For the best part of 20 years the rescued iconic APT (6 cars including a power car) has stood proudly at the front of the Railway Age museum Crewe along side the WCML. For a time it was used to host children’s parties and has also in the past served as buffet car for volunteers and visitors. In 2002 the APT had brief moment in the railway media spotlight as it was cosmetically restored (outside anyway) in order to play a starring role during the launch of the Virgin Pendolino service.
John Cameron’s two iconic Gresley locos 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ and 61994 ‘Great Marquis’ head for their new base in Scotland. They are seen on Good Friday 2007 at L&NWR Heritage Crewe and thereafter northbound on the WCML at Winsford.
Five steam locomotives in ex‘Barry’ condition, on static exhibition at the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway are now said to be offered for sale (Feb 2007) they are collectively known as the Rippingale Collection.
Owned by businessman Terry Rippingale the five were purchased from Woodham Brothers' scrapyard at Barry and brought to Blaenavon in 1987. The locomotives are:
Ex-Great Western Railway 0-6-0t No 5668, built 1926
Ex-GWR 2-8-0T No 4253, built 19917
Ex-GWR 2-8-0 No 2874, built 1918
Ex-GWR 2-8-0 No 3855, built 1942
Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5967 Bickmarsh Hall, built 1937.
D9016 Gordon Highlander arrived safely at Rowsley at the beginning of March 2007 travelling from Barrow Hill by low loader. The loco is currently in BR Green but there are plans to re-paint it blue in the near future. The preserved ‘Deltic’ was set to enter service in May 2007 and connections say that it is expected to stay at Peak Rail for at least 3 years.
Over the weekend of September 10th and 11th thousands of railway enthusiasts and many local families descended on what remains of Crewe Loco Works in order to witness the greatest ever gathering of preserved locomotives. Many of the visitors, in common with the locomotives displayed, had a historical connection with the once great works. An occasion such as that is unlikely to ever be repeated at the ‘works’ but as they say Never say Never!
Following the Great Gathering Keith Langston produced the bookazine
MADE IN CREWE.
It should be available at most branches of W H Smith or by mail order from Morton’s Heritage Media. Priced at only £6.99 it is a unique coffee table top style book with many original photographs which commemorates ‘The Works’.
Mail order at Morton’s 01507 529300 and ask for the title by name.
If you have difficulty obtaining a copy please use the contact us facility on this web-site.
A small collection of pictures showing 6201 during two of her many 2006 main line trips namely The Merseyside Express Birmingham-Liverpool-Birmingham and the celebrated return to Glasgow Central*.
*See article in text section.
The years between 1973 and 1986 are now cherished memories for the dedicated team that set about recreating a steam engineering masterpiece The group’s efforts were recognised by The Association of Railway Preservation Societies at the time and were celebrated by a display at the MRM. Moreover thousands of rail enthusiasts have since marvelled at the result of the project which at the time (1994) was described accurately as being the impossible dream. The revolutionary Riddles ‘8P’ Class 1954 Crewe built 4-6-2, 71000 “Duke of Gloucester” is about to return to the main line which in its self represents the end of another ‘dream’. In 2004 the loco groups CME Keith Collier talked about the re-birth which had been anticipated for a long time. See the Railway section for more information.
During 2004 Riddles iconic locomotive 4-6-2 71000 Duke of Gloucester entered Crewe Works (the place it was built) for a re-paint; this is a collection of images recording that event. It was a historically significant event as 71000 will almost certainly turn out to be the last steam locomotive painted at the famous works…………..or will she?
A small selection of archive pictures from the legendary locomotive works at Crewe, England. With thanks to the Webb Crewe Works Charity Fund and the late Richard Metcalfe.
Various types built between 1910 and 1922 and also G2a rebuilds between 1936 and 1947 at Crewe Works. Total taken into BR ownership in 1948 – 478 locos made up of 98 G1 6F Class, 60 G2 7F Class and 320 G2a 7F Class. Designed by Charles J Bowen-Cooke.
