martincreese

Following on from the success of “Adventures in Steam” on Blurb I’m starting to compile an as yet untitled follow up . Over the weekend I was having a look back through the many Digital images I’ve taken . With improvements in my own Photoshop skills images discounted from the first volume may now make the second

I thought I’d share a few on here from a Cornwall visit in 2006 when the two Beattie Well Tanks came together for the first time. The weekend had the making of a real festival of steam in Cornwall with 6024 on a railtour , The Two Well Tanks on a “30742 Charters” event with morning and late sessions plus the return to steam of Bulleid West Country 34007 “Wadebridge”. Sadly the weather only gave us some late glimpses of sunlight and i’d rather consigned the images to the great back up hard drive.

We start with an image of 5552 arriving at Bodmin General . With the two well tanks to the right it has a ring of Wadebridge about it.

The visit was to capture the pairing of well tanks 30585 and 30587 and here we see 30585 departing Boscarne Junction with a short freight passing 30587. The Wenfordbridge line went off to the right and now forms a very pleasant footpath.

Roll back the years and this shot from the footplate could almost be on the line to Wenfordbridge

On the Saturday afternoon we took the two engines down to Bodmin Parkway . If a returning mainline excursion was on time we had the opportunity of capturing former GWR King 6024 “King Edward 1″ passing  the two Beattie’s . Bang on time the four cylinder beat was heard. Neither of course (as far as I know) ventured to Bodmin Road in steam days

The return to Bodmin General on the Sunday also yielded a little late sunshine

34007 Debuted on the Sunday afternoon and is seen climbing from Boscarne Junction complete with an ACE headboard

and then all three engines featured on a Nighshoot

Final Shot was on Monday’s charter with with 34007 as the clouds parted to give this image

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So here we go and welcome to part 2 of my 2011 year in photographs . This is now my 154th blog post . I briefly considered deleting a few to call it the magical 150!

First port of call in this collection is the Forest of Dean. The combination of Small Prairie , Auto Tank and Pannier was too much temptation so I ventured down . My favourite shot of the trip sees 9681 on the Freight set climbing through Norchard High Level

My work this year has required travel over tho Switzerland and allowed the opportunity to capture both Swiss Railways and Trams . I’ve selected a couple of images , firstly of a northbound freight at Glattbrugg one July Evening and then a tram light trail in Zurich at the tram stop that reminds me of the Starship Enterprise

The Settle and Carlisle now sees a great programme of railtours in the summer and a double dose of Stanier magic was sufficient to tempt me to the long drive north . 46115 is seen sprinting through Garsdale on “The Waverley”

Changing scene completely is this view at the Moseley Railway Trust headquarters at Apedale near Newcastle Under Lyme .

Staying with the industrial theme September saw me down on the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway. Here we see visiting Peckett “Sir Gomer” passing a highly desirable residence.

Still retaining a South Wales feel 5637 is seen climbing away from Mendip Vale on my “30742 Charters” event at the East Somerset Railway. The y13 target was crafted in my garage.

Highlight for many of the year was the visit of Caledonian Railway 812 Class no. 828 to the Severn Valley Railway. I had the pleasure of running a charter with her and she is seen at Northwood Lane near Bewdley. Her normal home is on the Strathspey Railway at Aviemore.

My third Charter of the Autumn was at the Midland Railway Centre with Caprotti Standard 5 73129 . She is seen crossing the reservoirwhilsta  fisherman casts his line.

In complete contrast to much of the weather my visit to Foxfield was in mist and murk which in it’s own way adds to the scene here as Dubs no. 4101 crane tank lifts a wagon at Foxfield Collery

I hope you’ve enjoyed the selection in these two parts . The link below will take you too my Flickr Photostream

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I’ve also published two books on Blurb this year as well

Main Line Stea…

By Martin Creese

North and Sout…

By Martin Creese

There is always something nice about getting the first sunlit shots of a new year, even better when it’s on something you haven’t photographed before. In fairness there is no rhyme nor reason to it , but in an odd way the longer it takes the heavier it weighs on the mind.

Armed with a pass out , my journey took me south and with sense of railway geography running through my mind , the A34 became the old Didcot, Newbury and Southampton. Heading East at Winchester brings you across the Hampshire Alps and to the Watercress Line which now runs from Alresford to Alton.

The object of the journey was recently restored Maunsell U , 31806, resplendent in BR Lined Black and running with four BR green mark 1 coaches . Its this wonderful ability of Railway preservation to transport you back in time, on this occasion to a little slice of BR Southern Region byways of the 1950’s.

My first shot became a sillouette as the engine worked towards Ropley. It was an angle which I really like and worked well for the 11:43 departure from Alresford. The time at Ropley to allow passing 45379 on the other service from Alton allowed a quick journey round to Bighton Lane

What actually transpired that 45379 wasn’t on it’s way back from Alton, it actually hadn’t even got to Alton having stalled on the 1in60 near Medstead. A class 33 33053 was sent to the rescue . With the timetable now somewhat awry 31806 was allowed to continue it’s journey to cross the Alresford bound train at Medstead. A journey up to the beautifully restored station at Medstead and Four Marks found 31806 waiting . Sat in a pool of sunlight she looked an absolute picture.

