Diesel, Electric, Steam and a Railmotor

This post, 29th March 2013, comprises many locomotive class in the three main categories plus an ex GWR steam railmotor.

 

Remember that the Winwick area now includes the L&M line back to Rainhill (as detailed in a previous post) for contributions.

 

I will add one further post for March dated pics to be considered for the next monthly competition.

 WINWICK

 

 

First up is a Colas class 56, 56105, on the popular logs working, Carlisle - Chirk from Jeff Nicholls. The location was Winwick and the date, 27th March 2013.

 

 Code - March W5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pic number two is another from Jeff - retro produced in monochrome.  Stanier 'Black Five' 4-6-0 worked through Warrington Bank Quay on 22nd March 2013.

 

 

 Code - March W6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff's third picture was taken at Twelve Arches on 1st March 2013. Pictured are double heading EWS (DBS) class 92, 92030 Ashford and TATA Steel liveried class 60, 60099, (DIT) dead in tow. The pair are reflected in the river below.

 

 Code - March W7

 

 

 

 

 

Pic number four is from Alan Rigby. DBS class 60, 60015 Bow Fell, is shown at St Helens Junction on a coal working on 21st March 2013.

 

 Code - March W8

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan has also supplied a second pic, number five overall. GBRf class 66, 66705 Golden Jubilee is depicted on the low level line at Bank Quay on a gypsum working. The pic is dated 21st March 2013.

 

 Code - March W9

 

 

 

 

 

ALTERNATIVE UK PICS 

 

 

 

David Quayle has sent in the first four pics in this section. First, pic number six overall, is a shot of a class '28xx' locomotive of G J Churchward No.2857. The loco is photographed at Highley on the Severn Valley Railway on 22nd March 2013.

 

 

 Code - March A6

 

 

 

 

 

Next, from David is pic number seven. Rebuilt 'BoB' (Battle of Britain) class 4-6-2, No. 34053 Sir Keith Park, originally of Oliver Bulleid (re-built by BR),  is pictured at Bewdley on the SVR on 21st March 2013.

 

 Code - March A7

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pic number eight, also from David shows BR 'Standard' class '2' 2-6-0, No.78019 and BR 'Standard' class '4MT' 2-6-4, No.80002. They are travelling between Haworth and Oxenhope on the K&WVR (Keighley & Worth Valley Railway) on 1st March 2013.

 

 Code - March A8

 

 

 

 

 

David's fourth pic, number nine overall, was taken from an overhead view point at Bridgenorth Station on the SVR. Pictured on adjacent lines are class '28xx' 2-8-0, No.2857 and 'BoB' class light 'Pacific,' No.34053 Sir Keith Park.

 

 Code - March A9

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan Rigby has sent in pic number ten. GBRf (Metronet) class 66, 66718 Gwyneth Dunwoody, is pictured at Wigan North Western on a gysum working on 26th March 2013.

 

 Code - March A10

 

 

Two from Matthew Chambers follow now, pics eleven and twelve.The first shows Freightliner 'PowerHaul' class 70, 70004, standing at Crewe with DRS class 66, 66425, DIT behind. The pic is dated 20th March 2013.

 

 Code - March A11

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew's second pic, number twelve overall, features double heading DRS class 66s - 66430 and 66425 - at Stafford on a container working on 23rd March 2013.

 

 

 Code - March A12

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pic number thirteen is from Paul Holland. Ex GWR steam railmotor No.93 is pictured at Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway (WSR) on 10th March 2013. I think this is a first for the blog.

 

 Code - March A13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, pic number fourteen is also from Paul - another picture sent in monochrome style. Ex GWR 'Manor' class 4-6-0, No.7828 Norton Manor, (Designed by Charles Collett)  is featured at Minehead on the WSR on 7th March 2013.

 

Code - March A14

 

 

Voting continues for the 'Pic of the Month', February 2013 competition. The voting system is simple - just send me the yellow February code numbers of the three pics you have chosen as 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each section, Winwick, and Alternatives (UK and World combined). All February dated pics posted between February 2nd and March 6th are eligible and have code numbers. My email address is at the top of the blog. Everyone, contributors or not, can vote.

