Llangollen Railway

Today's post, 25th April 2016, comprises many pictures of steam locos on the Llangollen Railway and a partial insight into the LR workshops. Carlisle and our own Winwick area are other locations visited by our contributors. Seventeen pics are included in total, from four contributors.

WINWICK & BEYOND

David Quayle is our first contributor with seven examples, the first four being from the recent Along Cambrian Lines Gala. His first features Collett large 'Prairie' 2-6-2,  No.5199, approaching Berwyn tunnel on 9th April 2016.

David's second shot shows double heading Collett 'Manor' class 4-6-0 locomotives Nos 7820 Dinmore Manor and 7833 Foxcote Manor. The location was the same, approaching Berwyn Tunnel, on 9th April 2016. David adds "According to the Railway publicity, the Cambrian Coast Express was steam hauled until  November 1965. No.7820 Dinmore Manor worked the last down train on 13th November 1965. It also states that this is the first time that two black 'Manors' have run together in preservation".

The next two shots are also from the same location. David's pics take advantage of the locos working hard up the 1in 80 gradient towards Berwyn Tunnel. This one shows Churchward 'Prairie' tank '4500' class 2-6-2, No. 4566, on 9th April 2016.

Same place and date for Collett 'Manor 'class 4-6-0 No.7822 Foxcote Manor.

Pic number five from David features Collett '6400' class, push/pull fitted, 0-6-0 pannier tank No. 6430, pulling out of Berwyn heading for Corwen, on 9th April 2016.

The following two shots were taken inside the workshops at Llangollen on 9th April 2016.  This one features the construction of the new 'Patriot' class 4-6-0 locomotive, No.45551 The Unknown Warrior.  The project, to build a new 'Patriot' class locomotive replicating an original Fowler parallel boiler design, is to be completed by 2018.

David's seventh and final shot in this post was also taken inside the workshops on the same date. Pictured is Collett '4575' class small 'Prairie' 2-6-2, No.5532 built in 1928, withdrawn in 1962, and under restoration.

Ieuan Wood has sent in the next pic, number eight in this post. Pictured is Fowler/Stanier 'Royal Scot' class 4-6-0, No.46100 Royal Scot, at Winwick on 16th April 2016. The 'Special' was 'The Scot Commemorative', running Crewe-Carlisle -Crewe.

The next two shots are from myself. First up is Stanier 'Jubilee' class 4-6-0, No. 45690 Leander, heading 'The Salopian Express'. The 'Special' ran Preston - Crewe - Shrewsbury - Crewe - Preston on 22nd April 2016.  The location was Red Bank, Newton-le-Willows.

My second shot was taken at the same location on the same date. Pictured are double heading DBS class 90s, 90024 and 90029,  on a short intermodal working, heading south. 

The final seven shots in this post are from Jeff Nicholls. First up is another shot of 46100 Royal Scot, taken at Red Bank on 16th April 2016. How long before the power station is demolished and this backdrop is gone forever?






Shots two and three from Jeff were taken at Carlisle, on 20th April 2016. The first shows class 37, 37401 Mary Queen of Scots at the rear of a Carlisle - Barrow service








The second Carlisle shot features a class 156 unit, 156 514 on an Edinburgh - Newcastle service.









The following two shots were taken at Dallam (Warrington) on 20th April 2016. Both feature DBS class 60, 60059 Swinden Dalesman, working a stone train from Peak Forest to Dallam Freight Depot. in this shot the train is passing the site of the old Dallam shed, partly visible on the right. Jeff adds "The loco and train have to go into the Royal Mail terminal before reversing into the siding at Dallam to be unloaded. This is a fairly new traffic flow, much needed after the loss of the coal trains".


Jeff's second Dallam shot shows the same tain reversing from the Royal Mail terminal and being passed by Arrive Trains Wales class 67, 67002, on a Manchester Piccadilly - Llandudno service.







Berwyn is the location again for the final two shots in this post, from Jeff. The first features Collett large 'Prairie' 2-6-2, No.5199 working a stopping passenger service Llangollen - Corwen East on 10th April 2016.







Finally, from Jeff,  Collett '6400' class, push/pull fitted, 0-6-0 pannier tank No. 6430, (details above) pictured near Berwyn on the same date.

SVR, WSR and SDR Steam

Severn Valley Railway, West Somerset Railway and South Devon Railway are all represented in today's post, 10th April 2016. Twenty-four shots are featured from six contributors.

WINWICK & BEYOND

First up are six shots from David Quayle's visit to the SVR. Taken at Bewdley on 19th March 2016 a Churchward 'prairie' tank '4500' class 2-6-2, No. 4566, is seen standing between water tanks.

