2, the beautiful Bellerophon and the Beyer Peacock. I was told that Florence has a rare modification to its funnel in the form of a "giesel ejector", which mishearing as "diesel objector", I heartily assented to. Throughout the day the trains ran with 6 wagons (plus brake van) with the final run of the day comprising all three rakes amounting to 18 wagons. Refuelling was the usual organised chaos as shovelfuls of coal were hurled at the engines by a crowd of helpers.

You Tube Video: 10mins

Barrow Hill 4 April 2009

With five major guest locomotives in the form of A1 60163 Tornado, A4s 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley and 60009 Union of South Africa, K1 62005, O4 63601 and N7 69621 (which had failed), coupled with some half-decent weather, a big crowd in excess of 5000 was assured. It was extremely difficult to find a decent spot from which to film during the middle part of the day especially after the arrival of a mainline charter. Filming to the constant chatter of people who sounded as if they had just walked off the set of Coronation Street was also a source of frustration!**

Arriving at the car park with time to spare I was able to witness Clive Hanley's arrival over a cup of coffee; as he had been around 3 miles ahead of me on the motorway this was not bad going....ok so he had parked in a distant car park after naively following the signs. Graham Briggs and Gordon McCulloch were also present as special guests of the Roundhouse by virtue of Graham's recent production of a Barrow Hill DVD. It was very instructive to see them both in action [image]...for those who don't know them Gordon is obviously the tea-drinker judging by the position of his little finger, which shows very good breeding.

It was good to see Black 5 45110 from the Severn Valley once again. Last time we saw her she was being cleaned to the highest standards by the SVR's crack cleaning team. Here she was filthy. I wondered how this could be, until I got home and looked in the mirror. It is never, a pleasant experience, but this time it was truly horrifying as my hair and face were as black as a chimney sweep's!

A number of smaller locomotives from the Romsey Hyde and Dymchurch Railway mirrored the main cast - 60164 Typhoon and a new O4 model. In the roundhouse J17 8217, the beautiful GC director 506 Butler Henderson and the so-called half-cab 1F 41708 with a fully intact upper back end. The black Bentley of 16mm movie film hero Ivo Peters was also to be seen. Not so sure that it was an appropriate location for that venerable vehicle and I hope they give her a good clean when she gets home.

** I wish to stress that no offence was intended by that remark. In fact I lived and worked in Manchester for four years and never saw a Coronation Street actor once.

You Tube (10 mins)

Action from the days events at the Barrow Hill Festival with 5000 spectators. A1 60163 Tornado, A4 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, A4 60009 Union of South Africa, K1 62005, O4 63601, A2 60532 Blue Peter, N7 69621 (failed), J17 8217, GC Director 506 Butler Henderson, long term resident Black 5 45110, 1F 41708 and Peckett 2000.

Smaller Files

A1 60163 Tornado on shed, hauling the passenger train and posing in the yard. (6.3mB)

A4s 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley and 60009 Union of South Africa in action during the day (7.0mB)

Scenes from the roundhouse (7.2mB)

North Norfolk ('that's yer lot') M&GN AnniversaryGala 28 February 2009

Many thanks to all those involved in the organisation and operation of this spectacular event. Despite our personal frustrations (not uncommon at our age!) we really did enjoy it.

I visited the North Norfolk Railway for this elegantly titled Gala with Brian Burrows. Later we met up with Cliff Jones who withdrew from the fray in mid-afternoon with a recurrence of a back problem. The timetable had an intensity which rivalled the double tracked GCR. A little ambitious perhaps? Well by the end of the day the trains were running an hour late even despite some omitted runs, so it speaks for itself really. With trains running out of kilter moving locations became a lottery as we found to our cost; I missed four run-pasts - a personal record. Add this to the unimaginable problems I am having converting to my new equipment and it meant a very frustrating day. There were plenty of lineside photographers - all getting in each others way (yes, we were guilty ourselves on at least one occasion).

The weather did not help as it started dull, improved when we ventured up towards Kelling Heath mid-morning (essentially afternoon territory) and then suffered a relapse when we arrived at locations in which we could utilise the sunshine. Yes, grumbling again, but Brian and I are proud we can moan with the best of them!

Star loco, B1 4-6-0 no.1306 "Mayflower"  was wisely kept in the shed where few could see her until late afternoon. Coupled unexpectedly to 76079 two movements before her timetabled light engine move from Weybourne to Sheringham, we could only watch unarmed and helpless as she passed by. Her one full run from Holt was made in semi-darkness much to Brian's frustration. Supporting locos included the fine Standard 2 2-6-0 78019 from the GCR, Ian Riley's Standard 4 2-6-0 76079, 4F 44422, the beautiful L&YR 0-6-01300 from the East Lancs and local girls - austerity 90775, N7 69621, J15 65462.

Many thanks to Brian Burrows (pictured) for his lovely piece of commentary on the bus which crossed the bridge at Weybourne.

You Tube 9mins 55secs

1306 Mayflower at Weybourne sheds and leaving the station at dusk. (5.6mB)

Smaller Video files from the main You Tube programme

GCR Standard 2 78019 at Kelling Halt; 44422 at A149 bridge (4.6mB)

N7 69621 at Kelling Heath; Austerity 2-10-0 90775 near Sheringham (2.7mB)

Standard 4 76079 on the cliffs at Sheringham; at Kelling Heath (3.6mB)

L&YR 0-6-0 1300 with the goods; later following a brief rain shower  1300 struggles out of Weybourne (4.7mB)

North Norfolk Gala 30 August 2008

An intensive timetable and the chance to view the newly restored Quad Art Set of Gresley coaches prompted my trip to the North Norfolk Railway.

