Wildlife and Steam on Tour 12 April 2008

A David Shepherd painting exhibition at Winchcombe was the feature of the day and a chance to meet the great man. His painting always look good in books and magazines, but you can only see the true quality when you confront them in the 'flesh', as it were, at close hand.

David's engine  9F 92203 "Black Prince" featured with 7903 "Foremarke Hall which replaced rostered GWR loco 5619.

Clive Hanley was set to visit the diesel Gala at the GCR and to catch some shots of Oliver Cromwell, recently steam-tested and reunited with its boiler, but was persuaded to visit the GWSR to see some real locomotives in action. Unfortunately he was re-acquainted with my jinx which saw only two passing shots in sunshine during a day on which there was plenty of sun. A classic sequence at Greet Tunnel (not shown) showed Black Prince pass out of the sunshine into cloud as she came into view and then, at the very instant it entered the tunnel, the sun returned.

92203 Black Prince takes the first train of the day out of Cheltenham. There appears to be a speed restriction up to the end of the straight. (2.3mB)

7903 Foremarke Hall in the sunshine as she runs through the landscaped parkland of Dixton. The railway have the use of a heavy-duty flail which they have used to good effect at this once heavily vegetated location. A badly mauled engine block on the bank evidenced the power it brings to bear.  (2.6mB)

With rain threatening, 92203 Black Prince accelerates away from Gotherington and past Skew bridge. I was not popular as the extra distance I walked to the bridge delayed the chase to Hailes where Clive just got his shot and failed I to set up my camera in time. I just shook my head. (2.3mB)

For once parting clouds greeted the metronomic beat of 7903 Foremarke Hall as she passed over Skew Bridge and came into view at Dixton bridge with the last train of the day. However the sun was dead ahead and partially obscured by some high cloud. My frantic waving for an upping of the beat elicited no response from the crew. (3.4mB)

Christmas Cracker 29 December 2007

For once Clive Hanley and I were lucky with the weather at the GWSR's annual steam event with a sunny, though very gusty morning. The clouds duly arrived at lunchtime but fortunately the promised showers did not show up....nor did many photographers though the I'm pleased to say that trains looked well loaded.

Five locomotives were in steam including the beautiful J15 no. 65462 from the North Norfolk Railway which is the line's guest loco for the winter season. Newly arrived industrial tank locomotive number 15, owned by a GWSR director,  will remain on the railway for many years to come.

J15 no. 65462 emerges through Hailes bridge with her first run of the day with the local. (2.2mB)

After the token exchange at Toddington, the newly arrived industrial tank no.15 accelerates up to the 10mph speed restriction as she heads towards Didbrook with the local. Later we see her coasting down Defford Straight towards Winchcombe. (3.3mB)

Editor's Note: the current livery, which is so unusual, is apparently merely an undercoat. She will shortly receive a glamorous topcoat of ... ummm brown.. paint. One is brought to mind of colour descriptions of motor vehicles, "Blazer Blue", "Colorado Red" or "Panther Black". Can anyone think of an appropriate colour name for this particular shade of brown? Clive's suggestion on the day was not acceptable!

92203 Black Prince at Chicken Curve. Thankfully the dark clouds which moved overhead as we awaited the 9F's departure, dissipated as the train as the train left Winchcombe and three minutes later the sun shone brightly in a largely cloudless sky. (3.3mB)

The cloud soon returned in time for City of Truro's departure from Winchcombe with the 3:20. Bang on cue, and with what seems to be monotonous regularity at this location, a light aircraft passed over as 3440 departed.  (3.7mB)

Editor's note: the line clearance team have done a brilliant job in removing the vegetation which had taken over this section of track.

7903 Foremarke Hall emerges from Greet Tunnel and runs down the grade towards Winchcombe Station where she crossed over with 3440 (previous clip). My own efforts at a spot of impromptu lineside clearance were met with some disparaging remarks from the permanent way team who happened to be returning to Winchcombe at the time. Thanks for the encouragement lads! (2.4mB)

NRM Locomotives: 25 August 2007

The two National Railway Museum stars, 4771 "Green Arrow" and 3440 "City of Truro" were again running together on the Gloucester Warwicks. The weather was a complete contrast from last week with bright sunshine all day.

Once again Clive Hanley was able to get a pass for the day. We also ran into Matt Allen and several other familiar faces.

4771 "Green Arrow" accelerates round the curve at Didbrook with the 11:30 after the speed restriction out of Toddington. (2.3mB)

3440 "City of Truro" emerges from Greet Tunnel with the 1:10 from Winchcombe. She is priming slightly, which assures the waiting gallery of some exhaust. Later we see her cruising past Gotherington Halt. (3.3mB)

An enthusiastic departure from Winchcombe Station by Green Arrow with the 2:25 accompanied by the buzz of a light aircraft which arrived, right on cue, at departure time. Ironically I had just been discussing with the photographers the peacefulness of the location and the contrasting cacophony whenever a train is in the offing. How right I was!  (3.8mB)

Green Arrow storms through Hailes with the 4:35 ex Toddington. (1.7mB)

Foul Summer Day: 18 August 2007

The developing fault with my XM2 - it thinks the tape has jammed and demands immediate ejection - reached a critical point when (inevitably) it failed on the first (and best) shot of the day! Unfortunately I had my ancient  XM1 with me which capably performed its duties for the rest of the day...and what a day it was, wet, windy and utterly foul! A good test for my new up-market umbrella, which performed admirably...in contrast to the XM2.

