East Lancs Spring Gala 8-10 March

An appeal to photographers who were around on Saturday morning.

A Swiss friend was on the footplate of 34092 City of Wells on Saturday when it worked the 08:45 Bury - Rawtenstall and 09:30 Rawtenstall - Heywood services and he has asked if any photographers who photographed this pair of workings would be kind enough to send him copies of images to his address at :

alex241a65@yahoo.com

Many thanks.

 

From what I could see 419 went very well on the Sunday

 

You had a better view than most!

 

One thing that struck me was that most of the engines were facing north. So I asked a member of a locomotive crew, why this was the case and was told it was likely to be a operational reason - such as being able to take on water at Rawtenstall.

I can understand if that's the case, but given the line faces on a north - south line, wouldn't it be better for the engines to face south so as to maximise the better chances for photography available and make more use of the lines gems, which are its stations and the odd other location. I think that the line can use such chances to get more photos taken and thus shown, raising the lines profile. It can really put on a great gala, with lots of movements and interest, but facing south and allowing for best chances of photography can reward those staging the gala with better records of such efforts done to host the event.

 

I think the gradient profile is such that locos work a lot harder heading north so the chances of great photos would be much reduced if more locos faced south.

 

Operational reasons overrule the needs of a few linesiders, especially if they haven't paid. Plenty of good northbound shots anyway and there's more to life than having the sun on the smokebox door all day long.

 

I quite agree - hence was looking to understand more about the issue and get into more detail as to how and why. If your looking at the gradient profile, it isn't as steep as some other railways, and it could be that the sustained run out of Bury towards Haywood would be just as much a reason for wanting to face south to then take that head on.

I quite understand if there were operational reasons, but the crew member I spoke to was not himself convinced as to reasons why they would face north. So again was just looking to find out more. That's all before you wade into the linesiders and contribution element, which I made sure I did on my visit there.

 

Rubbish on both accounts & a cheap ignorant shot at photographers IMO.

 

I was neither agreeing nor disagreeing with the point being made, merely making it clear as I didn't think @Hampshire Unit had quite caught the drift judging by his post. Although speaking personally, If I was to stand in a field all day and not having to rely on the trains I was photographing to get home then of course I'd prefer a more ambitious timetable than a cautious one. There's only so long I can stand in a field without anything happening!

 

The main reason for the bulk of the locomotives facing north is commercial. I.e when we run our biggest earning event of the year (Santa Specials) it looks “right” as the operation involves the steam locomotives pulling the train to Rawtenstall and the punters prefer to see an engine facing the “right way” for that. Operationally it make no real difference and a steam locomotive for the most part will work the same backwards as it will forwards, water columns are accessible at Heywood, Bury (two platforms), Ramsbottom and Heywood (which is slightly more problematic on Larger engines that face south.
Like it or loath it. The simple fact is that photographers don’t contribute enough money to the fund to dictate which way engines face. That is by no means meant to be derogatory towards the photographers. We have a good bunch who contribute both financially by means of charters, travelling on trains and also with the product of their work.
Hope that answers your question?