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Two new railways (for me!)

Added 14th July 2010
Living, as I always have, up here in the frozen north (of England!) there are quite a few railways down south that I haven’t as yet managed to visit; opportunities particularly in recent years when I’ve had more time for such things have been few and far between but, at the beginning of July 2010 I had the chance to cross two of them off the required list.
The first of these was the Kent & East Sussex Railway, a line which I must admit I knew only a little about until the chance of meeting up with an Australian sound recordist friend and his family who were visiting the UK and would be in area gave the ideal opportunity for a visit.
One thing I did know was that they had a good selection of small tank locos including a few Terriers but I also knew that they had three J94s, two of them available for service; I feared the worst!
Another thing that I knew about the line was that there is a steep gradient on the final approach to Tenterden so that was where we headed with the intention of getting a lineside recording.
As I’ve said, knowing my luck I was fully expecting to find a J94 in use and while I’ve nothing against industrials, I was hoping for something more appropriate for the line.
Having got set up near the level crossing a little over half a mile from Tenterden station we heard a distant whistle; fingers crossed!
Well, I’m pleased to say it wasn’t a J94 that came plodding past on 5 coaches, it was one of the railway’s two USA 0-6-0 tanks looking very smart in Southern Railway black livery, numbered 65.
The loco certainly wasn’t being thrashed as it passed us with its 5 coach train on the 1 in 50/53 gradient from Rolvenden but then, the weather having been very hot, working the engine as easily as possibly was a very sensible precaution.
Click to play - right click to save 65 approaching Tenterden. 8th July 2010
2:46
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After getting a lineside recording the next thing on the agenda was a ride to Bodiam and back.
Heard from a first class compartment (well, why not, it’s only a £1 extra!) 65 is heard departing from Wittersham Road and climbing the short 1 in 90/70 gradient towards Bodiam.
So, what did I think of my first visit to this line?
Well, I enjoyed it thoroughly; an interesting line through some very pleasant scenery, add some friendly and helpful staff and what’s not to like!

Click to play - right click to save 65 departing from Wittersham Road.
2:43
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My visit to the second new line came on the following day, 9th July 2010. This was the 15 inch gauge Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway which tells us that it is ‘The World’s smallest public railway’. Indeed? But then, I would need to be a pedant to mention such railways as the Ravenglass and Eskdale and the Fairborne and I’m sure there are others. So I won’t!
What I will say is that I was most impressed, particularly with the sensation of speed given, although reaching no more than 25 mph, when so close to the ground seemed quite fast to me. Passing other trains on the double track between Hythe and New Romney at that speed is pretty impressive too.
We began our visit with a ride all the way to Dungeness behind the Pacific No. 1 ‘Green Goddess’ which has only recently returned to service on the line after overhaul.
As our train was a heavy one, we were assisted by one of the line’s diesels as far as New Romney where many of the passengers alighted making the train far less heavy from there.
Intending to spend a little time at Dungeness, long enough to stagger up the lighthouse anyway, we tried for a lineside recording of ‘Green Goddess’ departing.
The background sounds at Dungeness as the train leaves heading round the loop back towards New Romney and Hythe were a bit different! First we have the constant hum of the nearby nuclear power station but there is also an army firing range at Lydd which, as you can hear, was in full operation. At least they weren’t shooting at us!

Click to play - right click to save No. 1 'Green Goddess' departing from Dungeness. 9th July 2010
2:23
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After a visit to New Romney we travelled back to Hythe then had another run to Romney Sands and back again behind ‘Hercules’.
Heading into the wind, the recordings we got on-train were a little better; this is ‘Hercules’ departing from Dymchurch.
Well, I really enjoyed my visit to this railway. I almost wrote ‘little railway’ then but this really is a main line in miniature and well worth a visit.

Click to play - right click to save No. 5 'Hercules' departing from Dymchurch.
2:20
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Decisions, decisions

Added 5th July 2010
Sometimes I think we must be stark, staring, raving mad.
On the morning of Saturday 26th June 2010 I was out of my bed not long after 4AM and, with a friend in his car, away long before I would normally even have thought of getting up.
Well, we haven't had as many chances so far this year to get out for steam on the main line so decided that we must make the effort to get out for the ex LMS Royal Scot 46115 'Scots Guardsman' which was working a train from York to Kings Cross and was due off York at just after 7AM.
As it was going via Leeds, we wanted a recording of it somewhere west of Church Fenton on the climb through Micklefield before heading further south for more recordings. We ended up at the site of Peckfield Colliery just a little way west of Micklefield station in plenty of time and had just nicely picked our spot and set up when the Scot could be heard approaching running somewhat early passing us at the time it should have been passing Church Fenton. Luckily I had got my recorder ready and had just switched on so didn't miss much but my friend missed the approach.
The Scot was going very well at the head of 11 coaches but less welcome was the sound of a stuck cylinder cock.
After that, we had a decision to make; we now had the prospect of more than 250 miles of driving (well, my friend had, all I had to do was keep the passenger seat warm and navigate!) to get just two more, probably equally short recordings of the cylinder cock. Did we think it would it be worth the effort?
The next recording will give you the answer.
Click to play - right click to save 46115 passing Micklefield. 26th June 2010
1:09
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Arriving at Pickering we found the station full of Brownies! Apparently 2010 is the 50th Anniversary of the Brownie movement and a good number of them had come to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for a day out. Even 45428 which arrived with the stock for the first train was sporting a 'Brownie' headboard. From our point of view this was good as to provide enough seats for them and other visitors the timetable had been upgraded for the day to the 'Gold', hourly service, timetable.
Less good was the fact that the railway had fire risk problems. We had discovered this fact the previous evening when coming out to record the Friday evening dining train we discovered it was being diesel hauled.
To lessen the risk trains were being diesel assisted between Goathland and Levisham but Pickering - Levisham and Grosmont - Goathland were Ok.
If matters had been otherwise we would have headed to Levisham for the Black 5, a loco that has eluded me for a recording since its return to traffic but with a diesel involved there would have been no point so we took ourselves off to Darnholm for the first train off Grosmont.
This proved to be hauled by another loco that I was keen to get a recording of; the BR Standard Class 9F 2-10-0 92214 which had arrived on the railway not long before.
It has been a long time since I've had the chance to record a 9F so it was nice to get this one and I was most impressed with the way the loco accelerated away from a 15 mph temporary speed restriction which ends at Darnholm. Many locos with 7 coaches behind the tender would struggle to reach 15 mph at this point in the climb, let alone accelerate on the 1 in 49 gradient. This must be an ideal loco for the railway, let's hope it stays longer than just for the summer.
Click to play - right click to save 92214 passing Darnholm.
2:36
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After the 9F had gone we saw 45428 descending to Grosmont and expected that it would return with the next train. Very good, after two trains I would have had recordings of the two locos that I particularly wanted!
The wait for the next train was considerably enlivened by the local wildlife, particularly woodpeckers of which there were two species, both Green and Lesser Spotted, to keep an eye open for but the star of the show was the arrival of an Adder slithering through the bracken. The UK's only poisonous snake was no trouble; we didn't bother it and it didn't bother us although it did seem to be heading for my friends bag at one point. I'd never seen one before so that was something else to cross off in my Wildlife ABC!
In due course we returned to the business in hand and prepared to record the next train.
When I began monitoring ready to begin recording, as well as hearing the Green Woodpecker that we had been seeing there was another sound that I'd never heard here before. At first I wasn't sure what the banging was that I was hearing but once the rest of the band joined in with the drummers there was no doubt. Presumably this was something to do with all those Brownies!
As this recording begins the sound of the band has given gave way to the sound of a Black 5 approaching; very good, 45428 as expected. However when the loco emerged from under the road bridge, it wasn't the Black 5 I wanted but 45407.
Mind you, while I'd have preferred 45428, I am making no complaints whatsoever as 45407 gave us the best recording of the day as it took 7 coaches up to Goathland!

