Churnet Valley

80072 Charter 20 February 2010

This was a wonderful day on the Churnet Valley; my heart warms to this railway each time I return to it. Snow, from the previous couple of days, remained on many of the fields during the first half of the day making for spectacular shots in glorious scenery (although you would never guess from the footage!). Newly restored Standard Tank 80072 did the honours, spending the day hauling a mixed goods rake up the line. Travelling in the brake van while being propelled down to Oakamoor in the early morning frost was an experience I shall long remember and it was some time before I regained control of my frozen feet!

Many thanks to Charter organisers Matt Allen and Warwick Falconer, who literally "managed" the weather brilliantly! Also many thanks to Chris and Rob who drove and fired the engine expertly to create a series of beautiful steam effects and tolerated my intrusive filming on the footplate. Also thanks to the two guards who worked tirelessly to ensure our warmth and safety and provided the heavy lifting gear to move my equipment between the train and the lineside below.

The video features scenes at Cheddleton, near Oakamoor, Cherry Eye Bridge, Consall Forge and the section between Consall and Cheddleton.

Jon Bowcutt has some excellent photographs of the event on his site.

You Tube (10mins)

Winter Gala 6 February 2010

Another very enjoyable Gala at the Churnet Valley. Many thanks to the volunteers who put on such a good show and who treated us with such courtesy throughout our visit. The railway faced potential embarrassment when star guest engine, the Duke of Gloucester was withdrawn by her owners at the last minute but the railway worked miracles in organising a replacement in the form of "the planet's favourite prairie" 5542. The latter, sporting an unfortunate headboard for part of the day, accompanied newly restored standard tank 4 80072, US tank 30075 and prairie 5199 which, much to our surprise, was not seen at the head of a train.

Despite the pessimistic weather forecast, the sun shone for much of the day, making for some spectacular departures from Consall.

Many thanks to Clive Hanley, Graham Briggs and Gordon McCulloch for their entertaining company. The new car mats, which Clive provided, stung by my criticism of the mess my passengers had left the week before (I was only joking, chaps!), worked a treat, which was just as well as they were caked in mud at the end of the day.

Anyone thinking of buying a new computer running Windows 7 (64 bit). Think hard and then think again. I have spent many hours converting my operations to the new computer facing many compatibility issues; software works at first, then it doesn't then it does again. The new system seems as inconsistent and unreliable as ever; if the nerds at Microsoft were builders, they would be blacklisted as cowboys!

You Tube (10mins)

5542 Consall Forge and Cheddleton and with 5199 at Froghall; 30075 Cheddleton, Ruelow Wood and Consall; 80072 at Consall (3 locations) and Ruelow Wood.

Winter Gala 7 February 2009

Many thanks to the staff and volunteers of the Churnet Valley Railway for organising an excellent Gala which was thoroughly enjoyed by ourselves and everyone we met. This was despite efforts of someone with a warped sense of humour to deface 5199 with a hideous headboard. The weather was glorious, at least for most of the day, with strong sunshine and lying snow. Unfortunately this began to melt as the day progressed and the cloud thickened during the afternoon.

Star of the show was Bert Hitchen's magnificent former GCR Black Five 45231 with a supporting cast of five locos; guest GWR Prairie 5199 from the Lllangollen Railway; guest 0-6-0ST Ring Haw from the North Norfolk Railway; LMS Fowler 4F 44422; LMR 0-6-0 Jinty 47279; USA Tank S160 5197. Clive was excited when he learned that a DMU was performing a regular service between Oakmoor and Consall and drew up plans to centre the day on that. Resolutely, I refused to film the nasty object which was depriving an honest steamer of a slot in the timetable...shame!.

After arriving at 8am and waiting for nearly an hour in vain in freezing but ideal conditions for the early morning freight - which I later learned had been cancelled - I missed the on-shed preparations which would have given some wonderful opportunities. Clive Hanley duly showed up at 9:30 and learned he had effectively missed nothing!

First stop was Consall to see the Black 5's departure in dramatic lighting conditions, followed by a walk up the line to record the arrival of 5199 and the departure of 5197; alas both shots were spoilt by excessive flare from the lens of my camcorder (probably caused by years of abuse). A walk down the line to Froghall occupied the rest of the morning, filming 44422 & 47379 and 5199 along the way. We met Steve Bottrill at this end of the line. Watch for 45231 banking 5199's train - way over the top! The return leg brought shots of 45231 and Ring Haw and a careful drive to Cheddleton then enabled us to witness the departure of 45231. Finally a trek up to the tunnel to see 44422 and 47279 hauling the 4pm from Froghall, inevitably finding Graham Briggs and Gordon McCulloch in occupation. On several occasions we ran into a staff outing of Severn Valley engine cleaners (led by Tom Clarke). It is always good to see the younger element enjoying steam as their grandfathers did before them. Clive did them no favours by pointing out their loyalties to a CVR volunteer, who immediately roundly abused them. I have now discovered why Clive has been looking so pleased with himself since acquiring his Nikon D700: it has a delight mode (or is it de-light) which is an extra facility which is obviously available on the more expensive cameras.

