Bachmann BR Standard 5MT Class Review

After updating the review of Bachmann’s N class, I took a look at the model reviewing poll conducted in July.  The poll lead to both the N class review taking place and also the review of the Hornby A4 class and since then a review of Hornby’s unrebuilt West country pacific has also been completed. …

West Somerset Railway 21st Gala March 1997; My Journey in becoming a Steam Enthusiast, Part 7 Chapter 2

Continuing from last Saturday’s post is the final chapter of part 7 in my journey in becoming a steam enthusiast.  I hope all locoyard followers will enjoy these photographs! Todays post begins in Minehead and then follows 43xx Class 7325 and Castle Class 7029 Clun Castle double-heading to Bishops Lydeard. Post thread continues – click…

Havenstreet

As promised in the previous article on the Isle of Wight steam railway, we take a closer look at Havenstreet, the headquarters of the railway. Most people join the train at Havenstreet and it has a large car park.  It isn’t the terminus of the railway however and the train will travel to Wootton, return…

Ajax and Invincible in 2011

Just a quick post tonight; showing a few photographs taken on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway last November.  No locomotives were in steam, but I had the opportunity to have a good look at two of the railway’s locomotives; Ajax and Invincible. Invincible is a Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotive built for the…

West Somerset Railway 21st Gala March 1997; My Journey in becoming a Steam Enthusiast, Part 7 Chapter 1

Following on from my previous post, this is one of the final of this series of memories and a fantastic one at that!  One of my most fond steam memories from my younger years came from a visit to the West Somerset Railway when it was celebrating its 21st anniversary in March 1997.  An incredible…