Modern Railway Diversity

For today's post, 23rd December 2011, another ten pics have been chosen, fully reflecting the diversity of railway material available to the modern photographer/enthusiast. I think that the number and quality of pictures submitted also reflects  the growing popularity of railway photography, benefiting of course from the advent of digitisation and the availablity of a huge camera range.


The first contributor is David Quayle. David photographed Stanier 'Pacific' No.6233 Duchess of Sutherland, in war-time, 'love it or loathe' it black livery, heading 'The Welsh Dragon' railtour. The pic is dated 24th April 2010 and the location was Chester. The railtour ran Lincoln - Holyhead and return with the 'Duchess' operating the Crewe - Holyhead - Crewe legs.




The second pic is from Jeff Nicholls and is another of his excellent scans of older images. Class 26, 26024, is shown passing through the Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, on 23rd August 1986.








Pic number three is from John Smith. St Helens Junction is the location for John's shot of two DRS class 37s sandwiching a Network Rail test coach. At the rear of the train, travelling away from the camera, is 37604 and on the front is 37607. The date was 6th July 2011.






Shot number four is from Barry Rigby and shows 'The Train of Hope' Special headed by 'Royal Scot' class 4-6-0, No.46115 Scots Guardsman. The latter ran the Crewe - Carlise - Settle - Hellifield leg. The pic is dated 1st October 2010 and the location was Kirby Stephen.





Colin Platt has sent in pic number five, taken on the Seven Valley Railway at Bewdley, on 22nd September 2011. Pictured are two locos; Ivatt class '2' 2-6-0, No. 46443 and Churchward class '2800' 2-8-0, No.2857.




A superbly turned out GBRf class 66 is the subject of shot number six, from Matthew Chambers. No.66734 was pictured at Doncaster on 23rd August 2011.




The Keighley &Worth Valley Railway is the location for pic number seven, from David Quayle. BR 'Standard' class '5' 4-6-0, No.73129, is pictured beside ex Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway class 25 0-6-0, No.957 (BR No.52004), on 8th October 2010.





The popular 'Tesco Express', headed by class 92, 92017 Bart the Engine, in Stobart livery, is featured next on its travels from Daventry to Mossend. The pic, number eight, is from Alan Rigby. The location was Greenholme and the date, 21st September 2011.



The penultimate shot is from Bob McClellan. Pictured outside the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, is diesel hydraulic shunter class 02 0-4-0, No.D2868, on hire from the Harry Needle Co. This pic is dated 17th November 2011.





The final shot, number 10, has been sent in by Paul Holland. Depicted is class 31, 31297/D5830 in a fascinating ochre livery, standing ahead of BR blue (large logo) class 37, 37314. The location was Loughborough and the date, 19th August 2008.

May I take this opportunity to thank all our contributors and readers / viewers and to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous 2012. The blog would not have evolved so successfully without your support.