6 June 2009: Desperate Times

A desperately grim day with persistent heavy rain. The SVR did not help our mood by unleashing a stream of tender first engines. So scarce were decent steam shots that I have had to resort to a sequence featuring D1062 Western Courier, which turned out to be the best shots of the day: apologies to all those who may take offence at these extreme measures. We are now questioning whether it is worth visiting this railway on normal running days.

Every shot was taken under brollies and I am still not clear whether raising a brolly in response to the train's warning whistle is a correct response. Conditions underfoot were treacherous and Clive Hanley decided to test out the SVR's version of the Cresta run at the site of the former Dowles junction, using his bag in place of a toboggan. Ballast in the form of two expensive cameras served as a good platform for his death defying plummet, after which he became wedged under my car. Fortunately no damage was done except to my frayed nerves, although Clive seemed to develop a tendency to put his hands into puddles for some time afterwards...very strange!

We made our way to Bewdley Station at the end of the day, only to have the journey home delayed by Clive's insistence on looking at a diesel which was to-ing and fro-ing on the viaduct adjacent to the station. Imagine the horror when I followed him onto the platform to be confronted with a diesel hell (heaven to a very excited Clive) with no less than 3 of the beasts on the platform. I was told to stand beside one of them and imagine it was bound for the breaker's yard and the cunning so-and-so took a picture, which made me look as if I was admiring it. Steam forever!!!

You Tube (8m 18s)

Featuring 7812 Erlestoke Manor leaving Arley and approaching Eardington Bank summit; 4566 at Eardington Station; 5764 at Arley and departing Bewdley; D1062 Western Courier at Bewdley and Eardington summit.

Smaller vids of this last weeks's efforts at the GCR will follow. Apologies for the delay.

2 May 2009: Duke of Gloucester's Last Weekend on the SVR

After a couple of weeks away on holiday, this weekend accompanied Clive Hanley to the Severn Valley to witness the last runs of 71000 Duke of Gloucester. We ran into local videographer Matt Fielding, who has just released a  DVD for sale in the SVR shops of events on the line in 2008. We were well rewarded with spirited runs which we captured from 4 locations. Chasing steam locomotives around the Severn Valley is a slow speed affair, but definitely not for the feint-hearted as we were 'brake-tested' by one particularly stupid local, leaving (in Clive's words) 4 black marks and 2 brown marks on the road.

We left the line with enhanced sun tans and memories of a sunny day: if this does not come through in the footage it should not surprise you as the sun chose key moments to pass behind clouds. This is perfectly normal, please do not adjust your computer screens.

You Tube video (9 mins 54 secs)

The Duke was given its head on the Saturday of it last weekend at the Severn Valley; it is seen at Oldbury, approaching Northwood Summit, Hay Bridge and Eardington Bank. The supporting cast includes 7802 Bradley Manor at Bewdley, Hay Bridge and Eardington Bank; Stanier Mogul 42968 hauling the observation car at Highley; GWR Prairie Tank 4566 at Highley and Hay Bridge; 7812 Erlestoke Manor at Little Rock.

NB If you are having trouble with this link after clicking on the picture above, the video can be found on You Tube, under user "steamontheweb".

71000 Duke of Gloucester at Northwood summit, Hay Bridge and Eardington Bank. (4.8mB)

GWR Manors 7802 Bradley Manor and 7812 Erlestoke Manor performing at Eardington Bank and Little Rock respectively. (6.0mB)

GWR Priarie 4566 departs Highley, pistons rocking the loco from side to side. Later we see her at Hay Bridge. (6.3mB)

13 March 2009: Nunney Castle Photographic Charter

A rapid return to the Severn Valley Railway then, this time for a Matt Fielding Charter starring 5029 Nunney Castle. A vast grump of 43 photographers attended this event and at times the surrounding fields were emblazoned in a vast swathe of orange. What a sight this vast herd made as they huddled in the narrow confines between track and embankment; ever the territorial beast they ceaselessly uttered their trademark calls - move that elbow, get your head down, you can't stand there, there's always one....

An unfortunate delay, due to the failure of the JCB coal tipper at Bridgnorth the previous evening, meant that one location had to be removed from the schedule. No suspicions from this quarter I can tell you, but tellingly the Duke of Gloucester had been 'carelessly' parked on the points at Bridgnorth shed, blocking entry to the shed area. Where are the traffic wardens (or whatever they call them these days) when you need them!

