Rail

Behind the Grosmont workshops. The red Steam Breakdown Crane No 107 was built around 1929 and can lift up to 45 tons. This was in use, in its day, at Doncaster, Yorkshire. 12139 is a Class 11 0-6-0 type of diesel-electric shunter, built to an LMS design at English Electric at Preston in 1948, shown here in British Railways black livery. BR Class 04 D2207. The British Rail Class 04 was a 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunting locomotive class, built between 1952 and 1962 and was the basis for the later Class 03 built in the British Railways workshops.

It’s busy down behind the sheds in the workshop yards at Grosmont and the guys working on the NYMR have a lot to do. Pete is using his shunter to bring this big steam-loco crane back down the line so John has to switch those points around by pulling that white lever across. See Pip for more. 12139 is a Class 11 0-6-0 type of diesel-electric shunter, built to an LMS design at English Electric at Preston in 1948, shown here in British Railways black livery. The red Steam Breakdown Crane No 107 was built around 1929 and can lift up to 45 tons. This was in use, in its day, at Doncaster, Yorkshire. Enjoy full size and have a great week. Ps Names are fictitious

Grosmont Tunnel was built as part of George Stephenson's horse-drawn railway that ran between Whitby and Pickering, which was completed in 1836. The tunnel is still in use today, with a footpath replacing the rail track. The horse-drawn railway naturally operated at fairly low speeds, so the earthworks or structures needed were minimal. There were some timber bridges but these have now been replaced. The 119m long tunnel is 3m wide by 4.3m high, with turrets and castellations on the portals. It was completed around 1834, and trains ran twice daily between Grosmont and Whitby from June 1835. A return journey took six hours. When steam traction came to the railway in 1847, a larger running tunnel was constructed alongside the original. Grosmont Horse Tunnel is probably the oldest railway tunnel in Britain. (http://www.engineering-timelines.com/)

At Grosmont, Yorkshire This is a Lambton Collieries 0-6-2T, No.29 built in Hunslet, 1904 and withdrawn from service after 65 years. (1969) ps L.H.&.J.C : Lambton, Hetton & Joicey Colliery (National Coal Board)

As we leave Grosmont and the North Yorkshire moors Railway, we see a different running engine heading for the workshops and coal hopper at the other end of the tunnel. On the left, another small tunnel can be seen. This is called the Grosmont Horse Tunnel and was built as part of the George Stephenson’s horse-drawn railway of 1836. This is in fact the pedestrian way into the railway yard. See PiPs or previous pages. This is a Lambton Collieries 0-6-2T, No.29 built in Hunslet, 1904 and withdrawn from service after 65 years. (1969) ps L.H.&.J.C : Lambton, Hetton & Joicey Colliery (National Coal Board) I hope you have enjoyed bit of our railway nostalgia.

The market town of Carnforth in Lancashire is the setting of these photos aimed mainly at its old railway station. Sitting on the ‘West Coast’ railway line, it has always been busy, especially with its close proximity to the Lancaster canal and A6/M6 roads. The town was well known for being a ‘railway town in the 19th century as being at the junction of three major railways. The station was made famous by it being the setting for the 1945 ‘Brief Encounter’ film, refreshment room set (top centre). Alongside this station on the old wagon works and sidings used to be a very big train museum called ‘Steamtown’ that ran from 1967, sadly closed to the public in 1987 but is now run as the ‘West Coast Railway Company’ which operate heritage steam and diesel trains across the UK railway network. Unfortunately there is no public entrance allowed for me to explore there. The collage photos are self explanatory but the yellow train coming in, is an Avanti West Coast, Pendolino class 390 from Glasgow to London. Enjoy full screen.

This is one of their latest Class 802 Series trains. Built in Italy by Hitachi and brought into service here in Britain in 2018. These travel from Manchester to Huddersfield, Leeds and York and are known as Diesel-electric bi-mode multiple (five-car) unit trains. They run by electric where possible but as seen here can run by their own diesel power too. This taken near the long 5456 yard Stanedge tunnel portal at Diggle to Marsden in Yorkshire. Enjoy large.

