Let's see your trains: inside and out, an open thread

Bristolian said:
Last Saturday SWMBO and I made a return to the Ffestiniog Railway. In the summer of 2020 we visited the railway but it was only operating on the lower half of the line, as far as Tan y Bwlch, so we missed the more spectacular scenery. Time to set that right! It was beautiful sunny day but unfortunately shots taken in the station at Porthmadog were taking into the sun so the skies were pretty well blown out. I managed to do some recovery in Lightroom but make allowances for the trying conditions :)

#1: Pullman coach on the West Highland Line
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#2: Double-ended Fairlie locomotive David Lloyd George
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#3: It's lunch time for the driver and her fireman before powering the afternoon "Mountain Spirit" to Blaenau Ffestiniog
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#4: Locomotive No.2 "Prince" is the oldest steam engine still operating on its original railway. She was built in the 1860's at the lines Boston Lodge Works.
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We had a great time and plan to return to ride the West Highland Railway to Caernarfon :)
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On the subject of the Ffestiniog, I've recently found one of there old carriages working in the Derbyshire countryside!

Golden Valley Light Railway, Newlands Inn.

Golden Valley Light Railway by Adam P, on Flickr
 
The Duchess of Sutherland came though Gloucester yesterday on a 'positioning movement' from York to Barry, S.Wales. Here it is going over the river Severn at Over just outside Gloucester. There was only myslef there taking a photo. A couple came to me asking what I was photographing and were very pleased to see it.

In my Lightroom this is tack sharp. Not on here,I see.
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JohnC6 said:
The Duchess of Sutherland came though Gloucester yesterday on a 'positioning movement' from York to Barry, S.Wales. Here it is going over the river Severn at Over just outside Gloucester. There was only myslef there taking a photo. A couple came to me asking what I was photographing and were very pleased to see it.

In my Lightroom this is tack sharp. Not on here,I see.
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.... Lovely picture! I last saw her about 60 years ago on a very fast express heading through a deep cutting on the West Coast Mainline, London bound. This memory including the sound is literally etched into my brain.

To see her again and hopefully to photograph her is on my bucket list because I am 75yo. I am hoping to see her in action tomorrow passing through Somerset but have no idea if I can get a photo as I have never been to the spot. I'm also hoping that it won't be crowded!
 
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RedRobin said:
.... Lovely picture! I last saw her about 60 years ago on a very fast express heading through a deep cutting on the West Coast Mainline, London bound. This memory including the sound is literally etched into my brain.

To see her again and hopefully to photograph her is on my bucket list because I am 75yo. I am hoping to see her in action tomorrow passing through Somerset but have no idea if I can get a photo as I have never been to the spot. I'm also hoping that it won't be crowded!
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Thanks,Robin. The oof has happened to my photos before on here. Very strange.

Have you thought of getting Google Earth up and take a 'roadside' look at where you were thinking of going ? I do that when I want to see a loco and don't know a good spot. With Google's cameras,as you'll know, you can 'swing' them round, I do that, too when I'm on a bridge to see what the view is like ,especially to see ifr there are any overhanging trees/shrubs. Sometimes I've got to a location that was clear on Google Earth only to find that trees/shrubs have partially obscured the view since the Google footage was taken so I note the date now.. Also, I check where I can park.

Hope it goes well. I'll keep an eye on here..
 
johnty52 said:
Porthmadog eh Lew, hoping to be there again this weekend
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Yes mate, allthough these were taken a while ago, we just got back from a few days staying in Portmeirion.
 
Where do you guys go to find out the steam train movements? I know there used to be a site but It disappeared a while ago.

Was hoping to get out and do some photos this week but sadly I tested posturing Monday and I’m still positive….!
 
A_S said:
Where do you guys go to find out the steam train movements? I know there used to be a site but It disappeared a while ago.

Was hoping to get out and do some photos this week but sadly I tested posturing Monday and I’m still positive….!
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JRSS..Jonathan has given you several links which include RailwayHerald. Also mentions Real Time Trains (RTT) but with RTT you have to input information and quite often I've had a message..'No information available' Something like that. Usually because I've input wrong information.There are several boxes to fill in, some with options. Get one not quite right..ie it doesn't recognise your information . If you do have a go you need to select 'Freight services'..strangely enough. It's at the bottom of the box..drop down menu under 'Service Type' .The one default one showing is 'All services'. I've just looked at Railadvent and that only seems to give departure/arrival times. whereas RTT gives you passing points.

