Chris Turnbull

Steam in Scotland today. On 7th May 2006 the Railway Study Association visited the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway. This is Caledonian Railway No. 419 arriving at Birkhill. 419 has now run round its train and is ready to depart. At the other end of the line is Bo'ness where we see 419 alongside 47245. On a wet and dismal 6th September 2017 45407 crosses Glenfinnan viaduct. On the same day, here is 45407 entering Mallaig at the end of her journey. There are no turning facilities at Mallaig nowadays so 45407 had to work back tender-first. On a day like this the tarpaulin was an essential piece of equipment. Chris Turnbull

And here's some footage of our exhibition layout, Anglia Roads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx-Ys5NjYZo Chris Turnbull

Here's a link to some footage of a recent meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hc0Bqtg1ck Chris Turnbull

Some more black and white shots from 1967 today. Waterloo on 30th May with West Country 34036 Westward Ho! waiting to leave the platform for Nine Elms after having been released by one of the station pilots. Here's Battle of Britain 34087 145 Squadron also waiting to return to Nine Elms. This was taken later in the day as the weather has dried up. Northwards to Carlisle Kingmoor on 23rd August. Note the rudimentary signage. Black 5 44809 speeds past with a freight on 23rd August. On the same day 8Fs 48408 and 48421 wait their turn on the turntable. Note the new diesel depot under construction in the background. Again on the 23rd, here is 9F 92012 on the turntable with 8F 48505 waiting its turn. As I have already said. the turntable was in nearly continuous use at the time. Chris Turnbull

On the weekend of 21st to 22nd June 2003 Modern Railways organised a trip to take in the newly-opened high-speed line from Frankfurt to Cologne. We travelled over to Brussels by Eurostar on the Friday afternoon IIRC and stayed at the Ibis hotel next to the Gare du Midi ready for an early start on the Saturday. This is the TGV that took us to Cologne arriving at the Gare du Midi on the 21st. And this is Cologne with the Hohenzollen bridge over the Rhine in the middle distance. This bridge has footways either side of the railway lines and, on another occasion, my wife and I decided to walk over on one side and come back on the other. We all have clothing stereotypes for each nationality, lederhosen for Germans, berets for the French and so on but it had never occurred that others might have similar ideas about us. It was a hot day and I was wearing sandals, some fetching M&S shorts, probably a T-shirt and a Panama hat which I find essential as I get older to keep the sun from my eyes. We were on the return leg when a passer-by said "Good morning" in a thick German accent. I had no idea who he was but he knew we were British - and he had a big smile on his face! On the outward leg we travelled down the Rhine Valley, reckoned to be one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world. I wouldn't disagree with that. The first time I travelled this route was in 1970 and it was the middle of the night. I think this was the next time I travelled this route and I was very keen to see what I had missed. We disembarked at Frankfurt Flughafen where we were given a tour of the new station and a talk. This is our group with James Abbott, the editor, on the left. Those who wanted to continued to Frankfurt am Main. This is the interior of the new station of Frankfurt Flughafen. And this is looking eastwards towards Frankfurt am Main. The return leg was along the new high-speed line to Cologne which crosses a series of ridges and follows the contours as much as possible. At high speed it is easy to feel when you are going over a crest. Chris Turnbull

A trip around Essex today. All these photos were taken on 11th August 2007 except where noted otherwise. Thorpe-le-Soken Colchester Shenfield with a class 315 on the left and class 321s in the centre and right. Shenfield again with 66587 on a freight, probably bound for Felixstowe. Southend Victoria In the late 80s I had a 7mm layout called Little Goods. It was operated by a variety of ex-GE 0-6-0s but in the late 80s I started to think that a BTH Type 1 (or class 15 as they were later called) would be a nice counterpoint. As with any scratchbuild, a lot of research is always a good idea and I was lucky that D8233 was, at that time, at Mangapps Farm. So it was that in 1988 that's where I went, armed with paper, pencil, camera and measuring tape. Many of the photos I took that day are detail shots and are of no interest to anyone other than class 15 devotees but here's a general view of the loco which may be of more interest. Earlier still, on 14th October 1979, here is Penn Green being serviced at Chappel & Wakes Colne. Chris Turnbull

On 4th June 2005 I visited Beamish Museum. The weather was excellent and I was very impressed with what I saw. Looking at the website it seems to be even better now. Rowley station. Locomotion disappearing into the distance. Locomotion at the platform. Gateshead & District No. 10 built in 1925. The coal mine with Malleable No. 5 in front. Chris Turnbull

