A disappearing part of the railway is the signalbox, as centralised electronics are installed on the network, replacing some of the oldest structures and mechanical train control, although crossing management is still an important role.
With opening windows on a tour, it is often possible to nab a snap of a 'box, and on a freight only route it's often the only indicator of where you actually are! Here's some from various trains.
On the journey home the morning after the night before, we paused at Barrow Hill Roundhouse. I personally wanted to check-up on progress on The Class 56 Group's other charge 56006.
Assistant Traction Officer Mick Palfreyman was on hand and reported restoration was advancing steadily. He didn't tell me at the time but I subsequently learnt Mick was successful in starting Grid 6 later in the day. A major achievement for the C56G volunteers as the loco has been dormant for some time. Well done!
Saturday was tour day itself, Matlock to Derby initially, to board the tour for a trundle round South Yorkshire with plenty of red bits thrown in. Paperwork issues though saw Ferrybridge depot caped and the Hunslet branch barely amounted to a few yards in length.
66148 at Leeds pic courtesy Andrew Wilson.
Flippin' typical! Get back to the grind and the Sun decides to do what it should be doing in the Summertime!
Anyhoo, here's Fred 563 on a slightly delayed 4L85 Doncaster-Felixstowe not long ago.
Dad and I did the "Loopy Doughnut" tour on Saturday 22nd, which as usual meant staying in the vicinity of a pick-up point. On route to digs on the Friday we paused at a favourite phot spot, Barrow on Trent. We were fortunate enough to witness three trains in quick succession, neither of which being 6E41, the usual intention for this location!
Given the previously mentioned problems with the phone, two were taken on the instamatic film camera but less than ideal lighting meant taking a punt with this shot of 67029 on 6M46 Aldwarke-Crewe Basford Hall.
More from the weekend anon.
Did an Anglia Ranger yesterday, initially hoping to have a jaunt to the coast on the 47 hauled short-set which didn't show. Made my way to Ely instead and despite attempts to capture three freight trains only managed one. Was then equally thwarted at Ipswich.
I've yet to ascertain whether Sony have fiddled with the camera software or the case on the phone interferes with the lens somehow, but the fact remains, taking a picture of a moving target at the moment usually results in deletion. And I'm not a happy snapper.
The North Norfolk Railway held it's Diesel Gala this weekend and with the promise of a Grid, had to be attended. Here's some action from Friday's outing.
Well, almost. Took this about 20 minutes ago actually.
Strange to think we used to have to wait to use a roll of film up and then another wait while it was being processed at the chemists before you even got an idea if the shot was actually any good!