A day or so back we got up to a view point that we have never got to before. I knew it had to be around where we were, for I had seen many great railway photo taken from up here. Beneath this viaduct runs the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and I have often peered upwards wondering how to get to this highpoint. After waiting quite some time for a train in an even better position than this, I was just giving up after walking back up the hill through wet vegetation when my wife shouted "here comes a train". Indeed it was the Express from Newcastle to Liverpool Lime St after running through the Standedge Railway tunnel just a mile or so further up. This is a Class 802 bi-mode Diesel-Electric - No. 802209 on the 9M20 0947 service. Enjoy full screen

It’s not often that I show wall murals on here but I make an exception for this that depicts a subject close to my heart: railways. This is a Class 155 Super Sprinter belonging to the Northern, Trans Pennine Express company, almost in the Ukrainian flag colours. The building that it is painted on stands just in front of the main Rochdale to Manchester line in an area known as Castleton, Rochdale. These exact trains currently run up and down this line. Enjoy full size and have a good week. Our thoughts reach out to Ukraine.

Another view of this splendid spot. This time from the river itself . Enjoy full size.

All aboard this vintage steam train carriage for our trip from Bridgnorth to Bewdley on the SVR (Severn Valley Railway). I know –it’s not exactly a row of benches but it would have been, some years earlier. Enjoy full size and enjoy your week in safety.

A trip to the SVR (Severn Valley Railway) gives us a chance to see the GWR 1450 at Bridgenorth. A Collett class 0-4-2T designed to work on small branch lines and first started service at Oxford in 1935. After 14,000 miles it has now been sent for its boiler overhaul. Besides this most charming engine we have the luxuriant fence and lamp which are all in keeping. Enjoy full size! HFF, enjoy the weekend.

The Fairbourne Railway has been running from Fairbourne village to the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, connecting with the ferry to Barmouth for over 100 years. It started as a two foot gauge horse-drawn tramway which was then converted to a 15 inch gauge railway in 1916. The line in 1986 was completely re built to a 12.25 inch gauge. Here we see the engine called Russell returning from the terminus with its popular cafe, back to the main station at Fairnbourne itself. In the background the the foothills of Snowdonia National Park with the Barmouth viaduct. There are five engines in total running on this line. RUSSELL unlike the loco on which it was based is a 2-6-4T built in 1979 by Milner Engineering originally as a scaled down copy of a Leek and manifold locomotive and named Elaine but was re-built in its present form based on a Welsh Highland Railway Hunslet in 1985 at Fairbourne. www.fairbournerailway.com Enjoy full screen

We see here the wonderful railway viaduct, a 51 span structure carrying the Carnforth and Whitehaven Line over the estuary of the River Kent immediately to the west of Arnside Station. Originally constructed in 1856 as a single line viaduct, the structure was extended to twin track in 1863. I think we are seeing the 1028 Manchester Airport to Barrow-in-Furness , Northern Line series 195 train here. Essential full screen

A view out to the hills of our Lake District and the Kent estuary here from the footbridge over the rails at Arnside station, Cumbria. The trains leaving here towards the water will shortly glide over the famous Arnside viaduct (see pips). Of course like most railway scenes we have some fences here for those who collect such things. I was time restricted on here and so unfortunately missed any trains. HFF, enjoy the weekend.

Having just crossed the Arnside viaduct and approaching the station (pips), this most modern train looks like it is tilting but as far as know, this is not one of those tilting trains. This is a Diesel Multiple Unit built by CAF in Spain, they have a top speed of 100mph. Ironically, we here in Britain were once world leaders in train manufacturing.

A rare visit to the city gives us a view from Victoria Railway station in Manchester showing us part of the new tramway concourse. Just two things of note to be seen here – one is a lone Manchester Bee, one of a few that are still dotted around the city centre and the other is the tram itself. For those that are interested it’s the Metrolink No. 3121 on its way to Manchester Airport via Market Street. Some interesting line connectivity here! Remember we drive on the left here so this tram is heading away from the station having taken the shortest route but the return tram would do a big swing out on a longer detour. I wonder why they designed it like that ? Nice full screen, enjoy the day. See next photo for more bees!

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