This as got to be my favourite working at the moment the 6k31 Folly lane - Stoke marcroft working. The consist is like dipping your hand into a bag of sweets and sayin that'll do nicely. im not to keen on the sleeper coach but it must go down as one of the most odd ball consists Ive fotted for some time, locations are few and far between on this section at alsager so Im quite chuffed with the shot. im just glad the curse of 417 as ended, it might be something to do with the fact they removed the nameplates but what the hell its nailed at last..... : )

Well when I set off this morning I thought I had the shot in the bag especially with the the weather as it was. For an hour I was sat in full sun at Pleasington until the bugger came. Ah well you cant have um all. A quick dash to man vic for a back lit shot of 6E33 with the famous dou at the helm had to be done. Better luck tomorrow...

Before you think ive started fottin sheds. The Shed shot is only in there as its a new location I visited and a few select few wanted to check it out. Back to the real stuff. 37401 seems to have a booked stop at Wigan North Western with the 6F42 Blackburn - Arpley these days as the shunter lives in Wigan. Cue Clag... and Noise as you can see in these 2 pics.... : )

Full Brekky. Full Sun . Full Thrash was the order for the day on Wednesday as 40135 was on the diesel diagram sporting new yellow warning panels. The difference it makes is there to see. With 40145 down for repainting in BR Green next year. It looks like we could be in for a Double Green Beastie treat....

With us ducking showers like cannon fodder it was a real suprise to nail anything in the sun. So to get what I did on the Saturday was pretty good. A bash in the morning on 906 and the Western got the cob webs off my camera as I tried to adjust coming back from my hols. July is always the same RAIN RAIN RA|IN. when are the ELR going to move the main event to May or even October for a change......
Ive also added some shots of 87002 making its debut. Whilst that was running i tried in vain to nail 37422 on the Blackburn but once again the weather played its part in Bowling me again. Better luck next time

With all the hoardes decending down to the Keighley gala I decided to opt for the Deltic on the diesel diagram. Not by choice though I have to admit. A mixture of getting up late (Sorry Nige) and the weather forecast ended up with us throwin our weight towards the ELR. Glad I did it as they are the best set off fots for some time. Its as near as you could get to how it used to be on the mainline. Grimy Oily Claggin like a good un with matchin stock and weather to match. Absolute Magic.

As soon as I got the nod 401 was running late i thought id try my luck at Buxworth cutting. After tirelessly hacking down trees in the cutting at the location that I wanted the sun didnt move on the nose till at least 3pm. So heres my rushed attempt further round the curve. Some more quick hacking at the trees before I got the nod it had departed Peak Forest and here is the finished shot. Another hour and I would of had it in the cutting but at least the sun played its part for this one thats the main thing.... : )
Ive Also included some pics of ROARIN 40's on the RHTT trains at the ELR it was nice to turn the Blackberry off for few days. Im get sick of hearin about 66 this and 60 that. Wonder What next they will be frothin over . It makes me Glad this place is a stones throw away from home. Its bloody magic.......

How Virgin trains should be. After shivering for 45 mins in a snow storm the snow stopped. The 37s then passed. Then clear skys appeared to really piss me off for the rest of the day. You cant get them all I suppose but this one was a little promising after the previous nights forecast. i wish i got paid for doing my job wrong.....

I cant expect anything else this month apart from crap weather and mega workings. The Spitfire 37s were absolutely awesome. Its about time DRS got there act together and gave the celebs a run out. Just glad they kept there modofied shite at home for this tour. shame about the weather. I managed a shot at Bolton as I was on my way to Blackpool for the wkd. No doubt some lucky git nailed them good and proper on the way back from Carlisle....

After januarys miserable weather i cant seem to miss a fot at the mo. Which is luck Im due. The 6f42 ran 90 mins early at pleasington which spoilt the shot so a quick jocky to winwick with the yorkie boys made up for the earlier dissapointment. Big ta to Nige for the jockey round ELR in the snow on the Saturday. . . .