Click to play - right click to save 45407 passing Darnholm.
4:10
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As the farmer opposite had decided to begin loading up his muck spreading machinery and we didn't want to risk having our next recording spoiled by this activity we set off to walk down to Green End for the next train from Grosmont.
This proved to be hauled by 53809 which seems to be a much improved loco this year and sounds fine with 7 coaches as it passes the second bridge at Green End.
Click to play - right click to save 53809 passing Green End.
3:24
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The previous recording was made from the bottom of the valley where we found it had become quite breezy so, before the next train, we walked up to the spot that I have used so many times before at Dowson Garth across the valley from Green End where we found plenty of shelter and, as you'll hear, plenty of Crickets!
The next train from Grosmont, running somewhat late, was hauled by 92214 which sounds to be making fairly easy work of 7 coaches on the 1 in 49 gradient. Definitely a loco that needs to stay on the line!

Click to play - right click to save 92214 passing Green End.
3:47
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The next train should have been a Black 5; I was still hoping for 45428 but wouldn't have minded 45407 but neither turned up. Instead, we got a diesel!
So, moving quickly on...
The 13:30 from Grosmont (which was a good half hour late) was our next train; again I still was hoping for a Black 5 but the approaching sound had a three cylinder beat and proved to be the ex-Southern Railway Schools Class 4-4-0 30926 'Repton'.
This is another loco that I've been more impressed with this year. It seems to make a lot more noise than it used to!

Click to play - right click to save 30926 passing Green End.
4:07
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Hoping that muck spreading operations would have ceased we returned to Darnholm and this time went to the top of the cutting between there and Goathland for the next train, the 15:30 off Grosmont.
This train proved to be a disappointment too. No it wasn't diesel hauled, it just never appeared! Due to the late running, they had decided to drop a train out of the timetable to allow things to get back nearer to time.
The 16:30 off Grosmont was our last recording of the day and was another of 92214 once again going well on 7 coaches. I'll look forward to more from this fine engine in the coming months.
And I do hope it becomes a permanent resident!

Click to play - right click to save 92214 between Darnholm and Goathland.
2:04
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So, would we have been better staying with the Scot and driving south? Probably not.
Although the Scot gave passengers an excellent run, the cylinder cock remained stuck so I don't think we would have done as well for recordings (and wildlife) had we chased it down the ECML!

Lickey Banker

Added 30th May 2010
As you'll have read in the notes to my previous recordings, 2010 has not been a good year so far for main line lineside recordings what with the failures of the Scot earlier in the year and plans to go out for quite a few trains coming to naught, to say nothing of a recent helicopter escort ruining a recording of 60019 on the Settle - Carlisle line and that trend seemed likely to be a continuing one.
If there was one train in the programme for this year that I really, really wanted to get out for, it was the one run by Vintage Trains on 29th May as this would feature something that, ever since steam returned to the route, I have wanted to record. The train in question was running from Tyseley to Didcot via Stourbridge Jc, Cheltenham and Swindon but the return route was to be via the Lickey Incline. Now while I have made a few recordings on the Lickey, the difference here was that this train was to be banked from Bromsgrove by Tyseley's GWR 0-6-0 Pannier Tank 9600 and it was a banked train on this gradient that I have been hoping to record for a long time.
Despite having the promise of a lift from a very good friend, my hopes that this would be my opportunity seemed doomed to failure when the times revealed that, as I would need to get to and return from my pick up point by train, by the time we had driven back, my last train home would have been long gone. We had both expected that the returning train would have been much earlier and to say I was not best pleased would be a considerable understatement but, after all, these trains are run for their passengers, not for us 'freeloading' lineside observers so I couldn't really complain!
Over the years, believe it or not, I've eventually reached the conclusion that there actually are more important things in life than steam hauled trains. One of the more important aspects is having good friends and this particular friend changed his plans at the last minute and offered to drive me to Bromsgrove then all the way back home, almost passing his house on the way so, everybody say a big 'thank you' to Mike without whom we would not have this recording to listen to.
The original train engine for this tour, named The Britannia Banker, was to have been 70013 but in the weeks preceding the tour that loco had suffered a problem with a cracked firebox and had to be withdrawn while this was rectified but Tyseley was able to provide an excellent substitute in the form of the LMS Princess Royal Pacific 6201 ‘Princess Elizabeth’, a loco that I had already made a memorable recording of on the Lickey Incline back in February 2006. Unlike on that occasion, this time there would be no chance for a run at the bank as the train was stopping at Bromsgrove for the banker to be attached just as in the good old days.
After a long drive we got to Bromsgrove in time to see the Pannier tank arrive light engine from Tyseley and then made our way to Pikes Pool Lane heading off from there up the hill on the south east side of the line between there and Burcot Bridge, otherwise known as Vigo. At the top of the hill we found a strong breeze, too strong for our windshields so we had to drop down below the crest of the hill where we set up our recorders and awaited events.
Perhaps 10 minutes later than booked we could just hear a Stanier hooter from the direction of Bromsgrove answered by the shriller whistle of the Pannier tank followed by the sound of 6201 starting the train.
Once onto the 1 in 37¾ gradient the sound of Lizzie’s exhaust became clearer and louder which is where this track begins. A descending DMU must have caused a slight panic among the photographic gallery down towards Pikes Pool Lane Bridge. Once 6201 has passed on this 9 coach train the sound of the banker becomes audible; 9600 was certainly giving a good healthy shove in the rear.
About 7 minutes after the start at Bromsgrove, the sound of the hard working Pannier Tank fades away towards Blackwell just in time for a descending diesel hauled freight train to pass.
So, was it worth the long drive just for one recording? Well, we both thought so!
Click to play - right click to save 6201 banked by 9600 on the Lickey Incline. 29th May 2010
5:25
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For some better pictures from Clive Hanley click here

NYMR Spring Steam Gala

Added May 2010
Beginning on the last day of April 2010 the North Yorkshire Moors Railway began the first of three, three day weekend Steam Gala events advertised as 'The Gala of Giants'. When originally advertised this gala was to feature, among other delights, two A4s, a King, no fewer than four Black Fives and a smaller visitor in the shape of the Great Northern Railway N2 0-6-2T 1744.
As time went by, as can often happen with steam locos, this excellent line up changed when the King, one of the two A4s, one, possibly two of the Black Fives and other locos became unavailable for various reasons. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but having had such a difficult closed season with other important matters to deal with; the rebuilding of Bridge 30, perhaps trying to promote such a high profile Gala wasn't the best idea. Still, you can't say that they didn't try and all credit to those who put in the effort to do the best they could under the circumstances to provide us mere observers with some entertainment.
The first day, Friday 30th April 2010 was originally advertised as LMS Friday and was an obvious must for me as, had things gone according to plan, I would have had four Black 5s to listen to all on the same railway on the same day but even at the outset, four seemed unlikely as 45212 had problems during the winter and required a new set of tyres. Initially there was some confidence that 45428's long period of overhaul would be completed in time but as the gala drew nearer it was looking very tight. Still, even two Black 5s with the addition of the 7F and the Super D was fine by me.
On the day itself neither of the latter mentioned pair were available, the Super D requiring some new tubes and the 7F awaiting a new tender spring. Also 45428, although the loco was Ok, during running in its tender had run an axle box hot which hadn't quite succumbed to the tender mercies of the staff at Grosmont so despite being listed as a runner on the timetable for the day, as was 53809, neither worked as rostered.
The two Black 5s that were in use were Ian Riley's pair, old favourite 45407 and his latest acquisition, 44871 which I hadn't seen or heard since 1993 when it was an SRPS based loco and, according to the timetable, as we waited for the first train off Grosmont on the hillside high above the rebuilt Bridge 30, this was the loco that we would be recording.
Sure enough as you can hear in this recording, perhaps running a few minutes late, the first train was indeed Black 5 hauled and makes a fine sound with 6 coaches behind the tender passing below us on the 1 in 49 climb to Goathland - an excellent first recording to start the day.
However, almost setting the theme for the day, it wasn't 44871 that passed, it was 45407!
Click to play - right click to save 45407 passing Bridge 30. 30th April 2010
3:09
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For most of this first day, the visiting N2 1744 was employed working shuttle trains between Grosmont and Goathland with a GNR train. I should add that the 'train' consisted of a single coach, the GNR Invalid Saloon...
As we had decided to stay where we were for the next Pickering train we also had the opportunity to record the N2 on its first run up the bank.
To enable passengers to have a good look at the new bridge the train paused for a few minutes just beyond and in this recording you can hear the N2 restarting and heading off to Goathland.
Click to play - right click to save 1744 restarting at Bridge 30.
1:58
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While waiting for the next train we had an unexpected train not in the timetable to see dropping down the bank. Being hauled by the Class 24 diesel was a short train made up of a brake van and what appeared to be a Black 5 tender. We only found out what that was all about later.
According to the timetable the next Pickering train should have been hauled by 45407 but, as that had already headed south we didn't know what to expect until the distant sound of a Stanier hooter gave us a clue. Sure enough, a short while later, 44871 came round the corner from Beck Hole and sounds to be going well with 7 coaches on the climb to Goathland.

