Onward and Upward!
Chose this title for two reasons....
Firstly this is the challenge that faces us all in the New Year ahead with the ongoing uncertainty and continuance of COVID and secondly the crew of this locomotive faced there own challenge when ensuring they had sufficient steam pressure to tackle one of the steepest and longest half mile gradients on the line before arriving and levelling off at Crowcombe Heathfield Station, Somerset. The fireman is also ensuring the unmanned level crossing, to my immediate right, is clear.
Pictured on Friday 11th March 2016, is resplendent Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S & DJR) 7F 2-8-0 No. 53808. Eleven of these Fowler designed locomotives were built in two batches in 1914 and 1925 to haul coal and goods trains. All were based at Bath Green Park BR Shed Code 82F whose shed code plate appears on the locomotive's smoke-box door. They were regularly used until withdrawal between 1959 and 1964.
Two are preserved - the other being 53809. Pleasingly, both locomotives appeared at the West Somerset Railway's March 2016 Spring Steam Gala - commemorating the 50th Anniversary Demise of the S & DJR which closed on 7th March 1966. A very sad day indeed!
Onward and Upward!
Chose this title for two reasons....
Firstly this is the challenge that faces us all in the New Year ahead with the ongoing uncertainty and continuance of COVID and secondly the crew of this locomotive faced there own challenge when ensuring they had sufficient steam pressure to tackle one of the steepest and longest half mile gradients on the line before arriving and levelling off at Crowcombe Heathfield Station, Somerset. The fireman is also ensuring the unmanned level crossing, to my immediate right, is clear.
Pictured on Friday 11th March 2016, is resplendent Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S & DJR) 7F 2-8-0 No. 53808. Eleven of these Fowler designed locomotives were built in two batches in 1914 and 1925 to haul coal and goods trains. All were based at Bath Green Park BR Shed Code 82F whose shed code plate appears on the locomotive's smoke-box door. They were regularly used until withdrawal between 1959 and 1964.
Two are preserved - the other being 53809. Pleasingly, both locomotives appeared at the West Somerset Railway's March 2016 Spring Steam Gala - commemorating the 50th Anniversary Demise of the S & DJR which closed on 7th March 1966. A very sad day indeed!