This was my 6th Attempt at nailing 401 since it came out of store since the New Year. I was a tad gutted I couldnt whilst it carried maroon but what the hell this certainly made up for it. Its a terrible repaint but everyone always looks back at the good old BR days when all sorts of variations of BR large logo blue could be found. It certainly brings back things from the past when small depots could carry out these sort of things to there pet locos. Im not saying it looks great but its certainly refreshing to see Springs Branch trying to give the locsos a bit of personallty. Never thought Id nail one thisw month but looks like the Gremlins have vanished, Roll on Feb . . . . . .

To get a shot in the sun at this time of the year can be Nah impossible but I managed a nice little shot of the 6k41 Valley - crewe flasks at the Valley flask terminal. literally 5 mins later the sun went and that was that for the day. Big thanks to Wilf who help us out for the day. ah well roll on Winter....

This is the first fottin Ive done for over a month. I cant get motivated now 425 as gone back into store. I think prservation will be the way forward from now on. It was wonderful to have a ride behind D335 with the steam heat and as we departed Bury 50015 was sat idle but on full chat as they get it ready for next year. cant wait for that monster to come back lets hope it recieves full dutch with snowploughs now that will bring back the good memories of the early 90's

Two words desrcibe this fot......
MYYYYYYYYYY LOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRDDDDDDDDDZZZZZ.........
Ive only ever bashed 425 on the Ryhmneys. Every time I ventured out for the bugger it rained. Well today got rid of all those Gremlins and was well worth the wait. Thats me happy for the rest of the year now. ... : )

A nice little afternoon brought me to Wigan N W were I fotted 33207 on the stock move back to carnforth. 10 years ago and this would of been one of the workings of the year. The hobby as its good moments as you can see virtually anything anywhere these days but days like this are getting few and far between. ah well roll on winter..............

We are past half way through the year and on the whole I gotta be dissapointed so lets hope the next 6 months improve. Ive managed some belters this year but it doesnt tell the full story. Lets hope August gives us a merry streak.. : )

I THINK JULY SHOULD BE CALLED JANUARY FROM NOW ON................

It all started so well this month with a nice neat and tidy trip fotting the flask traffic on the west Coast mainline. After that it seemed to go pear shaped. Tools of the trade these days when fotting are Brolly, trench coat and a great big pair of F***ing Wellys. Dont forget the beach towel. to dry yerself off after another soakin. Bring on July you never know it might snow..... : )

With a new job beckoning working for a Rolls Royce plant its been a slugglish Month in trying to get out for the news worthy workings, but i still managed a few nice shots this month. The 86 would of been so much better if it had not had 47839 behind it. The nanking Oxford blue spoils the fot for me. Come on Cargo D give us a pair of BR blue 20's to top the owd Can and bring back the good old drag days....... well you can dream cant you !!! :-)

A brief visit to the KWVR with the little un brought a great suprise in that 25059 was making its debut after 2 yrs out of service. It looked fantastic in its BR blue livery and snow ploughs and sounded a treat climbing the hills upto Oxenhope.

What a start to this month. 37410 on the Trafford park to Wakefield freightliner. It amazes me how these locos continue to roll back the years and bring back such good memories of my youth. Wind rain or cloud could'nt dampen my spirits for this one. The driver seemed to be making the most of it as he hammered the horn and the put the handle to full as he stormed through Ashburys. Magic

Absolutely chuffed with the 6Z50 shot. This will probably be up there as one of my favourite shots of all time. The location, the weather and lets not forget the fabulous 47847 which was picked for the job. I wouldnt care if it rained for a month now after this beauty.It really does create a timeless scene !!!. and lets not forget this is 2007 and with only 3 locos in Large Logo running at the time this shot was taken the other two being the 50's it really does put the cherry on top of this fot. Also Big Thanks to Wilf for the times.

