Now I must admit that I'm not a trainspotter, I wouldn't know one class of choo-choo from another and don't get why people do spot trains and jot down each train number that they see.
However, I do admire and have great respect for steam engines and the days of steam. I still don't know one class steam engine from another but that's not important right now.
This morning I was fortunate that as I was leaving Waterloo station and heading towards Clapham Junction, the train that I was on was slightly held up. Normally this would be irritating but on this occasion it coincided with the departure of a steam service complete with some Pullman coaches. What was even more fortunate was that the engine ran almost parallel with the coach I was on which enabled me to get a good clip:
I can't say for others but to me there is something quite evocative for a different time about them.
Sam.
I'm going to say this once and once only Gene: Stay out of Camberwick Green!
I'm sure this loco has been running a few times over the last few weeks as I've heard a steam train running near Barnes station in the early evenings. Might be a summer season charter run or something and certainly looks good in BR green too.
They are a different and more alive beast than the diesel and electrics which replaced them and nice to see a few of these out and about still rather than in the museums. As for the spotters, not my thing but each to their own you do see a fair few clustered around stations like Crewe and Stafford etc. from time to time.
Saw this loco pass through Doncaster a couple of times - always looks magnificent when it's got it's proper coaches with it.
Like you, I have an admiration for Steam Locos - but couldn't tell one class from the next - unless they are that obvious!!
My eldest son is the Railway enthusiast - though doesn't collect numbers, just takes photos, and it's him I have to turn to for information if I see something!
It's likely to be a Summer charter - there are a few about. I think they run something from York to Scarbrough during the summer.
LNER (current East Coast Mainline contract) launched their new "Azuma" High Speed train 2 weeks ago, and as a publicity stunt borrowed 'Mallard' from the Railway Museum, and put it in York station.
It was the first time in nearly 35 years I had seen Mallard in a working station.
Again - a great clip Sam!
Frightened by Horror Films? - Just remember, BEHIND the camera stand even more horrifying individuals moaning about the Catering food, the hours they work and quoting Union Rules... that's just the Electricians.
LNER (current East Coast Mainline contract) launched their new "Azuma" High Speed train 2 weeks ago, and as a publicity stunt borrowed 'Mallard' from the Railway Museum, and put it in York station.
It was the first time in nearly 35 years I had seen Mallard in a working station.
I used one of those Azuma's a month or so ago and found it reasonably alright although felt the seats on the older 125's and 225's were better than on these. Still these Azuma's are miles better than Virgin's awful Pendolino's which are cramped and feel very claustrophobic in comparison... have we really moved on since the days of steam?
LNER (current East Coast Mainline contract) launched their new "Azuma" High Speed train 2 weeks ago, and as a publicity stunt borrowed 'Mallard' from the Railway Museum, and put it in York station.
It was the first time in nearly 35 years I had seen Mallard in a working station.
I used one of those Azuma's a month or so ago and found it reasonably alright although felt the seats on the older 125's and 225's were better than on these. Still these Azuma's are miles better than Virgin's awful Pendolino's which are cramped and feel very claustrophobic in comparison... have we really moved on since the days of steam?
I'll turn into a spotter soon!
I had the misfortune of travelling on the Cross Country 220s/221s to Birmingham.
They were only 4 coaches long, cramped, and where there was a set - your knees were wedged under your chin for most of the journey as there was no leg room.
Also - you got the smell from the toilets wafting though the train...
I felt I was in luxury on the return visit - I caught a proper HST (of the Intercity 125 variety) back - leg room, seats, not cramped, air-con... I was spoiled!!
What beats me, is that 40 years ago - that same service (Newcastle-Bristol) would have been hauled by a diesel locomotive, and had around 7-8 coaches on.
Even 30 years ago, there would have been Intercity 125s regularly running the service, if not a Loco hauled one - eitherway, there would have been at least 7 coaches on them.
Frightened by Horror Films? - Just remember, BEHIND the camera stand even more horrifying individuals moaning about the Catering food, the hours they work and quoting Union Rules... that's just the Electricians.
Great pic Sam. That is a B1 class 4-6-0, there are two of them preserved, 61306 and 61264! Train enthusiast alert!
I am just about old enough to remember British Rail running them, the last part of the country to still have steam trains was the north west, where I live, so I did see quite a few, steam traction ended in August 1968, when I was 8. I have driven and fired one on the East Lancs railway where I used to help out and they are hard work to fire but rewarding, like a classic car, more effort needed than a modern one, but much more interesting and satisfying.
Agree on the service between Liverpool and Newcastle, I used this quite often in the early 80s, and it was great, a class 45 or 47 diesel with eight of the comfortable mark 2 coaches, now it's a two or three car unit which is packed like sardines.
You should be able to play it as a video clip Carty.
It is 59Meg though so quite a download to get the whole clip but you do have the sound with it too.
Let me know if you have any issues with playback, if so I'll see about uploading it to YouTube as I'm currently hosting it directly from my own web space.
Sam.
I'm going to say this once and once only Gene: Stay out of Camberwick Green!
Post by D.C. Burtonshaw on Aug 14, 2019 18:14:59 GMT
That's just brilliant, you can't beat a bit of steam! Never actually travelled on a proper longish distance steamer on the railways, only local little preserved tourist railways for visitors, like the local one at Leighton Buzzard which is enthusiast ran which they coincide with a car show every year.
or should that be choo choo. 