'The Great Gathering'

You must have been living on Mars if you haven't heard of the 'Streak' extravaganza taking place at the NRM. 'The Great Gathering' has brought together the six surviving Gresley 'A4s' from the UK, America and Canada. This post, 16th May 2013, includes several shots of this event celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Mallard's world record of 126mph - 'Mallard 75'. Other shots are also included giving us a total of eighteen pics from seven contributors.


WINWICK


First up is a shot from Geoff Monks. Pictured are double heading Colas Rail class 56s, 56105 and 56087 on the Carlisle - Chirk logs working. The location was Winwick and the date, 9th July 2013.

Code - July W1





The following three pics have been sent in by Jeff Nicholls. Pic number two shows an empty gypsum working, Newbiggin - FFPS, at Arpley.  GBRf class 66, 66746 is at the head. The pic is dated 10th July 2013.

Code - July W2





Double heading DRS class 66s are up next, in pic number three. Jeff's shot shows the pair heading the Tesco express intermodal through Winwick on 10th July 2013. The locos were 66429 and Malcolm liveried, 66434.

Code - July W3





Jeff's next pic, number four features three locos - two DRS  class 57s and a Freightliner class 66. The 57s are dragging the failed 66 on a Hunterston - FFPS coal  working. The 57s later 'top and tailed' the train to the power station. The locos were 57011, 57007 and 66596.

Code - July W4




Ieuan Wood has sent in pics five and six. Pic number five shows Colas Rail class 66, 66850, with a tanks working through Winwick on 1st July 2013.

Code - July W5






Ieuan's second shot, number six overall, features ex LMS  Stanier 'Black Five', No.44932, with support coach. The location was Winwick and the date, 1st July 2013.

Code - July W6






ALTERNATIVE UK PICS


David Hennessey has sent in pics seven, eight and nine all taken at the recent ELR Diesel Gala. First up, pic number seven is a shot of class 47, D1501 Gateshead, at Bury Bolton Street. Beside the 47 is Deltic class 55, 55022 Royal Scots Grey. The pic is dated 5th July 2013.

Code - July A1





The novel pic, number eight, shows class 40, D335 pictured through a carriage keyhole at Rawtenstall on the same date, 5th July 2013.


Code - July A2










Ramsbottom was the location for David's next  shot, number nine. Class 47, 47596 Aldeburgh Festival is the focus. The date is the same - 5th July 2013.

Code - July A3







The next four pics were all taken at the NRM 'Mallard 75' event, by David Quayle. David was one of 50 people allowed in before the event opened on 8th July 2013. The first pic, number ten overall, is a 'joiner' with several pics pasted together to form a panorama. The locos L to R are No.60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower, 60009 Union of South Africa,  4464 Bittern, 4468 Mallard and 4489 Dominion of Canada.

Code - July A4



Pic eleven features John Cameron's privately owned 'Streak,' No.60009 Union of South Africa.

Code - July A5








Pic twelve showcases Jeremy Hosking's privately owned 'A4', No. 4464 Bittern.


Code - July A6







Nos 4464, 4468 and 4489 are shown together in pic number thirteen.

Code - July A7








David Wood has supplied the next two pics. Pic fourteen features Colas Rail class 56, 56105 on a logs working at Runcorn East, with Norton Signal Box prominent in the pic. David's pic is dated 9th July 2013.     Code - July A8





David's next pic, number fifteen, shows Aviva class 158 dmu, 158 832, also at Runcorn East on the same date, 9th July 2013.

Code - July A9







Bevan Price has sent in pic number sixteen. GBRf class 66, 66728 is pictured at Pontefract Monkhill with empty biomass stock, on 25th May 2013.








Pic seventeen is from Geoff Monks. DBS 'tug' 60079 is pictured on a Toton - Crewe Departmental working at Millmeece, between Stafford and Crewe, on 8th July 2013.

Code - July A10






The final shot in this post, number eighteen, has been sent in by Jeff Nicholls. Freightliner class 66, 66524 is pictured heading ballast empties at Wigan Springs Branch on 15th July 2013.


 Code - July A11







Voting continues for the 'Pic of the Month',  June 2013 competition. The voting system is simple - just send me the yellow June 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 June dated pics posted between 6th June and 5th July, are eligible and have code numbers. My email address is at the top of the blog. Everyone, contributors or not, can vote.