Time for another week off and this time starting with some glorious weather, it all seemed too perfect and it was, as today I learnt the second rule of digital photography! Lesson 1 was learned very shortly after acquiring a digital camera which is to make sure you check you have a memory card before you leave the house. Lesson 2 however wasn’t learnt until today when I discovered you should also check the amount of charge in your battery! This one hurt a lot more as I had a whole days worth of workings and shots planned on the Berks & Hants line but was scuppered after just my first shot. Grrrr!
Thankfully I did manage one shot and it is one I have wanted to do for a while, the classic curve at Crofton pumping house. The first up working I had planned was the 7A09 Merehead – Acton ‘Jumbo’ train and a quick check before hand showed me the recently re liveried 59005 ‘Kenneth J Painter’ would be in charge and running bang on time 59005 rounded the curve with a lengthy rake behind.
The East Somerset Railway celebrated 150 years over the weekend of 21st/22nd June with the help of Aggregate Industries and Mendip Rail at Merehead quarry. To help get people to the event shuttle trains were organised to run from Westbury – Cranmore using EWS 66200 and Mendip Rail 59102 on the Sunday when I visited. Once at Cranmore a number of classic buses were on hand to ferry us down the quarry where the main exhibits were located.
Right inside the gates were a pair of kettles which were working a demonstraion freight hauling 1000 tonnes up the incline at regular intervals. I watched the first attempt of the day which was rather impressive as there was loads of wheelslip and steam everywhere got the load moving. Further down were a pair of slugs (901 & 906) which had arrived from the Severn Valley Railway being hauled down by 50049 which was also on site.
A couple of 59s (59004 & 59101) were nearby both parked on short demonstration set of wagons to show the type of work this class carries out on a daily basis. Moving around to the main shed where most of the exhibits were located with a number of 59s and a few celebrity liveried guests were stabled. 60040 was on hand still in ex works condition fresh from its naming the previous weekend at York NRM where it had been named ‘The Territorial Army Centenary’.
Nearby was another celebrity livery as Freightliner had sent 66623 ‘Bill Bolsover’ in Bardon Aggregates livery and GBRf had sent fresh off the boat 66731, the paintwork was still gleaming along with a rather unusual visitor to the branch, 73204 ‘Alison’. A couple of 59s were in the shed “pretending” to be repaired, 59005 was having a cylinder replaced while 59002 was next door with a bogie being dropped.
Before I left I took a trip on one of the coach tours of the quarry which is the largest in Europe and something I can quite easily believe as it is massive! Overall a great day out and excellent value for money as it included a return trip on the shuttle from Westbury, Classic bus to the quarry, Coach tour of the quarry, entry to the main event and a trip on the ESR all for £15 which I thought was excellent! 
The Berks & Hants is virtually on my doorstep here and I had wanted to get some shots from the line for ages but never got round to it. Well on the Bank Holiday just gone I used it as a scouting run for some locations in the Bedwyn area, there are a number of good shots within a few miles. I found out a charter was due to run on the Saturday so I thought it would be a great oppurtunity to bag a shot.
Nenta were running a charter from Norwich – Kingwear featuring FM Rail traction. I opted for a shot that overlooks both the railway and canal and as you can see conditions were perfect. I’m on holiday all next week so I’m hoping the weather will be kind so check back in a weeks time for a special update!
