WSR Spring Gala 2009

Just got a few pics of 6100 tonight at BL uploaded,crap due to Fuji packing in and me not realising the ISO kept resetting to auto causing ISO 200!!! #-o


The best of the gala to be added tomorrow/tuesday!

What a fantastic weeked,some brilliant sound effects and not too busy!! Well done to the WSR and thank you! =D>

Nice to see you,Shirley,Ron and Jane on the footplate of the King and Richard and co with the stall!
Here:


http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/c1671099.html






Cheers,
Mark

 

Glad it's a success, and looking forward to driving up on Thursday for the weekend.

Regards

 

Wow! What a couple of days! After missing this gala for the last couple of years this was always going to be a not to be missed event. I am just so glad we made the effort to get down. Glorious blue sky, i don't remember seeing a cloud all weekend and immaculate top link locomotives. I overheard one guy at Blue Anchor say that he was 'in heaven' as he swapped an A4 for a West Country! Somes it up perfectly. Whilst all the locos were beautifully turned out the star of the show for me has to be Braunton, the paint finish just has to be seen to be believed. It looked simply beautiful sat under blue skies at Minehead. Performance wise the black five sounded fantastic on the Saturday with spirited departures from Blue Anchor and Dunster. Sunday began well with an awesome, noisey climb out of Williton to Crowcombe with Kinlet Hall-hard to believe this loco is in the last year of its ticket. The best was saved until last however with the double headed bulleids from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard. To be sat right behind them as they clawed back time up the gradients will remain in my memory for a long time. This weekend was right out of the top drawer of what preservation is all about and I'd like to offer a big thank you to all who were involved in this event.
As an aside a big improvement since my last visit was the provision of extra coaches from Riviera that strengthened all trains to 8 vehicles. This meant that despite the number of visitors we were always able to get seats. Well Done W.S.R =D> =D> =D>
Pictures to follow once sorted.

 

My Gala pics now up here:

http://fireboxchaser.fotopic.net/

FC

 

Nice shots Shirley!

Lol at the one of me:
A.I look drunk!
B.I'm not smiling!
C.That fleece was about 8 sizes too big!!!

lol

Cheers,
Mark

 

well with all the pies and pasties you consume i'm sure you'll grow into it lol!

FC

 

May i thank every one at the gala that came on to the footplate of 6024 for you good wishes,
and donations what a great brunch of people, \/ see you next weekend
all the best jane & Ron & shirley

 

Wow! Wow! Wow! What a gala! Had a very enjoyable weekend at the gala and well done to everyone involved. 6100 looked beautiful at Bishops Lydeard, shame about the fire damage; I saw it travelling on the M5 at 12:00noon on saturday at about 20mph, wondering why it arrives so late and then sunday morning to see it sitting in the car park with burn marks on it.
Travelled up and down the line on Sunday, Very impressed with 34046 and the Minehead turntable.
Visited Williton very surprised to see the amount of locos there; 3850, 4651, 7821, 7820 and 6024! The 6024 group were very friendly and I was rightly corrected when I asked about the firebox nevertheless to be told it was a problem with the tubeplate. Hopefully be fixed soon!

Some of my images shown on my fotopic website with a Video to appear on my Youtube site soon!
http://gwrgreen.photoblog.org.uk/c1671340.html

 

..not forgettiung 6960, and the boilers off 34039 and 34053.

 

6100s tender arrived at about 1pm today at bl, 6100 was in light steam and putting the engine to tender together at about 5pm.

 

A couple of shots from Leigh Woods.

http://michael527.fotopic.net/c1671631.html

 

My photos from the weekend are now up,including a Window Hanger and James lost in his bag! #-o


As i have already said great gala and thanks to the WSR for putting it on!!


http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/c1671655.html





34046 and 34028 at Minehead.


45231 at Minehead.

Cheers,
Mark

 

Update from WSR.org

An update on Royal Scot Royal Scot has been in steam on Tuesday 24 March and after testing around the station site it is planned to work light engine to Minehead later. Once at Minehead, LNWR staff from Crewe will inspect the locomotive with the intention of a loaded test run to Williton on Wednesday 25th March 2009. An update will be issued on the official WSR website on Thursday 26 March at noon with more details as for its use during the weekend.

Sounds promising [-o<

 

Ok,i would like anwsers here,who has left this comment on my website?


From at 2009-03-24 11:32:41 : Blatently overexposed, you should have lowered the shutter speed and used compensation instead. http://mark-walker.fotopic.net/p57098732.html

Yes i agree he is right,but why is there a need to be anonymous and no email,is there something to be scared of? I am quite annoyed at this,i am willing to take any fair constructive criticism on my site, and it is right i would just like to know who put it? and also why so abusive with it,i doubt i did anything to offend you,unless i'm mistaken of course?

Email me please or pm at: almark4472(at)aol.com

Cheers,
Mark

 

Hopefully they'll pass Royal Scott. From what I've heard there was only miminal damage to the front buffer beam, so hopefully there'll be another good loco at the gala this weekend! [-o<

 

Royal Scot seen running through Blue Anchor around 5ish tonight.

 

Hey all,

As we are comming up to the last weekend of the gala and i left it a bit late, advanced bookings are no longer available so could someone point me in the direction of the ticket prices if i buy when i get there.

Many thanks

Helix

 

One day adult rover is £22, concessions for OAPS etc.

Dave

 

Can anybody please tell me what on earth is going on here? This picture doesn't seem to me to be over exposed at all and I speak as a former stills photographer of 35yrs experience. I personally don't like the orange cast but that's perhaps just a personal fad, it's very difficult to do this sort of picture in 'natural' light in colour without getting a colour cast of either blue or orange.

Would 'Alberta' please explain?

Regards

 

Why,what am i explaining? My camera didn't like lighting for some reason and does turn them orange,i have tried to correct this but attempts to do this have failed. I feel its just someone that seems to have a personal problem to be honest and obviously doesn't have the guts to come on here and own up?

Cheers,
Mark