But they are slab-sided...they're diesels...they can't help it, poor things.
Each to his own, of course. The original green was greatly enhanced by the white cab, IMHO.
Is it just me, or does the BR blue in which heritage diesels appear these days seem brighter than the original colour? IYSWIM.
I think *cleaner* is at the root of a lot of it…
Yes, that's true. The heritage diesels, as well as their steam companions, really don't have to work so hard in a dusty and dirty environment as they would have done IRL.
Not that I would wish it on them, or their humans, of course.
You may be right - Hamilton Ellis records that the CVLR bought the motor coach (minus electrical equipment) and *two ordinary coaches*.
Here's a photo of part of the experimental train - I'm assuming that the CVLR's coaches were also part of the set, but it's not clear how many cars there were originally:
Not the sort of train usually associated with rural Essex...
I have to say that my desire to ride on one is muted by the amount of time I spent on them between Oxford and Didcot.
Is there anything about obscure local railways that you lot don't know? All I know about the Colne Valley is that it used to be known as the Bugsquasher! Oh, and that they had to move a mile down the line a few years ago...
All I know about the Colne Valley is that it used to be known as the Bugsquasher! Oh, and that they had to move a mile down the line a few years ago...
Did they actually move in the end? Wikipedia suggests that ultimately they were able to stay put.
1. When Emma/Bertha was withdrawn, its headlight was transferred to the 9F which replaced her.
2. The LNER Garratt was a failure: not responsive enough to the controls so often gave the back of the train an almighty thump! Visibility along its length was also also a problem.
They would hardly fit in the fiddle yard, let alone the station...
Cyril Freezer did once bemoan the sheer profusion of GW branch line models, whilst at the same time repenting him of having been largely the cause of it!
On the other hand, you're certainly allowed to run what you like on your layout, even the odd out-of-theme engine or train. After all, it's about playfulness, so not need to be dead serious always.
On the other hand, you're certainly allowed to run what you like on your layout, even the odd out-of-theme engine or train. After all, it's about playfulness, so not need to be dead serious always.
You're absolutely right, of course. Why, I'm only waiting for the recently-introduced model of Bulleid's Leader to be much reduced in price (it's not a very good model) before buying one for the Suffix Border Light Railway...
If I had a fair bit of space, I'd probably go for modelling a stretch of double-track main line, with Up and Down relief loops and perhaps a short public siding - no passenger station - so that I could run just about anything I wanted without it looking silly!
I see that tickets for "Scotsman's" visit to the Severn Valley sold out in three minutes!
Is that the heritage railway equivalent to Glastonbury?
I rather think it is...
I like the SVR, recalling a steamy trip one damp autumnal day many years ago, in a train made up entirely of ex-LMS coaches, hauled by a Stanier 8F (or was it a Black 5? It was a big, black, LMS engine, anyway). The wet weather led to severe flooding a few weeks later...
IIRC, the buffet at Bridgnorth Station had a very fine collection of single malt Whiskies, damp passengers for the warming of...I suspect such delights (the single malts) are not to be had at Glastonbury.
Scotsman's visit to the SVR is intended to coincide with the reopening of the whole railway after the embankment collapse of 30 January. Let's hope the works are successfully completed!
On the other hand, you're certainly allowed to run what you like on your layout, even the odd out-of-theme engine or train. After all, it's about playfulness, so not need to be dead serious always.
You're absolutely right, of course. Why, I'm only waiting for the recently-introduced model of Bulleid's Leader to be much reduced in price (it's not a very good model) before buying one for the Suffix Border Light Railway...
If I had a fair bit of space, I'd probably go for modelling a stretch of double-track main line, with Up and Down relief loops and perhaps a short public siding - no passenger station - so that I could run just about anything I wanted without it looking silly!
On the other hand, you're certainly allowed to run what you like on your layout, even the odd out-of-theme engine or train. After all, it's about playfulness, so not need to be dead serious always.
You're absolutely right, of course. Why, I'm only waiting for the recently-introduced model of Bulleid's Leader to be much reduced in price (it's not a very good model) before buying one for the Suffix Border Light Railway...
