As many of you know, I like to see and take photos of steam locomotives, but sadly, apart from the summer services to Scarborough there have been very few this year due to Covid-19. There are usually several around Christmas to bring visitors to the Christmas market, but with that cancelled the specials were cancelled as well, so it was a real steam surprise to see this service arrive in York earlier this afternoon, after a rather meandering tour from Telford.
This locomotive was built in 1946 at Brighton works for the Southern Railway. It had a streamlined casing and numerous novel design features. In 1959 it was rebuilt in a more conventional form, and it ran until 1965. When taken out of service it was sent to a scrapyard in Barry, South Wales, but it wasn't cut up. It languished there until 1988 when steam enthusiasts bought it and attempted to restore it, despite there being many missing parts. This attempt failed but it was sold to the West Somerset Railway Association who completed it's restoration in 2008 and it then ran on the West Somerset Railway. It was later sold to the Royal Scot Locomotive & General Trust and is now based at Crewe. It's moment of fame this year was that it was the first steam locomotive to run on the main line after the first long lockdown from March to June.
So, I've regularly checked online for steam services to York, and at last I found this one. I was surprised there were not more enthusiasts at the railway station, but fewer photographers made life easier. Here, the locomotive has been uncoupled from its train and is running towards the railway museum where it will be checked before its return to Telford, with departure due at 16:55 this afternoon.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
It was really interesting to go and see this locomotive. I know that in my collection of transparency photos there are some taken at the scrapyard in Barry, South Wales, so it will be interesting to see if there is a shot of this locomotive from then - when I can find the appropriate box of transparencies!
Sorry to hear that - so many main line specials and steam railways have been closed this year. Hopefully when the vaccine has been given to enough people we will see a return to a more normal situation.
Thank you William, I enjoyed this photo opportunity. Normally there are quite a few steam specials in the weeks leading up to Christmas, but this is the only one to York this Christmas.
Ian
December 23rd, 2020
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( We get use to the restrictions we need to day. All our , not necassary shops are closed.)
A great shot of this lovely train, fav.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
It was really interesting to go and see this locomotive. I know that in my collection of transparency photos there are some taken at the scrapyard in Barry, South Wales, so it will be interesting to see if there is a shot of this locomotive from then - when I can find the appropriate box of transparencies!
Ian
Sorry to hear that - so many main line specials and steam railways have been closed this year. Hopefully when the vaccine has been given to enough people we will see a return to a more normal situation.
Ian
Thank you William, I enjoyed this photo opportunity. Normally there are quite a few steam specials in the weeks leading up to Christmas, but this is the only one to York this Christmas.
Ian