Looking to do something different the second run of 31806 found me over looking Bishops Sutton as 31806 headed for Ropley again.

There is something about the way a railway fits into the landscape unlike a road

With a friend of mine driving it was back to Bighton lane to see 31806 climbing towards Medstead

Final shot of the day was just short of Medstead on the last run as the sun sank towards the horizon

I have to confess that 31806 is a really lovely loco and looks superb on the railway. The first sunny shots of the year on a new loco (to me at least) really made the day highly enjoyable.

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With 2011 now passed, I thought it would be nice to look back at some of my favourite images from the year and also mark the first year of my Flickr Gallery, which I gravitated to after the demise of Fotopic

I have the pleasure of working in Bournville and one of my regular walks takes me down the canal towards Kings Norton and under the Camp Hill line at Lifford . A colleague and fellow railway enthusiast at work tipped me off about the daily tanks that pass over the line , usually class 60 hauled . A late lunch one day with a good forecast produced this .

The return of GWR King 6023 King Edward II was one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year . On the eve of the launch 6023 is caught in conversation with 5051 at Didcot

I couldn’t resist including this image from the Chasewater Railway Spring Gala with “Linda” caught departing Brownhills West on a Freight train.

The Digital medium is a great way to play with photography and has helped me to discover a broader more artistic approach . This fortunate crossing of trains at Worcester was recorded one evening.

Living in Birmingham I do get to see the Tyseley Collection of engines at work on Vintage Trains Railtours . The opportunity to see more of my Favourite engine this year was gleefully taken up and here we see 6201 Princess Elizabeth, passing Washwood Heath Sidings signal box en route to Chester via Stoke

Almost perfect Great Western as 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe is captured at Wilmcote . Five minutes earlier it was cloudy . One of those moments when the luck was on my side

And to finish part 1, Snibston Colliery, one may evening as an Andrew Barclay lifts wagons out of the yard

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Happy New Year to all my Blog readers

The Chasewater Railway hosted an impromptu event to mark the end of 1909 built Hawthorn Leslie No.2780 “Asbestos” current boiler ticket. What started out as a low key event morphed into a mini gala with three loco’s in steam and freight trains running .

The forecast remained what I’ll call diplomatically – challenging but with the railway a relatively short drive away it was too good not to go .

Also on the roster was Nechells No.4 and Colin McAndrew and we see the latter banking the former out of Brownhills West Station on the first coal train.

Asbestos and Colin McAndrew are seen here during run round manoveres

and Nechells No.4 taking water

With the weather closing in I was in two minds whether to stay for the second coal train , but as it had Asbestos at the head it was too good not too . The rain was lashing it down and the wind driving across the station as Asbestos departed again with Colin McAndrew banking . The lone watcher on the platform (everyone else was sensibly taking cover) adds to the image . Both engines producing display of exhaust to almost match the weather conditions

and then a black and white image

Finally Colin McAndrew bringing up the rear

You rather felt for the crew on the exposed cab

Despite the weather it was a very pleasant way to start 2012

A whole week off over Christmas and plenty going on Railway wise , all that was required was a little sunlight !

First trip out was to see 70013 Oliver Cromwell at the Great Central . I’ve not seen the engine at work since it’s return to steam . Matched with five Maroon Mark 1’s she made a pleasant sight rounding Kinchley Lane . The sunlight (of which there had been plenty) chose to vanish at the critical moment !

Friday 30th December then brought the first visit of 60163 toStratford on Avon , coupled with an afternoon run up the North Warwicks Line to take the rather long winded return route to Paddington , via Nuneaton , Coventry and Leamington

In an odd way footbridges became the theme with both shots using them to frame the passage of 60163

By the afternoon run at Henley it was duly tipping it down and light disappearing fast so I opted to catch her with the two Henley Station Signs in shot and the Gentleman on the left in a way rather made the shot observing the (probably first ever) passage of an A1 up the North Warwicks

Time for me to be Santa this week and deliver a copy of my Blurb book on Banbury to one of the signalmen at Banbury North on a pre arranged visit.

Arrival on the Platform presented this view which even minus a train caught my eye. The passenger just walking up the platform just brought the scene to life.

Just a brief visit as I had a business meeting to get to but as with each visit new images presented themselves , often only fleetingly

It was also the first time in my visits that i’d seen the bay platform in use

With the sun climbing the light streaming through the windows illuminates the frame and lent itself to a landscape image

I’m not sure that this quite worked in the end but I like the effect as the register is about to be written up

Regards

Martin

North and South – The Signal Boxes of Banbury by Martin Creese | Make Your Own Book

As another year flies by the seasonal end is the Santa Specials . From childhood and in adulthood there is one line that I return to every year for the Santa’s and that is the SVR.