Fortunately intrepid photographer Clive Hanley was able to obtain a pass out for the day from his wife and joined me around lunch time after a trip to Tyseley, which lifted the feelings of gloom and despondency which had begun to set in.

The reason for the visit was to witness a rare pairing of two NRM locos - Green Arrow and City of Truro.

I have conjoined the three runs of 3440 "City of Truro" onto this one clip which illustrates the way the weather developed over the day. (4.2mB)

Didbrook: according to fellow photographer Chris who was observing proceedings from the branches of a nearby tree, the passenger you can see leaning out of the window is none other than Toddington stationmaster, master photographer and (latterly) TV personality, Malcolm Ranieri. Is he trying to get in on the footage or is he just looking for a glimmer of sunshine in the distance. If we've misidentified you Malcolm, please let me know and I will issue a humble apology!

Hailes: standing under the bridge for this one - a pan would have resulted in a 'white-out'. Far Stanley: this was filmed in horrendous conditions, watch for the rain sheeting across the frame as 3440 comes into view.

4771 Green Arrow departs Wincombe with the 1pm. The strong wind and rain was coming from behind the camera, making the train sound very distant. (3.5mB)

4771 leads the 3:15 through the curve at Didbrook. A temporary speed restriction ends near the signal. (2.5mB)

Lovely Summer Day: 7 July 2007

Beautiful weather in the Vale of Evesham on Saturday as I sought more footage of the seemingly doomed "Green Arrow". However, with the sun "failing" on two of my clips of that loco it fell to Foremarke Hall, which produced sunshine on all 3 of its appearances, to feature in my latest clip selection.

7903 Foremarke Hall steams up the bank towards Hailes around lunchtime.(2.7mB)

A pause for some views over the lovely Vale of Evesham before Green Arrow (4771) steams up from Toddington half an hour later. (2.8mB)

The area around Dixton shows its beauty before the arrival of 7903. (3.1mB)

A passing apiarist gave me a rather chilling warning as I stood waiting for this shot at the end of the Dixton Cutting. Apparently I was 30-40 yards away from a bee's next and not too far from the bee's' flight path. Anyone who photographs here should beware! When I glanced back from Dixton Bridge, on my way to the doubtful charms of Leicester, I saw him donning his beekeeper's attire as he prepared to review the state of the hive.

Cotswold Festival of Steam 2 June 2007

Beautiful weather and big crowds characterised the Saturday of the Cotswold Steam Festival. In the mix were 3 glamorous guest locos - 4771 Green Arrow, 34007 Wadebridge and S&DJR No.88 plus GWR 2-6-2 Tank 5542 pulling the autotrailer throughout the day.

For the first time in several weeks I ran into Graham and Gordon on the latest leg of their great annual steam odyssey and their northern correspondents Henry and Dee. I was also fortunate enough to meet Matt Allen an excellent photographer who produces a first rate railway calendar each year.

Visiting engine 4771 "Green Arrow" stands at Toddington in readiness for her first run of the day. We meet her again as she speeds through Hailes Bridge. After her latest round of preserved line visits, we may never see her running again..... (2.4mB)

It was standing room only in the large gallery as newly restored "Wadebridge" is already becoming a familiar sight on preserved lines, pulls her train towards Greet Tunnel. (2.8mB)

5542 is seen under preparation at Toddington, followed by several sequences filmed at Didbrook. (4.9mB)

The speed restriction near Toddington caught many of us out, but we could find no evidence of it on the lineside. SD&JR no 88 is seen here accelerating away from the restriction near Didbrook with the 13:20. (2.6mB)

Long-range shots don't lend themselves to this small format but, for those with good vision, here is 7903 working way from Bishops Cleeve with the last train of the day, the lovely scenery provided by Cleeve Hill and Nottingham Hill. (3.1mb)

26 May 2007

I was kindly invited to a 5542 special charter by the 5542 Society who are responsible for the superb locomotive featured below. We enjoyed a very impressive fish and chip supper. and the company of a very friendly group of people. Their website is below

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/chairman5542ltd/index.html

Pictures of the day from my wife, Helen

5542 looks very much 'the part' as she emerges from Greet tunnel with the 15:25 from Winchcombe. (1.9mB)

92203 "Black Prince" cautiously approaches the signal guarding Greet Tunnel before picking up speed with some gusto. (3.1mB)

5542 departs Winchcombe. The frustrations attendant upon this hobby are immense. Earlier in the day at Hailes Bridge I had suffered talkative still photographers (including my good wife!), tense moments as horses passed as the train approached, then at the key moment a noisy passing van. At Winchcombe, where I set up to record the 1:10 departure of 5542, I was rewarded with a lawnmower starting up the mandatory 5 minutes before the train's arrival and for good measure a bi-plane which buzzed the loco as it approached Winchcombe; in short a veritable cacophony of sound. (4.3mB)

A Trip from Toddington to Cheltenham 29 August 2006

David and Malcolm, Booking Office Clerk and Stationmaster, welcome us to the "Friendly Line in the Cotswolds" (13mB) on Google Video

Editors Note: Some of you may recognise Malcolm Ranieri, a top steam photographer, on the right.

Further videos are available at the Gloucester and Warwicks  website 

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

All photographs and videos copyright ©  Mike Snow