ELR, K&WVR Re-visited

Now that the winning 2012, photographers and photographs have been extensively covered in previous posts, we can revert to normal business. Carry on sending in your contributions.

 

The Gala season has crept up on us again and this is reflected in today's post, 21st March 2013. Thirteen pics are used - five from Galas - from seven contributors.

 

 

WINWICK

 

 

Appropriately first up is a shot from the 2012 Winwick Photographer of the year, Jeff Nicholls. DRS class 37, 37667 is shown at Winwick heading  Network Rail Test Carriages on a Derby - Mossend working. The pic is dated 11th March 2013.

 

Code - March W1

 

 

 

 

 

Next, pic number two, is from Ieuan Wood. Also taken at Winwick this pic features the 'Battle of Britain' class 4-6-2 of Oliver Bulleid, No.34067 Tangmere. The loco and support coach were on a Carnforth - Southall working on 7th March 2013. 

 

Code - March W2

 

 

 

Pics numbered three and four are from Jeff Nicholls. Number three shows the daily 'Malcolm' container working, this one headed by DRS class 66, 66422. The location was Twelve Arches and the date, 1st March 2013.

 

Code - March W3

 

 

 

 

 

The fourth pic features a familiar coal working through Winwick battling through a blizzard on 11th March 2013. The loco at the head was EWS (DBS) class 60, 60045 The Permanent Way Institution.

 

 Code - March W4

 

 

ALTERNATIVE UK PICS

 

 

First up in this section are a foursome from David Quayle, our most travelled contributor with respect to Galas. Pic number five shows ex LMS class '4F' No.43924, leaving Oxenhope on the K&WVR on 1st March 2013.

 

Code - March A1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ex L&YR class '27' 0-6-0, No.1300 leads BR 'Austerity' 2-8-0, No.90733 in pic number six, also taken on the K&WVR. The pair are shown heading for Oxenhope on 1st March 2013. 

 

 

 

Code - March A2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BR class '4MT' 2-6-4T, No.80002 is next from David, approaching Haworth with BR 'Standard' class '2' 2-6-0, No.78019. The latter is normally stabled on the GCR. The date was 1st March 2013 again.

 

Code - March A3

 

 

 

 

 

David's fourth shot from the same Gala features four of the locos already described, all standing at Haworth - No.43924, No.78019, No.80002 and No.1300. The date was the same 1st March 2013.

 

Code - March A4

 

 

 

 

 

Pic number nine is from David Wood. David visited the ELR Gala on 20th February 2013 to photograph ex LNER class 'K4' 2-6-0, No.61994 The Great Marquess. The loco is about to leave Bury.

 

 

Our tenth pic is from Ieuan Wood, taken at Chorlton on 20th February 2013. Shown are a trio of WCRC locos - class 47, 47786 Roy Castle OBE, class 33, 33029 Glen Loy and class 37, 37516.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew Chambers has supplied pic number eleven, another of his  Doncaster shots. East Coast class 91, 91119, is pictured on a regular service in dreadful weather conditions on 19th January 2013.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pic twelve is from Jeff Nicholls. Shown are the same WCRC trio of diesel locomotives as pictured above in pic number ten. Also taken on the same day, 20th February 2013, but at Tamworth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last up, pic number thirteen is from Bob McClellan. Another poor weather shot, (our weather has been lousy this year so far) Bob was at Great Rocks Junction for this one. Pictured is GBRf class 66, 66724 Drax Power Station on a stone working, Tunstead - Bury St Edmunds. The pic is dated 6th March 2013. 

 

 Code - March A5





Voting has started for the 'Pic of the Month', February 2013 competition. The voting system is simple - just send me the yellow February code numbers of the three pics you have chosen as 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each section, Winwick, and Alternatives (UK and World combined). All February dated pics posted between February 2nd and March 6th are eligible and have code numbers. My email address is at the top of the blog. Everyone, contributors or not, can vote.

 

Photographer of the Year, 2012 - ALTERNATIVE UK & WORLD PICS

Today's post 17th March 2013, comprises some biographical notes about Bob McClellan, the 'Alternative UK & World Photographer of the Year, 2012'.


Biographical notes - Bob McClellan.