Click to play - right click to save 44871 passing Bridge 30.
4:15
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As the wind seemed to be picking up and we were in a fairly exposed spot we headed off to Levisham and got there with plenty of time to take advantage of the very useful weighbridge tea hut before setting up our recorders on the hillside ready for the return of 44871 from Pickering. We were also quite curious to see what would be heading down to Pickering on the next train from Grosmont; the timetable prophesied 30926 but we were far from confident!
Imagine our surprise when the Pickering bound train did actually turn up with the booked motive power. Then after 44871 had departed and having a very unwelcome shower which at least waited until there were no trains about we decided to stay where we were knowing that we would be getting a recording of the Schools heading back to Grosmont - but what would be coming the other way?
The timetable said that the next Pickering bound train would be double headed by 45428 and 53809 and when we heard a Stanier hooter in the distance we were beginning to think that the timetable might be at least partially correct - until 45407 all by itself rolled into view.
And that set the pattern for the day; the two Black 5s did 6 round trips between them and the Schools did its two booked turns. Aside from the N2 the only other locos out were 76079, which did the first train off Pickering then double headed the N2 down to Pickering late in the afternoon and one other which I'll mention later.
As this recording begins 30926 is waiting in Levisham station and, once given the right away, sets off into Newton Dale.
Note the rather loud knock as the Schools passes. We thought that it sounded rather serious, possibly a big end, and wouldn't have been surprised had the loco not reappeared that day.
Click to play - right click to save 30926 departing from Levisham.
4:05
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For our next two recordings we had a change of location and after another visit to the Levisham tea hut we decided that a change of location was due and went further up into Newton Dale to try a location that I'd never been to before just off a footpath a little to the north of Raindale opposite Yorfall Woods which, unlike many recording spots around here, actually gives a view of passing trains. After recording 45407 passing and having some slight problems with adhesion, we stayed where we were for another Black 5 recording and, while waiting were slightly disappointed to hear a sound that, until then had been happily absent - the sound of aircraft buzzing around. We had thought that by that time on a Friday afternoon we could have expected to have been free of such annoyances. The other surprise we had was the return of the Schools heading back to Pickering. Clearly the knock we had heard wasn't after all indicative of some major problem.
Like Ian Riley's other Black 5 on the previous train, 44871 makes an equally fine sound climbing past and without any adhesion problems this time.

Click to play - right click to save 44871 at Yorfall.
3:08
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Before recording the Schools on the next train we returned to Levisham station only to find that we had arrived just after the tea hut had closed for the afternoon. All was not lost however, as the ladies there very kindly provided the required tea and ginger cake which was most welcome. They told us that they had had a much quieter day than usual but we were pleased to discover that, during the course of the day we had been responsible for almost 10% of the takings!
This recording of the Schools was made much nearer to Levisham station and from the other side of the line and, as it departs, you'll note that the knock heard in the previous recording is far less apparent. Whatever the cause, the driver seems unconcerned and he makes some fine sounds with this loco as it heads away into Newton Dale.

Click to play - right click to save 30926 departing from Levisham.
2:58
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For 45407 on the next train from Pickering we went even further up into Newton Dale to a spot near Gallock Hill but unlike previous recordings made here this one was made at a spot near the road on the Levisham side of Kale Pot Hole.
Despite the light rain that was falling the local birds provide some excellent background sounds as 45407 comes up from Levisham.
The rain must have made for a greasy rail and the Black 5's driver has some difficulty as the loco doesn't want to stick to the rail. There seems to be no danger of stalling though as the loco continues past and away beneath Skelton Tower towards Newtondale Halt.

Click to play - right click to save 45407 at Gallock Hill.
6:07
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Although we didn't see it pass, the N2 had been booked to go down to Pickering double headed with 76079 before returning with 4 teak coaches required to run from Grosmont the following day so we headed back to Levisham station to get a recording of it departing.
When 1744 arrived, although the barriers were down, neither the sounders nor the flashers on the level crossing appeared to be working and required a little attention before the lights started to work. Unfortunately for the sound recordists the sounders also came on and remained on; they usually stop once the barriers are down.
With the crossing in full working order the N2 can depart and makes easy work with this light train which proves to be lighter than advertised having only 3 teak coaches rather than the four mentioned in the timetable.

Click to play - right click to save 1744 departing from Levisham.
1:58
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The next item on the menu was to get recordings of the diner which, being the heaviest train normally seen on the railway often provides some of the best recordings.
While waiting at Darnholm for this train coming up from Grosmont the mystery of the diesel hauled tender we had seen earlier was solved when two light engine Black 5s rolled past heading down the gradient.
The timetable had advertised that there would be a simulated 'load test' with 3 Black 5s coupled together running over Bridge 30. In the event only two were available; one was 44871 and the other was 45428 identifiable only by its smoke box numberplate as the cab side numbers had not yet been applied.
In an attempt to get the loco into traffic, the tender off 45212 had been sent down to Pickering to be turned on the turntable then returned to be attached to 45428 and it was able to run in the afternoon although not on any of its booked passengers workings.
At Darnholm, once again bird song, including a green woodpecker and the buzzing of bees provided a fine atmosphere while waiting for the diner which, perhaps 20 minutes later than booked, can be heard making steady progress on the 1 in 49 behind a Black 5.
44871 proved to be the Black 5 in question and what a fine sound it makes with this heavy 8 coach train!

Click to play - right click to save 44871 passing Darnholm.
7:22
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After fish & chips in Pickering we returned to Newton Dale for a recording of the diner returning to Goathland. Near Gallock Hill it was very still and very quiet but without a breeze to help carry the sound, unlike previous recordings of the diner made around here, although we could just hear it approaching Levisham, we didn't hear the train depart.
The train was again about 20 minutes late when we heard the faint sound of 44871 coming up the valley making steady progress with this heavy train.
Working tender first we might have expected some difficulty with adhesion but the Black 5 keeps its feet well having only a a little difficulty with slipping once it has reached the curve below Skelton Tower across the valley.
A fine recording to end the day but, I have to say, for a steam gala where lots of variety is supposed to be the point of the exercise, it's a good job I like Black 5s!

Click to play - right click to save 44871 at Gallock Hill.
4:36
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My second visit to the NYMR during the gala was on Saturday 8th May 2010, the middle day of the second weekend. I chose that day as there seemed to be plenty going on at the Grosmont end of the line and the weather forecasters, while promising a strong, cold wind, had also promised plenty of sunny intervals. They were right about the wind but the sunny intervals never materialised; it was freezing!
To make the most of the day I was able to get to Grosmont shortly after 9 o'clock thanks to an early bus to Whitby then the first Middlesbrough train and after obtaining a copy of the loco roster I set off up towards Green End and my usual recording spot near Dowson Garth farm at the other side of the valley where I hoped that I would find shelter from the north easterly wind.
Not having a great deal of time before the 09:30 departure I stopped on the way and set up for a recording of that train which, according to the roster, was booked to be hauled by the visiting ex LNER A4 Pacific 60019 'Bittern'.
Shortly after 10:00 I came to the rather obvious conclusion that trains weren't running to time and I reasoned that they would probably allow the next train from Pickering down from Goathland first as it was a through train to Whitby, a service which, if possible needs to run as near right time as possible. Thinking that I had a good 15 to 20 minutes, I decided to move to a better location for my recording and, as you might guess, as soon as I had packed up and set off up the path, 'Bittern' came past!
Reaching my favoured field I was not pleased to discover that the main item of wind protection, namely some large clumps of dense gorse bush, had gone! No doubt the farmer has decided that his livestock can do without them. Fortunately an adjacent field proved to be better provided and I was able to find a suitably sheltered spot to set up my microphone out of the wind but there was nothing I could do about the noise of wind in the surrounding trees which you will hear in the following recordings. There was also nothing I could do about the noisy motorcycles which you'll hear from time to time; there was some kind of race meeting going on somewhere in the vicinity but luckily not too near Grosmont!
The next train, the 10:30 off Grosmont, according to the roster was booked for 45407 but when this train finally put in an appearance more than half an hour after its booked time it was the ex S&D 7F 2-8-0 53809 that was at the head of 7 coaches.
With this heavy train the loco slogs up the 1 in 49 gradient, the wind carrying the sound fitfully as it comes up to Green End and passes on its way to Goathland.
I was very pleased with this one; with the strength of the wind, I'd not expected anything as good and even the noise of the wind in the trees only adds to the atmosphere.