Here's Railway Herald again..save you going back to Jonathoin's tpost https://www.railwayherald.com/railtours

Example..Take tomorrow's schedules. Eg the first one West Highland Pullman. At the bottom of the box are locations en-route in yellow. Click on those and it will take you directly to RTT schedule. All the passing points are there in scheduled times and..of course..real time .A minus against a real time is showing it's ahead of time..eg -12 means it's running 12 minutes ahead. A bit illogical..well, for me it is. I think red is running late. Maybe someone on here will confirm that.I've forgotten. I've taken tomorrow's schedule because if you don't sign on here until tomorrow you won't see today's schedules. Anyway, you can just choose another further down the listings . Sometimes the yellow lettering isn't there. When that happens I 'phone a friend'...lol. Unfortunately, I don't seem able to copy/paste the actual schedule table but then I'm not too good on computers. When a train has passed a particular location on the table the time will show in bold print.

Hope you don't suffer too much with the darned covid you have.. Most say it's like a heavy cold and they feel tired.

Good luck with the locos.(y)
 
Excellent shots,Robin. Good location,too.

I've just spent some time going through your Flickr photos. Also, top class. Love the fighting nutcrackers in the snow photo -Bulgaria and the lightning creation Blue Bell railway.The wild garden sounds wonderful, too and the studio also impressive.
 
Bristolian said:
@RedRobin Is that the front end of a Class 800 in the background of the first image?
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.... Yes it is a GWR Class 800 but it's the back end moving away on the other track and the first I have ever seen. I rather like them.

This one is coming towards me. They are double ended as you doubtless already know.

GWR Class800 by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
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JohnC6 said:
Excellent shots,Robin.

I've just spent some time going through your Flickr photos. Also, top class. Love the fighting nutcrackers in the snow photo -Bulgaria and the lightning creation Blue Bell railway.The wild garden sounds wonderful, too and the studio also impressive.
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.... Thank you, I'm flattered and encouraged :)

Shooting the Nutcrackers up a Bulgarian mountain in the snow was actually quite difficult and my hit rate of keepers very low - Shot on my E-M1X + 40-150mm F/2.8 Pro, an extremely flexible and useful lens. It's my second favourite lens but we won't mention my big white favourite which I didn't have yet at the time.

The studio is in fact a slightly derelict (the smart word is 'distressed' dahling) orangery designed in 1806 by none other than the famous architect John Nash who designed Brighton Pavilion and also many neo-classic villas in Regent's Park London.

I very rarely do any 'creative' manipulation but had a go with the Bluebell's 9F 92240 awaiting restoration and they published it. It had started off as a very dull photo - Because it's on topic, I'll post it here. I don't do sky replacements but was curious to see how one might work.


CALLING DOCTOR FRANKENSTEIN TO AWAKE THE SLEEPING GIANTS! by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
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Re. lightning" I don't do sky replacements but was curious to see how it might work."

It's worked very well indeed,Robin. Very imaginative. Out of the box thinking.which is always good. When I saw the nutcrackers photo I did think that some time must have been spent trying to get that. It's really sharp,too. Excellent surfer photos of your friend, too and the other surf/surfer photos

I have photos of the 800..Azuma taken at Flax Bourton SW of Bristol when it was doing test runs and had sandbags as ballast. It was in the original silver then but GWR had theirs painted in their livery. Not sure if I prefer the silver..looks much more modern to me. I've been on it and the seats are not as comfortable nor as 'warm/welcoming' as the Class 255 (I think) HST but much quieter...completely silent as it pulls away and very low noise at speed. Gloucester to Paddington is now only 1hr 47 mins but due to the electrification.which starts,so far, from Swindon. I'd like to have seen the speed shown on an LCD in the carriages.

Which looks the more modern or aesthetically pleasing? The original or GWR livery ?