If I had a fair bit of space, I'd probably go for modelling a stretch of double-track main line, with Up and Down relief loops and perhaps a short public siding - no passenger station - so that I could run just about anything I wanted without it looking silly!
You could do all that in N in about 8’x2’6”
I could - but N is far too small for my pore old Eyes and Fingers to cope with...
In an entirely unexpected turn of events, we found ourselves today at Porthmadog in the midst of the Ffestiniog Railway's anniversary celebration, so spent much time burning film and pixels on the many engines that were running.
Highlights include no less than 3 double Fairlies (although I visited in 1986, I don't think I'd ever seen one running until now), Prince, Palmerston, Taliesin, a WHR Garrett of unnoted name/number (a green one) and the Lynton & Barnstaple replica Lyd. I was particularly interested in the latter as back in 2002 I holidayed in Devon with my parents and one of the local pubs had been a station on the L&B.
Once I get my manure together there will be photos, and hopefully more once I get the films developed/develop them.
We had a nice ride last year to Tan-y-Bwlch and back, in one of the original bogie carriages (very Victorian, and comfy) behind Merddyin Emrys.
When I was (briefly) a Deviationist in 1969, there was a desperate shortage of motive power: Earl of Merioneth had broken down, Prince wasn't ready for service, the only locos available to operate a very intensive service were Blanche, Mountaineer and Moelwyn (they tried Upnor Castle but it was unsuccessful).
It cannot be denied (as if anyone would try) that the FR/WHR is a very impressive operation - a sophisticated modern 60cm gauge railway with steam power as well as diesels!
Stationary at Boston Lodge while we were there - we didn't go in as we'd just walked along the Cob, to be told we needed to get a ticket back at Porthmadog! Yes, I missed Upnor Castle as well, plus an unnamed Bo-Bo (?) diesel. Also at Boston Lodge was a vertical boiler engine (De Winton?) and, I think, a former Penrhyn Quarry loco - but I didn't get a clear or close enough view of either to photograph.
Nice photos - funny-looking things, those pushme-pullyous Fairlies, aren't they?
The little blue Hunslet was Britomart from the Pen-yr-Orsedd quarry. I fired her sister Una many years ago, when the Bala Lake Railway borrowed Una for an anniversary weekend.
There are shots of diesels Moelwyn, Upnor Castle, and (I think) Criccieth Castle.
Upnor Castle comes from the late-lamented Chattenden & Upnor Railway, just a few miles downstream from here. It's a shame that it couldn't have been preserved as a heritage railway, but it closed in 1961, when such things were not as commonly-found as they are now!
It would have been an excellent tourist attraction - yes, I know we have the Sittingbourne (ex-Bowaters) line not far away, but, with all due respect to their hardworking volunteers, it's not as pretty as the C & U was...
I was lucky enough to travel on the non-preserved part of the Bowater's Railway to Ridham (our school Transport Society). We sat on flat trucks and were hauled by Unique.
Thank you, @Bishops Finger , that was a splendid accompaniment to my morning cuppa!
You're welcome. I think I was the first viewer of that video!
Another video shows that the ex-Penrhyn engine was Hugh Napier. Those little quarry locos get about quite a bit - not as hard to move around the country as yer average Bulleid Pacific...
Thank you for the pictures, Sandemaniac, and for the video, Bishops Finger!
I must say I'm fairlie [sic!] impressed by the peaceful, non-hectic setting in the video! Just very down-to-earth running of trains, everyone quite civilised and relaxed, none of the pushing and shoving that sometimes happens at mainline events.
Do you think this is a general thing at the FR/WHR, or is it just the season, and is perhaps more overrun at other times of the year?
The scenery itself of course is breathtaking and calm-inspiring.
Thank you for the pictures, Sandemaniac, and for the video, Bishops Finger!
I must say I'm fairlie [sic!] impressed by the peaceful, non-hectic setting in the video! Just very down-to-earth running of trains, everyone quite civilised and relaxed, none of the pushing and shoving that sometimes happens at mainline events.
