Severn Valley Steam!

Autumn Steam Gala at the Severn Valley Railway – weekend 20-22 September

We took the opportunity for an extended stay at the campsite just by the Hampton Loade Station, arriving on Thursday and stopping through until Monday.

Looking down from the train at our campsite and van

Going to a steam gala gives the opportunity to see at close quarters the visiting locos from other parts of the country as well as having a full running timetable – in this case, including night time running!

I spent the Friday walking along part of the running line where you get a 'ground-eye' view of the power of a steam loco, even though it's doing less than 30mph.

The range of locos was impressive with some special guests for the Gala.

Met 1 – the 1898 Victorian Metropolitan Railway Class E 0-4-4 is the only survivor of seven built and worked from Baker Street, London

The Duchess of Sutherland (which we had seen at Crewe the week before) had problems with the vacuum braking system sticking on

 

Pulling out of Bridgnorth with a full set of coaches

See link to video 

A visit to the engineering workshops to see some (very) heavy engineering in progress

A new wheel set ready to fitted

A wheel bearing inset, the grooves ready to take the white metal bearing surface

Kinlet Hall sporting it's boiler boards

The freight train clanking through

 

 

Hampton Loade Station at night
 

 

 

On the Sunday, Chris and I travelled on the vintage Metropolitan Carriage No.353. This has been fully restored to it's first class condition for the 150 year celebrations of the London Underground! Certainly very luxurious, although with authentic vintage suspension!

 

 

 

Lady in First Class

 

We also managed to get a place (a bit of a long story which includes running up the platform!) in the Great Western Railway Observation Saloon. Again, this is a luxurious coach, built for the railway owners to view their line in the privacy of their own coach.

We opted for a cream tea with only six other railway enthusiasts – a private coach for the length of the line!

 

 

This train was pulled by the 1934 Maunsell Southern Railway V Class School's Cheltenham. This was built for SR as a shorter, though powerful 3-cylinder 4-4-0 class to manage shorter turntables and tighter bends found on some of the southern lines. It was withdrawn by 1962 and is now owned by the National Railway Museum residing at the Mid-Hants Railway.

 

 

We had a great extended weekend with good weather and an interesting steamy hobby!

 

 

 

Out and About!

Last week has been quite eventful!

After the awesome Welsh walk, I played with our Rode Hall Silver Band in the Audlem parish church – St.James'. Chris and a few boaters from the marina came to listen. It went down very well.

On a rather wet Sunday, we drove into Crewe and visited the Heritage Centre – really a railway centre. There had been news that the A4 Union of South Africa was there giving brake van rides. We were not to be disappointed as the Gresley A4 was just back from the Cumbrian Mountain Express mainline excursion.

 

Complete with smokey double chimney

It seems that the mainline steam locos are using the Crewe Centre as a layover, for maintenance and interim running repairs.

There were no fewer than five locos there – including Britannia needing some work done.

With the 'not to be moved' sign

The Duchess of Sutherland was in – again, fresh from the Scarborough Flyer run

The Duchess is going over to the Severn Valley Railway for their Autumn Gala this weekend

On Tuesday, Colin (from the Marina) and I walked over the Long Mynd. It was wet and misty, though this did not deter from the enjoyment of this wonderful walking area.

I am doing the recce for a future Audlem Ramblers walk.

Colin admiring the view

Descending the valley – rather wet!

On Wednesday, the Tour of Britain Cycle Race came through Market Drayton – very exciting waiting in anticipation for the racing convoy to come through.

Police outriders clear the route

The Race Commissioner's car precedes the riders

The 11 man breakaway come through

The Sky Team lead the peleton

All over in minutes – still the TV highlights of the race through Wales was excellent!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking in Wales – The Glyders Horseshoe

Audlem Ramblers – Saturday 14^th September 2013

I wouldn't have attempted this by myself and therefore appreciated the opportunity to be 'led' by Will, a strong and experienced walker in the Snowdonia terrain.

We had a weather 'window' on the day and the three of us with Tony driving sped over to the visitors car park at Llyn Ogwen. This was a totally new area to me and what a delight I had in store.

Overall, I think we covered about 9+km (6 miles) though climbed – and descended – a majestic 1020m (3280 feet).

Setting off with the mist on the tops – heading for the gap

 

Glyder Fach in cloud

Yes, we climb up to the left, through the rock and scree

 

Tony climbing up

 

Looking back, down the valley

 

Audlem Ramblers

 

On top of Wales! The cantilever rock

Looking across to Snowdon

 

Wonderful views!

 

Heading down – over the edge?! 

A final view, back up to the horseshoe route – to Y Garn

We walked the three tops of Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr and Y Garn, all over 3000ft, with Glyder Fawr at an awesome 1001m (3284ft).

Just wonderful! Although I am rather stiff this morning!

Last Days of Summer Tour 2013!

Summer Tour 2013

We are now back at the Marina – it seems strange our 40 days of south west wandering.

Since leaving St. Ives, we spent a sunny and exhilarating week on the Treyarnon Bay campsite, near Padstow.

Here are a selection of photos:

Treyarnon surfing beach

Looking across Constantine Bay

 

Walking the South West Coastal Path

Spectacular views

 

No – not being launched – being winched back up!

Later that day, Padstow lifeboat under full power

Sunset on a great week!

We then motored up the M5 to Taunton and left to camp on a secluded site at West Bagborough, under the Quantock Hills. We have used this site before as a stopping point north/south – also ideal for the West Somerset Railway!

Walking on the Quantock Hills

 

One of several visits to the WSR

4160 - The GWR 5101 Class or Large Prairie was a class of 2-6-2T steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were medium-sized tank engines (rated as BR 4MT) used for suburban and local passenger services all over the Great Western Railway system.

4160 is technically a British Railways built machine as it was completed in March 1948, two and a half months after Nationalisation, at Swindon. It came to the West Somerset Railway at the start of the 1990’s and was restored by the "Iffy Rivet Company” a volunteer group whose workmanship completely belied their self-imposed name. "Large Prairies” were regular performers on Minehead trains in steam days and 4160 has been a popular engine with crews and visitors for almost two decades now. The Large Prairies main duties were at the head of heavy suburban and stopping trains but part of 4160’s working life on British Railways was spent assisting heavy freight trains through the Severn Tunnel.

 

Looking towards Bishop Lydiard

Taking an excursion to Hestercombe Gardens – on a vintage coach.

British Leyland Tiger Coach with a Burlingham body from Bournemouth Corporation 1949 – with a Gardener 6 cylinder engine

 

Back to the Marina – great summer tour 2013!

Time to move on!

Summer Tour 2013

We had come to the end of our 3 week stay at St. Ives.

It has been a great holiday stay and all the more enjoyable as it is likely we won't be back this way for a number of years?

Farewell - looking down at St. Ives harbour

To finish our Camping and Caravan Club stay, we joined others for the 'pasty night'.

Pasty Night

Our, now empty, pitch for the last three weeks