Hatfield Peverel 1985

HATFIELD PEVEREL

(All pics 11.6.1985 copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

FACEBOOK - RAIL THING - EASTERN AND NORTH EASTERN REGION

It's Flaming June in 1985 and I've found myself at Hatfield Peverel station somewhere in the east of England.

Whilst it wasn't pleasant taking photos in these conditions as usual the rain brings out a very different feel to a place, giving the shots a bleakness that sunny shots would miss.

It was a busy station with quite a variety of stock coming through. This was the tail end of the BR blue era but a few carriages with Inter-City livery are starting to appear in the loco hauled rakes.

I also tried to capture a few atmosphere/existentialist shots, which I think managed to catch the everyday feel of the place. All in all a good hour or so well spent!

penkridge 1986

47 527 Penkridge 12.5.1986

86 237 Penkridge 12.5.1986

47 206 Penkridge 12.5.1986

86 219 Penkridge 12.5.1986

304 011 Penkridge 12.5.1986

310 047 Penkridge 12.5.1986

47 XXX  Penkridge 12.5.1986

(All copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

FACEBOOK - 80s UK RAILSCENE

Back in 1986 I had the perfect job for a railway photographer - driving a lorry around the UK on a  week to week basis with loads of spare time every day (especially in the evening) together with free passage around the UK!

Over the four years I did find a few favoured places for photography - one was on the West Coast Main Line just south of Stafford, at Penkridge. It was an unstaffed station on a double track line with plenty of trains coming through and lots of variety. The sun was also just right for the afternoon, which is normally when I was there.

On a lovely late Spring afternoon in May 1986 I got these shots (with more to follow) featuring a  range of express, locals and freight. Remember this was back in film days when you had to think about every shot - but the location made this easy!