During my travels across the network I have had the good fortune to meet many enthusiasts, or those that work on the railway, who are freindly and considerate. This gallery is there to compliment the list of those (in the box down on the right) that I have met and regard as both good freinds and good enthusiasts.

Its nice to have that personal touch and share the hobby with others, whether that be by using photographs on a website, chatting in conversation in person, or waiting together on a platform.

This is both my thanks to them for being good examples of the hobby (as there are bad ones too out there) and also my own way of promoting tollerance and understanding between fellow enthusiasts, rather than the one-upmanship or adverserial attitudes that some choose to perfer.

Thanks to all those featured, as you make it enjoyable for me!

This gallery is to show that theres more to this than the serious side of trains. Pictures here show me, aka The Black Hat, being seen around the various stations on the network and in preservation. All pictures are taken and shown in good taste!

(The collection will be moved soon to the start of the galleries so not as to detract from the layout of the collections by moving the dates preset for the galleries. However, over time more pictures will be added to this collection.)

After riding on the HST diversion service across the Tyne Valley, I arrived in Carlisle and there was pleasantly surprised to see the two tours running into the Citadel Station in Carlisle. One featured WCRC Jubilee 'Leander' in resplendent LMS maroon livery, while the other featured class 56 No. 56312 Artemis, in its Hanson traction 'colourful' appearance.

Further pictures of other diversions can be seen, as well as some freight that did pass through.

Pictures here show a trip on the Tyne Valley diversion that was running this weekend. I met Kiyran, David and David, by chance at Newcastle and enjoyed thier company to Carlisle.

Pictures here show what was seen at Newcastle and some views from the train as it passes along the scenic Tyne Valley.

Pictures here show the GBRf staff excursion train using the newly refurbished 86/7's. The lighting was not wonderful due to the early autumn start. Following this I went north to see the diversions.

Oliver Cromwell was the star of the weekend at Grosmont and along the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Having just run from Grosmont to Battersby and return along the senic Esk Valley line, he now returned to the Moors line itself. The day was blessed with clear and beautiful sunshine, even making the days temperatures warm.

Other locomotives featured during the Gala, and the Sunday saw many engines hauling services, even if Reptons return to the mainline meant some people wanted to see if a Southern engine could cope with things like a hill!

Newly owned by the NYMR, 76079 led a number of other regular engines on the line, with the S&DJR (not S&D - thats Stockton and Darlington!!) 7F, 75029, 6619 and north eastern stalwart 63395 entertaining passengers, crowds and photographers alike.

70013 was rostered to work a service on the Esk Valley line, from Grosmont to Battersby and return. Whitby was banned for the Brit, due to curvature of the trackwork and wheelbase I think - but cant confirm.

The Britannia class locomotive thundered up the valley, making light work of the smaller load train of 6 coaches. Occasionally raw power gave way to slipping at speed, with Oliver needing to be handled carefully on the first run of the day.

At Battersby, that station in the middle of no-where, the Brit ran around the train and offered the chance for people to look at the engine and take pictures. After this, the run back to Grosmont was steady, with the hard work having been done as it is more downhill towards Whitby.

At Glaisdale the Brit was held, by about 20 mins, as Reptons return to the mainline meant it was running late. If id guess id blame a Southern engine on clearly northern metals... but still many came to see the Schools locomotive on the mainline. Personally, of the two stangers to the north east, the standard that looks as much as any standard that can blend it and be the part, was the engine to see and for me is much more admired.

Day two at Shildon was met with an early start, as people jostled for positioned to photograph the various engines there. The engines were seen being readied for the days shuttles and during the course of events were busy moving on and off the apron.

Towards the end of the day, guest locomotive and star of the show, 'Oliver Cromwell' moved onto the demonstration line and then moved backwards and forwards for the entertainment of the crowds. Shildon reverberated to the sound of a heavy steam locomotive underway, the chime whistle carrying far and wide across the clear still afternoon.

Then, as the event wound down the various exhibits were shunted ready for storage at the museum. Many were pleased when Oliver Cromwell was then comandeered to tow V2 Green Arrow and the two looked as if they were double heading. A very enjoyable day for the various visitors and the staff alike.

Enough can naver be said for all those volunteers that put themselves through the paradoxical joys of manning steam locomotives. For their toil means that the many that visit preserved lines can enjoy the sight, sounds, even smells and majesty of a locomotive underway in front of you.