Do you think this is a general thing at the FR/WHR, or is it just the season, and is perhaps more overrun at other times of the year?
The scenery itself of course is breathtaking and calm-inspiring.
IME there’s not a preserved railway in the UK* that is anything like the mainline events. It’s completely different and that video is typical of any railway chosen at random.
The FR/WHR no doubt has quieter periods, as do all heritage railways, but my impression is that it doesn't see quite as many Old Men With Cameras as seem to swarm (sometimes literally!) over other lines.
My limited experience on Another Little Railway some years ago was that we had a good mixture of visitors - often with young children, who just loved to be invited onto the footplate whilst we were waiting time at the Big Station - as well as a sprinkling of diehard steam enthusiasts. Hordes of people just taking photos were almost unknown, although this was somewhat before the omnipresence of Smartphones...
My limited experience on Another Little Railway some years ago was that we had a good mixture of visitors - often with young children, who just loved to be invited onto the footplate whilst we were waiting time at the Big Station.
The Great Central actually annotates its timetables with the stops where you can be invited onto the footplate.
Nostalgia for the FfR/WHR tempted me into buying some 009 models lately. The idea was to build a simple tabletop layout for me to play with when I want something simple and to hand.
I had 009 decades ago, but I had forgotten how tiny this stuff is. But the modern locos are exquisite. One could not have dreamed of such things back in the day. My Linda is like a little jewel. I'm almost afraid to get her out of her box.
I went up to North Wales the summer before the pandemic and travelled one day from Porthmadog to Caernarfon and back on the WHR behind one of their Garratts, with wonderful weather and the next day up to Blaenau Ffestiniog and back in the rain with a Fairlie in one direction and the L&B replica in the other. Two marvellous days.
On other days, I went round the Lloyd George museum and the Clough-Ellis gardens.
Comments
I think *cleaner* is at the root of a lot of it…
Yes, that's true. The heritage diesels, as well as their steam companions, really don't have to work so hard in a dusty and dirty environment as they would have done IRL.
Not that I would wish it on them, or their humans, of course.
You could take a ride on it on 5th July:
https://www.colnevalleyrailway.co.uk/
(Scroll down to HST days)
Not the sort of train usually associated with rural Essex...
But, to be fair, the original Colne Valley Railway bought and used the experimental District Railway electric set.
Here's a photo of part of the experimental train - I'm assuming that the CVLR's coaches were also part of the set, but it's not clear how many cars there were originally:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Experimental_Train.jpg
BTW, I made an error - I should have written CV&HR (Colne Valley & Halstead Railway), not CVLR.
I have to say that my desire to ride on one is muted by the amount of time I spent on them between Oxford and Didcot.
Is there anything about obscure local railways that you lot don't know? All I know about the Colne Valley is that it used to be known as the Bugsquasher! Oh, and that they had to move a mile down the line a few years ago...
I may have deliberately sown confusion just to keep the whizzkids on their toes... and, let's face it, lots more people have heard of that Colne!
1. When Emma/Bertha was withdrawn, its headlight was transferred to the 9F which replaced her.
2. The LNER Garratt was a failure: not responsive enough to the controls so often gave the back of the train an almighty thump! Visibility along its length was also also a problem.
They would hardly fit in the fiddle yard, let alone the station...
Cyril Freezer did once bemoan the sheer profusion of GW branch line models, whilst at the same time repenting him of having been largely the cause of it!
You're absolutely right, of course. Why, I'm only waiting for the recently-introduced model of Bulleid's Leader to be much reduced in price (it's not a very good model) before buying one for the Suffix Border Light Railway...
If I had a fair bit of space, I'd probably go for modelling a stretch of double-track main line, with Up and Down relief loops and perhaps a short public siding - no passenger station - so that I could run just about anything I wanted without it looking silly!
Is that the heritage railway equivalent to Glastonbury?
I rather think it is...
I like the SVR, recalling a steamy trip one damp autumnal day many years ago, in a train made up entirely of ex-LMS coaches, hauled by a Stanier 8F (or was it a Black 5? It was a big, black, LMS engine, anyway). The wet weather led to severe flooding a few weeks later...
