Hi all, We were really way out on the wilds here, this was the Lootburg Pass South Africa. The climb from Roemead to the summit at Lootsburg was just one long slog for mile after mile.This train of freight, the 0700 to Graff Reinet is being banked from Rooue Hoogte and had run round off the front of the train to the rears as there was no where to do it at the pass just a triangle to turn the
Hi all You may not have received the picture of 5017 so here it is. Begin forwarded message: From: Alan Ledger <alan.r.ledger@blueyonder.co.uk> Subject: 5043 Polar Express Date: 8 January 2026 at 17:09:13 GMT To: Alan Abbotts <alanabbotts@btinternet.com>, Alan Mayer <annmariemaher157@gmail.com>, Alan Tregenna <trigger1947@hotmail.co.uk>, Andy Rhodes <wallet76@btinternet.com>, Kieth Brown <kgbrown@hotmail.com>, Clive Read <biker_zx_12@hotmail.com>, Dale Corbet <drcbigcamera@gmail.com>, Dave Cullinan <davecullinan16@gmail.com>, Deryk Edwards <derykredwards@gmail.com>, Terry Dugard <terry60.joan66@gmail.com>, Frank Dyer <frank.dyer@bigpond.com>, Garrath/Sandra Evans <sandraandgareth@yahoo.co.uk>, Garry Beeley <garybeeley@hotmail.com>, Ian Clarke /Dian <ianedwardclarke@gmail.com>, IAN GREGORY <ian.gregory1@blueyonder.co.uk>,
HI all, Two weeks before Christmas I had the all clear to resume normal activities by my visiting district nurse. So taking things easy up to the weekend before festive activities took place I was then out and about chasing the Polar Express hauled by Great Western Castle class 5043 “Earl of Mount Edgcombe” who some centuries ago came by his title in 1789 and his estate is just over the border into Cornwall beyond Saltash and Plymouth, and served
Hi all, Two QJs take freight away from Beijing’s Fengtai marshaling yard side by side along two separate lines to different destinations. 2-10-2 QJ 2324 and 2188 are the engines at the head of long trains, the one nearest hauls sheeted wagons to protect the contents. Where they were going I don’t know but it was to the north as in the distance are the hills where the Great Wall of China can be found. 23/O3/1983 Regards Ledg.
Hi all, Our second visit to West Germany brought us to the Vineyards of the Mossell at Bulley on the very busy Coblenz Trier Line almost 100% steam worked. To get to this spot required a slog over the hill to the right from Bulley along zig zag paths. Walking through Prinzenkoft tunnel was a bit to dodgy! Trier was home to a small allocation of 001 Pacifics for working some of the expresses along with class 023 2-6-2s.
Hi all, I might have sent this one out a long time ago so here’s one for the younger recipients of these pictures I have taken who might like to see and pure nostalgia for the few who are left to remember.. These were the conditions we had to work in during steam days. By then 3 sheds roof had been taken off before it fell onto someone. So we got soaked during heavy rain as engine cleaners not that
Hi all, Taken from the road bridge crossing the railway at Neunmarkt Wirsberg West Germany. Class 050-681 is framed by a signal getting under way with the 16.47 to Hof. Over on the right is the loco depot that is now a railway museum. Now adays the Germans have steam festivals running trains to Hof the attraction being the first three Miles from here of climbing up the 1 in 38 gradient to Marktshorgast. We would spend time walking the
Hi all, Our second trip to Austria, the first being in mid winter, February 1971. Things were moving fast and there was still plenty of steam to see but for how Long? But now we were here mid summer, June for two weeks in a hire car from Linz eastern Austria.This was our first visit to the Linz Summerau line, a very busy single line 100% steam worked. Heavy freight trains climbing all the way to Summerau for about 30-40
Hi all, Here’s a picture I took from my trusty machine at a steam gala on the Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway some three years ago I believe, of Great Western 2-8-0 tank engine 4270 in magnificent condition entering Toddington station with a short freight train from Cheltenham. These engines were built for a specific job which was to haul coal and steel up and down the South Wales valleys all their lives and very few ventured any where else and
Hi all, Night time at the junction town of Bebra on the East West German border and like many railway main lines the trains run all through the night. East German Pacific oil burner 01-0523 had just arrived in the station with an express from the east and now stands waiting to be turned on the depot turntable before returning later with a train to Leipzig. All the trains working across the border into the east were manned by
Hi all, It’s been eleven years since the S.O.D.S Saltley Old Drivers a group of retired railway drivers paid a visit to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. After a long journey by train and bus to Pickering we caught a steam hauled train to Grossmont where we stayed in a local B+B for two nights. Of course a visit to Whitby could not be missed to sample the local fish and chips and a few of the local beers. So
Hi all, Night time at Wernigerode, all the engines that are here have been disposed, fires and smoke boxes cleaned and are now at rest until the morning service. There were probably 7 or 8 of these 2-10-2 tank engines at rest here at Wernigrode in the Hartz mountain region of what used to be East Germany. What a great railway it was and still is to this day to visit I managed to get there on 5 occasions. These