David Gibson is a Staffordshire Moorlands based photographer who has succesfully embraced digital photography.He is especially adept at capturing volumes of steam and smoke, often to dramatic effect. David does not just produce railway images he is also an accomplished landscape photographer.He can be contacted via d.r.gibson@connectfree.co.uk.
If you would like to be a guest photographer please use the contact us facility to let us know.
Over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of 15th – 17th October 2004 the West Midlands DMU Group staged a celebration of first generation diesel multiple units at the Severn Valley Railway. The Friday was all DMU but a couple of steam services operated in addition on the other two days. It was a very well attended event with all trains in the intensive timetable being loaded to capacity. The introduction of these vehicles in 1954 marked the beginning of the end for steam passenger services in the UK whilst at the same time arguably provided the railway travelling public with improved services and facilities. The trend has continued with now most passenger services being operated by multiple units. Many early examples are now in use by preserved railways.
Number 1450 (Ashburton*) is one of 4 of the ‘14xx Class’ preserved. The others are 1420 (Bulliver*) 1442 and 1466. These ‘pretty’ 0-4-2T locomotives were used by the GWR to replace earlier built auto-fitted tank engines. They were originally known as ‘48xx Class’ 1450 was out-shopped from Swindon in July 1935 as 4850. The loco spent some of its working life on the Abingdon, Fairford and Woodstock branches in the 1950’s. It also worked the Windsor and Marlow branches. It then saw service out of Exeter, Taunton, Yeovil and Exmouth. It was sold into preservation in 1965. The colour pictures were taken at the Churnet Valley Railway during a running in session following work at L&NWR Heritage Crewe. * Names given in preservation.
Although this collection of Ex GWR 4-6-0 Grange Class locomotives photographs are not of the highest quality; they are historically significant. Interest in the long lamented Grange Class has been raised by the ongoing Llangollen Railway based 6880 Betton Grange Project. The GWR build total of the class was 80 locomotives; none survived into preservation hence the importance of the Betton Grange Project.
“A line starting nowhere and ending up in the same place” was how the Leek & Manifold Valley Light Railway was described by one of the inhabitants it was meant to serve. It opened on June 27th 1904 and if it hadn’t closed on March 10th 1934 it would recently have celebrated its centenary. Steam ran in that staggeringly beautiful Staffordshire valley for only thirty years, will it ever return or simply remain another railway memory?
That ‘Malta Buses can seriously damage the bus enthusiast’s health’ is a phrase often used by frequent Malta visitor and Stockport based bus restorer Cliff Marsh. Asked, how? He replied ‘By totally destroying your confidence in identifying vehicles. What you see on the surface may not be what’s under the skin, in fact it probably isn’t!’ Another regular Malta bus visitor, Glyn Bowen of the Cardiff Transport Preservation group joined Cliff in supplying historic images to support this article which was first published in 2003.
These are a selection of pictures (all Foden) from the 2006 Smallwood Vintage Rally. The 2007 event is set to be held Saturday 26th May-Monday 28th May.
Steve Morris of Quantock Motor Services Ltd, Taunton Somerset has been responsible for the restoration of some rare and interesting public service vehicles over the years and as a consequence his heritage fleet is probably the most comprehensive private collection in Europe. This year (2007) Steve Morris celebrates 30 years in vehicle restoration. The Quantock collection cannot in any way be described as a ‘stuffed and mounted’ as Steve operates the vehicles on a regular basis, and in public service. Their Leyland PD2/3 Titan ‘White Lady’ has been described as a rare, and it is therefore a historically significant, double deck coach.
Kington Vintage Club (in the wonderful Welsh Marches) holds a great two-day Vintage and Classic show every year on the third full week-end in August. In 2006 the dates were Saturday 19th August and Sunday 20th August 2006 and boy did it rain! But as those who attended will tell you it didn’t spoil the fun.
The 2007 event will be held on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th August.
