LMS Jubilee Class 6P No. 45699 Galatea - 5 June 2016

A sunny weather forecast did not materialise for 'The Cambrian Coast Express' and Galatea.  45699 hauled the first day of this four day tour as far as Shrewsbury having departed from Paddington.  45699 is seen here on good form though at Saunderton.

LNER A3 Class No. 60103 Flying Scotsman - 29 May 2016

A dreary morning in west London sees another trip for Flying Scotsman, again heading for Salisbury and seen here at Iver.  60103 is just cruising here due to concern about the locomotive fitting some of platforms on this route.  No problem here though although a member of the crew is checking the road ahead.  Note also the poles to carry the catenary for electrification of the line in the future:

LNER A3 Class No. 60103 Flying Scotsman - 21 May 2016

An truly dreadful evening in Basingstoke with driving rain and strong winds.  Despite the conditions a large crowd has gathered to see recently overhauled Flying Scotsman.  Running around 15 minutes late, 60103 is seen here getting away from Basingstoke following a water stop.  However, we learned later that the locomotives injectors had failed and for much of the remaining trip the Class 47 Diesel at the rear was required.  60103 was returning to London Paddington following a trip to Salisbury.

Some sound too on Soundcloud here.  

By way of a contrast, here is the same locomotive in January 2004 at Fleet Station, the last time we saw Flying Scotsman before its lengthy and complicated (and expensive) overhaul:

 

A1 No. 60163 Tornado - 14 February 2016

A fine morning in Slough for ‘The Red Rose’ Valentine’s day trip for 60163 Tornado from London Paddington to Worcester and return.  60163 makes a fine sight getting away from a short stop at the station having had a delayed departure from Paddington:

Some sound to listen to over on Soundcloud here.

'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.