Spa Valley Photo Charter with the U Class.

A very hot and exhausting day yesterday but worth it for some stunning results, especially in the late evenong sun at Pokehill crossing. Missed a key in the title, should read Spa Valley Charter!

 

Only just found this post John @Johnb. Lovely photos indeed.

I was booked on this but backed away due to the forecast heat.

But on reflection, and after having booked on two more charters (Mid-Hants), charters are not for me.

First, climbing up and down from brake vans or coaches whilst myself and my Osteopath are 'fighting a battle' to try and keep my unrebuilt right hip in service does not make sense.

Plus the risk of having (to me) totally unwanted headboards etc on the loco - a eal surprise to know that happened and was presumably ok with the other 29 participants.

And then that photo locations are unlikely to cover those I need to make reasonable comparisons with my 1960s SR photos of the same class, or sometimes even the same loco. Most back then from overbridges and /or on double track sections.

But I did very well indeed during that amazing three day event at the Spa Valley Railway in June when I spent almost the whole time at Groombridge station. Using my airconned car to survive the heat and focussing on a small number of shots of 31803 and 80078 and its very welcome re-numbering, to get shots to go with my 80144 and S R Mogul shots there in 1962.

I will keep an eye on what charters there are, just in case. But I suspect that for such as 30506 on a goods train, where the shot I need is from the Medstead footbridge as it climbs up from Ropley in later morning, is going to be a hand in pocket job if I really want a full page A4 sorry, 210 x 297 mm, portrait size shot in my BR SR steam loco memoirs book.

None of my comments detract from your superb collection of photos, you certainly made the very best of the opportinuity given.

Bryan