IIRC, the buffet at Bridgnorth Station had a very fine collection of single malt Whiskies, damp passengers for the warming of...I suspect such delights (the single malts) are not to be had at Glastonbury.
You could do all that in N in about 8’x2’6”
I could - but N is far too small for my pore old Eyes and Fingers to cope with...
Highlights include no less than 3 double Fairlies (although I visited in 1986, I don't think I'd ever seen one running until now), Prince, Palmerston, Taliesin, a WHR Garrett of unnoted name/number (a green one) and the Lynton & Barnstaple replica Lyd. I was particularly interested in the latter as back in 2002 I holidayed in Devon with my parents and one of the local pubs had been a station on the L&B.
Once I get my manure together there will be photos, and hopefully more once I get the films developed/develop them.
We had a nice ride last year to Tan-y-Bwlch and back, in one of the original bogie carriages (very Victorian, and comfy) behind Merddyin Emrys.
When I was (briefly) a Deviationist in 1969, there was a desperate shortage of motive power: Earl of Merioneth had broken down, Prince wasn't ready for service, the only locos available to operate a very intensive service were Blanche, Mountaineer and Moelwyn (they tried Upnor Castle but it was unsuccessful).
Stationary at Boston Lodge while we were there - we didn't go in as we'd just walked along the Cob, to be told we needed to get a ticket back at Porthmadog! Yes, I missed Upnor Castle as well, plus an unnamed Bo-Bo (?) diesel. Also at Boston Lodge was a vertical boiler engine (De Winton?) and, I think, a former Penrhyn Quarry loco - but I didn't get a clear or close enough view of either to photograph.
Piccies here - colours a bit funky as I was often shooting into the sun: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gray1720/albums/72177720327012985
The little blue Hunslet was Britomart from the Pen-yr-Orsedd quarry. I fired her sister Una many years ago, when the Bala Lake Railway borrowed Una for an anniversary weekend.
This video has just been put on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIQVfljXZDg
There are shots of diesels Moelwyn, Upnor Castle, and (I think) Criccieth Castle.
Upnor Castle comes from the late-lamented Chattenden & Upnor Railway, just a few miles downstream from here. It's a shame that it couldn't have been preserved as a heritage railway, but it closed in 1961, when such things were not as commonly-found as they are now!
It would have been an excellent tourist attraction - yes, I know we have the Sittingbourne (ex-Bowaters) line not far away, but, with all due respect to their hardworking volunteers, it's not as pretty as the C & U was...
You're welcome. I think I was the first viewer of that video!
Another video shows that the ex-Penrhyn engine was Hugh Napier. Those little quarry locos get about quite a bit - not as hard to move around the country as yer average Bulleid Pacific...
I must say I'm fairlie [sic!] impressed by the peaceful, non-hectic setting in the video! Just very down-to-earth running of trains, everyone quite civilised and relaxed, none of the pushing and shoving that sometimes happens at mainline events.
Do you think this is a general thing at the FR/WHR, or is it just the season, and is perhaps more overrun at other times of the year?
The scenery itself of course is breathtaking and calm-inspiring.
IME there’s not a preserved railway in the UK* that is anything like the mainline events. It’s completely different and that video is typical of any railway chosen at random.
*just avoid diesel galas
My limited experience on Another Little Railway some years ago was that we had a good mixture of visitors - often with young children, who just loved to be invited onto the footplate whilst we were waiting time at the Big Station - as well as a sprinkling of diehard steam enthusiasts. Hordes of people just taking photos were almost unknown, although this was somewhat before the omnipresence of Smartphones...
I had 009 decades ago, but I had forgotten how tiny this stuff is. But the modern locos are exquisite. One could not have dreamed of such things back in the day. My Linda is like a little jewel. I'm almost afraid to get her out of her box.
On other days, I went round the Lloyd George museum and the Clough-Ellis gardens.
The one in early preservation livery, as I recall from my childhood.
I've never seen Linda, only the other two.