Railway200: The Greatest Gathering. Derby Litchurch Lane. 1-3 August.

In all fairness, it's a working site that has a finite amount of space avaliable, and a ridiculous amount of vehicles to fit in. Stuff was still arriving Thursday evening and had to leave again on Sunday evening, so they need to be kept easily accessible. Locos have been arriving sporadically for the last couple of months - 1000 has been there since May, and some of the AC electric locos arrived soon afterwards. Then you've got to allow time and space for all the sales and society stands to set up, catering, etc. I understand shunting went on until the early hours most of the week.

 

Hanlon’s razor…

Presumably an artworker/designer at LNER’s ad agency has made the category error to not check their imagery on NatPres before plastering it on a 91, directly under the letters ‘LNER’… they’ve been given some photos and gone ‘there’s pretty’ at the Duchess without understanding the mortal conflict between two competing marques, or the connection between the LNER (original flavour), the NRM, or the route the 91s operate on and the fact they’re now branded LNER again…

These things happen. Did you check it didn’t have Mallard on the other side?

If Anthony Coulls still posted here, we could ask him of course…

Simon

 

Speaking of AC locomotives:



You can probably just discern the rain in that shot...

 

40106 must have been there as it is listed as part of a consist due to leave today.

Dave B

 

Another "how did I miss that? " moment...

 

40106 was parked with a few others (D6515, 55019, D7076) where the steam train rides and test track with Cross-rail unit were running.

 

That's how I missed it: I saw one end of the Hymek and somehow, chose not to investigate any further Yet I did see the Cross-rail unit run...

 

Just to confuse, it wasn't in the consist this evening. D1015, 46045, D821, 13268, 4930 and the 4 carriages. Managed to catch it passing SBJ despite a strange bit of scheduling on RTT in which it left 159 late and arrived 128 early.



Another convoy expected tomorrow, watch this space...

 

It will be next week when I’m home before I can meaningfully write up my thoughts. Too busy vacationing till Friday!

I had a great time, made as much of 12-4+ as I could and got the Scotsman departure drag from the station waiting on my train back to London.

Cheers,

Stephen

 

It is on the other side but at the rear of the loco

Peter

 

Hang on - did you get the 17:01 train to St. Pancras? If so, I was on that train too!

 

No, 1826 to St Pancras. Left myself a long buffer post show for a “slow” exit from the site and some platform time.

I did manage to edit my platform videos together on the train south:



Stephen

 

What would have been good, although I'm sure there was no way it could have been done safely or without interfering with the other exhibits, would have been to see a traverser in action. It was quite cool seeing them up close and getting an idea of how they worked even so.

 

Yes, I can certainly see the logistical difficulties with that one! It was good to see the turntable being demonstrated at the far end of the site, though. (Although I felt sorry for the poor man who had to ride around on it all day--did he not get dizzy?!)

If you want so see a traverser insction, we have a small one at Fairbourne. I'm sure one of the staff would demonstrate it for you if you ask them nicely!

Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk

 

Don’t tell the Branch Line Society or they’ll want to organise a trip on it.

 

Arf arf

 

The last word on the event perhaps:

 

I actually saw the turntable at Wansford being used a couple of weeks ago, which was interesting

Don't have a YT account so despite my recording it, you won't see it here.

 

At the risk of being accused of being behind the times, only two weeks after my Sunday in Derby, I have managed to write my thoughts up at long last and get a blog post up. I'll have a couple of more posts on general railfanning from my trip (well maybe just one, TBD), but for now, hopefully some of those who made the event so great see this, thank you. This long distance guest thoroughly enjoyed their day out at the event of the year in my opinion at least!

https://sjgardiner.wordpress.com/20...test-gathering-at-alstom-litchuch-lane-works/

This will be an event I look back on fondly for many many years to come, but already I am looking forward with a rare 2nd trip to the UK booked for October to attend the Bluebell Giants of Steam. If we didn't cross paths in Derby, hopefully we do in Sussex in the fall!!

Cheers,

Stephen