I spent the first ten years of my life in Haydock close to the Lyme pits and the Richard Evans foundry and railway system. I could see the marshalling yard from my bedroom window. If I saw a train leaving I would run up to the level crossing top of Grange Valley to watch it pass. This is where my love of railways began.

The problem was that these industrial railways weren’t romantic enough so I used to walk to Winwick Junction, remember I was only 9 years old, to see the big express engines on the main line.

In 1959 I moved from Haydock to Lowton and nearer to the WCML. My Saturdays comprised of being on the A580 bridge at Golborne from 8am and headed for home at 5pm after the Mid Day Scot had gone through. Although I didn’t have a camera at the time I still have vivid memories of these days.

Although I did travel to other places York, Doncaster, Chester etc. I was really very parochial and didn’t travel to the interesting places that were on my doorstep. Now that I am a bit more knowledgeable (?) I could kick myself that I didn’t travel the few miles to see the vast railway operations that were happening locally.

Every rail enthusiast has a lapse in their enthusiasm when other matters become more important, girls, beer and motorbikes, and I was no different. My problem was that this period coincided with the demise of steam traction although I did go out and see the 15 guinea special at Parkside Junction.

Fast forward now to the early 1980’s.  The children were growing up so to fill my time the railway enthusiasm was resurrected. I had a bit of money so I bought my first real camera and went out taking pictures of ‘Peaks’, ‘40’s’ and all the other various classes that abounded at that time. This was also the time that I took an interest in continental railways. In Britain the older classes were gradually being run down but abroad there were lots of veteran locos still earning their keep. Trips over the last few years have included Scandinavia, Italy and Switzerland.

I retired from work in 2002 and treated myself to a digital camera. This upgrade seemed to spur me on and I always seemed to be at the lineside. Being able to see the shot straight away made things easier. I appreciated being able to correct mistakes on the next shot instead of waiting for the slides to be delivered and discovering that you had made the same mistake on them all. I still manage to make ‘cock ups’ though.

And that’s it, the railway scene on the main line is becoming very sparse and you have to travel to see any volumes of traffic so I am now trying to improve on my photography, taking in the whole picture rather than doing the front ¾ shots in full sun.

I have found lately that railway photography has become very challenging. The lack of traffic and proliferation of trees meaning locations are becoming very limited. Also climate changes mean that you can start the day in full sun and be in a torrential downpour a couple of miles down the road. However you have to go and get the shots because it will probably be gone tomorrow.

Finally thanks for all the votes and happy snapping in 2013.



A Selection of Pics from Bob McClellan.



First up is a shot of Schynige Platte Railway He2/2 No.16 Anemone at Schynige Platte, Switzerland. The pic is dated 9th August 2003.









Next pic shows the 'Tees Steel Express' at Peak Forest with Northwich - Tunstead empties on 24th February 2005.










Pic three was taken on the Isle of Mull Railway on 17th May 2008; pictured is Victoria approaching Craignure.










Dukedog No.9017 is next shown leaving Glyndyfrdwy on the Llangollen Railway. The pic is dated 22nd April 2009.









Pic five was taken at Consall Forge on the Churnet Valley Railway on 20th November 2011. The loco is West Country 'Pacific' No.34028 Eddystone.









Freightliner class 70, 70009 is next, taken at Frodsham on the Ellesmere Port - FFPS loaded coal working on 1st March 2011.








'Lord Nelson' class No.850 Lord Nelson is pictured at Ropley on the Mid Hants Railway on 18th June 2011.










Bob's final pic takes us to Sweden. Inlandsbanen Di3 No.623 is pictured at Gallivare on 1st July 2011.








Voting has started for the 'Pic of the Month', February 2013 competition. The voting system is simple - just send me the yellow February code numbers of the three pics you have chosen as 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each section, Winwick and Alternatives (UK and World combined). All February dated pics posted between February 2nd and March 6th are eligible and have code numbers. My email address is at the top of the blog. Everyone, contributors or not, can vote.

Photographer of the Year, 2012 - WINWICK

Today's post 11th March 2013, comprises some biographical notes about JEFF NICHOLLS, the 'Winwick Photographer of the Year, 2012'. Following on in the next post will be a similar set of notes from Bob McClellan, the '2012 Alternative UK & World Photographer of the Year'.