So, during the weekend at the Locomotion Steam Gala, I managed to catch the odd volunteer at work. A lot of their efforts resulted in many people enjoying the visit and leaving with memories and sights that will counger up both joy and enthusiasm for the subject and hopefully wider hobby.

I would like to take the time to thank; Anthony Coulls of Locomotion, Richard Pearson, John Young from Bowes, Richie and Allan as well as the support crews of Planet and Oliver Cromwell.

Night came over the Museum and while the script might tell of things moving and coming to life, Amelia Earheart was no where to be seen...

Outside of the museum, the engines seemed very life-like, standing on the apron, posing, resting after their work and graft hauling the visitors around. Inside, crews talked, sang and awaited the arrival of the Lord Protector.

While the engines were standing in the darkening light, I took the chance to photograph them for the museum, and then moved round to see the infamous Oliver Cromwell, arrive after a grulling marathon around the North East of England.

Sunday at the museum would belong to the grean leviathan that had arrived at 22:14 and the people, in a great spirit of commonwealth that even his namesake would be proud of, would come and admire the collosus that is 70013.

The opening day of the Steam Gala seemed to allow the various small engines the chance to feature and wow the crowds given the absence of Oliver Cromwell, on his marathon railtour around the north of England.

Furness No. 20, Bowes Railways NCB no. 22, Planet (aka Sunbeam) all were in steam and seen working on the various shuttles. Planet with her matching coaches looked like a gem from the past, and when changing to the Stockton and Darlingtons No. 43 Sunbeam, it was a wonderful touch to acknowledge the pedigree of the museums north eastern railway heritage. Finally, a proper S&D engine for enthusiasts to talk about!!

Towards the end of the day, the sunbeamed down and touched the horizon and while darkness crept over the area, we awaited the arrival of the Lord Protector.

Here, in fading overcast light, the convoy for the NYMR Diesel Gala is seen racing through the Teesside area as it heads for Grosmont. Originally headed by class 47, No. 47580 'County of Essex', it had with it class 26 No. 26007, 37/9 No. 37901 'Mirlees Pioneer', Western D1023 Western Fusilier' and Deltic No. 55022 Royal Scots Grey, which following reversing at Battersby then left for Grosmont.

After staying in London overnight the chance to see a steam tour in a London terminus was too much to pass off and with not staying far away i ventured to London Victoria to see the Cathedrals Express hauled out by Battle of Britain class 34067 Tangmere. For someone being a North Eastern man by right and pedegree it was interesting and nice to see a true Southern region engine on southern metals and not up north. The locomotive stood proudly in the London station, the morning light coming down as a bad angle to take photographs and the buildings shaddows didnt help. With EMUs silently creaping past, across the station throat it was no surprise that one would leave and obstruct the view of the engine departing. Still, a good moring and a rare one of me....

Some photographs here of locomotives and units seen when on a journey to London to go and watch the England vs Croatia game at Wembley stadium. Of note is that 66726 is seen named as 'Sheffield Wednesday', on depot at Peterbrough, but actually hadnt been officially named in a ceremony yet.

A small collection:

After bing informed by the signal man of a engineering train that was working on the line near Bishop Auckland the previous night (which I managed to photograph and can show you if you like 66's behind bushes at night) I went to Shildon, bright and early before my morning start at work... it all timed nicely. The two class 66's now with an empty load, stand next to the NRM at Shildon.

The NRM owned machine was working for West Coast Railways Scarborough Spa Express summer excursions and was seen first at York arriving into platform 9 with the empty stock from Holgate. After boarding there was a delightful run around the Harrogate loop with many people coming out to see the Lord Protector haul the railtour. Knaresbrough castle seemed reinforced with people, spectators and photographers as most took the opportunity for the good weather and Oliver to cross the right way for the infamous photograph. Finally, after Harrogate and squeezing under bridges and tunnels the train was pulled into Leeds, where many - myself included - took the chance to get photographs. Back onboard the Brit thundered out of Leeds and strode past Neville Hill depot, later the scene for a community open day by Northern Rail.

