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03/03/2026

Tiny trains: meeting in steam for only the second time in preservation, the two 'Borrows' that are W***y and The King approach Irwell Vale during the East Lancashire Railway's small engines gala. Just poking out of the trees behind is Lumb Viaduct which once carried a branch of the LYR to Accrington but now serves as a cycle path.

25/02/2026

The Lancashire duo: with the news today that the Pug is off to the Severn Valley for their April gala, it's another shot from the East Lancashire Railway's gala weekend just gone. LYR duo 11243 and 11456 are seen departing Ramsbottom on a rather grey Sunday afternoon.

23/02/2026

Industrial grey: there's something rather ironic about the countryside being in glorious sun, while the two former industrial locomotives are in grey shadow. Hudswell Clarke 4002 Arundel Castle and BR class 14 D9531 Ernest cross the M66 as they head towards Bury Bolton Street during the East Lancashire Railway's small engines gala. Is this railway the only one to cross OVER a motorway?

14/02/2026

The love of steam: this morning's 'Valentine's White Rose' to York was in the hands of 34067 Tangmere. It's rare to see this Bulleid so far, it usually being allocated to Carlisle and Edinburgh trips, so it was an early start to get to Welwyn North to capture it over Digswell Viaduct.

09/02/2026

Part of the gang: a pair of p-way gangers go about their business as 78064 passes by with a freight working. In reality the 2MT was 78019, which was at the end of a visit the Nene Valley Railway and adopted the identity of a classmate for a photo charter Finale.

06/02/2026

The return of the Bulleid: it may have only been a few years since it last visited the Great Central, but the addition of 257 Squadron to the recent gala lineup certainly proved popular and gave the event a taste of the Somerset and Dorset, over which various members of the class once ran with the likes of 9Fs and Standard 5s. 34072 is pictured at Fielding Road foot crossing on the approach to Leicester North.

26/01/2026

Sun in the south: one unexpected gala guest this weekend was the great ball of light in the sky, which at most forecast checks in the week beforehand hand was conspicuous in its absence. A north facing 92134 (running as local classmate 92043) approaches Fielding Road foot crossing with a departure from Leicester North.

23/01/2026

The old 'new toy': with news that the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's Ryde Pier tram is being tested with its completed trailer replica, let us look back a few months to when their preview 'newest toy' debuted. Class 03179 Clive arrives at Wootton on November 30th, it having entered service following a lengthy overhaul.

20/01/2026

With the Great Central Railway's winter gala coming up this weekend, a look back to The Last Hurrah in November. WR modified hall No. 6990 Witherslack Hall glides into Quorn and Woodhouse, though the motion blur gives the impression of travel at much greater speed than it really was.

17/01/2026

Heritage amid the high rises: Today saw Hastings Diesels Ltd's Class 201 DEMU take a trip to Windsor, with the tour being run in memory of a long serving volunteer Rosemary Sainsbury who passed away in October 2025. Having come up from Hastings via Herne Hill and Brixton, the Thumper is seen dropping down from the Linford Street flyover towards Nine Elms junction as it heads for the final pickup stop at Waterloo, where it would reverse to continue its venture westwards.

15/01/2026

Industrial delight: Judy leads Newstead towards Buckfastleigh at Caddaford on January 2nd during the pair's fleeting visit to the South Devon Railway for the winter steam gala.

12/01/2026

The joy of a photo charter is often gaining access to areas usually off limits to visitors or general lineside pass holders. Yesterday's visit to the Nene Valley for "The Last Mickey Mouse" event took small escorted groups at a time to just inside the tunnel mouth at Yarwell, allowing for something a little different to what has been achieved here on my previous visits.
The day saw visiting 2MT No. 78019 take on the identity of the last member of the class to be built, No. 78064, and run with the line's freight set. Following a few "clean" runs, I asked for some reenactors to be positioned ahead of the gallery, resulting in some of my favourite shots of the day with the people and locomotive silhouetted against the tunnel portal.

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