Click to play - right click to save 53809 passing Green End. 8th May 2010
7:36
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Next up the bank should have been 45428 finally back in service hauling a demonstration freight to Goathland but I already knew that this run of the freight wouldn't happen as the train's working down from Goathland had not materialised. Not thinking I had sufficient time, I'd not got as much information as I might have done while at Grosmont and, not having seen it when passing the shed, had assumed that 45428 had gone light up to Goathland as booked and was sitting in the sidings waiting while the timetable got back to some semblance of normality. What I didn't know was that the Black 5 had suffered further problems, was still at Grosmont, would take no part in the weekend's events and that the freight train would not be appearing. So much for my idea that there would be plenty going on!
Still, there was still one loco that I was keen to get a recording of and, after the 7F had gone up the bank, I was pleased to see the N2 descending with a train of 4 teak coaches.
Once the timetable goes awry on a single line railway it is very difficult to get much time back. No matter how fast you run between passing loops, you still have to wait for other late running trains so the next train from Grosmont was just as late as preceding trains had been. According to the timetable this should have been hauled by the 7F, clearly not a possibility and it proved to be in the hands of the loco that should have been on the 7F's train, ex LMS Black 5 4-6-0 45407 which, with another 7 coach train makes some good noise passing on the climb. Unusually for this railway, 45407 was working tender first out of Grosmont. Working chimney first up the bank to Goathland must be a considerable help to firemen in keeping the firebox crown covered when things aren't going well but 45407 had been turned on the turntable at Pickering presumably because it was leaving the railway on the following Monday to take up some duties on the main line.
After that, according to the timetable, which I had already completely lost faith in, was the loco that I wanted to record; the N2 with its 4 teak coaches.
Well, it should have been but the distant sound of a three cylinder loco soon put paid to my hopes of getting a recording of the N2 this time and it was actually 60019 that came past. I discovered later that the N2 had worked the first service from Grosmont but had considerable problems with priming. Presumably it was this that caused the delays in the first place and on arrival back at Grosmont it was sent back to the shed in disgrace to await a change of water and took no further part in the preceding.

Click to play - right click to save 45407 passing Green End.
5:59
2.7MB
 

After that, things settled down to a pattern with trains running 40 to 50 minutes late and just 4 locos working the trains that I saw and recorded across the valley.
After another recording of the 7F, this time with only 5 coaches, based on what had worked previous trains I expected 45407 to return with the next one and hearing the sound of a Black 5 departing from Grosmont I assumed I was correct but when the loco appeared it was working chimney first which, as I didn't know that 45428 was out of service gave two possibilities.
Of course it was 44871 that gave me another very satisfactory recording.

Click to play - right click to save 44871 passing Green End.
7:02
3.2MB
 

As, at that time, I didn't know that the N2 had been withdrawn, despite being half frozen, I stayed for the next train which was booked for the teak set and the N2 rather than heading back to Grosmont for tea and a bacon sandwich!
Anyway, here is another recording of 'Bittern' with its 6 coaches heading for Goathland and Pickering.
Although I've said that everything ran late, this isn't actually true as at least one train did run to time.
After recording 'Bittern' I decided that enough was enough and headed back to Grosmont to see about getting back to Whitby on the 17:15 which I expected to be at least half an hour late coming through from Pickering but when I reached the station I found a 7 coach set in Platform 2 with 45407 on the Whitby end and was assured by the guard that whatever else happened, this train would be on time!
Sure enough, a minute early according to my watch, we left; I wonder what the passengers for Whitby on the train from Pickering believing that they were going to through thought about that?

Click to play - right click to save 60019 passing Green End.
4:03
2.1MB
 
On the following Friday, 14th May 2010, I returned to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for another visit during the final weekend of the Steam Gala and, after everything that had happened during the previous two weekends I really wasn't sure what to expect.
The Friday seemed to be the best day for my visit as I wanted to try for a few more recordings of locos that had evaded me on previous visits climbing the 1 in 49 gradient from Grosmont. For one, I hoped to get something from the N2 which had been taken out of service when I last tried; that was booked to do two full line trips with some teak coaches, then there was 45428 which was expected to be running along with 60007, both back after maintenance; add 76079 which I hadn't managed a recording of during the Gala and three runs of the goods train up the bank and you can see why I thought this would be the best day to visit. Mind you, I have to say that based on previous experiences, I was not at all confident!
Arriving at Grosmont off the early train from Whitby, after obtaining a copy of the timetable in the hope that it wouldn't prove to be a work of fiction, I was pleased to see that the first train to head south was not only in the platform but had the booked motive power, ex LNER A4 Pacific 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' attached and ready to go so, as I didn't have much time to spare I headed off to Esk Valley to see if I could find somewhere sufficiently sheltered from the fairly brisk south westerly wind.
Although there wasn't much shelter I did the best I could and was ready when the A4 came past with a train of 7 coaches and sounding to be going fine as it started on the climb to Goathland.
A good start then, the first train departing on-time and with the booked motive power; perhaps everything would run as planned for once...
Click to play - right click to save 60007 passing Esk Valley. 14th May 2010
2:14
1.0MB

While walking to my next recording spot, thanks to the strength and direction of the wind I could still just hear the A4 still on its way to Goathland and, for a minute, I did think that the beat sounded a little odd but as the sound was only coming back very faintly I thought no more about it.
For the rest of the day I planned to find some shelter in the same location as on my last visit in the field near Dowson Garth Farm and, with the wind coming from almost the exact opposite direction as last time, finding a sheltered spot proved much easier and I didn't even have to take refuge behind a gorse bush. So far so good I thought and I was even more pleased when, shortly after 10 o'clock I heard something coming down the gradient from Goathland; the freight train was booked to drop down to Grosmont ready for its first uphill run an hour later.
But it wasn't the freight, it was the A4 heading back to Grosmont light engine and travelling very gingerly. Obviously all was not well and my hopes that everything would go as planned seemed doomed already.
The next train up from Grosmont was booked to be hauled by the N2 1744 hauling 4 teak coaches and, although it ran rather later than planned, at least it did run.
This was one of the locos that I was keen to get a recording of but I must say that I was hoping for something a little better than this; the word 'exciting' would just not be an appropriate description of this one!

Click to play - right click to save 1744 passing Green End.
2:30
1.1MB

So, two trains down and already trains were either late or, in the case of the freight, entirely absent and motive power wasn't running quite as booked either.
The A4's problem, whatever it was, had meant that 76079 which fortunately had been waiting at Goathland with the freight, had been pressed into service to take 'Sir Nigel Gresley's train on to Pickering; hence no freight, and I already knew that the next train off Grosmont wouldn't have its booked motive power. The 11:30 off Grosmont was shown on the timetable as 45428 but I had already seen that on the shed looking unlikely to be going anywhere that day but class mate 44871 was and duly turned up, about 25 minutes late, with a 6 coach train.
The wind was in just the right direction to carry the sound back and I was able to hear the Black 5 almost all the way on its journey to Goathland.

Click to play - right click to save 44871 passing Green End.
4:55
2.2MB

With an hour to wait before the next train was due to leave Grosmont I settled down, unlike the last time I was here, in the warm sunshine to listen to the birds, watch 76079 come down the bank with what should have been 60007's train from Pickering and keep an eye on the local wildlife which included 5 deer who were further down the field and keeping a very close eye on me!
My nature study was rudely interrupted when I spotted steam approaching from the direction of Grosmont and was surprised to see the S&D 7F 2-8-0 53809 heading for Goathland light engine. I'm sorry to say that the first question that popped into my head was 'What's failed?'...
The next train from Grosmont saw 76079 returning with 7 coaches behind the tender and I was well pleased with this recording.
Again, sound carried back really well and not only was I able to hear the loco for a long time on the climb but after I had finished recording I was able to hear it leaving Goathland and passing the summit quite clearly.

