The only small locomotive running at the Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala 2014 was also the most colourful and oldest. Built in 1898 at Neasden Works for the Baker Street to Verney Junction service of the Metropolitan Railway, what is now part of the Metropolitan Line on the London Underground network, this locomotive is a rare…
One of the more popular and often over looked trains at a gala is the freight train. I have always been a big fan as they proved a different type of photo opportunity and the wide variety of wagons are interesting to look at.
Although 34007 Wadebridge is currently the Watercress Line’s only operational Bulleid Pacific, it was one of three running at the Watercress Line Spring Steam Gala 2014. The event provided all three (currently) possible mechanical variations of Bulleid Pacific – unrebuilt light pacific, rebuilt light pacific and rebuilt Merchant Navy. Wadebridge is an example of an…
Whilst at the Watercress Lines Spring Steam Gala last year myself and Dave of LocoYard went on a tour of the Medstead wagon yard. During the tour we got talking to one of the Watercress Lines wagon gang (a brilliant set of guys but are all completely insane) and he told us about their new…
Hello Welcome to this mini series looking at Merchant Navy class locomotive Canadian Pacific. My recent blogs posting about her stripping down for costing and parts inspection has proved very popular and have taken the decision to write a mini series looking at her history. The first post will look at her life with spam…
Nigel Kendall http://www.steamweb.net Following the bad weather the South of England is having at the moment I thought this photo of Canadian Pacific in the snow was well-suited. In the horrendous winter of 62/63 35005 thunders up through New Milton with a Bournemouth to Waterloo 2-hour express. The steam effect is enhanced by another fast-disappearing…
After watching the Cathedrals Express on 9th December (click here for more), I had the privilege of being shown 35005 Canadian Pacific in Eastleigh works. Volunteer Simon has been publishing a number of blog posts (click here to read more) on his experiences working on the stripping and inspection of this massive 8P express locomotive.
It seems hard to believe that the Watercress Autumn Gala was back in October and now we are in December, time seems to go by so quickly! Noticing that there were quite a few unpublished pictures, I thought it best “wrap up” the Gala!
Seeing as a Christmas goods train was featured in this morning’s advent Calendar blog post (click here to view), I thought it fitting to publish some pictures of a goods train in action!
Bad weather can do wonders for making pictures of steam locomotives more dramatic. Presumably it is the extra humidity, but rain seems to add more steam. Rain can make the track slippery which increases the risk of wheel slip – which can be quite a sight! There is something very elementary about seeing a steam…
Loco Yard 