Things don’t always go to plan. Three of
the intended visitors didn’t make it -
instead of Britannia, Sir Lamiel and Lord
Nelson, we had Duchess of Sutherland,
Kinlet Hall and Cheltenham. Not
complaining... Metropolitan 0-4-4T No.
1 made it - as did one other rather
unusual and unlikely guest.
The weather and the loco rosters didn’t quite do what they
should either. It was dry, and intermittently sunny - and
generally too warm to see much steam. I realise that the
locomotives had to be the right way round 50% of the time, but
it didn’t seem like that. Kinlet Hall caught us on the hop - I was
set up to record video of the Duchess, running tender first (the
stills camera stayed in the bag). But the Duchess had failed, and
Kinlet was the right way round - and making steam, and noise, in
splendid fashion...
I spent Friday around Eardington - with other plans for Saturday,
I could return on Sunday, and perhaps get the shots I’d missed.
Sunday started at Eardington, primarily for the freight - which
was good, but not what I’d expected (that had to wait until
almost the end of the day). The rest of the day would be spent
around Foley Park - the Met. tank would be right way round up
the bank, as would the Duchess (which had been fixed by the
time I got home on Friday). Alas - it was broken again! (brake
problems, apparently). Inevitably I was in the trees, making my
way to the line, when 34053 passed through in fine style... The
freight was tricky - hard to know where to go to
get a good record of that most unusual scene -
but didn’t Sir Haydn look great, trundling along
on a surprisingly small flat wagon behind 2857...
And what a contrast in sizes!
Two great days - most enjoyable, despite the
hiccups...
Link:
Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley
Autumn Steam
Scenes on Eardington
bank, on the Friday of
the autumn gala 2013.
Residents 34053 and
43106 are seen sharing
the action with visitors
925 "Cheltenham", 4936
"Kinlet Hall", and
Metropolitan 0-4-4T
No.1.
Severn Valley Sunday
Day three of the gala:
firstly, more action at
Eardington, including
34053, 2857 on the
freight and 925
"Cheltenham".
We then move to Foley
Park - we'll see the
above three again (the
freight will be much
shorter, with an
altogether more
precious cargo), also
Metropolitan No.1, 5643
and 4936 "Kinlet Hall".
