About a month ago I shared a collage of the Great Gathering at the Railway Museum in York ( http://365project.org/fishers/365/2013-07-03). One of the follow-up events was meant to be some special high speed runs by steam on the East Coast main line, but restrictions imposed due to the very dry weather has meant that these runs have been postponed.
However, the regular summer steam services to Scarborough are now running, and here is the Crewe to Scarborough service pausing at York railway station.
Following a few moments of panic when a coal train blocked the view, I was able to catch this shot as it began to pull out of the platform.
This locomotive, 'Union of South Africa' was one of those at the Great Gathering. The art deco styling of these locomotives makes them very attractive when in motion. I was pleased to have chance to capture it, and hope to catch some of the others involved later in the summer.
Union of South Africa caught my attention... was this designed/made here in South Africa... or is it just a name? I know next to nothing about trains!!!
Thank you Therese, glad you like it! This locomotive was built in the UK in Doncaster in the 1930s. They were all originally to be named after birds, but several were renamed after British Empire / Commonwealth countries shortly before the Second World War, hence the reason for the 'Union of South Africa' name. For more info on this locomotive see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A4_4488_Union_of_South_Africa
Thank you Ferry - you are correct, they were designed for high speed runs between London, Yorkshire, the north-east and Scotland. Their streamlining helped, but was also a great advertising feature!
Thank you Tony, and thank you for the fav! I really enjoyed seeing this in action. There is an opportunity to see two of these machines at work on the same day at the end of the month, but sadly they won't both be in York at the same time.
Thank you Janet. I hope you enjoyed the Great Gathering despite the crowded scrums that formed at times! Two of these locomotives are due to work through York within half an hour of each other on 30th August, so I'm hoping for more shots of these beautiful beasts!
http://www.cobra.be/cm/cobra/boek/1.1277694
To translate it to English. : click with the right site of the mouse
Click on pop up : vertalen het in Nederlands .
click on pop up line : second ( the right one )Nederlands into English
Thank you Ferry - I'm afraid I didn't have time to read this until today because I've been away at my mums. It's a fascinating article, thank you for sharing it with me!
Union of South Africa caught my attention... was this designed/made here in South Africa... or is it just a name? I know next to nothing about trains!!!
Thank you Gill - it's a lovely sight seeing these beautiful machines at work!
Ian
Thank you Therese, glad you like it! This locomotive was built in the UK in Doncaster in the 1930s. They were all originally to be named after birds, but several were renamed after British Empire / Commonwealth countries shortly before the Second World War, hence the reason for the 'Union of South Africa' name. For more info on this locomotive see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A4_4488_Union_of_South_Africa
Ian
Thank you Bob - these are certainly graceful machines when working.
Ian
Thank you Ferry - you are correct, they were designed for high speed runs between London, Yorkshire, the north-east and Scotland. Their streamlining helped, but was also a great advertising feature!
Ian
Thank you Tony, and thank you for the fav! I really enjoyed seeing this in action. There is an opportunity to see two of these machines at work on the same day at the end of the month, but sadly they won't both be in York at the same time.
Ian
Thank you Bruni - this type were built in the mid to late 1930s, with this one being completed in mid 1937.
Ian
Thank you Brian - it's a great sight to see them at work!
Ian
Thank you Jacqui, it was great to see this locomotive in action!
Ian
Thank you Janet. I hope you enjoyed the Great Gathering despite the crowded scrums that formed at times! Two of these locomotives are due to work through York within half an hour of each other on 30th August, so I'm hoping for more shots of these beautiful beasts!
Ian
To translate it to English. : click with the right site of the mouse
Click on pop up : vertalen het in Nederlands .
click on pop up line : second ( the right one )Nederlands into English
Thank you Lee - it's one of a regular series of runs, and so far we've had a good variety of locomotives to take shots of.
Ian
Thank you Ferry - I'm afraid I didn't have time to read this until today because I've been away at my mums. It's a fascinating article, thank you for sharing it with me!
Ian
Thank you Laura - it certainly has a good helping of 1930's style!
Ian