Well I hope my luck changes soon. It certainly will be called jinxed January for me. Still i managed a nice fot of the 47 at Shrewsbury on the Blue Pullman in stunning winter light I tried my best to avoid the shadows which can be quite impossible at this time of the year. I suppose its better than nowt! Lets hope Feb gives me more fun in the sun.

A mixed month bringing the year to an end brought 2 50's to the the hills between Carnforth and Settle. I'm just glad I had my vidicam rolling for this one. You could here the thing coming for 10 mins as it climbed up towards the 'S' bend at Clapham. MEMORABLE. ------ Theres also a few odds and sods included in this month.

I did well for this month weather wise as November usually is a tricky month. The Highlight being 37406 on the Folly Lane - Arpley tanks. My Big thanks must go to the Driver. As soon as he entered the slow round the back of Acton Bridge, the power handle was hit to full and the Bling came out. Absolutely Awesome.

My Big Thanks must go to Andy at the Embassy and the nice fellow at the Signal Box for these set of fots. Its the only thing that went right in October. Just Glad I went on the Sunday as the Saturday was a wash out. I will definatly be going again next year after these set of nice fots.

Is there a bigger word than HELLFIRE for this shot of the Deltic climbing the Ski Jump. Ive used it as my title as it as the Wow factor big time. Its gonna take something massive to replace it and just for good measure we had a two engine blast out of Irwell Vale. Thanks to Nigel for the taxiing for this one.

The highlight of this month was the Spa valley diesel gala which had a small impressive line up. With weather to match, it was a great wkd away. The evening Beerex with the two Cromptons thrashing away was fantastic. I will hope to pay a visit next year providing they have another visiting loco.

July normally sees the best of the weather as you can see from these set of fots. I paid a vist to the MNR , ELR diesel galas and also had a very enjoyable day at walsall of all places. Two Tractors in the space of an hour On the Burton trip working and the Engineers to oxford both originating from Bescot really made my Day. The triple headed 31's was running so late i decided to head to work. The tractors will always beat the Peds anyday.

What a month this was. The SDR produced a classic diesel gala. With two Large logo 37's and two RFD 20's this was my diesel gala of the year. Also had few trips here and there, make sure you check the fot of 37411 at Riverside Yard.

It was worth the visit alone to hear a 40 and a 50 tackle green End Bank at the NYMR Im so glad the vidicam was rolling for these beasties. You couldnt have asked for better weather on the Friday and then I enjoyed a bash on the Saturday when the weather was really hazey. D200 was a must for the final ride home which was was absolutle HELLFIRE.

The GWR was fantastic and is one of the busiest diesel galas you could witness. With 6 trains every hour I was able to capture my best pics of the year. The clouds where Blue and Black, the Sun Shone at the right time. PERFECT. I managed to fit in a good bash behind the 56 and the duff. The sound was Awesome in the Tunnels leaving Winchcombe. May also took me down the Marches to fot the 50 on the Easter additionals. It really did bring back memories of my youth with the 50 choking us to death leaving Hereford in the front brake mk2. Ee Those were the days.

The month i want to forget. Dull Dull Dull and more Dull. I havent included any more shots in this month as they are all Drab. I hope for Better luck next Month.

February seen me fot the 40 making its debut for this year after a repaint at Barrow Hill. It looked and sounded fantastic and is a credit that this loco defys the years and puts solid performances that would put most Duffs to shame on the network. Keep up the good work CFPS.

The Winter chills made it not pleasant for standing about so opted for the East Lancs EE Event and what an event it was. D335 making its debut in BR green livery. Harry needles Immaculate 20's and not to forget the 4 x 20's at the end of the day. Absolute Hellfire in the tunnels leaving Summerseat. This for most Railways would be would be considered as there big event of the year and lets not forget the 31 and the Thumper. Magic . Good start to the year, long may it continue.