Bath Station.June 2019.
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Flax Bourton. I thought it was in my LR6 .I couldn't find it. Lost ? Surely not in LR4 but it was .So that's 5 years ago. September 2017. :eek:
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St Mary's Crossing Chalford,Stroud.I had a strong urge to get rid of the weeds..lol.
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Foggy morning near St Mary's Crossing.

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JohnC6 said:
I have photos of the 800..Azuma taken at Flax Bourton SW of Bristol when it was doing test runs and had sandbags as ballast. It was in the original silver then but GWR had theirs painted in their livery. Not sure if I prefer the silver..looks much more modern to me. I've been on it and the seats are not as comfortable nor as 'warm/welcoming' as the Class 255 (I think) HST but much quieter...completely silent as it pulls away and very low noise at speed. Gloucester to Paddington is now only 1hr 47 mins but due to the electrification.which starts,so far, from Swindon. I'd like to have seen the speed shown on an LCD in the carriages.

Which looks the more modern or aesthetically pleasing? The original or GWR livery ?

Bath Station.June 2019.
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Flax Bourton. I thought it was in my LR6 .I couldn't find it. Lost ? Surely not in LR4 but it was .So that's 5 years ago. September 2017. :eek:
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St Mary's Crossing Chalford,Stroud.I had a strong urge to get rid of the weeds..lol.
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Foggy morning near St Mary's Crossing.

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.... I prefer the original silver because it both looks more modern ('silver bullet' imagery) and the shapes of the cab windows and features are better contrasted.

That pic at St. Mary's Crossing Chalford of it throwing up sick (weeds?) is great because the forward side window looks like an eye!

But I do like the GWR logo on both the nose and sides of the green Class 800s.

To show the speed on LCD to passengers on a modern train's carriages would be awesome!! I have never travelled on a modern train.
 
JohnC6 said:
I have photos of the 800..Azuma taken at Flax Bourton SW of Bristol when it was doing test runs and had sandbags as ballast.

Flax Bourton.
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.... Apart from the Class 800 inter city trains, what other locos and trains regularly use the Bristol >< Taunton line please?

Thinking about your livery question further I think that a proper bright silver would look far better than this silver-grey.
 
JRSS said:
Been practicing my panning, this was 1/20 of a second. Does it work or does it need something to be sharper?
Camera was set to AF-C and focussed on the cab side number.

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.... From a panning point of view it works for me. An engine number or writing will always be what human beings initially focus on naturally and so it's usually best to camera focus on it. Always be careful not to over sharpen photos - You haven't over sharpened this one - It can be tempting!
 
JRSS said:
Been practicing my panning, this was 1/20 of a second. Does it work or does it need something to be sharper?
Camera was set to AF-C and focussed on the cab side number.
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Nicely done Jonathan, although the attached image doesn't do your panning justice as your Flickr version is much sharper.
 
RedRobin said:
.... Yes it is a GWR Class 800 but it's the back end moving away on the other track and the first I have ever seen. I rather like them.

This one is coming towards me. They are double ended as you doubtless already know.

GWR Class800 by Robin Procter, on Flickr
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Ah, the old eyesight ain't as bad as I thought then :) I'm glad it was on the other line :)

We see lots of those 800's here (Bristol) and I must admit they do look good - kinda sleek in a train sort of way :giggle: although having been on a couple I didn't find the seats particularly comfortable :(

@JohnC6 : I rather liked the silver finish too but it's not "GWR" corporate colour and the green is very pleasing on the eye too (y)
 
Bristolian said:
I rather liked the silver finish too but it's not "GWR" corporate colour and the green is very pleasing on the eye too (y)
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.... Yes, with trains it always has been that they are in the livery of their operating company as it was in the days of steam - LMS red, GWR green, SR green, LNER blue, BR black.

I wish that all preserved locomotives were restored in their original livery of the time they were built.
 
My last glimpse of the 'Duchess of Sutherland' as she rushed by at speed. Well I hope it's not my very last glimpse of her! It was a grabbed shot in a sequence - Uncropped and shot on OM-1 (Olympus).

DUCHESS IN A HURRY by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
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RedRobin said:
.... Apart from the Class 800 inter city trains, what other locos and trains regularly use the Bristol >< Taunton line please?