Today it's back to the Summer of Love (1967). Scott McKenzie was Number 1 and, whilst I would have loved to have gone to San Francisco with or without flowers in my hair, as a 15-year-old schoolboy that was beyond my financial resources. I had to settle for Carlisle instead. On Sunday 27th August 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley visited Carlisle. He/she went to Kingmoor for turning and servicing and the shed was thrown open to the public. This allowed me to (legitimately) photograph some of the locos there. Here's Jinty 47293 cunningly disguised as 70007. It also allowed me to take some detail shots of 70031 Byron which I thought might be useful if I ever made a model of a Brit. A few posts ago I challenged anyone to guess what other green steam locos there were at Kingmoor in August 1967. No one took up this challenge so, to put you out of your misery, here's one of them. 45593 Kolhapur. The other was sister loco Alberta but she was tucked away in a spot where she was difficult to photograph IIRC. Chris Turnbull

Some photographs from Norwich today. The current scene taken on 26th April 2022 with 745001 (left) and 745009 (right). On 16th July 2018 class 37s top-and-tail a two-coach Yarmouth train. 37405 is nearest the camera with 37419 at the other end. The precursor of the class 745s were the class 90s. Here's a couple on 4th January 2014. On 24th July 2010 I caught 47832 Solway Princess. The precursor to the class 755s were the class 156s. Here is 156416 on 3rd September 2005. Long before 755s, 90s, 156s et al. here's a Brush type 2 entering Thorpe in 1958. And before the Brush type 2s there were Britannias. Here's one departing from Thorpe in 1958. Note the coaling stage of the loco depot on the left. Both these black and white photos were taken by my father, Jim Turnbull. Although a keen photographer, he was not interested in railways and these are the only two railway shots that I know of. That did not stop my mother and he leaving me to trainspot on various stations whilst they went off round the shops or wherever. You couldn't do that today but times were simpler then, thank goodness. They got rid of me for a while and I could watch trains. It was great! Chris Turnbull

Here's a better shot of the new corporate image taken a year later on 7th September 1968 at Waterloo. By this time I had acquired a 35mm camera that took colour slides. Secondhand, I grant you, but it was what I'd always wanted. It was one of these and cost Father Christmas £10, a lot of money in 1967, although I think I had to make a contribution. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254678792081?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338749375&toolid=20006&customid=GB_625_254678792081.138879054444~1584218344969-g_Cj0KCQjw-daUBhCIARIsALbkjSblfzVhl1Xs5bDk68nEHeDQRhDNnO6evwjrDEdz0yhPiA106XK1-OgaAmWeEALw_wcB Chris Turnbull

So, now you all know what I did last Saturday. But what was I doing 55 years ago? Weeell... On 30th May 1967 I was at Waterloo station armed with my ultra-simple camera, capturing the swansong of the last steam-powered main line. Here we see 82019 on the left and 41298 on the right. This must have been taken in the morning which, as you can see, was diabolical weather. All this nostalgia about long, hot, summer days is rubbish. It was wet then just like now. However, it did dry up and eventually turned into a lovely day. I was 15 at the time and therefore older than the Standard. Fortunately I am still here whilst 82019 didn't see 1968. Another morning shot with D6507 (left in the background), 41318 (centre) and 41298 (right). D866 Zebra 34036 Westward Ho! 35028 Clan Line E6048 When I took these I little dreamed that I would be able to share them with you like this. Enjoy! Chris Turnbull

Adventures in the Colneis peninsula part two. At the end of my last post I left you with over an hour to go before lunch at the Mariners Arms in Trimley, about five minutes walk from the station. According to Real Time Trains the next train, other than the return leg of the passenger, was the 475O from Leeds FLT, due at 11.54 and I didn't want to waste half an hour sitting on the station. I reckoned that I could get to the new Gun Lane Bridge in that time if I kept up a good stiff pace: I set off... The double tracking of the Felixstowe branch around Trimley resulted in closure of several footpaths crossing the line and their diversion to the Gun Lane overbridge. Although I deplore the closure of Public Rights of Way I have to say that I like the diversions as they run alongside the line. This is one such diversion, a bridleway. Note the proximity to the line. The line is signalled for bi-directional working as can be seen by this shot of two banner repeaters just before the Gun Lane bridge which can be seen in the background. Here's a close-up of one of the banner repeaters. After I had taken the photos of the repeaters I realised that time was slipping by and I really did want to be on the bridge for the 475O. I was a few minutes late but so was the train, thank goodness. Here it is hauled by 66508 at 12.05. The return to single track can be seen towards the rear of the train. It was only a 15-minute wait for the 12.18 to Felixstowe which was on time. I had started to daydream whilst waiting and, when 755333 came along (again), it caught me unprepared. Fortunately, I managed to get this shot. And to prove that this bridge is not just used by railway photographers there's a couple of walkers on the bridge. This gave me plenty of time to get to the pub, meet the family and have a great lunch. A good morning all round. Chris Turnbull