The weather was generally dull as you would expect, but the sun did peep through a couple of times mid-morning. The day started at Bewdley with some run-pasts to the south of the station, then the carnival moved to Bridgnorth for lunch (inevitable curiosity from the patrons of the local 'chippy') and more run-pasts at Oldbury Viaduct, Little Rock, Hampton Loade and Arley Station.

A few notable photographers were missing, but I did bump into Steve Bottrill and Paul Martin; the latter gentleman related tales of the glamorous young women who had thrown themselves into his path over his long lifetime. What a huge scoop that would have been for the Claverdon Gazette had their well-known reporter (Mr Hanley) been present. Significantly it was Paul's enormous woolly hat which was chosen when the time came for collecting the 'tip' for the footplate crew.

Incidentally the crew have nominated the Hinton Manor Restoration Fund as the recipient of their collection. If anyone is interested in purchasing a DVD (£10+£1pp) of the four Matt Fielding Charters  featuring 45110, 7812 Erlestoke Manor, 9017 Earl of Berkeley and 5029 Nunney Castle please contact me. All profits will go to the Hinton Manor Fund.

Many thanks to the footplate crew who produced some excellent displays from this wonderful locomotive.

You Tube (10mins)

Please click the HQ button for decent quality.

My thanks to the gentleman (was it Rev. Treacy?) who made the unscriptured [sic] announcement during this clip.

Further scenes from the event on the smaller local files below

5029 at Oldbury Viaduct and Little Rock (4.6mB)

5029 leaving Hampton Loade and running through Arley Station. (5.3mB)

5029 leaving Bewdley. (4.9mB)

7 March 2009: Festival of Steam

In contrast to the traditional March branch line Gala, the Severn Valley hired in some big names this time; LNER A4 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, Britannia Class 70013 Oliver Cromwell, GWR Castle Class 5029 Nunney Castle and 71000 The Duke of Gloucester. On Saturday they were supported by local GWR workhorses 7812 Erlestoke Manor and the Prairie tank 5164.

The day started badly with an early start to see Nunney Castle on the goods at Oldbury. She came into view hauling a mighty freight of just two milk wagons. Maybe there were problems; surely it wasn't the case that they just couldn't be bothered. After chase down to Arley (why???!!!) I was rewarded by the sound of a whistle and the sight of the train coast by in the sunshine from the car park,15 minutes early. The morning sun, which made the sight of 71000 at Arley such a joy, did not last beyond mid-day.

The recession has not been with us all that long, but I encountered two Big Issue salesman on the lineside near Arley. They tried to peddle their wares on this unsuspecting photographer with some force, one of them brandishing a machete, while the other uttered dark threats if I didn't purchase. Luckily their eventual threats amounted to no more than to stand in front of me for the next run past - which I would gladly have accepted the way things are with my new equipment at the moment - but they eventually settled for a mention on my site. My small change had a narrow escape from the clutches of Paul Martin and Chris Page.

Rather than venture to the northern reaches of the line, Clive Hanley decided to savour the atmosphere at Bewdley by filming the preparations and we eventually met up at Bewdley South which I eventually reached flustered and stressed after a long detour to avoid the perennial Bewdley road works. We later met up with Charter impresario Matt Fielding who was in a subdued mood, and filmed hardly anything at all on what was a big day for the railway. He definitely needs a change in the form of a visit to a more vibrant railway such as the GCR!

You Tube Video (8mins 35secs)

5029 Nunney Castle at Bewdley Tunnel and earlier on the so-called "freight"; 70013 Oliver Cromwell at the tunnel and departing Arley (spot Clive strolling in the distance); 5164 with the local and a particularly scruffy lead coach at Arley, the cutting after Stourport Junction and near the tunnel; the peerless Erlestoke Manor (7812) at Arley and the tunnel; 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley near Stourport Junction; 71000 The Duke of Gloucester at Arley in bright sunshine.

Note

If you are not able to obtain the above in HQ you will obtain better quality than the jittery and poor image quality of You Tube in non-HQ mode in the files below which are 6 times smaller. What do those clever chaps on You Tube do to the footage??!!

71000 Duke of Gloucester at Arley with the 10:30 (3.6mB)

70013 Oliver Cromwell leaving Arley and 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley near the site of Stourport Junction. (4.5mB)

5029 Nunney Castle and 5164 near Stourport Junction (3.2mB)

7812 Erlestoke Manor at Arley and Bewdley Tunnel (3.8mB)

17 January 2009: A Quest for Steam

This was not to be one of our best days on the Severn Valley. By lunchtime after a beautiful, sunny morning we had failed to get a single shot of a moving smoke-box first train, with 3 tender facing locos and the one we missed, fooled by a late change to the loco roster. By afternoon we managed to get some shots, but by then frontal cloud had arrived. The two manors ran one trip each - backwards. Verdict: sheer frustration!