Click to play - right click to save 76079 passing Green End.
5:33
2.5MB
 
 

After that, I recorded the N2 again; again not exactly exciting and while waiting I was very pleased to see 53809 return from Goathland. Nothing had failed, it had gone there to collect the freight train so I was going to get an extra recording. Not that I expected much as the freight train consisted of just 5 wagons and a brake.
My expectations proved to be spot on as regards noise. Five wagons and a brake van is no sort of a load for 53809; it made nearly as much noise passing light engine earlier!

Click to play - right click to save 53809 passing Green End on freight.
1:56
911KB

After one more recording of 44871 I decided to call it a day. If trains had been running to time I would have waited for one more recording as my original plan was to have caught the last train from Grosmont at 16:30 and travel to Pickering for a bus home but, with everything running late, that wasn't an option so I packed up my recording equipment and headed back to see what time the 15:30 looked like leaving.
I had one alternative escape route however which involved using the infrequent bus service from Grosmont to Whitby; a timetable pinned to the fence at Grosmont suggested that there would be one just before 5 o'clock and, after another look at this timetable I decided to risk it as this would mean that I could record 76079 and, if the bus didn't turn up, there was a good chance that I could still catch the, no doubt still late running 16:30 to Pickering.
I didn't have much time so I set up in as sheltered a spot as I could find on the hillside overlooking Grosmont Tunnel and was just in time to record the Standard 4 departing with its 7 coach train.
The bus did turn up!

Click to play - right click to save 76079 departing from Grosmont.
3:58
1.8MB
 

I'd expected that my Friday visit to the NYMR would be the last during the Gala but I was wrong. A friend decided that he would like to have a go at recording the Saturday evening dining train which was booked to be hauled by 45428 and, as I hadn't managed to get a recording of that loco during the Gala I decided to tag along.
On our way to Goathland we realised that, with a bit of luck we should just be able to get to Moorgates on the Pickering side of Goathland in time to get a recording of the last train from Grosmont and, having got there and set up our equipment we were pleased to hear a whistle sound from the direction of Goathland station. The whistle was followed by a few chuffs, then silence. A little later we heard a whistle again then more chufffs then more silence and we eventually realised that whatever had arrived had departed but departed the other way, back to Grosmont. What had gone wrong now?
Down at Goathland station we found not a sign of a train but people being loaded into taxis. The line south of Goathland was closed due to a number of lineside fires started earlier in the day, 53809 was suspected of being the culprit.
So, what about the diner? Had our journey been in vain?
The very helpful signalman at Goathland was able to tell us that it would be running, quite where it would be running he wasn't sure but he was able to assure us that it would be coming at least as far as Goathland as the signalman at Grosmont had already offered it so we headed down to Darnholm, set our equipment up and waited.
Conditions at Darnholm were excellent with very little wind and even the Green Woodpecker that I had heard two weeks before was still around. We didn't have too long to wait before, very faintly, we heard a steam loco which must have been just leaving Grosmont.
The loco on the 7 coach diner was the ex SR Schools Class 4-4-0 30926 'Repton' which was making as much noise as I've ever heard from it. Less welcome was the Class 25 diesel attached at the rear of the train which I was able to confirm wasn't pushing when it passed us; there was a visible gap between the diesel's buffers and those on the last coach!
Once the diesel has growled past we could hear 30926 all the way to Goathland station. This has to be one of the most atmospheric recordings I've made here.

Click to play - right click to save 30926 passing Darnholm. 15th may 2010
4:44
2.2MB
 

Don't forget that, despite the fact that Bridge 30 is complete, the Bridge and Wheels appeal is still ongoing and needs to raise funds for the return of 80135 to action on the railway.
So, if that was you who won £84 million on the Lottery and are feeling generous, or even just have a couple of quid to spare, please visit the appeal web site or simply send a cheque to:

Bridge and Wheels Appeal
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
12 Park Street
Pickering
North Yorkshire
YO18 7AJ

6201 on the Settle - Carlisle line

Added 18th April 2010

We didn't have quite so long to wait for our next recordings of steam on the main line as we had for our first recordings of 70013 which you'll find below. We were able to get out to the lineside on 17th April 2010 for a tour from Stevenage which was steam hauled from Hellifield to Carlisle then across through Hexham to the outskirts of Newcastle then down the East Coast Main Line to York where the loco, the LMS Princess Royal Pacific 6201 'Princess Elizabeth' gave way to a diesel which worked the train back to its starting point.
After a visit to the tea room and a look at the loco at Hellifield where most of the onlookers seemed more interested in the passage of a tour hauled by one of the new Class 70 diesels rather than Lizzie, we headed north. Rather than go to our usual recording spot at Selside we thought we would give Helwith Bridge a try for a change.
The big problem with recording at Helwith Bridge is Arcow Quarry; if work is going on there, recording isn't a possibility. Fortunately all was quiet.
One big bonus with this recording spot is that it gives an excellent panoramic view of the railway; something that is quite rare at many recording spots that we use and of the three recordings that we got on this day, it was the only one that gave us any kind of decent view of the train.
Despite quite a strong westerly wind sound was carrying and at about the right time we heard a distant whistle which, judging by the time it took for the train to reach us, must have been from somewhere not far above Settle!
Once the loco cleared Taitlands Tunnel at Stainforth the sound of 6201 became clearer and we heard the loco all the way past us, right through Horton-in-Ribblesdale over 7 minutes later.
With 12 coaches plus a Class 47 diesel attached at the rear 6201 was working hard and, although going well approaching Helwith Bridge, can be heard accelerating by a few MPH on the short level section. As you can hear, or not hear, the diesel on the back of the train was providing no assistance whatsoever. Just the way we like it!

Click to play - right click to save 6201 passing Helwith Bridge. 17th April 2010
4.21
2.0MB
Our next recording was made not far from Carlisle at a spot we've used before near the level crossing at How Mill on the climb to Brampton.
As on previous visits, this spot proved rather windy and we were only able to find a sheltered spot high up on the north side of the line with virtually no view which required fighting our way through some fairly dense scrub to reach; a machete would have been a useful accessory!
6201 was a little late departing from Carlisle and, when we first heard the sound of the loco from somewhere around Weatherall it didn't seem to be going all that quickly; not all that surprising considering the load and the gradient, however as Lizzie came nearer we could hear it accelerating strongly.
While 6201 is a good engine, producing such an acceleration with a train weighing around 550 tons on a 1 in 107 gradient seemed a little unlikely and we feared that there could only be one explanation.
As you can hear as 6201 passes the Class 47 diesel on the back of the train sounds to be providing a fair bit of assistance. Not at all the way we like it!
Click to play - right click to save 6201 passing How Mill.
3.46
1.7MB

Our last recording was made at another familiar spot with very little view. This one was just south of Durham on the climb to Relly Mill.
6201 was running even later when it passed us shortly after a Cross Country service had passed heading for Durham and Newcastle. Lizzie was going very well on the 1 in 101 climb and this time, no diesel assistance was in evidence.
There was one feature of the day that is worth noting; thanks to Eyjafjallajokull and its ash, aside from a single light aircraft at How Mill which had gone by the time Lizzie appeared, we had no aircraft noise to contend with. Makes a nice change!

