Peterborough North

[New Haven Neil]

'961 is exquisite.  

 

Lovely work Tim, and a great commission, Gilbert.

[great northern]

Not much going on at the moment, just another trip working clanking along the Down slow.

 

 

[Tony Wright]

21 hours ago, great northern said:

Right, I have kept the best for last. Yet another V2, but I really do need a lot of these, especially when it comes to the Saturday timetable. I also have to remember that I still have two original split chassis locos which probably don't have much longer to live, and that one V2 has to spend its time standing doing nothing as main line pilot. Thus, this one will not be the last.

 

I decided that a York engine would be appropriate, there being two KX-Dringhouses Class Cs in the WTT, one of which they would have worked. York's reputation for loco cleanliness was no better than New England's, though whether that was caused by lack of staff as at 34E I don't know. it seems a shame, as Tim pointed out, to cover up this lovely rich green, but the sad truth is that there were far more dirty V2s than clean one like those which you have seen this last couple of days.

 

60961 was the loco I chose, but the only colour photos I could find in my period were posed shots out side Darlington paint shop, and it wouldn't have stayed like that for long. I try to keep pushing Tim a little further with each commission I give him, so I looked for a good photo of an engine in poor external condition as a challenge. I have recently acquired the Great Northern Books publication Gresleys V2s by Peter Tuffrey, and therein I found a very good image of 60889, which I felt would give Tim something to push his talents still further, so I sent that image to him and said "do it like that, please". I've noticed that a number of Doncaster engines had marks that look as though they were caused by priming all along the boiler, presumably caused by the water available there. It is subtle, but noticeable. So, a dirty engine it was to be, and Tim was not to be beaten by the challenge. These photos were taken in poor light conditions, and they don't do Tim's work full justice, but they are enough to show the quality of what he came up with.

 

 

 

 

Tim has his own shots taken in full sunlight, and when he posts those you will be able to fully see what he has achieved.

Good morning Gilbert,

 

'These photos were taken in poor light conditions, and they don't do Tim's work full justice, but they are enough to show the quality of what he came up with.'

 

May I beg to differ, please?

 

I think your pictures show up the very high standard of weathering far better than in those taken in full sunlight. The subtle differences, in my view, are far better described. 

 

I've found this myself when taking pictures of smaller-scale models in full sunlight. Though, one would think that 'real' light is best for photographing anything, direct sunlight is too intense in my opinion. Fine for the 'real thing', but on something much, much smaller all those subtleties are obliterated (though it does illustrate the tender's disc wheels very well!). 

 

Either way, it's splendid work on Tim's part.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[great northern]

At this time of day it isn't long before another express appears, a very well known one this time.

 

 

[New Haven Neil]

15 hours ago, great northern said:

Not much going on at the moment, just another trip working clanking along the Down slow.

 

 

 

The very 'hum-drum' ness of movements like this are what makes a railway to me - the background infrastructure and the usualness of railway life carrying on as it did for so many years, and is so sadly missed in todays scene.

[great northern]

Continuity has gone a bit to pot here, as Quicksilver emerges from under the roof, and meets that Ivatt still on its way in.

 

 

[great northern]

And the camera continues to follow the Flying Scotsman.

 

 

Signalman is in trouble, poor chap.

[great northern]

A last look at 60015, a bit earlier in the evening than usual.

 

 

[great northern]

So why this extra helping, you may wonder? Well, it was because I realised that it was the last image before the one which would satisfy a request made quite a while ago now.

 

 

I can't be bothered to scroll back to check, but I reckon I said at the time I thought we'd get to this on February 6th, and we did.

[great northern]

People like photos of the W1. They also seem to like photos taken under the roof. That means this should go down quite well.

 

 

[Ray Flintoft]

With all this talk of dirty York V.2's I thought you might like to see this shot taken by my father , Frank Flintoft , of York's last V.2 no. 60831 in the yard prior to taking a freight to Healey Mills . 15/8/66 .

                   Cheers ,

                           Ray .

[great northern]

A final look, for now, at 60700. All being well, it will be seen again on the normal return working, in a few weeks or months time. it all depends on the weather, and how idle I have been.

 

 

I even went up on to Crescent Bridge to get this.

[great northern]

It must now be 1130, as Chamossaire is pulling away with the Edinburgh.

 

 

I think we are up on the Spital Bridge coaler again to get this. Much more depth of field from up there.

[drmditch]

I do like your pictures which show 'trains in context'.

[great northern]

The first daytime Tyneside express, the 8.00 Up Newcastle, has Galtee More in charge, having taken over at its home, Grantham.

 

 

[great northern]

And the classic view passing North box.

 

 

Visitors today, from York, from Retford, and even from the wilds of deepest darkest Lincolnshire.

[LNER4479]

Now I wonder who they could possibly be?(!)

 

Sounds like a good day in prospect.

[great northern]

Steve duly arrived from York, and Clive from Saltfleetby, but unfortunately Phil isn't feeling well, so we were deprived of his company. A very good day, with lots of Clive's latest cut and shuts to be examined and admired. But not painted, of course, that would never do. Lots of talking about coaching stock, and examination of some of the better examples upstairs. Even a couple of trains were run.

 

Photos are still from three weeks ago, and we have now reached the arrival of the 1020 Leeds, with a Doncaster A3 with a nearly new double chimney.

 

 

[great northern]

I'm not sure what he climbed up on to get this.

 

 

[great northern]

A running session this morning, during which I had the opportunity to do some checking. I can report that the standards of PN are absolutely consistent. Yes folks, I have 4 Ivatt 4s, and they do not have a single front footstep between them. Where are they? Were they ever there? It is a long time ago since I got them, and I don't remember. I can't see any in my "this fell off and I must get round to putting it back on", box. Perhaps they still lie forlornly amongst the cobwebs in the loft. I am convinced though that there are more important things in life to be worried about.

 

Good news from nursie this morning. The gouge in my head is healing very well, and the need for dressings will probably be gone within a fortnight.

[great northern]

Still focusing on A3 Diamond Jubilee, and still shooting hopefully into strong sunlight, with predictable results.

 

 

So we retreated back to the other side.

 

 

[Bazza]

Hi Gilbert, great news about your wound healing well. Just 2 more weeks of dressings will soon pass.

Thanks again for the pictures of the Peterborough daily parade of trains. A few days ago the W1 was right on time as you forecast. I'm sure Tony will be happy to firmly fix the steps on your Ivatt 4s, so do let him.

Bazza

[great northern]

I'm not sure why I persist with these photos from this side, but I do. One more attempt to get something decent of Diamond Jubilee, before it disappears to the north.

 

 

[great northern]

Time for another Grantham A3. This time it is Pretty Polly, with the 9.18 FO Leeds.

 

 

[great northern]

Now it is Polly's turn to pose alongside North box.