Entry forms for each section can be sent by Email as an attachment. Sections open are:- Steamers; Tractors: Plant Machinery; Motor-cycles; Push Bicycles; Stationary Engines; Vintage Cars (until 1960) Classic Cars (from 1961); Military Vehicles; Land Rovers; Commercial Vehicles; Traders; Model section; Craft Section; Static Displays and Classic Caravans. Please contact the Secretary using the Email address given…. MichaelRand@markwick17.fsbusiness.co.uk or phone him on 0791 860 3770.
Working the Cheshire farm which has been in his family for over 100 years John Sanderson, a man some call Mr Foden, finds time for a hobby that has over the years become almost a way of life. Ask why he, a man who has had a hand in over 300 Foden restorations, chose to stay ‘down on the farm’ and never joined the company’s workforce and you will get a very logical answer.
To bus enthusiasts the phrase ‘Brislington’s Finest’ is a popular collective description for the products of only one manufacturer, those of the long lamented Bristol Tramways & Carriage Company (later Bristol Commercial Vehicles Ltd). The motor products manufactured in Brislington by the BTCC were to gain a reputation for being rugged, reliable and economical and as such were readily accepted by Britain’s growing public service transport industry. After all, went the thinking of the time, any vehicle emanating from a city with so many hilly routes would accordingly be ‘up to the task’ elsewhere in the UK, and indeed the world.
In the early post war years Crosville Motors were experiencing difficulties in providing adequate services as the war period had forced a deterioration in maintenance standards and had a detrimental effect on the efficiency of their fleet. In 1949, in an attempt to rectify the situation the Government of the day redirected a batch of single deckers PS1/1’s originally ordered by Midland General to Crosville Motors.
Not only are railway vehicles moved around the country on railway tracks! In order to move them between preserved railways, and indeed between national train operating companies ,road transport is often the only way to faclilitate the transfer. Thus the heavy haulage of rail vehicles is now a well established buisness in its own right. David Gibson has recorded these moves around his native Staffordshire, all of rail vehicles leaving or heading for the Churnet Valley Railway.
Safety is of the greatest importance to all vintage machinery owners and operators. In particular those pieces of equipment with pressure vessels require extra special attention, steam boilers fall into that category.
The vintage and classic vehicle rally has always been an integral part of a Michaelmas Fair. The 2007 event will be held in the town on 22nd and 23 rd September. This is a collection of steam vehicle images from the past 3 years.
In the late summer of 200 the picturesque Staffordshire Village of Colton played host to an end of season gathering for the Staffordshire and Cheshire steam road vehicle owners. This end of ‘show season’ gathering also helped to celebrate 40 years since the Parish first became the home to traction engine rallies. The Staffordshire & Cheshire Traction Owners Club also celebrated its 47th birthday at the event. The special ‘Ruby’ happening organised by Colton’s David Bradbury and his family also raised much needed funds for upkeep of the villages Social Hall. During Saturday of the weekend event a Road Run to the local pumping station was undertaken by the majority of the vehicles. This is a selection of images from that splendid happening.
The first ever issue of Old Glory in May 1988 carried an interview with Windermere man and preservationist Roger Mallinson, a gentleman whose name has over the years become synonymous with steam in particular and industrial heritage preservation in general. To help commemorate the 200th edition of OG Keith Langston travelled to Troutbeck Bridge on the shores of Lake Windermere in Cumbria to talk to Roger.
As that well known Welshman Mr Tom Jones famously sang there is green, green grass in the home town valleys and hills of Wales and for a very good reason, they do seem to have their fair share of rain. But not usually in August!
On a very showery Sunday in early November 2003 a visit was made to the ‘work/play field’ of tractor enthusiast and restorer Alan Davies. Alan is a firm believer that all the tractors in his impressive collection should be working models to that end this play day was enjoyed by all, despite the occasional seasonal downpour. The other drivers pictured were John Barnes and Sue Langston. This is a photographic record of the day.
