8–9th October Barrow Hill – Twilight of Steam

Barrow Hill is Britain's last remaining roundhouse that is still in use. Although only one steam engine is based there (B1 61264), the site is also home to the Deltic Preservation Society and Chesterfield Locomotive Action Group. However, the shed earns its money through the week by restoring and maintaining diesel locomotives and rolling stock for the national network. My visit to Barrow Hill was primarily to crew J15 65462 which was stopping off at the shed to attend there Twilight of Steam Gala. From there, 65462 will move onto the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway, where the loco will stay until just before Christmas. Below are some pictures that I managed to take while away from 65462 and savour the atmosphere of this once common sight on Britain's railways, a working steam roundhouse. Locos attending were as follows; LMS Black 5 45231 The Sherwood Forester, 8F 48773 (masquerading as 48182), Super D 49395, LNER J15 65462 (masquerading on Saturday as 65466), J94 8009 and GWR Large Prairie 5199. Also on static display where; LMS 1F 41708, Jubilee 45593 Kolhapur, LNER D11 506 Butler Henderson, and BR 7P 70000 Britannia.

31st August, 1st September Flying Scotsman and NRM

A short break in York, which (in the end) saw a trip behind 4472 Flying Scotsman and a visit of the Nation Railway Museum, although that wasn't originally the plan! Wednesday (31st August) saw many first for me. It was the first time that I had traveled behind a steam loco on the main line. The first time that I had witnessed for myself an express loco nearer the speeds that they were designed for. And the first time that I had seen a loco being turned on a turntable! Thursday (1st September) was spent looking round the NRM. We got to see our "old friend" 60800 Green Arrow, I really did feel moved by the sad state that 60800 was in, I felt as though I should have bought some grapes, chocolate and a bunch of flowers! On a more up beat note, 46229 Duchess of Hamilton looked fabulous, the loco having been moved into the workshops in readiness to be transported to Crewe. I have also included two pictures (below) of the NRM's two Great Eastern beauties, J17 8217 and J69 87, wonder if we could squeeze them in the shed at Weybourne! A nice surprise while I was looking round was the discovery of a 5" gauge model of GER S46 1900 Claud Hamilton, nice!

9th April Norwich and Ipswich