While we waited for some action the Tom Clarke and the cleaning team at Bewdley allowed us to look around their charge which they were preparing prior to a two years sojourn at Barrow Hill. Many thanks to the team who spend vast amounts of their own time, with little public acknowledgement, ensuring the SVR locomotives look pristine. Clive and I were joined in our quest by Matt Fielding and Phil Neale, two regulars on the line, who were similarly caught out by the change in the loco roster. The latter are both Charter organisers and Phil explained to Clive that unlike the place of his roots, near Liverpool, where everyone is reliable and trustworthy, around these parts it is necessary to pay in advance if you wish to be booked on a charter!

Today's video features our tour around Bewdley station and action from GWR Prairie tank 5164 at Oldbury and later at Bewdley South; GWR Pannier tank 5764 (I think) at Bewdley South; GWR Prairie tank 4566 at Little Rock later seen rolling towards Bewdley station. Message to drivers of bright yellow cars: please lock them in your garage if I am filming in your area; please do not drive them around!

You Tube (6mins 40secs)

Main run pasts in the traditional wmv format for those with small bandwidth, who are in in a hurry or simply have a short-attention span...like me.

GWR Prairie Tank 5164 at Oldbury viaduct and Bewdley South (3.6mB)

GWR Pannier Tank 5764 at Bewdley South (1.7mB)

20 December 2008: Santa Specials 2

The weather was not so favourable this weekend, but at least we managed to escape with only a small amount of rain. Local line expert Matt Fielding, Clive Hanley  and I decided to concentrate on the area of the line between Northwood and Victoria Bridge; this section is seldom visited by railway photographers, but we began to doubt the wisdom of our choice after drivers of the first few trains cut-off the regulators as they passed - and all of these drivers were friends of Matt!

Zoo-time: Later we met up with Paul Martin, Chris Page and Geoff who had been practising silhouette shots of the passing trains in front of the Elephant House at the Safari Park for most of the afternoon. Disconcertingly as we waited for the arrival of the 3:40 ex Bewdley from this location, a fence between us and the Safari Park visitor route, some of the visitors began to stop their cars alongside the fence, point us out to their children and take photographs. One lady, pointing us out to her infant child was heard to utter "look dear aren't they funny!" Maybe they thought we were part of the animal collection! Honestly! It's enough to make you want to reach for a consoling banana!

You Tube (7mins 18secs)

Video contents: 7812 Erlestoke Manor at Trimpley and later at Bewdley South; Ivatt Mogul 46443 at Trimpley; Stanier Mogul 42968 leaving Bewdley, later at Trimpley; GWR Paririe 5164 at Trimpley; 7802 Bradley Manor at Eymoor Woods and Bewdley South.

7812 at Trimpley (3.9mB)

42968 at Bewdley and Trimpley (3.9mB)

7802 at Eymoor Woods and later leaving Bewdley with the 3:10 (4.2mB)

7812 Erlestoke Manor passes the Safari Park with the 3:40. Many thanks to Geoff for the sound effects! (2.1mB)

6 December 2008: Santa Specials 1

The first Saturday of Santa Specials at the SVR was greeted with glorious weather. Arriving at Arley with Clive Hanley, newly re-appointed as Henley in Arden local affairs correspondent, we joined up with serial photographers "Big Issue" salesman Chris Page, Paul "Machete" Martin,  "Headless" Geoff and Charter impressario Matt Fielding. Many thanks to Matt for showing us some new locations on a line I thought I knew inside out. Paul could easily have been  helping Bewdley police with their enquiries if he had been being caught in possession of Geoff's fearsome sack of tools which he generously volunteered to carry.

Five locomotives were on duty for the half hourly service: Ivatt Mogul 46443, Manors 7812 "Erlestoke Manor" and 7802 "Bradley Manor", LMS Mogul 42968 and GWR Prairie 5164. Locations included Arley, Northwood and Bewdley (or Foley Park) Tunnel situated alongside the main runway of Bewdley International Airport.

