LNER4479

I came across the attached some years ago and keep a careful hold of it. A reminder of how far we've come ... and to question by return the all too common 'elf n safety gorn mad' accusation. In the research for Grantham (trying to maintain some relevance!), I came across interesting snippet that, back in the day, the ground floor of the water tower opposite Grantham main station was designated as the local railway morgue ... Railway Safety Report 1972.pdf

Aargh - sorry to have missed you 😔 It’s very easy to ‘zone out’ in the middle of a show - priority is always on trying to put on a good show and keep things moving … a constant challenge on a layout like Grantham. Glad you enjoyed your visit nonetheless and hope to catch up on a future occasion😉 Thanks for the photo.

SO .... Back home with the layout after being part of the York show. No pictures from me, I'm afraid - I think a few others might be on the way - but the ever-excellent and prolific 'DCC125' graced the layout on Saturday afternoon (by the looks of it). That wasn't actually our best day but DCC125 has given us a nice record of the event nonetheless and has captured some of the more ordinary trains in the middle of the schedule, which makes a nice change: Thanks - as ever - to all members of 'Team Grantham', those who stopped by to say 'hi'. And a special mention to @Clive Mortimore who kindly mucked in with the team during the thankless task of packing it all away after show time 😇

I think you'll find JW that 2550 is Blink Bonny and is ALSO on the Grantham roster! Here's Galtee More in the classic platform end viewpoint at Grantham. If nothing else, a gratuitous plug for this weekend's York show 😃

And now with the full circuit up, stock set out in full swing. Not quite sure what happened here with the camfone?! Instinct was to delete it but decided it was a bit arty-farty so here it is. It was really intended to show the stage at which main layout is up but with front depot boards still to add (they are over on the right hand side) See you tomorrow 🙂

And a perfect cue for some pix of mine ... Here it is all in the back of the van. Backed up for unloading. This is how close we were to the unloading point. Those familiar with the venue will know where we are. Set up proceeds steadily.

Now you really shouldn't go around saying things like that; it only prompts me to post even more photos ... Here's a slightly more three-quarter view of the thing. They are not without their charm, although the older, more rounded examples are more aesthetically pleasing. One of these days, we'll configure a trip so as to have at least an overnight in Nordhausen, where the HSB rails form one tentacle of the town's tram system. Have done it once before but it's over 10 years ago now. Only one steam working being the main disincentive!

No problem at all - fascinating to see the railway in the immediate post-DR era. Clearly today's HSB is much modernised, well-polished etc. But I stick to my guns in saying that it's a working railway, not a preserved one. I can only experience this version of 'real' steam as it is in the 21st Century. Envious of anyone who was able to visit the railway in more workaday times.

Yes, 222 seems to get used turn and turn about with the others. We saw it a lot on this visit. I've seen it in the past on the TraditionZug. According to previous news item, the green Mallett is due back for the summer but not sure whether they'll be using that on its own, unless a reduced formation?

Ooh - nearly forgot. A bit of video: Our train back down the Brocken on the Monday was slightly late (shock horror!). This delayed our entry into the passing siding and so the uphill train was caught at the signal. Here it is doing an impressive re-start on the 1-in-30. In truth, loco well within itself with the standard winter formation of 7 carriages (8 in summer) and light passenger loading, not to mention dry rail. Still impressive enough though?

At Alexisbad, we went our separate ways, Dave and Steve continuing by railcar to make the connection at Eisfelder for the steam back to Wernigerode. We simply headed back to Quedlinburg, with the sun obliging most of the time. Time for a quick snap at Gernrode to capture more of the station site. Orignal station building on the left. Quedlinburg is the other UNESCO town in the area, with an almost unbelievable 2000+ wooden frame buildings listed as scheduled monuments. These are a couple of towers along the wall of the NEW town area (ha!) 'New' as in 13th(-ish) century. Successfully rendez-vous'd back in Wernigerode, dining at the Altora 'Restaurant 1835' where the train delivers drinks to your table. Good trains, good company, good beer ... LOTS of good beer(!) Right - about this show ...

Thanks for your interest, David. Hopefully it's evoking happy memories? They were observed, I can assure you. Our last full day in the Harz saw us head out to Quedlinburg, another interchange point where new meets old. Viewed from the balcony of the 1030 Harz train, the Thale-Halberstadt trains cross at the same time, making a model connection with the HSB. The Thale-bound train also - enterprisingly - departs at 1030(!) thus allowing for a playful 'race' out the town, as the two sets of tracks run alongside each other for the first half mile. This first stretch is the converted (standard gauge to metre gauge) link; at Gernrode, the tracks swing sharply over to the right to gain the original narrow gauge route of the delightful Selketalbahn route, Gernrode being the previous interchange back in the day. The traditional style shed at Gernrode is still in use for the loco allocated to the steam-hauled trains on the route. You can see which road they regularly use. The nature of the route changes completely beyond Gernrode. Bucolic seems a very appropriate adjective. There was some evidence of use by walkers as well as railway enthusiasts along this stretch. Finally, the loco's identity is revealed! And it was indeed the loco and stock we saw at Drei Annen Hohne two days earlier🙂 The regular loco for the route, unique Krupp 2-6-2T 6001 assumed to be on winter maintenance? Alexisbad is as far as the steam diagram runs in the morning. It is another junction station on the network, demonstrated by the railcar from Nordhausen making a connection, also reversing here to serve the short branchline to Harzgerode. (Part 2 to follow)

He'll be on his own. Mind you, would be perfectly practical. No loco depot, no goods yards, no stock shunting ... zzzzzzz

Not total fantasy, GN. Some years ago, I did see a picture of one of the Canal quartet at the buffer stops at The Cross. And there's a (well-known?) John Aylard photo of 60068 heading north at Wood Green with a fitted goods from Kings Cross goods yard, complete with newly fitted double pot and 12C shed plate. The latter definitely running in.