 

Will contributors please hold back further pics until I request them as I have sufficient in 'the bank' at the present time.

 

 

Jeff Nicholls - My Photographic Career
 

I was born in 1950 so saw a few years of the end of real BR steam. Having a father who worked on the railways I was privileged to have free travel tickets which took me all over England trainspotting, one of the highlights being a ride in the cab of a ‘Clan’ the full length of Carlisle station. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until 1965 that I acquired my first camera-a Kodak Brownie 44B. With shutter speeds of 1/30, 1/60 and B, and apertures of f5.6 and f8, it took surprisingly good black-and-white photographs ( I couldn’t afford colour), provided that the sun shone and the subject didn’t move! I did get some good interior shots in my local shed, Oxley in Wolverhampton, resting the camera on the buffer beam of an adjacent loco or on the ground. I still have the negatives from that era and they remain among my most treasured possessions.

After the death of real steam, I lost interest in railways until moving to the north west in 1973, discovering the delights of Bickershaw Colliery in Leigh, but still only having the Brownie camera. I then went through a series of 35mm SLRs, beginning with a Russian-made Zenith EM (probably quite a few photographers’ starting point), passing through a Praktica TTL and ending with a Canon AE1 Program which lasted me until the digital era. I still dabbled in monochrome from time to time (going through a ‘Colin Gifford’ phase) but used mostly Kodak colour film. Having been through a Fuji F9500 and S7000, I now use either a Canon 40D or a 60D, with Canon lenses, mostly the 17-85mm IS USM.

My first love has always been steam so, naturally, I have plenty of photos of preserved steam on the main line and on preserved lines. I have also ‘lived the dream’ by going to Poland ten times to drive and fire steam on the main line. To be in charge of a steam loco at 60 m.p.h. on the main line is a spine tingling experience. It’s also damned hard work! During my visits to Poland I’ve also driven electric traction at 75 m.p.h., diesel at 60 and narrow gauge steam and diesel at about 10!

I followed the modern scene around Warrington through the late 1970s and 1980s but lost interest after that until 2009 when I ventured out again and began recording the current scene. Early in 2010 I met Dave Platt on Old Alder Lane who greeted me with the immortal words, “Do you come here often?” He went on to invite me to submit photos to ‘Along Winwick Lines’, which I have been doing ever since. I like to photograph trains in a landscape or an environment. Diesel and electric locos are not as intrinsically fascinating as steam so I prefer to set them in context rather than take close-ups. My favourite location is Twelve Arches where some of my best local shots have been taken.  We are fortunate in that Warrington is a freight ‘hotspot’ and so there is still a reasonable variety of motive power to be seen, along with a sprinkling of unusual workings. Enjoy it while you can for surely, as it has done in the past, it will change and become less interesting.

Through the blog I have made several new like-minded friends and I feel honoured to have won the ‘Winwick Photographer of the Year 2012’ title as it acknowledges my contribution to ‘Along Winwick Lines’. Thanks for voting for me and on behalf of all contributors, a major ‘Thank You’ to Dave Platt for all the hard work he puts into the blog.


A Selection of Pics from Jeff Nicholls.


The Brownie era : Steam as I remember it, rusty and black and white. 76041 at the back of Oxley shed, Wolverhampton in the summer of 1966. Kodak Brownie 44B.








Working Steam : 'Gwyneth' and 'No.8' storm out of Bickershaw Colliery with HAA hoppers which will end up at FFPS behind a class 47. Zenith EM.








The Majesty of Steam : 5029 'Nunney Castle' storms away from Appleby in February 1994. Canon AE-1 Program.













Diesel in the Landscape : A gleaming 37035 leaves Kyle of Lochalsh for Inverness on August 29th 1984 with a backdrop of the Isle of Sky. Canon AE-1 Program.










Diesel in Industry : 70015 passes through Crosfields with coal empties returning from FFPS. Canon 40D.













Twelve Arches : 66160 crosses the Mersey, light engine on May 23rd 2012. You wouldn't think that the centre of Warrington is only a mile from the spot. Canon 40D.