(You Tube 9mins 36secs)

For those with neither the time nor patience to sit through the full-length video, a selection of individual run pasts are shown below

7812 Erlestoke Manor leaves Arley with the staff train. (2.8mB)

GWR Manor 7802 Bradley Manor at Bewdley Tunnel (1.9mB)

Ivatt Mogul 46443 at Arley

GWR large Prairie 5164 at Arley and later at Bewdley Tunnel

LMS Stanier Mogul 42968 at Bewdley Tunnel

3 October 2008: 9017 Earl of Berkeley Photo Charter

I joined a host of photographers on a highly successful Matt Fielding Photo Charter to see the guest loco from the Bluebell Railway - Dukedog, Earl of Berkeley.

Unfortunately I have found it necessary to put the two videos on You Tube to avoid excess bandwidth charges on my web account. The videos have been produced in higher quality than usual to counteract the destructive actions of the You Tube software on the quality of the material and it is recommended they are watched in High Quality mode** Those with bandwidth speeds of 2mB or less (like me!) should pause the video for a short time at the beginning to avoid the playback catching up with the downloading material.

** Those who do not watch in High Quality may find themselves subject to my "Zapper Virus". When this activates, computers using MS Windows will continue to work as normal (ie hang-up, crash etc) but the user will be instantly dematerialised. You have been warned!

Morning session: 9017 Earl of Berkeley hauls the goods train from Bewdley Station to Bewdley (Foley Park) Tunnel. Enjoy the spot the photter game near the beginning!

Locations: Bewdley Station, Foley Park Tunnel. (5m 7s)

Afternoon session: this time we see the Dukedog hauling a splendid rake consisting of the Syphon G and three toplights.

Locations: Oldbury Vaiduct, Little Rock, Rifle Range and Foley Park Tunnel. (5m 27s)

20 September 2008

A glorious day at the Severn Valley and plenty of action involving 4 guest engines (King Edward I was indisposed). The trains looked heavily loaded throughout the day so it seems to have been a great success for the railway. Many thanks to all volunteers involved in this storming event.

The day started badly for Clive and I with our late arrival at Arley. Intending to record Bradley Manor entering the station followed by the departure of the goods, we found both in the station, from which they departed simultaneously. It turned out to be a double whammy for me as I did not get a decent shot of either.

We confined ourselves to the section between Bewdley and the tunnel during the day to take advantage of the double-headers, locals and the auto trailer which were restricted to this section: just like last year, as Clive noted.

We ran into several friends on the lineside - Matt Fielding (the Charter events organiser), GB Productions, Paul Martin and Chris Page who was no doubt looking forward to a comfortable night on board the trains rather than a cold, damp field! It was particularly good to meet Henry Elliot (aka Smith) and Dee Davison ; rumours that Henry has become a Freemason after he was seen rolling up a trouser leg in the middle of a field near the tunnel can quickly be scotched; he was showing us the scars he had received after an operation on a serious leg injury incurred at the North Yorks Moors in the Spring. Happily he is making progress, but still lacks considerable flexibility in the leg and like the expensive players in his local football team (Newcastle United) he would struggle to kick a football!

Meanwhile Graham Briggs has serious issues with the Mid-Hants (which has banned lineside photography after the stupid activities of some diesel enthusiasts a few years ago) finding the limited filming opportunities increasingly compromised by vegetation. He is thinking of standing outside Alresford Station with a bill-board in protest!

The two outside frame guest engines, 9017 Earl of Berkeley from the Bluebell and 3440 City of Truro from the Gloucester Warwicks are seen at Bewdley South Box and Bewdley Tunnel respectively. Note the intruder with the grey shirt in going-away shot of the second clip. He was one of many freeloaders who neither wore a hi-viz vest nor had a lineside pass. Come on chaps do the decent thing; preserved railways spend vast amounts of money and volunteers expend great quantities of their valuable time to entertain you! (2.9mB)

9017 and 3440 were paired together on the 11:30 ex Bewdley. We see them at the Rifle Range. (3.1mB)

The world's favourite Prairie, 5542, shows classmate 4566 the way to do it at the approaches to Bewdley Tunnel! (1.8mB)

7812 Erlestoke Manor and 9017 Earl of Berkeley stand side by side at Bewdley Station prior to the Manor's imposing departure with the 10:30am. Later that afternoon we found ourselves at Bewdley Station again to witness the same loco and, because of imminent arrivals, had little chance of moving up the line to avoid the repeat shot. What a cock-up! (4.6mB)

Visiting Prairie 5526 from the South Devon Railway spent the first half of the day pulling the auto-trailer between Bewdley and Kidderminster. Unfortunately communication problems between loco and carriage caused the runs to be abandoned. Here are shots from three of the runs. (2.6mB)

