Esk Valley steam Sunday 7th March

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

David Rodgers had another good weekend.

Dave says....

With more or less a guaranteed forecast of full sun throughout the country on Sunday thoughts turned on Saturday evening as to where to go.

The Severn Valley Railway's Spring Gala weekend was the obvious choice with lots of trains and 10 locos in action but I felt that with such a good forecast many photo positions would just be overwhelmed with photographers.

The East Lancs Railway was having a diesel Gala and the KWVR had only their normal timetabled services in operation with 41241.

In the end Julie and I decided to go in the opposite direction to the North York Moors. The NYMR is currently operating a much reduced service as the line is severed due a bridge replacement but nowadays the railway now also operates on certain dates on BR's scenic Esk Valley line from Whitby - Battersby (- Middlesbrough); yesterday being one such date. Two round trips are offered leaving Whiby at 11.00 and 14.00 plus a further short working from Whitby to Grosmont.

Motive power was Southern Railway 3-cylinder Schools Class 4-4-0 No. 30926 Repton.  Now a regular NYMR performer, the loco was shipped over the Atlantic in 1966 and was at one time used on the Cape Breton Railway in Nova Scotia, Canada.

In complete contrast to the crowds on the SVR we saw not a single other photographer all day!
 

[John Ashworth]

Nice reflection in the river in that first shot, but not the usual reflection photo, if that makes sense.