Another interesting visit to Ireland and its railways including rail trips to Larne,Cultra,Killarney and Midleton as well as numerous lineside locations

Riding and linesiding on the Welsh highland railway, watching the Ffestiniog and main line trains at Llandudno junction and holyhead

Another very enjoyable visit to the SRPS site east of Edinburgh for the summer diesel gala - highlights included the first runs after overhaul of the Strathspey railways 27105, a cab ride "up the hill" with class 20 D8020, a film show of Scottish railway subjects in the Hipperdrome theatre and the arrival of DRS/Malcolms 66412 (a first for the line?)

The sun shone as 87002 headed to Glasgow for Spitfire railtours Electric Scot tour and DRS held their annual depot open day - this year at Carlisle Kingmoor

Brief visit to see the re-streamlined 6229 "Duchess of Hamilton"

A visit (during a downpour) to the new DEMU Showcase venue at Bretby Business Park south of Burton-on-Trent to enjoy a varied selection of some of the best non-steam modelling. Also 60009 heading south with the Cathedrals express

A very enjoyable day travelling south from Crewe (06:49 departure) with 37069 and 37602 with Spitfire Railtours "Wessexman" railtour which contined to Bournemouth and Weymouth after depositing over 450 passengers at Eastleigh to visit the excellant Knights Rail organised "Easleigh 100" open day at the railway works celebrating the centenary of the establishment of the site by the L&SWR

A hugely enjoyable visit to the Llangollen steam railway on the second Saturday of its nine day Steel, Steam and Stars II gala which was raising funds to contruct the 81st Grange 6880 "Betton Grange"

Some shots of the £11M scheme to modernise the western part of the Tyne Valley line with new level crossings and colour lights replacing the many manual boxes along the route

2009 photos that don't easily fit into another collection

Another enjoyable trip to the annual Warley model railway show including a southbound trip via Shrewsbury,Severn Valley Railway and Lickey incline

87002 “Royal Sovereign”, worked its first special in preservation the Wednesday 15th October 2008 1Z87 07:26 Birmingham (International) – Glasgow (Central), Spitfire Railtours “The Electric Scot Tribute”, 57601 on rear stock Mk2e/Mk3s in Blue/Grey The Special was due to return south as 1Z88 18:27 Glasgow Central – Birmingham International but on the stopover at Polmodie depot the battery charger on 87002 failed with a small fire. This meant all the tour participants had to travel by service train to Motherwell to continue with the special hauled by 57601

Over the weekend of 11-12th October (and several others) ECML services were diverted via Carlisle and the Tyne Valley route due to engineering work north of Berwick.

A very enjoyable holiday in British Columbia and Alberta including some train watching at Vancouver,Frazer Canyon,Kamloops,Bamff,Bow Valley, Jasper and Calgary

A very enjoyable day spent at the former "Steamtown" Carnforth depot which is now the home base of West Coast Railways limited. This unique event which included many visiting steam,diesel and electric locomotives was held to celebrate the running of the famous fifteen quinea special which heralded the end of BR steam in August 1968.

There was also a diversion on the way home to see A4 60009 Union of South Africa on "The Hadrian" returning south on the S&C at Keld and at Appleby

A visit to see progress of the Gretna junction to Annan redoubling to enable easier and more frequent operation of coal traffic from Ayrshire to English power stations - reversing what had been removed forty years ago. The line was closed from 19th to 25th July to allow final connection of the new line and replacement of point work with straight line

An enjoyable visit to the DRS open day - this year at the smaller satellite site at Crewe Gresty road depot - with diversions at Lancaster,Earlestown and Hartford too!

19th July 2008

Despite the best attention of the weather a good time was had at the Foster Yeoman Merehead quarry site in Somerset. The aggregate industries site was opened to help the local East Somerset railway celebrate its 150th anniversary. Attractions included most of the local class 59 fleet,supplemented by many visiting diesel and steam locomotives. There was also Steam freight demonstrations and cab rides, vintage vehicles, quarry tours, model railways and family attractions.
On the way back the Paignton Pudden railtour was seen at Bristol, Birmingham and Crewe

An enjoyable day riding and photographing the home based and visiting diesels at the K&WVR 40th anniversary diesel gala on Saturday 7th June 2008

An enjoyable "Carbon neutral" break by rail from Carlisle to Aberdeen,Inverness,Lairg,Wick,Thurso (John O'Groats),Kyle of Lochalsh (Portree),Aviemore (Boat of Garton),Alloa,Stirling and Glasgow - all for a £105 ticket!

There is another installment from August mainly on the Highland main line

A trip on the West Coast Railways/Kingfisher Railtours Cumbrian Coast Fellsman which didn't go according to plan! Set off alright with 8F 48151 to Ravenglass from Carnforth OK, but unfortunately caused several lineside fires and a larger fire on Eskmeals viaduct south of Ravenglass. The line was then closed whilst the fire brigade attended and the instruction given that the 8F couldn't return. Eventually (3 hours later than planned) DRS were contacted to provide 20305/20301 and 37667 (on rear) to rescue the special and return via the reopened southern route. These only ran to Barrow (avoided on the outward bound route) where WCRC 47760 took over for the return to Carnforth! Arrival back at Carnforth was over three hours late.

Some shots from the La'al Ratty which was running fine though!

A very enjoyable visit to the Scottish Railway Preservation societys site at Bo'ness on the second day of its Spring diesel gala

12th April 2008 and a visit to the North east to see the first diesel gala at the NRM annex at Shildon, progress of the new A1 60163 "Tornado" under construction at Darlington North Road and finally to catch 71000 Duke of Gloucester working the first leg of the North Briton railtour to north Scotland at Durham and from Newcastle keep

2008 photos that don't easily fit into another collection

Despite the best attempt of the weather a good time was had at the L&HR with trips made behind the 03s,20 and DMU and photos taken of the class 11 and 26

A second visit was made (in better weather) on 23rd May 2008

Trip to Irelasnd 11th to 15th September 2007 travelling via Larne - Donegal town - Westport - Ennis - Limerick and Dublin. Finishing with a escorted tour around Inchicore works on the last day

Another visit to the popular Northern England steam raiwlay involving a ride Grosmont to Goathland and walk back via Grosmont engine sheds

The first ever visit of a class 40 to the West Highland line as Large logo 40145 "East Lancashire Railway" and 57601 worked a railtour from Carlisle. The full train had a few RETB problems when exchanging tokens and the 40 was unable to make up time so a late arrival (and lower than anticipated fuel levels) meant that 57601 worked the special back as far as Craigendoren junction before 40145 ran round to the front for the remainder of the journey via Glasgow and Dumfries to Carlisle. A most enjoyable day out - even the weather improved greatly over the day!

Trip to Bristol (for the excellant Balloon fiesta) with trains on the Bristol Harbour railway (currently closed),Bath Spa station and a return trip on the West Somerset railway to Minehead

Arranged by the Friends of the Settle and Carlisle line - thousands participated in this arranged pedestrian takeover of the most famous structure on the Carlisle - Settle route!