Click to play - right click to save 6201 passing Durham.
2:20
1.0MB

The Roaring Monster does Shap and the S&C

Added 23rd Mar 2010
If you've been following these pages since the start of the year you'll have read how our efforts to get recordings of steam on the main line have been rather less than successful.
Our third opportunity came on 19th March 2010 when the BR Standard Pacific 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' was booked to work a railtour from Crewe over Shap to Carlisle then return to Preston via the Settle - Carlisle line. This was something not to be missed.
After weeks of suitably calm weather this particular Friday didn't continue the trend providing us with a fairly strong wind but luckily the rain that had been forecast earlier in the week didn't materialise and we had some sun at times instead.
Arriving at our usual spot at Shap Wells in plenty of time we soon realised that the wind wasn't quite such bad news as we had thought it might be. For one thing, the trees at the other side of the line were providing sufficient shelter so that we didn't have to resort to sheltering behind walls and, better yet, it was carrying the sound of the nearby M6 motorway away very nicely; for once, we could hardly hear the traffic which usually is such an annoyance here.
Not far from right time steam appeared down towards Greenholme and we started to hear the loco once the train was near Scout Green.
70013 had 12 coaches behind the tender and while I'm not sure what the unassisted load for a Brit on Shap was in steam days I'm fairly certain that most drivers would have been whistling up for a banker from Tebay with this load.
As 70013 got nearer we could hear that speed was falling but the loco was well in command of the situation and making a fine sound as it passed our spot. We later found out that there had been a 20 mph TSR in the Lune Gorge which meant that they hadn't been able to start the ascent of Shap at the usual speed so, under these circumstances this has to be an excellent performance.
Sound carried back very well and we could hear the loco all the way to the summit and as it began to accelerate on the following falling gradient. Of all the recordings that I've made on Shap over the years, this has to be one of the best!
Click to play - right click to save 70013 at Shap Wells. 19th March 2010
5:17
2.4MB
Photo © G. Garside 2010

After Shap we had lots of time to get over to the Settle - Carlisle line for our next recording and, after fish & chips in Penrith we set off to Kirkby Stephen and one of our favourite recording areas around Greengate Bridge at Wharton about a mile south of Kirkby Stephen station.
A handy dry stone wall at the top of the cutting to the north of the bridge provided the required shelter from the wind which we hoped would carry the sound back after the train had passed us. As you'll hear, we weren't disappointed.
Once again, at about the expected time, we heard a distant chime whistle as the loco approached Kirkby Stephen starting one of the longest recordings I've made at this spot - it was over 7 minutes before the sound of 70013 faded away.
As you can hear, the loco was going well as it passed us and, as we had hoped, sound carried back exceptionally well. Unusually for this location, after the train had passed through Birkett Tunnel about a mile away we could still hear 70013 continuing on the 1 in 100 gradient then accelerating as it gained the easier gradients at Mallerstang. In the past we have occasionally heard a little noise from the other side of the tunnel but never anything like this.
Well, it has been a long wait for the first main line steam recordings for this year but these two were certainly worth waiting for!

Click to play - right click to save 70013 at Greengate Bridge, Wharton near Kirkby Stephen.
5:38
2.6MB
The loco that 70013 is twinned with, 03 1010 (often, and justifiably, refered to as The Roaring Monster) is currently being restored back to main line condition in Germany and the 5305 Locomotive Association, who currently look after 70013, and the tour operator, The Railway Touring Company, on arrival at Carlisle presented a cheque for £10,000 to representatives of the group overhauling the 3 cylinder pacific in Germany.
You can read more about both locos on the 5305 LA website and, providing you can understand a little German, on the DB Museum website.
I've heard recordings of 03 1010 and can definitely confirm that it is a Roaring Monster and if you'd like an example, try Jörg Drekmann's Dampfsound web site - it's in German but follow the link to BR 03.10 der DR then, on the sound page, look for the recording Mitfahrt: 03 1010 D 2659 Halt und Ausfahrt Fröttstädt - see what I mean? Such a shame it wouldn't fit on our railways over here!

K&WVR Winter Steam Gala

Added 25th Feb 2010
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway held their Winter Steam Gala over three days in mid-February and, although the weather forecast wasn't all that good, I decided that it would be worth the effort to get over there on the first day, Friday 12th February 2010.
The main reason for my visit was to get a recording at Oakworth of the pick-up goods doing its shunt but, before that I had a chance to record the visiting loco for this gala, the Great Northern Railway N2 0-6-2T 1744. In the early days after the branch had re-opened as a preserved railway the N2, (then carrying its LNER number, 4744) was resident on the line and appeared in the film version of The Railway Children so it was nice to see it back again.
Having travelled up to Oakworth behind the Standard Tank I decided that I would try for a recording of the N2 departing from the Haworth side of the station and as I set set up my equipment I was surprised to see, at the top of the cutting at the other side of the line that I was being watched by, of all things, a pair of Lamas! Perhaps they thought my hairy windshield was a strange, three legged relative?
Sound was carrying very well and although this recording is just of the start from Oakworth, I could hear the N2 approaching and passing through Damems Loop before climbing the gradient into the station.
After a short pause the train gets the 'right away' but instead of the good solid start that I had been expecting, does no more than shuffle past with its 5 teak coaches on its way to Haworth only opening up a little approaching Mytholmes Tunnel. I later discovered that there was a speed restriction over a bridge just around the corner!
Click to play - right click to save 1744 arriving at and departing from Oakworth. 12th February 2010
2:19
1.1MB

Next was the pick-up goods.
Running demonstration goods trains is a feature of most preserved railway's galas but I've not heard of another which runs a traditional branch line pick-up goods train and, while this has been a feature of the K&WVR for a few years now, this was the first time I've been able to get a recording of it doing its stuff. In past years the pick-up has always been the first train up the branch meaning that, for me with no car, actually getting to Oakworth in time for it would have been very difficult if not impossible.
This year, and I'd like to think that some serious lobbying from me has had some effect, the pick-up ran later in the day so I was able at last, to get a recording.
To keep the recording featured here to a reasonable length, (Including 16 minute recordings on the site would cost me far too much in bandwidth!) I've had to truncate it somewhat so I'm afraid you'll have to miss the sound of the BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T 80002 climbing up from the loop with 6 wagons and a brake van. As this clip begins, 80002 has already uncoupled from its train and set back into the siding in Oakworth goods yard where three more wagons are waiting. With these attached the Standard Tank, slipping a little on the pointwork in the yard, takes them back out onto the main line before setting back onto the rest of the train.
Once the wagons are coupled and following a brake test, the Standard Tank takes the train away towards Haworth and Oxenhope while some of the many lineside photographers set off for their next master shot.

Click to play - right click to save 80002 with the pick-up goods at Oakworth.
6:20
2.9MB

Although the weather forecast wasn't all that good there were plenty of lineside photographers about. Now, while it's nothing personal you understand, I find photographers are best avoided. You see they have a nasty habit of being unable to stop talking! Well, I think it's a nasty habit anyway and for my next recording, which was made a little way further down the line from Oakworth station towards Damems Loop, I found a large 'gallery' of them not far from my recording spot.
Hearing photographers talking on recordings is a something of a fact of life, particularly at a preserved railway gala and while I would happily do without it, as long as they aren't too intrusive, I can accept it as a bit of extra atmosphere but on this particular recording I must admit, I found them quite amusing!
Waiting for the next train to come up from the loop I was monitoring on headphones ready to start recording and could clearly hear them discussing what the chap at the top of the cutting at the other side of the line could be doing as I obviously wasn't getting much of a view up there. If you listen really carefully to the first few seconds of this track (try headphones) you will hear that they did eventually work it out, even identifying me almost correctly, just not quite getting the name right and confusing me with another David who owns a few locos and a railway company!
The next train was hauled by the WD 2-8-0 90733 which never seems to disappoint for noise and with 6 coaches behind the tender sounds fine climbing the gradient up from the loop.

Click to play - right click to save 90733 between Damems Loop and Oakworth.
3:33
1.6MB

 

The next train from Keighley was hauled by the visiting N2 and, as I wanted as good a recording as possible, I moved a little further down the line towards Damems Loop to try to minimise any 'photographic interference'!
I have to say that 1744 in its GNR livery with 5 teak coaches did look the part and didn't sound too bad either climbing the 1 in 60 gradient into Oakworth station.

Click to play - right click to save 1744 between Damems Loop and Oakworth.
2:57
1.3MB

As I needed to get home at a reasonable hour, after the last recording, I caught the train hauled by the N2 back down to Keighley but before leaving, I wanted just one more recording.
The Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T 1704 'Nunlow' which is looked after by the Bahamas Locomotive Society at Ingrow usually only sees use on the railway at galas and, even then, only on short trains of two or three coaches usually running shuttles between Keighley and Ingrow but, for this, gala the loco was being allowed to stretch its legs over the full line, what's more with a train of 5 coaches.
To be honest, as I set up my equipment at Keighley I expected that I would be recording a bit of a struggle as ‘Nunlow’ attempted to drag 5 round the curve out of the station but, as you'll hear, I was wrong!

