I had a long weekend away this weekend, and I have a few pics to post... On Sunday, whilst the UK was being lashed by 90mph+ gales I took a walk around central Birmingham, all of the national network's services were stopped due to massive amounts of debris blocking lines, but the Midland Metro light rail system was still running through part of it's length. These two pics were taken at Birmingham Snow Hill on Sunday. I was impressed that they had crammed this light rail terminal into a spare corner of Snow Hill national rail station (the mainline tracks can be seen in the background in one pic) [ 29. October 2002, 20:20: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
Martyn you are indeed an intrepid railfan to venture out in those conditions! Good to see the photos, I did not know they had a light rail system which entered Snow Hill, but no city is complete without light rail these days, it seems The only light rail in this country I have ridden is the one in Sheffield, and the ride is far preferable to buses!!
We decided to take a slow trip back to Exeter on the Monday, and stopped in at a couple of places on the way. First up was the Severn Valley Railway, we decided to take a short trip from Kidderminster to Bewdley and get some lunch there, these four pics were all taken at Bewdley. I was very impressed by the SVR, I was surprised they had no less than 4 steam loco's in operation on a weekday in the last full week of their operating year though! Our loco to Bewdley was a "Black 5" 4-6-0, the loco arriving on the opposing train is a GWR pannier tank. Our black 5 departs north for Bridgnorth, across the small viaduct at Bewdley, the train was a set of nicely turned out LMS coaches dating from the 1940's. Stabled in platform 3 at Bewdley was this Ivatt 2-6-0, with a smartly restored DMU car behind it. The GWR pannier has come back from Kidderminster, and is waiting for the single track to clear before proceeding north. Arriving is an 8F 2-8-0, with the signalman out to collect the token for the single line. We took this train (and it's restored 1930's LNER coaches) back to Kidderminster. Later we dropped in on the Dean Forest railway, but i'll leave that for the moment...
Martyn- Just curious- How do people in the UK view rail enthusiasts and preservationists? Are they looked upon as contributing something valuable to the society? Or as somewhat of an oddity? Does the population as a whole in the UK, realize the worth of the work that goes into saving, and operating these wonderful machines? Do they generally support such efforts? Boxcab E50
Boxcab, it depends, I think the steam preservation scene has a lot of credibility with the average member of the public, however folks like me that enjoy watching the modern railway in action as well tend to be regarded as slightly odd. I have even been verbally abused whilst going about this hobby, which is a real shame in so many different ways! Anyhow, here's the third & last set of pics from the weekend (unless you want to see more SVR ones....) We stopped off at Lydney, on the Welsh side of the River Severn on the way back to check out the Dean Forest railway, this is another preserved line. I had checked in advance and it wasn't running, but I thought i'd see what was going on. Lined up in the yard at Lydney were no less than four of the six class 73/0 electro-diesel loco's, I grew up in South London and these were local machines to me back then. There were a whole bunch of guys working on these as they have apparently got a potential freight contract coming off, they want to use a pair of these on the freight trains. 73002 is a spares donor (it has no engine at present), whilst 73901, 73906 and 73005 are runners. The 73's are 3rd rail electric machines that have a small diesel engine for shunting off the electric rail. The DFR will be using them diesel only as they have no electrification. Hats off to the UK's preservation movement for some nice work [ 30. October 2002, 20:07: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
Martyn, very nice photos! I especially like the one of the steamer on the viaduct. Nice composition. Steam is the only thing worth photographing!
Good stuff Martyn! Please post more of your SVR pics I have visited the Severn Valley Railway several times, and it always impresses me as a very professional outfit. When I was constructing a gauge 1 model of an Austerity locomotive, they gave me unfettered access to a locomotive to measure, photograph etc., even though the locomotive area is usually off-limits to railfans. So I have a soft spot for the railway It is a lovely run, and some of the stations are beautifully kept, and very picturesque. Well worth a visit for anyone who can get there. Yes, Fitz, there is plenty of steam in operation
OK here's a couple more from the Severn Valley Railway. The first is the best pic of the three IMO...it's the Black 5 again waiting for the single line section at Bewdley. Here's a closer shot of the pannier tank arriving. And here's a clear shot of the other end of that restored DMU set. Quite smart really.
Martyn- Your description is essentially the same as what we see here in the USA. If the pattern runs true, perhaps the rest of the world's public also feels this way. Indeed sad. So it's always great to hear of preservation, and restoration, anywhere around the globe. Boxcab E50
Martyn, my hat is doffed to you and your Wife as a perfectly matched set! Rail fanning a mere 2-3 weeks after your wedding, with no apparent complaints from either party!
Martyn. I didn't know you just got married a couple of weeks ago. Congratulations. I am surprised the Mrs let you out to take these great pictures. I am glad she did. They are great.
Martyn, I rather like those old DMU's, and the "cat's whisker" paint scheme is the best, IMO. I remember getting quite excited when we first got dmu's on the Boston to Peterborough run, it was good to be able to see out the front window along the track ahead!
Not quite, we had to visit Cribbs Causeway (a large mall) in Bristol on the way back as well... She knows how to strike a bargain This is Rachel on the train, the coach is the one in the picture of the Black 5 on the viaduct, it's a 1940's built LMS railway corridor (with compartments) composite (part 1st, part 3rd class) coach. The interior was lovely, and they had the steam heating connected so it was toasty-warm!
