Photocharters

To all,
I've recently been growing interested in booking on my first photocharter, most likely a DFR one, but the SVR, GWR, WSR and AVR are also likely candidates. Does anyone have any website adressses for the organisers, or a list of ones I could attend, particularly at the DFR, as the photo I saw of 1450 at a Mike Tyack charter on the DFR has got me interested.
Thanks in advance,
Tim.

 

PM me and I'll add you to my invite list.

 

You have been PM'd

 

You have been PM'd too!

 

Just out of curiosity - what makes you want to start attending charter days?

 

The opportunity of being able to photograph interesting and authentic trains in the landscape, having seen photos from some of them.
Especially ones which would not be seen regularly, such as the 28xx on the SVR's GW freight rake, for example, or the DFR's pannier on a freight...

 

Fair enough. You can certainly get some 'interesting' shots - A4 on a country branch line anyone?!

 

So you're not a lover of charters then Neil but they raise lots of money for the heritage movement. Do you have a problem with that?

 

How have you reached the view that I don't love charters? As usual, you're assuming far too much Ian.

 

Your remark "A4 on country branch line anyone?" certainly gives the impression that you're not a big fan of at least some types of charters. Perhaps you should make yourself a bit more clear.
And I was asking if you weren't a lover, not stating it.

 

Ian, you're just jumping to conclusions. I have fired photocharters and intended to participate in two this year but didn't for certain reasons. How you can reach your conclusion that I hate photocharters is beyond me.

 

Where have I said that it wasn't a worthwhile experience for you Martin? I'm sure running charters is very pleasurable. It's not surprising that you and Ian have over-reacted to my post.

Charters are sold as being the only way to re-create certain scenes and the A4 blew that out of the water. I'm sure everyone had a good time but I'd be wary of anyone wanting to go on charters who thinks they're getting something 'just like it used to be'.

 

An A4 on the Teak set can only be imagined as one thing: An A4 on the ECML. How many A4s ran over GW branch lines hauling teaks?

The point I'm making to the person who has never been on a chater before is that be careful what you're getting sold. If you want to re-create scenes from the past then be careful with what is on offer.

 

No organiser pretends that an A4 on teaks at the SVR, or NYMR come to that, is the ECML in the 1930s and the charters were never advertised on that basis but since it's impossible to recreate the ECML are you suggesting that these events should be organised? All we advertised was an blue A4 on varnished teak stock and nothing more than that. The fact that all three days were sold out weeks before the event says to me that we were providing just what the photographers wanted, a 1930s ere LNER express train albeit it alien surroundings. More importantly though was the fact that the heritage movement made money out of the events and a number of projects are now a little bit closer to completion as a result. Can't see anything wrong with that. If charters were restricted to recreating it exactly how it was then very few would run although there are a few exceptions of course. If anyone is overreacting, I'd argue it's you by hinting that we are less than honest with our advertising. Anyway, nobody's forcing you to attend them so feel free to ignore future invites.

 

There's a fantastic contradiction within that post. I've said my piece, however.

I hope the chap who is going to start attending charters has a good time doing so and takes some nice shots.

 

Ignoring the argumental postings, charters do give you unique access to stock, locations & loco's not normally available on a 'normal' running day at a particular railway. I would thoroughly recommend the experience of a day out with like minded individuals. As to the recreation as it used to be, it never really happens, there's always something someone can pick out as not quite right, BUT a close proximity in some cases give some super timeless images.

 

Thankyou for your perspective on this. The only way to find out what a charter is like is to attend one. It's not for everyone but many people enjoy them and equally as important they raise match needed funds for the heritage movement.