Richard Moynan hails from County Laios where his family company operate a tractor dismantling and spares business in conjunction with a ‘turf care’ company. Richard has a huge number of tractors and these images show only a small portion of that collection they will be changes to show others at a later date. This selection shows some of his ‘N Series’ Fords and in this instance or ‘Nans’ as the Irish prefer to call them. Richard has three separate types within his collection dating from 1947, 1951 and 1952 respectively. The one brought out for closer examination was an all Irish example with road number ZE9059.
“Arrive at whatever time you like but only come early in the morning if you like snooker” That was the closing line of the conversation which took place prior to visiting Barry and Linda Price at their picturesque hillside home. The Prices have over 100 tractors, of which over 80 are runners, but what’s that got to do with Potting the Black? See pictures in the Gallery. The images are but a few of what is a truly superb collection.
Whale Watch West Cork offers exclusive whale watching holidays onboard the Voyager, a twin-engine catamaran based at Reen Pier, Castlehaven, West Cork. Whale Watch West Cork offers all-inclusive whale watching holidays and whale watching breaks for people wanting to view, photograph and learn more about whales and dolphins in the wild. We will organize everything from your pick up at the airport to your packed lunch and all boat trips to see the whales and dolphins.
Is a rotting hulk situated on a Cheshire waterway really the remains of a historic type of wooden sail powered cargo boat, built in 1894 and launched in Surendalen Norway as the Flora? Does ‘she’ really have a rich history and therefore be worthy of saving, or is the truth something more mundane?
The Thames rang with gunfire on Saturday, as London harked back to its swashbuckling and seafaring roots with the arrival of the Swedish ship Götheborg, a full-scale replica of an 18th century East India merchantman, which sailed under Tower Bridge and into the City with cannons blazing.
Dateline May 7th to 14th inc 2007.Weaver Navigation-MSC-Mersey
The 1947 built restored ex ICI cargo vessel James Jackson Grundy has for a short period returned to the town where it was built, by the now
defunct weaverside shipbuilders WJ Yarwood & Sons an act which will engender rich memories in many Mid Cheshire folks. The boat is set to
stop 'in town' until Monday 14th May when the historically significant vessel will return again to Liverpool Docks departing Barons Quay Northwich
at around 9am. Other images will be added at a later date.The visit is in support of the appeal to raise funds which could see the JJG become a permanent resident of Mid-Cheshire, see seperate story.
The occasion is also being used to highlight a bid to gain the finance needed to reopen to use the Riverdale Swing Footbridge which used to connect the Crecent Northwich with Hunts Lock, and thus the Castle side of the Weaver.
Check out www.jjgrundy.org.uk and www.saveourbridge.org.uk
As another new traffic flow starts on the Manchester Ship Canal Warrington’s population watches with alarm! An increase in the number of vessels passing through Warrington’s three infamous swing bridges looks set to spark a row as it brings even more traffic problems to the town.
The Waterways Trust is stepping up their efforts to secure Government funding for the waterways museums at Gloucester Docks, Ellesmere Port and Stoke Bruerne. They are currently not included on the government sponsored list of museums which receive compensation in exchange for offering the public free admission. If they are not admitted to the Free Entry scheme the future viability of their museums will be threatened. Unthinkably could closure become an option?
£80K appeal launched to bring a historic ‘Weaver Packet’ home. A new appeal fund has been launched to bring a historically important boat back to Northwich, the town in which it was built. If the appeal is successful it is envisaged that the ‘James Jackson Grundy’ would act as a floating museum to the town and forge a link to Weaver Navigations industrial past.
Plus Weaver traffic of the past from the archive of Rick Ferris.
London 2012 is as we all know to be Olympic Year for the UK in general, and for London in particular. The capitals mighty river will play its part in both the massive constructional build up and the event proper.
For hundreds of years the tidal reaches of river Thames has been an important highway for both freight and passenger traffic along almost all of its length and particularly in bringing goods and commodities to and from Greater London.
The Anderton Boat Lift has been described as both the ‘Cathedral of the Waterways’ and the Industrial Revolutions greatest waterway wonder. This grand edifice of Victorian engineering skills underwent a £7 million renovation and was re-opened to boat traffic in March 2002, a simple statement, which in its self goes nowhere near to acknowledging the huge community effort which led to its rebuilding.
