British Steam Trains

71000 POTW

Alan Ledger June 20, 2024

Here’s a shot for all you Brumies, (The Duke) 71000 ”Duke of Gloucester” Standard class 8P 4-6-2 working a London to Derby special passing by those magnificent gas ometers at Washwood Heath that supplied us all before the advent of natural gas. As you can see there is plenty available as they are almost full to the top. Sadly no longer with us having been confined to the scrap heap and replaced with Star City. I took the photo from

Picture of the week: Beddgelert North Wales

Alan Ledger June 16, 2024

Two pictures from last week at Beddgelert. First is of Ex South African Railways Beyer Garratt 2-6-2 = 2-6-2 NG 143 in the station. Second picture is of a view taken from the side of the A498 about a mile south of Beddgelert Wales lat week looking across the Afon Glaslyn, having diced with busy traffic along the twisting road to get to this spot. NG143 is working the 15.40 “Aberglaslyn” from Beggelert to Porthmadog. It’s hard to believe that

Steam Pioneers: A Journey through the History of Steam Trains in Austria and Germany

Alan Ledger June 6, 2023

The emergence and evolution of steam trains in Austria and Germany marked a transformative era in the annals of transportation history. From the pioneering days of steam locomotion to the eventual modernization of rail networks, the story of steam trains in these Central European nations is a captivating journey through innovation, progress, and cultural impact. The Birth of Steam in Central Europe The roots of steam locomotion in Austria and Germany trace back to the early 19th century when the

34086/34101 At Bournemouth

Alan Ledger March 31, 2023

16 years old on this day in 1965 and not yet passed out for firing. Went off to the Southern Region and here I am wandering around Bournemouth shed and two Bullied Pacific’s are ready for the next trip up to London. Battle of Britain 34086 219 Squadron in original condition and West Country 34101 “Hartland”in rebuilt form. A little over two years to go before all this would be gone. 6th June 1965. Regards Ledg. Sent from my iPad

Picture of the Week: 34027/34053

Alan Ledger November 10, 2016

Here’s a picture or two for sore eyes. This could have been taken quite easily before 1967 if you worked on the footplate of the Southern Region but in 2016? well you have to be in the right place at the right time! Say no more. Two rebuilt Bullied Pacifics passing one another taken from the cab of West Country 34027 “Taw Valley” working the 16.20 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster train looking along that long firebox and boiler approaching Battle of

Picture of the Week: 5043 SUTTON PARK

Alan Ledger November 3, 2016

Ex Great Western Railway Castle class 5043 “Earl of Mount Edgcombe” climbs up through Sutton Park working the 09.13 Tyseley to Chester just over a week ago. The trees are beginning to change but the sun has not come out to brighten them up. It will return later in the day passing through Birmingham New Street station at 19.50. Saturday 22nd October 2016. Regards Ledg.

Picture of the week: 35006

Alan Ledger June 23, 2016

A picture taken a few weeks ago of rebuilt Merchant Navy 35006 “Peninsular and Oriental Line” at the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway steam gala on Saturday 28th May 2016. Here it is having left Cheltenham Race Course and heading for Toddington with the 12.36 departure looking very smart. I remember seeing these engines tearing through Basingstoke from the Weymouth and Exeter lines coming down from Worting Junction in the early 1960’s the drivers hanging on the whistles as they approached

Picture of the Week: 4771

Alan Ledger June 10, 2016

Hi all, I had been on the Castle Bromwich Cement train and knew this special was coming so after a quick chat with the signalman at Saltley I was able to leave my engine in the picture, class 31 and climb the signal gantry to get this photograph of Gresley V2 2-6-2 4771 Green Arrow blasting past Castle Bromwich with a very mixed bag of 12 colourful coaches in tow. It’s now in York museum along with 2 other engines

Picture of the Week: 7820 from Dartmouth

Alan Ledger October 7, 2015

Something a bit different. Went to Dartmouth 3 weeks ago and got this distant shot of 7820 Dinmore Manor coming from Paignton going to Kingswear. As I stood on the quay side I could see a gap in the boats to get the picture of the train, which you can hardly see! and as it got there just by luck the local water taxi came scuttling across in front, unnoticed, and took me completely by surprise but was timed to

35005 AT BOURNEMOUTH

Alan Ledger August 13, 2015

A great black and white shot of Merchant Navy 4-6-2 35005 “Canadian Pacific” with that fantastic signal gantry at the platform end, and the road is clear for it to leave Bournemouth Central with an up express for Waterloo. The Weymouth portion will have been attached at the rear. We were drawn here right up to the last days of steam on the Southern Region to see it all end. 35023 “Holland Africa Line” was the very last Pacific to

YESTERDAYS PICTURES

Alan Ledger May 25, 2015

Bank holiday steam visitors to the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway taken yesterday at Gotherington and Cheltenham race course. West Country’s 34007 Wadebridge and 34092 City of Wells. Not many times 2 were double headed in BR days except out of Ilfracombe. Regards Ledg.

Picture of the Week: West Country’s 34007 and 34092