Favourite/best Preservation Moment

Hello,

In this time of doom and gloom- and sadly the indefinite closure of the fantastic preserved railways in the UK I thought I'd try and create a positive thread.

Here it is- please post your best/favourite moment in preservation- preferably with a picture to illustrate!

Chris

 

My best moment was my first GWS Vintage Train railtour. Which was the RCTS Golden Jubilee tour in 1978,I had been working at Didcot as a member of the C & W a year at that point

 

Hi , can't remember the date possibly in the 90's when l visited the GCR for the first time to claim a free on train lunch. Bowled over by the atmosphere of Loughborough station and the excellence of the meal. May have been that visit when l saw "Jervis" was the train engine but have been back many times since. Sadly l can't find a photo of that time but l attach one from last year which recalls the special character of the place.

 

Think for me was the 50th Anniversary of the end of steam on the Southern in 2017 ....the best was seeing 35028 Clan line with full Pullmans re enact the Bournemouth Belle to Bournemouth on the SW mainline , then a few days later see it on the Waterloo Sunset tour 9th July 2017 . My pic of 35028 on BB at Totton attached . I made a special trip from Vancouver to see it ...knowing I won t make the 100th !

 

Undoubtedly Saturday 17th July 2004, the day on which the first public train departed from the newly restored Woody Bay station.

 

I'm a bit biased, but for me it was 21 December 1996 when Stanier Crab 2968 took the northbound CME over Ais Gil. She was stopped dead at Settle Junction, and as I stood at Ribblehead I heard other photographers complain she'd need a banker to get the train to the summit. Instead, she stormed up the grade reaching 42mph, disproving all the theories of those who had cast doubts on her going main line and justifying the decision of the SVR and SMF to take her there, and showing just what she and her sister could do. Not my video.

 

Les Ross out of Euston, then 35018 BIL doubled headed with Mayflower, blasting up Shap in the snow. A fantastic day.

 

I have been in a very lucky position throughout my preservation life, but my stand out moment was a footplate ride on Collect goods 3205. What made it so special was that it was on one of the parades at. Rocket 150 in 1980.

 

For me it has to be October 11th 1986 when Clan Line worked the second of a series of workings between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction. This initiative by Salisbury area manager Gerry Daniels occurred at a time when virtually all the former Southern Region was a no-go area for steam. Not surprisingly, seats sold like hot cakes. I would have loved to have travelled on one of these trains, but with there being no chance of this (as I left it too late), I decided I must get a photo. The weather was perfect - a cool, sunny autumn day and not being able to drive at the time, I went by train to Gillingham and cycled to the first bridge east of Buckhorn Weston Tunnel where the line is on a 1 in 100 rising gradient. You can see my photo below - the right engine for the right line, correct headcode discs, some exhaust, lovely scenery. No complaints and a picture one could only have dreamed of taking even 12 months previous.

I cycled back to Gillingham already feeling very satisfied with my day, but the best was yet to come. The Class 50-hauled train which had taken me to Gillingham (and given me a real belter of a run) had broken down at Axminster which in those days was on the middle of a long single track section between Chard Junction and Honiton, so no trains were running eastbound from Exeter. A decision was therefore made that Clan Line's return to Salisbury should become an all-stations stopper, picking up any stranded passengers en route. To say the train was crowded when I embarked would be something of an understatement, but somehow I squeezed in, bicycle and all, and enjoyed 21 miles of unexpected main line steam paid for with a normal ticket! According to a timer who was standing near me, we touched about 65 on the downhill run between Tisbury and Wilton. I've been further and faster behind main line steam (including 35028) but this is still may favourite preservation-era steam trip as it is probably as near as I will ever come to a recreation of the days when steam was part of everyday life. As a bonus, I just about made my connection at Salisbury with the 33-hauled Bristol-Brighton through train! An unforgettable day which left me on Cloud Nine for some time.

 

So many highlights from which to choose but seeing 34081 turn a wheel under her own power after 21 years of hard graft takes some beating.

 

So many to choose from, but I think I'll vote for June 1968, standing in Haworth Yard watching the re-opening special steam past.

 

For me it was this....



The feeling of pride and elation as 44871 left the shed to back onto the train was indescribable. There were a few teary-eyed Steamtown volunteers that day (myself included). '71 took the first trip and 44932 the second. Massive PU in the BRSA Carnforth that night, we'd done it. Back on the main line!

 

Not too much standard gauge around back in '72. With much that's now restored still laguishing on the Barry scraplines (... and thank Bob for Dai Woodham!), Carnforth truly was a shining beacon in the dark, back in those days.

 

So many to choose from, where to begin but I'll have to say since 1993 when the SVR started all night running at its Autumn gala's. Something about steam trains at night that's very atmospheric, and just somewhere I know so well that looks a little different. Highlights include 7325 coming out of Bridgnorth and the glow from the firebox illuminating the exhaust, waiting at Arley for 7812 at 4 in the morning with just the signalman for company and listening to the bell codes and whistle cut through the silence.
And one of my favourite's coming round the curve past the safari park with the sun coming up and the mist rising off the fields again that was with 7812.

 

Some fantastic stories, thanks to all who have contributed so far.

These stories are what the Steam Preservation scene is about in my eyes.

Selfishly, my favourite moment was stepping onto the footplate of 'Alice' at Bala and spending a day Preparing-running-disposing her on the railway- there was a moment as we ran back down the line in the half light of the afternoon where the light was glinting off the brass and the lake- magic.

Attached is a pic of us running round as the dusk drew in.

Bala 3 by Chris86 posted Mar 25, 2020 at 10:36 AM

Chris

 

To date would have to be getting my hands on Flying Scotsman a couple of times at Tyseley, with my late father and brother. That wont happen again!!!



The one I cant wait for is UP4014, and the planned August Excursion, although holiday plans are on hold, and probably planning by UP, this is a chance I wont pass over, virus excepted.

My late father said UK steam was "toy trains", in comparison to UK, and after seeing a few pieces, I totally agree.

 

Mine is probably being on Tornado's first visit to Scotland, at the end of February 2009. I had just come home after a 3 month voyage, and managed to get one of the very last tickets available, via email whilst sitting in a New Orleans hotel room on my way home, just a week prior to the trip

I have never seen as many people lineside as I did that day, pretty much all the way from York to Edinburgh. Amazing.

Mark

 

My greatest moment has to be on the whitby flyer in 2017 march 18th from york up the E.C.M.L. top and tailed with 61264 leading to Darlington and after a reversal on to the middlesbrough line with 76084 leading as far as battersby esk valley line and then 61264 taking charge towards whitby featuring 76084 working very hard up ormesby bank towards nunthorpe and my favourite preserved L.N.E.R. loco B1 61264, providing banking assistance a rare mainline preservation opportunity to ride behind a B.R. standard 4MT mogul for me. I dont have no pics or video of it unfortunatly but im glad i did it cos the chance to do that again on the mainline preservation steam scene may not arise again on a B.R. 4MT mogul loco.
Davo 56F.