Railway Photo Gallery
Latest Stuff
This page will include all the latest updates to the site, along with various comments and opinions. This is the page to come to if you want to go straight to all the stuff that has recently been added to the site. The newest stuff will be at the top of this page.
29th-30th June 2009 -
Western Train Sneaks Out to Fleetwood
I have delayed putting these images on
this website pending release of the latest edition of TRAMS Magazine and the
Blackpool Tram DVD, but I have now uploaded them for all to see. They were taken
during a photographic charter organised by TRAMS Magazine which took the
recently restored 'Western Train' illuminated tram on an overnight trip to
Fleetwood and back. We departed depot at 2345 and made our way to Fleetwood,
pausing at Bispham, Little Bispham, Cleveleys, Broadwater and Ash Street for
photos before finally arriving at Fleetwood Ferry at about 2am. After a short
break, we set off back to Blackpool, this time pausing at Pharos Street, Albert
Square, Rossall School and Norbreck before finally arriving back at Rigby Road
depot at 0530. An open top double decker bus was also used during the shoot to
gain height for photographs and for filming the train while it was on the move.
Some of the video footage can be seen on the latest Blackpool
Tram DVD, and more footage will be on the soon to be released 'Western
Train Restored' DVD.
It was a fantastic night, it was calm and warm, and the photographic
opportunities were superb. With the impending closure of the street tramway in
Fleetwood, I feel very privileged and grateful to have been invited to take part
in this unique event.
Click here to view the pictures
20th September 2009 - Crich
The sun was out, so rather than sit at
home, I decided to pay Crich Tramway Museum a visit. I am glad I did as London
1622 was out, which is one of my favourite trams at Crich. I also took a look in
the workshops where I took a few record shots of London 159 under restoration
and Blackpool pantograph car 167 having an overhaul.
Click here to view the pictures
19th September 2009 - O4
I didn't bother going out anywhere
today except for during the afternoon when a large amount of blue sky tempted me
out to Kinchley Lane on the GCR for the 1415 ex Loughborough which turned out to
be O4 63601.
Click here to view the picture
14th September 2009 - GCR
Large Logo Tractor Photo Charter
An EMRPS photo charter at the GCR with
37314 in large logo livery at the head of a rake of ballast wagons. The day
began cloudy and during the morning session we only managed one sunny shot.
However, the afternoon session was much better and several locations were nailed
in sun before we returned to Loughborough for a quick night shoot with 50007.
The night shoot was a difficult one to light as we staged it by the pegs at
Beeches Road which is quite a long way from the nearest plug! After a lot of
effort and head-scratching, we finally got it lit and it looked quite nice sat
by the pegs.
I would like to thank the Class 40 Appeal for making their locos available and
for their assistance on the day, and the GCR staff and volunteers who helped set
up and crew the event. I would also like to thank the photographers who
supported the event and finally would also like to thank the EMRPS team who
helped me to run the event on the day and who also did a great job lighting the
50. It was an enjoyable day with plenty of laughs along the way.
Click here to view the pictures
12th September 2009 -
Cumbria
A day in Cumbria for the Spitfire
Railtour 'Cumbrian Coaster'. I started the day with a mega early start to do
6K73 and the Carlisle to Sellafield acid tanks. 6K73 didn't run and in waiting
for it I missed the acid tanks, so the day got off to a bad start. Then it was
off to the WCML for the tour and I managed to pull in a single shot of the
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway on the way through. Arrival at the WCML was
marked by the news that the 37's on the tour had failed and 66414 was being run
round from the rear of the train onto the front. When the train finally reached
me, 66414 and 37510 were powering but 37229 was dead. After this shot, there was
a bit of a fester until the southbound train which now had 37682 replacing 37229
and this was photographed approaching Park South Junction near Barrow in
Furness. Finally, a quick deviation was made to Blackpool for a refreshment stop
where I witnessed all three illuminated trams going out on tour duty - all three
un-illuminated.
Click here to view the pictures
9th September 2009 -
Skiptastic
67008 worked a Chesterfield to London
Victoria excursion formed of the VSOE stock. I had an amusing moment taking this
photograph when I was approached by two police officers just as the train was
approaching. Now, we railway enthusiasts have no shortage of stories of trouble
with the police, some of whom think we are terrorists, but this was a much
friendlier encounter as I ended up sharing my set of steps with a very pleasant
female police officer so that she could see the train pass by!
Click here to view the picture
5th September 2009 -
Tractors to the Seaside
The last loco hauled FGW service of the
summer season from Bristol to Weymouth was booked for class 37 haulage instead
of the usual class 67's. I didn't really want to pass up this opportunity. With
25 or so photographers on the bridge at Bathampton, and with shadows which
seemed reluctant to clear, I opted to move 400 yards or so along the canal
towpath and took a completely different shot. Still with the compromise of
shadows in the foreground, at least most of the train was lit and didn't have
shadows that were just nudging onto the bogies. Only myself and one other
photographer took this shot. I have seen other people's results taken from the
bridge and the shadow just about cleared but was still just clipping the bogies,
it did however have a better backdrop than mine, so both shots were a bit of a
compromise. I am well happy with my picture though.
After Bathampton, a simple chase down to Clink gave me another shot, albeit
slightly backlit, and then while the train called at Frome it was possible to
chase again down to Blatchbridge Junction where the sun died on it's arse, so
the image included is a digi razz up with sunny background taken after the train
had passed. The weather then completely collapsed and although I chased the
return from Weymouth, there was very little hope of any sun anywhere.
Click here to view the pictures