Thinking about your livery question further I think that a proper bright silver would look far better than this silver-grey.
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I'm on the case, Robin.I've Emailed a friend who lives in Bath who seems to know everything there is to know about trains .He usually gets back to me late evening.

Yes..I also thought afterwards that it's akin to an undercoat so a proper quality silver would look good
 
RedRobin said:
.... Apart from the Class 800 inter city trains, what other locos and trains regularly use the Bristol >< Taunton line please?

Thinking about your livery question further I think that a proper bright silver would look far better than this silver-grey.
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My friend tells me that the trains running from Bath to Taunton and beyond are the 800s..(Azumas) ..steam locos and freight diesels.
 
JohnC6 said:
My friend tells me that the trains running from Bath to Taunton and beyond are the 800s..(Azumas) ..steam locos and freight diesels.
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.... Thanks John. Steam locos? Surely only for specials such as rail tours?

Freight diesels like this I assume :

FREIGHTLINER TRAIN by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
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RedRobin said:
.... Thanks John. Steam locos? Surely only for specials such as rail tours?

Freight diesels like this I assume :

FREIGHTLINER TRAIN by Robin Procter, on Flickr
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That's a good shot.. I'm not into diesels so much unless they're like the one you've posted or this one I took at Bathampton. On the far side of the crossing I saw some people getting their cameras ready for a shot but I could neither see nor hear the freight train coming from the direction of Bristol so I was lucky to get the shot.It was soon after 'Mayflower' went through which is what I went to see. next post. The spot is no good now due to overgrown shruberry..ie on the side I was on next to it.

Yes.. steam locos on Tours. I almost wrote that..'steam locos on tours' but thought you'd think "yes.. I know they're only on tours these days"......:D

Colas.jpg
 
JohnC6 said:
That's a good shot.. I'm not into diesels so much unless they're like the one you've posted or this one I took at Bathampton. On the far side of the crossing I saw some people getting their cameras ready for a shot but I could neither see nor hear the freight train coming from the direction of Bristol so I was lucky to get the shot.It was soon after 'Mayflower' went through which is what I went to see. next post. The spot is no good now due to overgrown shruberry..ie on the side I was on next to it.

Yes.. steam locos on Tours. I almost wrote that..'steam locos on tours' but thought you'd think "yes.. I know they're only on tours these days"......:D

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.... Hi John, like you I'm more into steam than diesels generally but I must admit to being more recently additionally excited by hearing and photographing heavy and loud diesels on freight trains even though they are not like the bigger American ones across the pond.

That Colas Rail Freight loco looks like it was designed by Citroen!! It looks much more French than British in style but I now learn that they are American.

Being 75yo I am from a generation of steam enthusiasts who saw the introduction of diesels as a bad and unwelcome threat in the late 1960s. Although the real enemy was an unmentionable Mr Beeching!!
 
I actually went to a diesel rather than steam gala yesterday at Swanage Railway in Dorset ....


'LT JENNY LEWIS RN' by Robin Procter, on Flickr

Is it just me that thinks this loco looks like a VW split-screen camper van!?
 
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All our own work! Two railway mechanics outside the engine shed at Innsbruck West...

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RedRobin said:
.... Hi John, like you I'm more into steam than diesels generally but I must admit to being more recently additionally excited by hearing and photographing heavy and loud diesels on freight trains even though they are not like the bigger American ones across the pond.

That Colas Rail Freight loco looks like it was designed by Citroen!! It looks much more French than British in style but I now learn that they are American.

Being 75yo I am from a generation of steam enthusiasts who saw the introduction of diesels as a bad and unwelcome threat in the late 1960s. Although the real enemy was an unmentionable Mr Beeching!!
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It is French,Robin. After I took the photo June 4th 2015. I wondered not only how the how the name came about but the design didn't look UK-based..as you sussed yourself and that's when I learned it was French. It started life in 1931 as SECO in France and was taken over in 2007 by the French company Colas which is a major French civil engineering firm specialising in road construction and rail track construction through its Colas Rail subsidiary. It has a worldwide network now and was established in the US in 2017. I'm wondering if it's this last bit of info you've read.

en.wikipedia.org

Colas Group - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
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