'Black 5' No. 45407 - 19 December 2015

With motive power rather thin on the ground in the south, 45407 was moved from its Bury base to cover some tours.  Here the 'Black 5' makes good progress across the pond at Fleet with a trip to Salisbury:

'B1' 61306 Mayflower - 24 September 2015

A wet morning is just giving way to little sun as 61306 'Mayflower' makes a fine departure from Guildford.  This 'Cathedrals Express' trip was heading to Worcester having earlier departed fron West Brompton.

Some sound to listen to over on Soundcloud here.

'Black 5' no. 45231 - 28 July 2015

A trip to the wild uplands of The Pennines for ‘Black 5’ no. 45231 with 'The Dalesman'. It is a very wet day indeed, in torrential rain it’s a struggle keeping our equipment dry as we scramble across boggy ground to our location at Ais Gill Viaduct on the Settle-Carlisle Railway. The whole of Mallerstang Common is shrouded in low cloud but we have a good view of the line and only just manage to set up before we see the exhaust from 45231 on the 1/100 climb towards the summit a short distance behind us. Despite the rain it is a calm day with just a very light breeze as we pick up the sound of 45231 against the backdrop of rushing falls at Ais Gill. With 11 coaches attached and a damp road this is a good test for a ‘5’ but 45231 is on great form and there is only a hint of a slip as the loco approaches. 45231 makes a wonderful spectacle as it hammers across the viaduct and away towards the summit.  45231 was returning to Hellifield following a trip to Carlisle. The section between York and Hellifield was diesel hauled.  

 

Listen to 45231 on the climb on Soundcloud here.

61306 Mayflower - 04 June 2015

B1 61306 Mayflower works through Longcross with this 'Cathedrals Express' to Bath and Bristol.  61306 is working well here on a fine a morning, but having inexplicably packed the wrong equipment we can't bring you any sound!

46233 Duchess of Sutherland - 23 May 2015

LMS Coronation Class 46233 Duchess of Sutherland has just crossed the River Thames heading north towards Culham and Oxford.  46233 was returning to Derby following a trip to Didcot.  On the left of the picture is the distinctive spire of the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Appleford.

61306 Mayflower - 01 April 2015

Another day out for the busy B1 Class No. 61306 Mayflower.  This 'Cathedrals Express' trip ran from Oxford to Kingswear and 61306 is seen here on outward leg hammering along toward Thatcham on a bright morning.

On the return leg we catch up with the 'B1' at Theale and you can listen to the sound on Soundcloud here.

61306 Mayflower - 01 March 2015

B1 No. 61306 Mayflower catches some early sun as it gets away from Slough with this 'Cathedrals Express' trip from London Paddington to Cardiff.

61306 makes some good sound too which you can listen to on Soundcloud here.

61306 Mayflower - 14 February 2015

A busy day for Class 47 no. 47580.  47580 was at the rear of LNER B1 61306 Mayflower for this circular tour from London Victoria via Guildford and Eastleigh.  The Class 47 seemed to do much of the work all day as we catch the trip at a couple of locations.  First, deep in the South Downs at Buriton near Buriton Tunnel:

Later, we see 61306 again following a water stop at a rain soaked Basingstoke:

16 December 2014

'Blacks 5s' 44871 & 45407 sweep through Newbury with this 'Cathedrals Express' trip for Bath and Bristol.

 A rather flawed sound recording is available on Soundcloud here.

Also running on this day was 34067 Tangmere with a trip from London Victoria to Yeovil Junction.  The return leg was run mostly after dark but you can listen to 34067 climbing away from Sherborne over on Soundcloud here.