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An Evening at Didcot, 13th December 2025

Discussion in 'Photography' started by Johnb, Dec 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM.

  1. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    _DSC4483.jpg _DSC4494.jpg _DSC4494m.jpg 3 6023, Didcot 13-12-25.jpg 4 Didcot 13-12-25.jpg 5 4144 & 1466 Didcot 13-12-25.jpg 8 6023 Didcot 13-12-25.jpg
     
    Johnb, Dec 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
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  2. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Someone needed to put a smoke generator in the smoke box of the King so it looked like it was actually in steam rather than smoke issuing from random points under the loco.
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 14, 2025 at 9:05 PM
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  3. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I would have preferred no smoke at all
     
    Johnb, Dec 14, 2025 at 9:37 PM
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  4. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    richards, Dec 15, 2025 at 9:56 AM
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  5. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    It's normally a good event at Didcot. Nothing can replicate the atmosphere of a real steam shed that some of us are old enough to remember but Didcot and Barrow Hill are as close as it gets.
     
    Johnb, Dec 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM
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  6. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Good point. It’s very difficult to replicate a live loco. Well executed shots though.
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 15, 2025 at 1:32 PM
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  7. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Marley Hill is pretty good if you’re into industrials.
     
    Spamcan81, Dec 15, 2025 at 1:34 PM
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  8. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    5944, Dec 15, 2025 at 1:45 PM
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  9. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    sadly only one organiser though , others are not able to enjoy creating their own interpretation of the scene maybe with a lot less of the am dram . A look at companies house gives hope the tide may turn

    Barrow Hill suffers with both the roof and undersize smoke hoods . Always been a very challenging experience even in the Russ era , albeit nothing subsequently has compared with some of the scenes from that time
     
    Sidmouth, Dec 15, 2025 at 2:10 PM
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  10. William Fletcher

    William Fletcher Member

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    That's actually an insult to the team at Tanfield who have found the funding to repair and sort out the shed. Talk to any of their folk and they will tell you that this is how the shed was under the NCB in the 50s and 60s. Regualrly whitewashed under the relevant Act and with replaced smokehoods. It'll age and mellow with time - look at the floor, that's coming on already, certainly not "another exhibition space" but a recently repaired and repainted working loco shed.
     
    William Fletcher, Dec 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
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  11. Fred Kerr

    Fred Kerr Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    It's was still good for outside scenes especially night scenes under the yard lights. The Russ era was always good for photography - his charters are sadly missed
     
    Fred Kerr, Dec 15, 2025 at 4:42 PM
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  12. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    They offered both smoke and smoke-free options. You just need to ask for something and they arrange it there and then.

    You could also get shots of the locos and shed without the re-enactors, as they moved around.

    It was amazing how they ran an event which seemed to suit so many different styles of photography.
     
    richards, Dec 16, 2025 at 10:44 AM
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  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    A great photographic opportunity and some lovely images. Well worth the effort of staging it and also for those who went.

    Having said all that, the sight of 6023 is a sad one and how on earth we ended up with the premier class of the GWR not out and about on the main line is for another thread. At least our heritage lines have a good GW representation.
     
    Big Al, Dec 16, 2025 at 11:41 AM
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  14. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I did hear that 6023 may be up for overhaul next year. It hasn't done a great mileage so there shouldn't be a lot to do.
     
    Johnb, Dec 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
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