Also at Bewdley on the same date was the ex GWR, Churchward '2800' class 2-8-0, No.2857, with a short freight working.

Another shot - same place, same date - features ex GWR '64xx' class, 0-6-0 pannier tank No.6412, filling up with water. Note the coupled-up autocoach Chaffinch, on the left.

Pic four from David is another taken at Bewdley on 19th March 2016. Pictured at the station are Charles Collett's ex GWR 'Manor' class 4-6-0, No.7812, Erlestoke Manor  and Collett's  ex GWR, '14xx' class 0-4-2, push/pull tank engine, No.1450. Note the specialist GWR benches.

Pic number five from David shows the Hawksworth, BR Western Region class '15' 0-6-0 pannier tank, No.1501. All ten class 15s, with their outside cylinders, were built in 1949 and No.1501 is the only survivor. Same place same date again.

This shot is David's sixth and final shot taken at Bewdley again, on the same date, and also his last in this post. The Bullied ex SR 'Light Pacific' (rebuilt under BR) 'West Country' class 4-6-2, No.34027 Taw Valley is stationary at a double signal gantry, with pannier tank No.6412 (details above), to the right.

Next are four shots from Ieuan Wood. First is Stanier, 'Jubilee' class 4-6-0, No.45699 Galatea, at Winwick on 2nd April 2016. The loco move, with support coach, was from Chester to Carnforth. 

Second from Ieuan is this shot of Stanier, 'Princess Coronation' class 4-6-2, No.46233 Duchess of Sutherland at Winwick, on the same date.The 'Special' was the return leg of the Cumbrian Mountain Express; Carlisle - Crewe - Euston.

Third shot from Ieuan shows the class 86, 86259 Les Ross at Winwick, on 2nd April 2016. The 'Special' was the outward 'Cumbrian Mountain Express' running Euston - Carnforth - Carlisle.

Ieuan's fourth and final pic features Colas Rail Freight class 60, 60095 on the logs working, showing the new helmet logo. Same location and date.    

Aidan Fort has sent in the following four shots. First up is GBRf class 66, 66707 Sir Sam Fay, at Winwick on 31st March 2016. The Working was Drax P.S. - Liverpool biomass.







Next from Aidan is light engine, class 92, 92038, in Caledonian Sleeper livery; taken at Acton Bridge on 31st March 2016. The working was Carlisle - Crewe.









Red Bank is the location for Aidan's next shot, also taken on 31st March 2016. The evening logs working, Carlisle - Chirk, was headed by Colas Rail Freight class 60, 60095.








Fourth and final shot from Aidan features two class 47s -  WCRC, 47245 dragging 47580, County of Essex, at Acton Bridge on 31st March 2016. The working was Carnforth - Southall ECS.







Jeff Nicholls has sent in the next four shots. Number one features Collett, 0-6-0, outside-cylindered Pannier tank No.1369, at Buckfastleigh Signal Box,  on the South Devon Railway. Built in 1934 as part of a class of 6. The pic is dated 5th April 2016.








Next from Jeff is another pic of No.1369 at Buckfastleigh on the same date.























Pics three and four from Jeff show two views of the same working, a Craigentinny - Derby Network Rail test train, at Winwick on 30th March 2016. The top and tailing DRS class 68 locos were 68004 Rapid (T) and 68002 Intrepid (T).



The next shot has been sent in by Alan Rigby. The pic was taken between Hale and Altrincham on 5th April 2016, and shows GBRf class 66, 66732 GBRf The First Decade 1999-2009 John Smith MD, on a LBT - Drax P.S. working.








The final five shots in this post are from Colin Platt. First up is a shot of ex BR 'Standard' 2-6-4 tank, No.80043, on Ker Moor near Blue Anchor, on the West Somerset Railway (WSR). The pic is dated 10th March 2016.





Pic two from Colin features ex SR, re-built Bullied 'Light Pacific' (BoB), No.34053 Sir Keith Park on the exit from Blue Anchor.  This pic is dated 6th March 2016.











Next is ex BR 'Standard' class '9F' 2-10-0, No.92214, approaching Dunster on 10th March 2014. It was one of Britain's last steam engines, built in Swindon Works in 1959.









Number four from Colin shows ex LMS class '8F' 2-8-0, No.48624, designed by William Stanier, one of a class of 852. The passenger service was leaving Dunster on 10th March 2016.











The final shot from Colin's WSR visit, and the last one in this post, was taken as double heading pair of ex SR locomotives were approaching Blue Anchor on 6th March 2016. The locos were No.34053 again (details above) and un-rebuilt 'BoB' class 4-6-2 No.34070 Manston. Note the pheasant just, only just, making it to safety, as it flies across the front of No.34053.