Polish Steam : Tr5 65 rests inside Wolsztyn Depot on June 2nd 2005. I had just driven and fired this loco on a passenger train from Poznan to Wolsztyn. Fuji S7000.








Winwick : A Timeless scene; 86259 Les Ross hurries north on a special working on June 14th 2012. Canon 40D.











Voting can now begin for the 'Pic of the Month', February 2013 competition. The voting system is simple - just send me the yellow February code numbers of the three pics you have chosen as 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each section, Winwick and Alternatives (UK and World combined). All February dated pics posted between February 2nd and March 6th are eligible and have code numbers. My email address is at the top of the blog. Everyone, contributors or not, can vote.

'Pics of the Month, January 2013' - RESULTS

Today's post, 6th March 2013, comprises the results for the first monthly competition of 2013 for both Winwick  and Alternatives sections.


WINWICK

1st   January W7  by Bob McClellan.


Search the post of 21st January 2013 for details.







 

2nd   January W1  by Jeff Nicholls

 
Search the post of 12th January 2013 for details.





 


3rd   January W14  by Geoff Monks


 Search the post of 2nd February 2013 for details.










ALTERNATIVE UK PICS


1st January A15  by David Quayle


Search the post of 2nd February 2013 for details.










2nd=   January A17  by Matthew Chambers


Search the post of 2nd February 2013 for details.








2nd= January A7 by John Smith


Search the post of 27th January 2013 for details.

Winning Photographs and Photographers for 2012

Today's post, March 3rd 2013, is rather special. Here are the winners of the 2012 competitions for : Photographer of the Year, Winwick; Photographer of the Year, Alternative UK & World; Photograph of the Year, Winwick; Photograph of the Year, Alternative UK & World. Voting finished on 28th February 2013.

 

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2012 - WINWICK. (Total points gained over the twelve monthly competitions)

 

Winner : Jeff Nicholls (128 points). 2nd place : John Smith (99 points). 3rd place Bob McClellan (96 points).

 

 

 PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2012 - ALTERNATIVE UK & WORLD. (Total points gained over the twelve monthly competitions)

 

Winner : Bob McClellan (101 points). 2nd place David Quayle (90 points). 3rd place Geoff Monks (78points). 

  

 

PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR 2012 - WINWICK. (The winning photograph from the twelve monthly winners). 

 

Winner : Dave Platt (Pic number W5, 23 points). 2nd place Colin Platt (Pic number W4, 15points). 3rd place John Smith (Pic number W8, 10 points). 13 pics from an entry of 14, received at least 1 point.

 

 

W5.  The shot by yours truly shows  the 'Castle to Scotland' charter passing through Red Bank on 26th May 2012. At the head is Charles Collett's ex GWR 'Castle' class 4-6-0 loco, No.5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. The headboard reads 'The Caledonian'. This loco was built in 1936 and originally named Barbury Castle. She was renamed in 1937.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR 2012 - ALTERNATIVE UK & WORLD (The winning photograph from the twelve monthly winners). 

 

Winner : Andy Parkinson (Pic number A12, 17 points). 2nd place Alan Rigby (Pic number A2, 13 points). 3rd place Colin Platt  (Pic number 10c, 10 points). 14 pics from an entry of 15, received at least 1 point) 

 

 

A12. Andy's shot was taken on 13th December 2012. The location was Astley and the temperature, sub zero, but the Stanier 'Black Five' looks superb set against frost and blue sky. The loco is No.44871 with support coach working Castleton Hopwood Groundframe (ELR) - Kidderminster (SVR) to help out with the Santa Specials.

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to our four winners. I will be publishing two separate posts comprising notes about the photographic careers of Jeff Nicholls and Bob McClellan, the two Photographers of the Year, 2012, in the near future. They will be, hopefully, posts similar to that I published for Geoff Monks last year (Photographer of the Year, 2011).

 

The next post will comprise the winners of the January 2013 monthly competitions.

 

It is sad that we could did not gain any sponsorship for our competitions when one considers the number of hits that the blog receives and the links/adverts that could be added in recognition of such support.  If anyone has any ideas along these lines, please let me know.