The weather held up much promise as I travelled eastwards at an unearthly hour of the morning, but soon the early morning sun had given way to heavy cloud. It was not until early afternoon that the sun began to break through, as promised by the forecast, and produced a beautiful late afternoon. On arrival I filmed in sunny and calm conditions at Weybourne, the only wind being a protracted and loud emission from a gent in front of me, which definitely put him at risk of an emergency trip to the men's clothing department of the local Marks and Spencer.

I met Peter Boggis and his son Ben on Kelling Heath towards the end of the day.  Peter has already uploaded another of his beautiful videos and doubtless Ben will have produced an excellent photographic record of the event (sorry chaps...no pressure!).

The unique Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway Quad Art set has received much publicity after its restoration. It looks absolutely superb, though it is a shame that passengers are allowed inside to compromise its pristine beauty (eg the flatulent Weybourne photographer). I have said unkind things about LNER N7 69621in the past, but extensive work during the winter has produced a 'new-look' loco. At the second location in the clip 69621 was assisted by visiting GWR Tank 5643 owned by the Furness Railway Trust. It was at this location I met a fellow photographer who remarked bitterly that he had taken only one shot in the sun all day. At that moment the sun was shining strongly, and I wondered how this could be - even I had 3½ by this stage. A few minutes later, when the train arrived, I discovered it was probably true! (4.2mB).

Sheringham station was a busy place throughout the day. Here we see GWR visitor 5643 with the 13:15 passing the box just west of the station and running towards the level crossing. (3.2mB)

With the sun shining from a cloudless sky and the breeze now abated, conditions were perfect as we awaited Austerity 2-10-0 90775 at Kelling Heath cutting; the beat of the 'Dub-Dee' could be clearly heard just around the bend. It was at this point that the light aircraft droned noisily past. (2.3mB)

GWR Pannier 1638 from the Kent and East Sussex Railway pilots local engine, J15 65462, through the cutting at Kelling Heath. (2.3mB)

J15 65462 runs towards Weybourne under cloudless skies with a fine plume of exhaust. (2.6mB)

Foxfield Gala 19 July 2008

After saving up for several months I was able to accompany Brian Burrows to the annual Foxfield Gala. Brian was able to claim a senior citizen's ticket even though he doesn't look a day over 40! However, the event was well worth the entrance fee with the six participating engines earning their coal. Many thanks to all the volunteers who worked so hard to make it a success.

Star of the show was the magnificent newly restored Victorian engine (1874) Bellerophon. Unfortunately she spent the day running behind the Beyer Peacock and we could not see her properly...classic railway operations stuff! A second newly restored engine enjoyed a renaissance; Florence No 2 (did she really work in Northern Italy?) was even allowed to run by herself and looked immaculate. Guest loco, Portbury - the silver machine from Bristol - was joined by the usual suspects Meaford No 2 and Wimblebury.

The weather could best be described as volatile as sunny intervals and heavy showers followed each other in short order throughout most of the day.

Bellerophon poses for the cameras, because that's the only way we were going to see her as the Beyer Peacock leads her away from the colliery. (2.8mB).

Portbury looks a picture as she hauls the hoppers up Freshfield Bank against the backdrop of a magnificent sky. She was beginning to struggle, but the gradient eased just in time, and she finished strongly! (2.6mB)

Florence No 2 treats the 1-in-21 (at this point) with some contempt as she hurtles up the bank. (2.6mB)

Refuelling is never straightforward at Foxfield. After enduring some target practise, Portbury pulls the coal trucks up the 1-in-19 section. (3.7mB)

Barrow Hill Roundhouse LNER Steam Gala 10 November 2007

This annual event, this year on the theme of LNER locomotives, proved to be extremely popular with large crowds all over the site; this made photography very difficult. Arriving at 10:30 I was horrified to be faced with a slow-moving 350yd queue and eventually entered the site at 11:30.  Almost immediately I ran into early bird Clive Hanley who had arrived at 8am. I took my stills camera which means the video footage is somewhat abridged and the stability of some of the shots is compromised by use of a monopod. Be warned the clips are rather large this week!

Those wishing to know more about this fascinating heritage site should visit the Barrow Hill official website

This sequence features most of the engines: GCR 4-4-0 express engine 506 Butler Henderson, LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 45593 Kolapur, K4 2-6-0 61994 Great Marquess, Peckett 2000, 2-6-2 4771 Green Arrow, J15 0-6-0 65462, K1 2-6-0 62005 Lord of the Isles, B1 4-6-0 61264, A2 2-6-2 Blue Peter and B1 4-6-0 1306 Mayflower. (6.7mB)  

65462 takes a spin: the turntable in action inside the Roundhouse. (6.7mB)

.

The two B1s, 61264 and 1306 Mayflower, were coupled together in the late afternoon to pull the demonstration shuttle. Many thanks to Clive for the loan of his tripod for the final run past. (4.3mB)

Mid Hants 27 June 2006

A video record of a trip on the Mid-Hants Railway on 27/6/06. I have used Google for this video as I believe the images are of better quality. The file is 12mB so the download is not for the feint-hearted. Watch out for the professional cameraman with the strange zooming technique filming the departure at Alresford.If you see him at other railways do NOT stand behind him!

Warning:  The files are of substantial size and will take a considerable time to  download for non-broadband users.

All photographs and videos copyright ©  Mike Snow