More photographs of railways in the Colneis peninsula today. Last Saturday (28th May 2022) I had a free morning: all I had to do was be at the Mariners Arms in Trimley St Mary by 12.30 for a family lunch. The forecast was dry, unlike a couple of weeks ago, so what better way to spend it than to combine my two passions of walking and railways? The boring part of this walk from Felixstowe to Trimley is the first section along Walton Avenue and Fagbury Road past the docks. However, at the far end (the north end) there is usually something to see and on Saturday this was it, 66546 waiting its next turn of duty. The footpath, part of the Stour and Orwell Walk, crosses the line on a flat crossing. The gates are usually locked so you have to ring the signaller to have the Maglocks unlocked. I feel I know them personally by now! Naturally I couldn't leave without the obligatory shot of the sidings at Felixstowe North, even though there wasn't much to see. On a weekday this would be heaving. The path to Trimley winds its way through woods, an idyllic setting. You can see the line on the right which shows how close it is. This section of line was built in the 1980s and the footpaths in the area were diverted and reinstated with good hard surfacing which is great in wet weather. All bridges on this new section are brutalist concrete structures. This is the one over the bridleway to Trimley. At Trimley I was hoping to get some more shots from the footbridge but this is what greeted me! I now know why the Hi-Vis brigade were clearing vegetation during my last visit. With a bit of planning thanks to Real Time Trains, I was just in time to see 4L02 come through behind 66761 on the last leg of its journey from Hams Hall. A few minutes later and 755333 arrived on the 11.19 to Felixstowe. This still left me with over an hour before I had to be at the pub, so what to do next? I'll post more of this exciting adventure later. Stay tuned... Chris Turnbull

Back in the summer of '67 I was a spotty-faced 15-year-old with a simple Kodak camera that had but two settings, sunny and dull, and would only take black and white film. Armed with this marvel of photographic hardware I set off for Carlisle at the end of August, having worked for a few weeks in the summer holiday in a local factory to get some cash. Here are some of my efforts. You must excuse the quality but when you are still at school you can't afford anything great. Taken from the Etterby Road overbridge this is 45061 crossing the River Eden on 23rd August. On the other side of the bridge lay Kingmoor locomotive shed. Again taken on the 23rd. Adjacent to the access road was the turntable, in almost constant use in 1967. Here's 44809 either running onto or off the turntable. 55 years later I can't remember. You also had a good view of the running lines. This is 43121 speeding past light engine. Kingmoor was also home to many 9Fs. Here's 92233 being turned on the 24th. As well as 9Fs the shed was home to many Britannias. This is 70029 Shooting Star also on the 24th. And this is was one of three green steam locomotives I saw, 70013 Oliver Cromwell. "So what were the other two?" I hear you ask. That's for me to know and you to guess at this time. Please fell free to have a go! Chris Turnbull

A selection of photos of Ely over the years today. 66566 departs northwards from Ely bound for Leeds on 22nd March 2022. A Cross Country Class 170 heads south on 2nd August 2019. 317668 stands at platform 3 on 24th March 2017. On a very wet 6th January 2015, 365511 enters platform 2. A study in front ends between a class 365 and a class 170, 2nd November 2013. In re-uploading my earlier photographs I found a few that I have missed. Here's one of them, 55002 The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry on the Deltic Fenman on 2nd May 1981. Chris Turnbull

I have just spent a considerable but enjoyable period of time replacing all my photos in this topic. I can think of a few that need to be checked but it is a few. Hopefully everything is in the right place but if you see anything that looks wrong then please let me know. If any of the contributors would like to replace their photos I would be grateful. Regards Chris Turnbull

A photos from the north-west today. 156464 at Liverpool Lime Street on 12th September 2014 Two photos of Lakeside on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Rialway on 9th May 2007. Manchester Victoria on 20th June 2015 185125 at Manchester Piccadilly on 8th May 2007. Crewe on 22nd February 2008. Chris Turnbull

