Isle of Mull North Sea Port View 20220408--121
37403 Isle of Mull leads 1Z69 14.10 South Dock Port of Sunderland - Doncaster across Grangetown (Ocean Road) level crossing in Sunderland, approaching the red signal protecting Ryhope Grange Jn. This was the final leg of the Branch Line Society's "The Tweedmouth Tractors" railtour, the first day of a three-day tour originally advertised as "The Tyne Tees Tractors". [Pole, 2/6 sections (~2.7m)]
This was the main shot I was after today, and I was pleased that the train's appearance coincided with a reasonable patch of blue sky. I first did this angle back in 1997 with the oil tanks, but the sun didn't play ball and it was August 2021 before I finally managed it in sun (with a 60 on the steel, a flow which didn't run very many times). But today I had plenty of time to set up, and discovered that I only needed to extend the pole by one section (and tall step ladders would have sufficed); indeed, going higher meant the angle of the train was less pleasing, although it would have got over the vegetation in the immediate foreground. I also managed a shot of the train going down the branch, about an hour earlier (having chased it from Pelaw, and arrived just after it had gone into Ryhope Grange Sidings to reverse), but the sun didn't come out until the train was some distance beyond the level crossing (roughly level with the site of the old Gas Sidings) - and, anyway, it was still not quite far enough round.
At this point the train was about twenty minutes (or more) early, and I wondered whether it would be held to time.. there was nothing booked ahead of it, so it could set off straight away. One person here decided to try to chase it to Newburn Road at Hartlepool, and I nearly did the same - but then made the decision just to go on the road bridge over Ryhope Grange Jn. (and made it just in time, as the train did set off just over ten minutes early!).
I travelled this line on 12th August 2000, on the Branch Line Society's "Durham Coast Railtour", which got as far as the Stop board at the bottom of the bank just before the line into the former oil terminal. I was especially keen to get this shot, because I used to trainspot here as a child - when this line was still double track, the level crossing had a crossing keeper and semaphore signals protecting it, and 37-hauled unfitted coal trains were frequent.
To see my non-transport pictures, visit www.flickr.com/photos/137275498@N03/.
Isle of Mull North Sea Port View 20220408--121
37403 Isle of Mull leads 1Z69 14.10 South Dock Port of Sunderland - Doncaster across Grangetown (Ocean Road) level crossing in Sunderland, approaching the red signal protecting Ryhope Grange Jn. This was the final leg of the Branch Line Society's "The Tweedmouth Tractors" railtour, the first day of a three-day tour originally advertised as "The Tyne Tees Tractors". [Pole, 2/6 sections (~2.7m)]
This was the main shot I was after today, and I was pleased that the train's appearance coincided with a reasonable patch of blue sky. I first did this angle back in 1997 with the oil tanks, but the sun didn't play ball and it was August 2021 before I finally managed it in sun (with a 60 on the steel, a flow which didn't run very many times). But today I had plenty of time to set up, and discovered that I only needed to extend the pole by one section (and tall step ladders would have sufficed); indeed, going higher meant the angle of the train was less pleasing, although it would have got over the vegetation in the immediate foreground. I also managed a shot of the train going down the branch, about an hour earlier (having chased it from Pelaw, and arrived just after it had gone into Ryhope Grange Sidings to reverse), but the sun didn't come out until the train was some distance beyond the level crossing (roughly level with the site of the old Gas Sidings) - and, anyway, it was still not quite far enough round.
At this point the train was about twenty minutes (or more) early, and I wondered whether it would be held to time.. there was nothing booked ahead of it, so it could set off straight away. One person here decided to try to chase it to Newburn Road at Hartlepool, and I nearly did the same - but then made the decision just to go on the road bridge over Ryhope Grange Jn. (and made it just in time, as the train did set off just over ten minutes early!).
I travelled this line on 12th August 2000, on the Branch Line Society's "Durham Coast Railtour", which got as far as the Stop board at the bottom of the bank just before the line into the former oil terminal. I was especially keen to get this shot, because I used to trainspot here as a child - when this line was still double track, the level crossing had a crossing keeper and semaphore signals protecting it, and 37-hauled unfitted coal trains were frequent.
To see my non-transport pictures, visit www.flickr.com/photos/137275498@N03/.