You Tube (9mins 59secs)

Be sure to watch in High Quality!

Individual clips in smaller format

45231 at Froghall and Consall (5.0mB)

44422 and 47279 at Chedleton, near Ruelow Wood and Leekbrook Tunnel (4.7mB)

GWR Prairie Tank 5199 and Ring Haw at Boltons Forge Froghall and Consall (4.9mB)

Young Guns in the Churnet Valley 26 April 2008

My thanks to Steve, Chris and John above, a great bunch of guys, who allowed me to join them for an exhilarating journey aboard the S160 during the War Weekend at the Churnet Valley Railway; also thanks to Steve and Tony for giving me special permission to film on the lineside.

The trio claim an average age of 22 which makes them one of the youngest footplate crews in the preservation movement. For those of us who watch the increasing youth of policemen with some despondency, it was always some consolation that locomotive crews grow old with you; so this revelation was a bit traumatic!

After spending my day in the company of the most beautiful machine created by man (a GWR Manor) I experienced the other end of the spectrum on Saturday with a day in the company of one of the ugliest (no, not a Mitsubishi Warrior!). S160s are essentially 2-8-0 freight locos with small wheels (leaving a gap like the 9F 'spaceships') and they were supplied to the UK in large numbers by the US to help the war effort. It seems a bit unfair when the GIs came over here and helped themselves to the most beautiful of our women that they should give us these in exchange (ok and the stockings!), but it was ever thus!

John stokes the fire as Chris keeps watch and 5197 departs from the station at picturesque Consall with total disregard for those of us who are enjoying a quiet drink and the peace of the canal!. (5.8mB)

After departing Consall, Driver Woolliscroft soon gets the S160 'spaceship' up to the 25mph needed to escape the Earth's gravitational pull. (3.7mB)

After the SS Officer suddenly becomes suspicious that the S160 may be an enemy loco (it does have 'USA' painted in very large letters on the side of the tender right next to where he is standing!) we see a hasty departure from Froghall; the S160 speeds past the demolition site of the old mill and soon arrives at Ruelow Wood. (5.0mB)

Winter Steam Gala 23,24 February 2008

My thanks to all the organisers and volunteers who produced an exciting Gala at the CVR. The weather was much changed from last week with glowering skies and some light drizzle on Sunday. The forecast, however, was much worse, so one has to count one's blessings!

There were five locomotives in steam, though 3 of them were facing down the gradient which reduced the opportunities substantially. Star guest was V2 4771 Green Arrow supported by Super D 49395 and home engines S160 5197, 4F 44222 and Standard tank 80098. Green Arrow, in particular, was most impressive, and it is to my regret that balance dictates I can only show two of her trips.

Over the weekend I was engaged in gathering material with Mark Found for a DVD which will be produced by the Railway Channel. We had enthusiastic support from the railway, who were highly co-operative for which we are tremendously grateful.

4771 belies the reduced pressure in her boiler and an emasculated whistle as she rampages out of Consall on Saturday. Not everyone was impressed, however. (3.4mB)

4771 Not much let-up as Green Arrow rounds the curve north of Consall on the next trip. (1.7mB)

Amazingly my wife instantly recognised the S160 from a visit it made to Loughborough a few years ago; she obviuosly has an affinity with ugly things! Here the inveterately noisy 5197 - supplied by the US during WWII as a contribution to our war effort - makes a relatively quiet departure from Consall. We were all disappointed to see that the local attraction - a white truck which had been literally ditched at the edge of the canal (presumably by a drunken customer of the Black Lion) - had been removed. (4.3mB)

Exits from Leekbrook tunnel were invariably dull affairs as the crews cut-off before the mouth. Late on Saturday afternoon Super D 49395 and 4F 44422 exit the tunnel in stately fashion.(1.9mB)

A Cheddleton departure by Standard Tank 80098 on Saturday afternoon. (2.4mB)

Super D 49395 leaves Cheddleton with the final train of the Gala. The area around the station is beautiful and fortunately the departure coincided with a lovely sunset. If you look carefully you can see several swarms of starlings in the distance. Fortunately there was no sign of Bill Oddie, but as Simon King would say, "What a treat!".

Warning: The files are of substantial size and will take a considerable time to download for non-broadband users.