Large Prairie 5164 passes over the bridge south of Bewdley with the 18:05. Earlier in the day, as the loco cleaning team set to work on the elephants, Clive was busy sizing up the location with a friend. (1.9mB)

Seen and heard: during a recent holiday in the lakes I was lucky enough to stay at an excellent hotel. The hosts are wild-life lovers as are many of the guests. On the second night I witnessed a conversation in the bar along the lines of:

Hotel owner: "We have a visiting red squirrel you know" - Wildlife loving Guests: "Oh how wonderful!" - Hotel owner "We have also noticed a grey squirrel in the garden" - Wildlife loving Lady Guest "oh no, that's terrible!....We have grey squirrels in our garden, but you shoot them with your airgun don't you dear (looking proudly at her wildlife loving husband)... you've killed twelve of them haven't you?" While the hotel owner hastily tried to change the subject I quietly decided that I would not wear my favourite cuddly grey squirrel suit to dinner that evening........Well why are you looking at me that way? What do you expect? I always wear grey - I'm an accountant for goodness sake!

23 August 2008

When I arrived at Bewdley, I was delighted to see newly restored Erlestoke Manor reversing away towards Kidderminster to join the 11:15. In the meantime I waited at Arley for the 10:35 from Bridgnorth and was amazed to hear a Stanier hooter. I had seen 46443 at Bewdley so there could only be one contender. Steam Railway had assured me that veteran Black 5 45110 was out of ticket on 11 August, but here she was, upstaging Erlestoke.

A sunny morning gave me the opportunity for just two shots in the sunshine (from 7812's first run), but during the afternoon, when I worked hard for a further six shots from a 'thin' timetable, it was cloudy.

For virtually the whole day I saw no other phoographers - presumably they were crowded together at Barrow Hill - until the penultimate train from Bridgnorth when I heard the familiar voice of big issue salesman and countryman Chris, who had set up his tent for the weekend at Bridgnorth.

Seen and heard: recently I came across a cartoon in a satirical magazine showing a picture of Nelson's column engraved with giant lettering apologising, to all those who might be offended, for the unfortunate incident of 21/10/1805 (the Battle of Trafalgar). The magazine was Punch... the year 1908! As they say, "what goes around comes around"!

Black 5 45134 aka 45110 passes the overgrown Hay Bridge location around lunchtime, and we see her later making a fine sight with the maroon set on the upper stages of Eardington Bank. (3.5mB)

PS if anyone finds a set of secateurs in a smart plastic case in the location above Hay Bridge, they are mine!

No, there are not two of us filming out there and neither does the higher part of Eardington Bank suffer a harsher climate than the lower reaches. 7812 Erlestoke Manor on the 11:15 ex Kidderminster in the sunshine and later on the 3:15 in the gathering gloom . The latter was the second run I had filmed from the narrow bridge on the rarely used farm track and on both occasions a car had arrived literally just after the train had passed...spooky! (3.6mB)

A 1½ mile walk and a ½ hour wait at Little Rock for the return of the lunchtime Charter headed by Prairie Tank 5164 proved fruitless and made me wonder for the hundredth time why I bother with this stupid hobby, but I eventually saw the train purely by chance at Eardington just before 5 o'clock at no cost but a rapid set up. (2.1mB)

1940s Weekend 5 July 2008

Clive Hanley and I were the only linesiders in evidence on the Severn Valley for the 1940s weekend. The rain which fell on our journey disappeared as we approached Bewdley and we had a largely fine day although the sun was in its usual teasing mood.

Locomotives in action included Black 5 45110, 7802 Bradley Manor, 42968, 4566 and 5164.

GWR Prairie 4566 on the last section of the climb to Eardington Summit. A clip of "two halves" as (scarily) the bright sun disappears at the instant the loco passes through the bridge. A large group of people arrived at the crossing and wisely stayed put until the train had passed. (2.4mB)

Stanier Mogul 42968 makes an energetic departure from Bewdley in the late afternoon. Around lunchtime we saw a fine run past Cottage Crossing near Eardington summit. This is an impressive locomotive.(3.5mB)

7802 Bradley Manor emerges from the short 'tunnel' at Knowlesands with the 1:55 ex Bridgnorth. This is the first time I have filmed at this location as there are very few locations in this vicinity. (1.8mB)

Once again we found ourselves short of time an needing to run up the track to our planned location immediately prior to the departure of the first train of the day; in this case Black Five 45110. After some wheel slipping, during the inexorable time it takes my camcorder to 'boot up', the loco had recovered her feet by the time I was on the case. (2.6mB)

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