svr - peep behind the scenes

hello
despite the weather this event seems to be more popular each year
its a pity the public don't have more opportunities to visit these places to see what goes on behind the scenes
a few pictures at www.stevebottrill.zenfolio.com
regards

 

Many months, I had made a note in my diary to attend this event - the journey there was fairly treacherous, with lots of local flooding in the area.

I started at Bridgnorth, which the publicity had shown to be opening at 0930 - it was gone 1015 before the staff were selling wristbands, and the shed was open - I don't think they were even aware of the advertised start time! Good to see inside the works, and also the start of 82045.

Kidderminster Carriage Shed was really good - there was a LNER teak carriage under restoration, and the team there had laid out some of the items that had been recently restored/replaced, with good clear informational signs, and also were very good at personally explaining the work they had done.

Bewdley - I hadn't ever seen 4150 before, and the team there obviously have to work in some fairly chilly conditions under a steel-frame/tarpaulin-style shed - the chap who I spoke to was really good at showing the work that had been done on the new water tanks, alongwith the rest of the loco.... good luck with this project, and look forward to seeing the loco running again in a few years time.

(The signal boxes were also open, and some DMU shuttles running)

Overall - a good day out 'behind the scenes', and good luck to the 4150 team.

Cheers,
Alisdair