Having missed last weekends sunshine , the promise of the forecast was too good so with a pass out I made the short journey over to the valley.

What was promising sunshine when I left home became somewhat cloudier once I got to Kidderminster but it provided a challenge as to what to do that was different . On this occasion I made use of the footbridge at the south end of Kidderminster station in the hope that shooting south from the bridge would gain the drama of the low sun as it pierced the cloud. Curiously most of the shots worked much better in monochrome as well.

2857 waits for the signal to set back into Kidderminster station whilst 4566 hauls the Dining stock out of the carriage shed

with the 4566 now sat in the loop , visiting BR Standard 4 tank 80072 momentarily checked by the gantry now opens up for the final run into the station.

Now released 80072 is caught by a shaft of sunlight sat by the gantry .This was actually landscape format but with cropping the image was transformed .

One of the things that intrigued me was that of the group of cameramen on the bridge how most of what was taken remained very traditional front three quarter and yet the movement of the engines and coming and going of trains offered opportunities for something different

Final shot was of 5164 arriving . The westerly wind was blowing the exhaust all around so for once I was relieved when 5164 shut of as with the one decent pool of light of the morning I got one in sun !

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Last order for Christmas Delivery … 11th December

Another business trip to Zurich provided an opportunity to travel on and photograph the trams of Zurich . With lines radiating across the city and trams on every route at a frequency of every five minutes or so , even late into the evening it’s great fun to watch and travel on albeit with almost perpetual motion a challenge to capture photographically

The centre of Zurich has at leat two fantastic triangular tram stations, Central and Belle Vue. Belle Vue is my favourite with these great circular shelters which almost resemble the Starship enterprise !

This time I wanted to get some images around Central Tram station . With trams stopping for 30 seconds or so and almost constant movement of people great photographic moments present themsleves and then disappear before you’ve even had the chance to compose your shot . After a futile half hour or I realised that there was an elevated vantage point to capture the station

At 10:30 in the evening activity was winding down but I was pleased with capturing the full station and Zurich beyond

A longer exposure which has needed some post processing hopefully captures some of the movement around the station

Beyond the station the lines cross over the river on their way to the main Railway station . I’d seen trams stop on bridge , often for only a few seconds but presenting a fantastic image . Previous attempts had been met with no success so having found a different vantage point I had another go . With tram after tram rolling over the bridge it did feel that it was going to be an unsuccessful night and then at last one stopped

A one second exposure did the rest and with the tram now moving no second chance

Back at Central station I had a go at some light trails of which this was the most successful

I was asked following last week’s blog where my next trip would take me. Well it took me to North Staffordshire and back to my industrial interests.

Over the last few weeks I’ve really enjoyed reading the blog by “The voice from the north” http://thevoicefromthenorth.wordpress.com/ . Although showcasing industrial dereliction there is a fantastic style of photography, which I was keen to explore at a future opportunity

Many years ago I used to be a regular visitor to the Foxfield Railway, attending all their galas and running a number of photo charters each year. The lure was the 1 in 19 climb from the Colliery to Dilhorne Park which at the time was this delicious overgrown, bucolic industrial line. A half collapsed old platform awaited at the bottom with a ramshackle coach body sat upon it. The tracks didn’t even go down to the colliery and the old engine shed still stood.

Sadly progress is inevitable , The society were able to acquire the headstocks , the track was re-laid and down past the colliery itself and a proper running line was created with a view to future passenger operation . All great stuff of course but rather like Parkend that I wrote about in an earlier blog, missing the character that made it special to me. So I have to confess it’s been rather a long time since I’ve visited.

Well after that long preamble, I’d been invited by a friend to go to Foxfield on Sunday for a low key friend’s day. The attraction was the Dubs Crane Tank in operation. The weather forecast (not that I’m obsessed with such things) was horrible but in all the predictions of mist and fog I saw opportunity, and a story begaon to unfold in my imagination!

The scene was the Sunday Maintenance working, a short shift but on a cold, dank, quiet November Sunday, you felt for the crew who drew the short straw. I arrived shortly after ten, and getting out of the car you almost felt you could wring the dampness out of the atmosphere. The only sound was the dripping of water from the trees.

A short while later Dubsy cautiously descended the bank and after a short shunt was soon in position to recover some errant tubs.

First task completed and it was round to collect some old sleepers and load them onto a waiting wagon. Firstly seen glimpsed from underneath the headstocks.

And then loading up.

Despite the dull day the crew were in good spirits and I rather like this composition.

Breaking for a splash of water for the engine I had a look on the footplate and the slewing engine was demonstrated

With water now taken, the reception sidings were shunted ready for the Monday morning shift

And then the job done, it was time to go home and I watched as the train disappeared around the corner the sound lasting as Dubsy slipped and struggled on the bank long after the mist had engulfed the train.

My thanks to all at the Foxfield Railway and to the organisers of the day.

regards

Martin

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