Click to play - right click to save 1704 'Nunlow' departing from Keighley.
2:24
1.1MB
 

Not quite what we'd planned - again!

Added 25th Feb 2010

They say that lightning never strikes twice. Well, they are wrong.
Saturday 13th February 2010 should have seen the re-run of the train that we went out to record two weeks previously hauled by 46115 which failed at Preston with brake problems. As the re-run featured an improved itinerary which gave us more opportunities for recording we went out for this again.
This time 46115 got a bit further failing near Eccles with the more serious problem of a badly damaged middle cylinder. Once again, while waiting on Platting Bank, thanks to mobile 'phones, we learned of the failure and cancellation not long after the train had been due and, after apprising a few other lineside observers of the news, headed off for, for me at least, a second visit to the K&WVR's Gala.
After a very scenic drive over the moors we reached Oxenhope and, not having lineside passes or hi-viz with us, we headed for the usual field and were in plenty of time to record 90733 coming up from Haworth.
As well as being unprepared with lineside passes we also didn't have a copy of the timetable having only managed to get a look at it on the web via a mobile 'phone; not the easiest thing to read on a tiny screen so when the WD stopped at the loco shed we assumed that it was to attached another loco but this proved not to be the case.

Click to play - right click to save 90733 between Haworth and Oxenhope. 13th February 2010
3:34
1.6MB

We remained where we were for the next train which we expected to be hauled by the N2, 1744 double heading with 41241.
I'm no great fan of double-headers, especially on short trains but there is something worse than a double header and when we heard the train stop at the loco shed we feared the worst; a triple header!
In due course 80002 was attached to the pair and the Standard Tank is just about all that can be heard as the three pass on the way up to Oxenhope If only we'd thought to bring a copy of the timetable with us, just in case...

Click to play - right click to save 80002 1744 & 41241 between Haworth and Oxenhope.
2:21
1.1MB

After that we moved down to a spot near the river between Ingrow and Damems and after just missing a recording of the WD we got 41241 on just two coaches with the Jinty 47279 on the back passing with an 'express' shuttle to Damems.

Click to play - right click to save 41241 between Ingrow and Damems.
1:13
571KB
 

For our last few recordings we went down to Keighley to a spot not far from the station near Globe Curve with the prospect of three trains to record in just over half an hour.
The first of these was a short freight train running to Ingrow hauled by 47279 with 41241 on the back and while banking passenger trains on the railway isn't normally permitted, there is no such restriction on goods trains so the Ivatt can be heard providing some healthy assistance in the rear.

Click to play - right click to save 47279 banked by 41241 departing from Keighley on freight
2:34
1.2MB
 

Next was a passenger shuttle also running to Ingrow hauled by 1704 'Nunlow', this time with a more usual two coaches.
If five coaches the previous day weren't a problem, two made very easy work.

Click to play - right click to save 1704 departing from Keighley.
2:33
1.2MB
 

The last train we recorded leaving Keighley was hauled by the N2.
With a full 6 coach load, 1744 makes a steady and solid, if unspectacular departure on the steep curving gradient out of the station before accelerating a little as it passes.

Click to play - right click to save 1744 departing from Keighley.
4:02
1.8MB

Not quite what we'd planned

Added 31st Jan 2010
On 30th January 2010 the Railway Touring Company had a train planned employing 46115 on an itinerary which included the interesting climb from Manchester Victoria as well as the climbs to Copy Pit and Sough; obviously a train we wanted to go out for!
Sadly, this recording isn't of 46115 which only made it as far as Preston where, after a sparkling run down from Lancaster, it succumbed to brake problems and after a long delay, the train was cancelled.
We were very fortunate in having someone who, like the majority of passengers, was joining the train at Preston (and not pleased at having missed the aforementioned sparkling run!) and he kept us apprised of the situation.
Once we knew that the train was cancelled, so as to not have an entirely wasted day, we called in at the East Lancs Railway where the ex LNER K4 2-6-0 61994 'Great Marquess' was in use.
In this recording the K4 is heard with just 4 coaches behind the tender departing from Irwell Vale on its way to Rawtenstall.
Click to play - right click to save 61994 departing from Irwell Vale. 30th January 2009
1:37
764KB

As we were in the area and had to return through Bury anyway, we decided to have a look to see if there was any scope for getting a recording of the K4 going over the notorious 'Ski Jump' where the line crosses the Metrolink tramway not far from Bolton Street station.
In a busy town centre location such as this we didn't hold out much hope but did find a spot near the lineside in the small park between Knowlseley Street and Manchester Road by the Whitehead Clock Tower.
With all the traffic noise, this was never going to be a long recording but, very briefly, 61994 does sound fine as it passes - though we could have done without the motorbike!

Click to play - right click to save 61994 departing from Bury.
0:36
283KB

Thanks Frank!

Added 31st Jan 2010
Regular visitors to the site will have seen the name Frank Santrian mentioned here a few times. Frank, now in his 70s, has finally decided to retire from the footplate.
As a driver first with BR then more recently with the West Coast Railway Company any run with Frank would always be guaranteed to be entertaining and, when rostered as fireman, there was no danger of shortage of steam. Indeed, Frank's expertise on the shovel has almost reached legendary proportions. Well, I ask you, how many people would even contemplate firing 6233 over Shap when in their 70s? I doubt I would have been capable in my 20s! See this recording below.
I can bring to mind a number of runs where Frank was on the footplate but there will always be one that stands out in my memory. That was back in 1995 when Frank was still a driver at Crewe and had 46229 on one of Mel Chamberlain's Shap Time Trial runs on 3rd October. Just the memory of the noise he coaxed out of 'Duchess of Hamilton' climbing Shap that day still sends a shiver down my spine.
I'll see if I can get the whole recording on an audio CD in the not too distant future but for now, here is a taste of what it was like.
Thanks Frank!
Click to play - right click to save 46229 reaching Shap Summit. 3rd October 1995
2:39
1.2MB

And now for something completely different

Added 14th Jan 2010
This is a recording of Elizabeth climbing the Khyber Pass.
You'll not be surprised to hear that I haven't made a flying visit to the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan which, at the moment wouldn't be a good idea anyway. No, this particular Khyber Pass is the name of a the road which climbs from close to the fish pier in Whitby up towards the West Cliff.
And Elizabeth?
Elizabeth is a Sentinel DG6P steam lorry of 1931 vintage which has been converted for passenger carrying use by the addition of a bus body replacing the original wagon body and now gives rides around Whitby.
The action starts as Elizabeth, with a full load, sets off from the fish pier for another jaunt around town. The first part of the Khyber Pass is taken gently as the road curves sharply through almost 360 degrees but, once round, Elizabeth is opened up and reaches full speed up the hill until having to be eased to take another 360 degree corner onto East Terrace before speeding off once more towards the West Cliff.
Ok, it's not railway but it is steam and I did say it was something different!
Click to play - right click to save Elizabeth climbs the Khyber Pass. 28th October 2009
2:06
989KB

After the previous recording steamsounds returned to normal and I headed off to Whitby station for a ride on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and despite having recording equipment with me, instead of going for one of my usual lineside recording sessions, I just intended to have a relaxing ride. However, before returning to Whitby I did have an opportunity for just one recording.
This was of the line's resident star loco, the ex LNER A4 Pacific 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' which is heard leaving Grosmont for Pickering with a very well loaded 7 coach train in this recording made during the afternoon of 28th October 2009.

Click to play - right click to save 60007 departing from Grosmont.
4:01
1.8MB

End of the year steam

Added 4th Jan 2010
During a visit to friends in the Birmingham area Vintage Trains were kind enough to run a steam hauled railtour for me to record. This was on the 14th November 2009 and used two of Tyseley's GWR 0-6-0 Pannier tanks 9600 & 9466 visiting Ironbridge and Kidderminster among other places.
As seems often to be the case when there is a lineside recording to be had, the weather was not good with very strong winds and some heavy showers from time to time. Fortunately, later in the day the rain stopped and the wind eased so I was able to go to Old Hill for a recording of the pair climbing the 1 in 52 gradient on their way back from Kidderminster.
Although I had never been there before, I thought I'd found a suitable recording spot between the station and the tunnel on the map but when I got there I found I was wrong. An alternative proved difficult of access in the dark so I headed back to the station and set up on the platform hoping for the best.
A little earlier than I expected I heard a distant whistle but was less pleased to hear a DMU heading for Kidderminster squealing to a stop in the station; talk about bad timing.
The two Pannier Tanks were clearly audible by the time the DMU departed but it got away quickly and, at least didn't completely ruin the recording of the pair passing at the head of a ten coach train.
This was another of those 'could have been really good but' recordings and I'd like another chance to record here, preferably in daylight!