As we headed for the mainline Oliver took the 12 coach train easily and was steady at 75mph throughout the run from Leeds, gliding round Church Fenton and hammering past Colton Junction were many were out to get a photo. Into York station and the Brit possed underneath the North Eastern Railways attempt to rival the Minster of York, the great collumns of the station standing as a lasting testement to sound and impressive British engineering, matched by the Brit underneath.

As the excusrion pulled away, I ran for the car, attempting to chase the engine to Scarbrough, but given heavy pre-bank holiday traffic the train got their first. One nil to Oliver. Frustrated I found him at the station and photographed him shunting about. After lunch, a break and chat I returned to the station and photographed him pushing back the stock under the impressive Falsgrave signal gantry, set to be replaced in October next year. After photographing the locomotive in the platform, from just about every angle possible - even possing too for once myself - I returned to the car and went to open country near Crambe. There with some other gents I saw Oliver race round out of the bends at speed, now that makes the score one all! I ran back up the field and charged over to Colton Junction and in fading light saw the excusrion here too, so thats two-one to me. Finally, in a gamble and raced by the clock, light and the train I went over to Harrogate
to try and get Cromwell on the viaduct but it was too dark, so the chase ended 2 all, between chances took and those lost.

A collection of engines, locomotives, stock and units seen on from the Scarborough Spa Express hauled by Oliver Cromwell.

I visited AV Dawsons Middlesborough, to see the shunting locomotives, rarely seen in public, save for being out on the area known as Middlesborough goods. AV Dawsons has a significant role in the logistics and opperations for goods on teesside, with the servicing, emptying and loading of wagons brought into the area for its two sites near the docks and goods yard.

Photographs show 08600 inside the shed while a steel train is unloaded and also the Drewry shunter, 'Eleanor Dawson' which was seeing rare use in the yard.

After looking around, thanks to a guided walk, I then went round to see the GBRf engine that was parked up, being 66723 'Chinook'. This was visable from a nearby playing field and the photograph taken from there. Also shunting in the goods yard was No. 15, for the Potash flow.

A LARGE COLLECTION:

The family decided that it would be nice for a run around the Yorkshire Countryside, hauled by a nice steam locomotive.... how quaint. Still, early on the morning of 30th July we duly set off for a journey aboard the Scarborough Spa Express, one of the three summer season trips that West Coast Railway Company regularly opperates during the summer tourist season.

Upon our arrival at York, we saw 'Black 5' No. 45407 'The Lancashire Fusiliers', owned by Mr Ian Riley, at the head of our train, carrying the well known headboard. The Black 5 then departed platform 9 at York and was soon onto the Harrogate Loop. Prgress for the engine was steady throughout the journey, with a heavy load of 12 on for the mixed traffic 5 power locomotive. Nevertheless 45407 put in sterling service, charging up the gradient at Starbeck. We collected extra passengers at both Knaresbrough and Harrogate before heading into the Leeds to the deliight and surprise of many passers by and travelling passengers on national services in the busy Yorkshire station.

Out onto the mainline proper 45407 hauled the heavy train with some dilligence and maintained a steady and sustained run through to York, given competition by Northern Rail's 158904 from Colton Junction to York Holgate, where given timings we overtook to get into the station and across the junction.

The stop in York was merely a few minutes and in previous years early trains had allowed passengers on the Spa to jump across for the well known 'Platform 5' photo. Alas, this was not possible and soon the train left for Scarborough.

Following water, the train was soon curving around the lines that led us through to Malton and then on into the seaside town. While the crew serviced both train and engine, we went into Scarborough where it duly rained.

Back at the station and with the train awaiting its passengers, photographs were taken of the engine and surroundings. Then it was back on board and returning to York, Leeds and the Harrogate Loop.

The run proved to be just as interesting as the inward leg, with the mainline run and climb out of Leeds being particularly interesting, especially the latter as 45407 shattered the peaceful scerenity of what had become a beautiful evening.

Finally, back at York, 45407 stood proudly in the faiding light, a testament to a great design and being a northern man at heart, a wonderful well built Newcastle engine!

A LARGE COLLECTION

Pictures here from engines seen travelling to, from and on the Scarborough Spa Express.

More Detailed Commentry to follow....

Photographs here from the arrival of the Grand Central class 180 Aldente Unit that is in the new livery for the company. The unit has been given a promotional run today, in the path that the unit would run to boost services for Grand Central.

My thanks to Martyn Nevatt and Alan Williams for the good company.