British Rail steam in 1978

(All pics 2.6.1978 copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

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British Rail steam didn't end on 11 August 1968, as some people think. Almost ten years later it was still going strong on just one line, the narrow gauge route from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge. It was to continue until 1989, when the line was the first part of BR to be privatised. The line of course continues to this day, still steam worked.

Back in 1978 I was on holiday at a campsite right next to the line. These were some pictures I took on a warm and sunny afternoon in June, capturing BR steam and the tiny halt at Llanbadarn, then of course a fully fledged British Rail station.

In 1978 this was a real railway with paid staff. Like everywhere else on the Network rail blue predominated, and the VoR locos were the only steam locos ever to receive the BR double arrow symbol.

East Somerset Railway - 6.8.2017

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It's almost becoming a tradition, my birthday trip to the East Somerset Railway! This year was even better as, purely by chance, the dining train was running. This was a superb experience, great food and atmosphere and excellent service throughout. Highly recommended!!

After the meal I trekked round Cranmore station trying to get photos. I've never found this line that easy to photograph, but the shots are there if you look for them! I also got a bargain in the shop - a secondhand copy of The Longmoor Military Railway (David & Charles) at just £3.

Harz

(All pics June 2017 copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

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Just a few random images from about 500 I took earlier this week in Germany of the amazing Harz narrow gauge line between Wernigerode and Brocken, just one of several lines in this 140km mainly steam worked metre gauge network.

Much more to follow over the next few days!

Big Step for the S&D

MIDSOMER NORTON SOUTH

(All 11.9.2016 source)

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Wonderful stuff continues to happen up and down the S&D - but I suspect the arrival of a big engine at Midsomer Norton has to be the best thing yet (since 1966 anyway!) We are now just one step away from a tender engine ... and only a few more to a 9F!

Quite rightly the sun shone on Midsomer Norton today and brought out an even bigger crowd to be part of it all. Remember this all happens again next weekend. I shall be going on the Sunday! I can hardly wait.

Tarragona, Spain 27.6.2016

Tarragona

Above 5 - a street running dock line at Tarragona

Tarragona station 27.6.2016 (all pics copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

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We were in Catalonia last week and popped along to Tarragona on the bus for a look around. Quite by chance we stumbled on the station, via a plinthed steam loco and a fascinating dock line that interesected a roundabout!

We discovered that our bus ticket was valid on the trains so we hung around for the next train to Salou. I wasn't expecting a lot at the station, but it seemed almost as busy as Bristol Temple Meads with the added attraction of plenty of freight trains, all on Spain's broad gauge of 5 foot 6 inches.

I saw the longest passenger train I've ever seen which was two high speed units coupled together - I didn't count the number of coaches but it was over twenty!

The train journey was fast and clean and at Salou there were further surprises, which I'll look at in my next article!

Plinthed steam loco at Tarragona 27.6.2016 (copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)