Click to play - right click to save 9466 & 9600 passing Old Hill. 14th November 2009
3:11
1.4MB
For the last weekend in November I had a visit from Tony Weber, a fellow railway sound recordist and owner of SteamsoundsAU who had travelled all the way from Australia, though not just to see me, I hasten to add! The end of November might not have been the ideal time for a visit but at least there was some steam on the main line for us to go out and record.
His arrival coincided with a visit to York by 60163 which he was very pleased to see and get a recording of it.
The new A1 Pacific 60163 'Tornado' remains as popular as ever with railtour operators and their passengers and at the end of November worked trains from London to York on two consecutive days. In this recording the A1 with 13 coaches behind the tender is heard leaving York with the second of these trains on Friday 27th November 2009.
Click to play - right click to save 60163 departing from York. 27th November 2009
2:50
1.3MB

On the following day, Saturday 28th November 2009, we had two steam hauled trains on the main line to go out for and the first of these saw another LNER Pacific visiting York. This time it was the A4 60007 'Sir Nigel Gresley' which, now that the NYMR season is over, can escape for a few trips on the main line. The train that day was running from Newcastle to Kings cross before returning north diesel hauled.
Having seen the A4 arrive at York station for a water stop we went off to a spot near the site of Chaloners Whin Jc. to get a recording of 60007 heading south.
Like other locations to the south of York, there being 4 tracks, this one suffers from the risk of a recording being spoiled by other trains passing. We were lucky this time as only one, fairly quiet DMU passed while we could hear the A4 approaching and the road noise from the nearby A64 wasn't too bad either.
With 13 coaches behind the tender the A4 was accelerating well when it passed and the driver even gave us an acknowledging whistle; Tony was most impressed!
I'm told that the run down to Kings Cross was excellent. The diesel hauled return however, wasn't as the diesel suffered brake problems shortly after leaving London resulting in the train reaching Peterborough very late. Worse still, there were engineering possession further north which meant that the train couldn't proceed further and passengers had to wait for coaches to get them home, most not reaching their beds until the early hours of the following morning. Not good...

Click to play - right click to save 60007 passing Chaloners Whin. 28th November 2009
1:47
841KB
The A4's train wasn't the only steam hauled charter running in the North of England as there was another heading for York from Carnforth hauled by the LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 5690 'Leander'.
After recording the A4 we headed off in the hope of reaching Hellifield before the Jubilee but we didn't make it and only managed to see the train as it passed the flooded fields near Cononley station making virtually no noise. The return in the evening was somewhat better!
Our first recording in the evening was made on the climb through Gargrave at a spot I've used before about a mile west of the station where the railway crosses the River Aire and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
In the dark, the field near the river that we had used in the past wasn't really a possibility especially as, following lots of rain in the preceeding week, it may well have been under water! Instead we set up on the canal bank.
5690 had originally been booked to haul 10 coaches but so popular was this train that two more had been added to cope with demand. To that 12 coach load you can add the weight of a Class 47 diesel attached at the rear, there mainly to provide train heating but we did get the impression that it might have been helping a little.
A little earlier than expected we could hear the Jubilee coming up towards Gargrave and although it wasn't working really hard, we were quite happy with this recording.
Click to play - right click to save 5690 near Gargrave.
2:43
1.2MB

A water stop at Hellifield gave us plenty of time to get in front of the train for a recording on Giggleswick Bank.
Giggleswick Bank used to be very popular with sound recordists but that changed with the arrival of the Settle Bypass which meant that the best spots were all blighted by road noise and there is now only one place almost at the summit that is useable as, at that point, the road is about a 1/3rd of a mile away.
Conditions on this particular evening were excellent with almost no wind and, aside from the distant road noise, all we had was silence until the faint sound of the Jubilee's whistle as it passed Settle Jc. about 3 miles away alerted us and we were able to record 5690's climb all the way from Settle Jc. The clip here is just the last part of an 8 minute recording of the Jubilee's climb until it passed the top of the bank just beyond our recording spot and accelerated away on the falling gradients after the summit. The complete recording is available on the steamsounds from the Lineside 2009 audio CD!
As the rear of the train passes, it sounds as though the Class 47 had been providing some assistance on the climb but that in no way spoils the recording.
As the sound of the train fades away on the falling gradient towards Eldroth a skein of geese are also heading north; an excellent way to end an excellent recording.

Click to play - right click to save 5690 at the top of Giggleswick Bank.
3:45
1.7MB
 

On the following day, despite providing my Antipodean visitor with a sample of Yorkshire Sunshine, the wet variety, we set off to have a look at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
Of course, it's that time of year again when the preserved lines make lots of money by running Santa Trains and the K&WVR is no exception. Indeed, I think I may be right in saying that they were if not the first, then certainly one of the first to run them.
On Sunday 29th November 2009 the 'Santa' locos in use were ex LMS Ivatt 2-6-2T 41241 piloting BR Standard Class 4 2-6-4T 80002 which were hauling a 6 coach train with the railway's Class 25 diesel attached at the rear.
We reached Keighley just in time to see the pair departing but without time to set up for a recording.
For the next Santa train up the valley we went to a spot between Ingrow and Damems by the River Worth which, with all the rain, was in spate and the pair are heard in this recording climbing the 1 in 56 gradient.

Click to play - right click to save 41241 & 80002 between Ingrow & Damems. 29th November 2009
2:25
1.1MB

Before his return home, Tony was back with me for some more steam the following weekend but the Saturday saw a marked lack of it on the main line here in the north and we had to make do with a preserved Class 52 diesel instead!
Fear not, you will not be hearing a recording of it here but for those interested, you may find a recording on Tony's site; yes, believe it or not, there really are people who record diesels. And there's even a video on YouTube; though you may not believe who took it!
On Sunday 6th December 2009 we did a little better as the K&WVR isn't the only one to cash in on Santa; the North Yorkshire Moors Railway does it too and they were running Santa trains from both Grosmont and Pickering. As running up to Goathland wasn't a possibility due to the on-going work on Bridge 30, the Grosmont Santas were running on the Esk Valley line through Glaisdale toward Lealholm with the ex SR Schools Class 4-4-0 30926 'Repton' on a 7 coach train with the Class 25 diesel on the back. Would the diesel be pushing? You bet it would!
This recording was made not far from Grosmont station near the spot where the Murk Esk joins the Esk; both rivers carrying plenty of water after heavy rain that morning. I suppose you'd have to call this a steam/diesel recording!

Click to play - right click to save 30926 departing from Grosmont. 6th December 2009
2:11
1.0MB
 

In addition to Santa trains from Grosmont and Pickering, there was also a diner running from Pickering to Goathland and back. This train had ex LMS Black 5 4-6-0 45212 on the Pickering end and the Class 24 on the other. At the moment, due to the line being blocked beyond Goathland due to the work on Bridge 30, trains are being topped and tailed to avoid the need to run round and, for some reason, the railway seems to have decided to have the diesel leading out of Pickering. I'd have prefered things the other way round so that Tony could have had a recording at Levisham but that will have to wait until next time.
Instead we went to Moorgates to record the Black 5 heading back to Pickering. Once again, we wondered if the diesel would be pushing? Once again,it was!

Click to play - right click to save 45212 at Moorgates.
2:13
1.0MB
 
The Santa trains were also running at the Pickering end had BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 76079 as motive power - and no diesel, so Tony did get a recording at Levisham after all, sadly not of a train climbing into Newtondale but of 76079 heading off back to Pickering with the last Santa train of the weekend.
Click to play - right click to save 76079 departing from Levisham.
1:18
615KB
 

Previous recordings available here