WTF Wednesday
WTF Wednesday In the land of the inch high most things work very well. But they’ve not been able to produce a tiny camera that works in 1/76th scale. So today they’re trialling a camera from the 12...
View ArticleThe Big Bang
A regular Thursday in the land of the inch high. A former Great Eastern Railway J15 from Ipswich has been borrowed to trial on the Highbridge branch. Its light axle loading making it an ideal...
View ArticleAristocat Travel
For years and years, we’ve been led to believe that these wagon are used for conveying radioactive matter. But in fact they’re for transporting wealthy important cats. Even security guards, former ice...
View ArticleGrain
Tuesday afternoon, and Bill & Ted in their wheezing old Midland 3F 43216 propel a hopper wagon full of grain into the yard at Catcott, having recently arrived with the daily pick up goods from...
View ArticleRubber Ruler
High up in the Mendip Hills, there’s a little known 2 foot gauge (or thereabouts) light railway that runs from nowhere in particular to nowhere in particular. The ‘thereabouts’ being a bit of an issue,...
View ArticleRails to Wedmore
Here we are a Wedmore, the terminus of little recorded light railway which runs up from Shapwick Junction on the Evercreech to Highbridge line. It was to be a midway station with the line continuing to...
View ArticleSwirlywirly Thingamajig Thing
Radstock shed’s ‘Jinty’ (though they were called ‘Bagnalls’ on the S&DJR) 47276 simmers next to the rotary aggregate swirlywirly loading thingamajig thing at Cement Quay. Everything is a little...
View ArticleA Man Who Can
Serene SundayDue to the very short platform at Catcott Halt, Evercreech bound trains block the level crossing for a few minutes. But there is no rush, for there is little if any road traffic apart from...
View ArticleCat on a Hot Tin Roof
Freddy Flag and Harry Hunslet have just noticed Bob Geeza Cat on the hot tin roof of the pithead building (though actually it’s probably asbestos), so they briefly pause to check he’s okay - which of...
View ArticleFriday, but not Front End Friday
Friday, but not Front End FridayDouglas (formerly known as ‘Doug’ until he lost his spade) and Deliberation Dave, watch Harry and his Hunslet push a rake of empties up the steep gradient in to the...
View ArticleLCGB - Locomotive Club for Girls and Boys
I’m a bit short of new colour photos, so you’ll have to suffer black and white today. But this is real black and white, it being taken on proper black and white film. 35mm Fomapan 100 black and white...
View ArticleCold War Disinformation
At an unknown location, quite possibly somewhere along the Thames Valley, a short passenger train catches the evening light sometime in the early 1960s. Note the long welded rails. Such permanent way...
View ArticleBus Replacement Narrowboat Service
Here we are on a lovely Saturday morning, and it’s time for weekend engineering works, something which most know has been enshrined law since 1883. The regular rail replacement bus is in the workshop,...
View ArticleMellow Yellow
British Rail for years have been trying to dispose of their scruffy yellow Ruston PWM, but it’s a bit like a cockroach and won’t go away despite intentional complete lack of maintenance in the hope...
View ArticlePart Time Conspiracy Theorists
Wednesday morning and ‘Jinty’ 47276 slowly propels a rake of 16 ton mineral wagons under the aggregate loading screen. It’s a slow old process, but needs must and all that. Grey suited, hard hatted...
View ArticleA Dual Duel!
“Oh I say, a duel, how very sporting!” mutters Arthritic Arthur as he staggers off the engine furthest away, “2 engines verses a single steamroller, I think we might have an unfair advantage, hey...
View ArticleThe Watercress Spring Steam Gala on Film
A few shots at Ropley Saturday 26th April at The Watercress Spring Steam Gala. These events are always busy, so rather than avoid people in the photos, I decided embrace them rather than trying the...
View ArticleSaturday Satire
Click to enlarge Here we are deep in The Forest outside The Miners Arms, and as part of a special joint scientific test, officially requested by The Ministry of Madness and The Department of Smog, loco...
View ArticleClag, Crows and Headless Pigeons
At Fountain Colliery, Harry Hunslet has decided to fire his engine with old rubber tyres and moonshine which has produced around 33% more power than usually expected from Forest of Dean coal. The...
View ArticleA Bit of Slap & Tickle
First time booze runners and part time pub circuit folk music duo Cyril Slap & Toby Tickle have just taken delivery of 3 casks of illicit grog produced on Steep Holm, a little known island in the...
View ArticleGritty Monochrome Moody Monday
Arthritic Arthur has just climbed down from the engine to couple a few wagons up during the morning shunt. But he’s now struggling to get back on the engine, so will quite likely simply go to the pub...
View ArticleWandering Cats & the Futility of Being Seen to Do Something
Click to enlarge Here we are at Fountain Colliery deep in The Forest in the middle of nowhere, which is south of north nowhere, and west of eastern nowhere. Rather like the insipid county...
View ArticleSunday Shenanigans
The locomotive, an old Midland Railway one allocated to Highbridge shed, is on loan to the light railway, it has replaced to more usual industrial tank locomotive which is away for an ‘up and under’....
View ArticleHells Belles
A once in a lifetime achievement photograph as celebrity snapper Ivan Locksmith manages to capture the passing of the up and down Devon Belle, or is it down and up? I’m sure you the loyal...
View ArticleFreddy the Flag
Harry Hunslet and his trusty loco pauses briefly at the end of the line by the pithead to collect an old mineral wagon still displaying a rather faded ‘Northern United’ livery. It must be a good twenty...
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