Certainly there is a high route mileage of canals in the Greater Birmingham area. Towards the middle of the 18th century the area boasted 174 miles of canal now some 114 miles of them remain and there are 5 major canals which meet within the city. Walking the towpath you will see the city and its surrounding suburbs in a new light. The city centre has over 15 miles of improved canal with safe and enjoyable walking - you don't even need a boat! In particular the sections of the Main Line either side of Broad Street tunnel is extremely popular with day visitors. The surrounding Birmingham Canals Network (covering almost all of the West Midlands) has 160 miles of navigable waterway.
Perhaps it is because we are an Island race, and therefore have an inherent love of water and all things maritime that many of us assume simply jumping onboard cranking up and sailing away will be second nature to us. During a day spent on the water Keith Langston discovered that doing it correctly is not quite that easy! See pictures in the gallery.
Boats like so many things in life come in all shapes and sizes. Few will deny that they look their very best in sunshine, and their most dramatic in rough weather. The Mediterranean in general and the Cote d’ Azur in particular is a good place to see them. In fact one French marina boss, a helpful soul but not usually known for his sense of humour, perhaps got it right when he remarked whilst looking out at the veritable forest of masts sheltering under the lee of ‘his’ concrete wall “If all the vessels along the Cote go to sea on the same day the fishes will have to come into the marinas” There are a lot of boats on the Cote! This is a small selection of images taken as research for a future publication.
Following the publication of a picture showing KD Marine (UK) Ltd’s 1000 ton deadweight inland waterways vessel ‘Anna D’ travelling along the Manchester Ship Canal in a recent edition of Towpath Talk (No 16) further interest has been generated in Manchester Ship Canal traffic. One company flying the canal freight flag is KD Marine Ltd. This is a look at the firm’s very substantial commitment to easing the burden of freight on some the North West’s most severely congested roads.
London looks great from its river and riverside locations, of course never more so than when the sun shines. This is a selection of images taken on the river over a very warm and sunny mid-day period on May 1st 2007.
The River Thames is famous throughout the World for its history, its culture, and its amazing variety of wildlife, archaeology, and scenery. It is 215 miles long from its source in the Cotswolds through to the estuary at Southend on Sea. This is just a small section of images taken mostly from city locations.
Built 1959. Decommissioned 1989. 40.5 m (133 ft) two-masted steel lightship with light tower amidships, painted red. Built by Philips & Sons Ltd. of Dartmouth. The ship served as the Bar off the entrance to the Mersey from 1960 to 1972; after serving several other locations she was assigned as the Channel from 1979 to 1989. She was the last manned lightship in U.K. waters. Saved from the scrapyard in 1992, the ship has been displayed in Liverpool at the Albert Dock. In the summer of 2007 it is planned to move the vessel to a new home adjacent to the Imperial War Museum North at Salford Quays.
Two outstanding aqueducts and two interesting tunnels, all within a short distance on the picturesque Llangollen Canal (Camlas Llangollen). The 127 foot high 18 arch Pontcysyllte (completed 1805) and the 70 foot high 10 arch Chirk (completed 1801) aqueducts both cross the River Dee in North Wales. Thomas Telford is credited with building both structures whilst he was assisted on the design of Pontcysyllte by William Jessop. Between the two outstanding canal wonders are Whitehouse Tunnel (191 yards) and Chirk Tunnel (459 yards).
THE river Shannon is over 200 miles (321.8km) long but it rises only 250 feet (76m) above sea level, at its highest point, thus making it relatively easy to navigate. This gentle giant of a waterway has only six locks and is arguably Ireland’s greatest attraction for cruising enthusiasts. As long ago as 300BC the Romans mapped the river and its various lakes because it was an important early European trading route. During the first millennium, the Vikings sailed the river, their famous long boats carrying them as far upstream as Lough Ree where they settled at Rindoon.
