Blue gala at Didcot

They might have some left on Sunday, there were a lot of bottles 7207 ale in the central area you queue round. I bought one to try later.

 

No, that's not how you do it. The correct procedure at such galas is as follows.

Wear your brightest coat (red is best but electric blue is an acceptable substitute). During moves around the site, help the staff by walking right alongside the loco. On arrival following a period of running, carefully count all the rivets to ensure none have fallen off (the crew may not have time to do this). Also, carefully examine the motion to ensure it is undamaged - take at least 50 photos of each part using the macro setting on your camera as evidence that you have done so.

Remember that people didn't come to see the loco, they really came to hear tales of how your great uncle once drove one, and they will enjoy it best if you stand right next to the loco when recounting them.

That still leaves a problem while the loco is on the running line. However, if the footplate crew can be persuaded to use high-viz jackets to show their commitment to health and safety, then a a safe and enjoyable day is assured for all comers.

 

The worrying thing is the above is so true and happens on a regular basis.

 

Only valid if you have an NCB donkey jacket on

 

That would be 7202.....

 

And an outrageous "comb over."

 

What a great day! Really helpful to have loco rosters & timings posted all over the site. I wonder whether it was busier than they expected? There was a long queue to get in, not helped by a jammed till. There were equally huge queues for grub. Counter productively, because of the latter, the buffet at the main line station seemed to be doing good business.....
What a great idea it was to link these locos by livery, and to use Blue Moon in the marketing. It was also smart to have the railcar working the branch line and to have a few society sales pitches. Seemed to attract a mixed clientele including lots of families.
Well done Didcot! I hope you've made a few bob! I really enjoyed myself.

 

A selection of my photos from last nights Neil Cave/Timeline Productions photo charter can be found at http://paulsimpson.zenfolio.com/p728619708.
Thanks to Neil and all the staff and volunteers involved at the DRC.

 

These staged photos don't do anything for me, I'm afraid. The people look like they've been in exactly the same pose for the last 5 minutes. Getting people in more natural poses while they move around in their normal activities is admittedly much harder, takes more time and is likely to produce more duff pics.

 

Pics at night require people to stay still because of the length of exposure required. Floodlights are no substitute for daylight. If they went about their normal business at night all the pics would be duff.

 

If I had known that was what happened at these photo shoots I wouldn't have gone on Saturday. I spent Saturday trying to get pictures without people in it then they do that to you. I have to say in the good old days when bunking sheds I never came across scenes like that.

 

While not commenting on this particular photo shoot - and Neil is not the only one to include people in his set pieces - I will admit that the one thing missing from many photo charters is human interest. Station shots often without staff and passengers and passenger trains devoid of passengers. It doesn't seem to bother the majority of participants but fair play to anyone who seeks to add the human element. Posing "extras" in broad daylight is not too difficult as the faster shutter speeds used allow a degree of movement and spontaneity. Posing them at night is a different matter though.

 

My photos from the evening photo shoot (some with people in them...) are now on my Zenfolio site here: - http://mickrogers.zenfolio.com/p486570589
And here is a photo of the commemorative service at 10:00 on April 5th, in memory of Sir Nigel Gresley and Charles Collett.



Cheers,