Day 2 (Tues) in the Harz and we did our own thing, Steve and Dave having a further trip up the Brocken, plus the trip to Eisfelder. We, meanwhile took the train to Goslar (semaphores now consigned to history 😢). Town pretty quiet; ideal for our look round. Back at Wernigerode, partook of the ... ahem ... road train (bimmelbahn). Doesn't really count, does it? 🤔 This does though! The 3pm off Wernigerode Westerntor (bang on time, as you can see). Thus enjoyed another ride up to Drei Annen Hohne. This is the occasionally used mid-section passing loop. Once again, the mid-afternoon '3 trains meet'. Rendez-vous'd here with our fellow travellers, who'd enjoyed another sunny and clear day on the railway. Always worth hanging around at Wernigerode main station at the end of the day. Here, 7247 disposes of its stock off the Eisfelder (train is propelling away from the camera in this shot). Lovely, end-of-day lighting for photography in the shed yard. Steve took careful note of the puddles n reflection effects for possible incorporation on Finsbury Square in times to come!

Well, for what it's worth, we travelled on 17 different trains to / from Wernigerode and during our stay there (not including the HSB trains themselves). Every one of them ran as planned and - notwithstanding a couple of hairy moments - all connections were made. Apparently, El Jobbo is a 'lucky charm' when on his travels 😇

Continuing with the 1025 from Wernigerode. Digging in to the lower stages of the climb up to Drei Annen Hohne. Now on the climb to the Brocken, passing the earlier 0940 returning train, berthed in the passing siding to allow us a clear passage onwards. Steve observes proceedings as the summit TV mast comes into view. A different take on the climb. This is the view looking across from the summit of a train making its way up, way below us at this point. And about 15 mins later ... here it is! Back at Drei Annen Hohne, we were treated to the sight of no less than FIVE different steam-hauled trains within a breathless 30 mins. Four such trains were as per timetable but the one on the left here was an extra, an ECS working through to the Selketalbahn! Before it could leave, the returning train from Eisfelder enters the station off the Harzerquebahn; Brockenbahn to the right. No. 7240 then sets off south. We'll catch up with this loco in a few days time.

With only a week to go to York - a quick travelogue! In a distinct sense of deja vu, a small group of us headed out again to the enduring draw that is the Fatherland. First stop was Wuppertal (Saturday). Dave 'Jobbo' Jobling and Steve (31A) Pearce take it all in. No prizes for guessing where we're going next ... Arrival at Wernigerode Sunday afternoon and we enjoy a coffee in the (agreeably quiet) square. First time back since Covid for Mrs4479. Lovely conditions Monday morning. The quirky contrast of the Harz is on display here as the 0940 train to Halberstadt coincides with ... ... the 0940 HSB departure! As the train heads away, the stock for the following 1025 waits to enter the station, the shunter controlling the move by radio control from the leading balcony (regauged diesel loco on the back). The legendary Brocken mountain can be seen, clear of clouds in the top left distance. We took the said 1025 train, seen here bringing traffic on the Westerntor crossroads to a halt. (more to follow - only seem able to load approx 7MB of files this evening?!)

Ooh goody! Look forward to a Saturday at PN 🤓

In a word Tony - yes! In all but one case, we've thrown away the Faller body and fitted a 1930s body to the chassis. Don't have the images to hand just right now; will post some examples when I get the chance.

Hmm ... not at all sure Tony? There'll be others on here who know better than me but I'm pretty sure that DB Cargo (EWS as was) don't themselves own any MkI passenger coaching stock. The world of charter trains on the modern railway is a pretty complex one, with potentially multiple organisations involved. And any one charter operation is often very different one from the previous or next one, stock being shunted around frequently. Depending on the nature of the particular train involved, there may not be a catering vehicle at all (eg football excursion). Steam-hauled / heritage charters, yes; the 'premier dining' option is the bit that makes the most money ... but DB Cargo don't usually provide the stock for such trains, although they do operate some. You can read more about it here: https://uk.dbcargo.com/rail-uk-en/industries/passenger-transport If you're looking for something to say in a write up, then perhaps best to say nothing at all re associated catering!

The effort will be rewarded; the iron ore rake duly appears in print, suitably credited 😉

Charter train use and occasional spot hire, as I understand it, Tony.

Just to say that my comp. copy of said magazine dropped on the mat. Front cover and lead 'ROTM' feature over 10 pages. Well chuffed with that! The photos from the August photography session have come out really well. Enjoy. Strong billing for the York show, too. No pressure then 😨

Perish the thought ...