A few photos from Stratford (the London one) today. Stratford on 17th April 2004 with pre-Covid crowds awaiting a train. Is it still as bad today? A class 360 heads north out of the station on 10th February 2009. The Westfield shopping centre is under construction in the background. On the same day 315811 is in the station. I was obviously at work that day as I have left my briefcase on the platform whilst I took the photo. A few months later on 7th May, this is 1992 stock on the Central Line. Another working day I expect. Pudding Mill Lane station on the DLR on 5th July 2009. It's now 25th February 2010 and this is 90003, 321301 and 315857. Chris Turnbull

Another visit to the Bure Valley Railway today. All the photos were taken on the 21st February 2019. This is No.7 Spitfire at Aylsham with the Teddy Express. And here is the Teddy Express leaving Aylsham. I travelled up the line on the footplate of No. 9 Mark Timothy. At Wroxham the boiler of N0. 9 is blown down. Firing No.9 While we waited at Wroxham 66780 passed on the North Walsham tank train. Chris Turnbull

It's a while since we visited Wales so here's a few from Cardiff and the Valleys. In May 2010 the Railway Study Association had a visit to the area where I caught 57005 in short-lived Advenza Freight livery at Cardiff Central on the 22nd. And next to it was DRS-liveried 66417. A couple of days later (24th) here is 57306 with some ex-Anglia liveried coaches albeit with the branding removed. On the evening of our arrival a group of us took the train from Queen Street to Aberdare. Here is 150252 at Queen Street on the 21st. And here is 150280 at Aberdare. The next day, the 22nd, we visited Ebbw Vale. As you can see from the photographs the weather was glorious. It was so glorious that it played havoc with the railway and this is our class 150 held at Ebbw Junction due to a points failure brought on by the heat. I have only been to Cardiff twice and both times the weather was fabulous. I am assured by the natives that this is not always the case! Chris Turnbull

Today (19th May) my better half and I had a tootle round the lanes of Suffolk along the route of the Stour Valley Railway. After a great lunch at The Bell in Clare we strolled around the site of the erstwhile station which, following its closure in 1967, has been lovingly restored as a country park. This is the railway bridge over the River Stour. And here is the trackbed over that bridge. This is the station with both platforms intact. As you can see, the restoration is first-class. The outside looks good as well. Here is the goods shed in which an art exhibition was being held. Of course, we just had to go in and buy yet another painting! Note Clare Castle behind. Climbing up the motte I took this view of the station. So what did it look like when open? If you are interested I suggest you check out this website: http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/c/clare/ Chris Turnbull

More from Manchester today. This is the modern Manchester Victoria on 20th June 2015. And here is a similar view on 17th April 1968 with 8F 48380 on a freight. Which do you prefer? Here is Piccadilly on 8th May 2007. All the following photos were taken on the same day. A couple (brace?) of Pendolinos. 323223 An unidentified 142 in what I think is Merseytravel livery. Chris Turnbull

More photos around East Anglia today. 170202 at Bury St Edmunds on 19th November 2005. Clearly I had problems with the low winter sun! 170208 at Colchester on a warmer 11th August 2007. 90048 at Ipswich on 3rd September 2005. A few years later on 2nd November 2013 here's 153335, 70001 and 66516 at Ipswich. 156416 at Lowestoft on the same day. Also on 2nd November 2013 here's 158865 and 156412 at Norwich. Chris Turnbull

Preserved (or heritage if you prefer) railways today. Havenstreet on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway in August 1988. Toddington on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway on 19th February 2012. Bridgnorth loco shed on the Severn Valley Railway on 22nd February 2015. Alresford on the Watercress Line on 20th October 2007 Chappel & Wakes Colne on 14th October 1979. Keighley on the Worth Valley line on 3rd May 2009. Chris Turnbull

A selection from Ely today. 24th March 2017 and what I think are 365536 and 317668 are at platforms 2 and 3 with Kings Cross and Liverpool Street trains respectively. This is only five years ago yet both these trains are long gone. Here's 317506 at platform 3 on 29th June 2018 with a Liverpool Street train. 170117 approaches from Cambridge on the same day. On 2nd August 2019 I cycled in to Ely along the river bank to take some photos from a different vantage point. Here's DR 73911 Puma heading south towards Cambridge. This is 66566 approaching on the Soham Line with what is probably a train from Felixstowe docks. And here is 66566 held at signals in the station with the magnificent cathedral as a backdrop. Chris Turnbull