2008

Chiltern Railways Class 168 "Clubman" DMU, Birmingham Moor Street, 10 August

On Sunday 10 August 12 MDRS members took part in an outing to the Severn Valley Railway, which has been recently been reopened after flood damage to the permanent way. As there are good rail links it was decided to travel up by train. The first leg from High Wycombe to Birmingham Moor Street being on a Chiltern Railways Class 168 "Clubman" unit.

4965 "Rood Ashton Hall" departing with the Shakespeare Express, Birmingham Moor Street, 10 August

By chance our Chiltern service arrived in Moor Street just as 4965 "Rood Ashton Hall" was preparing to depart with the Shakespeare Express to Stratford Upon Avon. So there was a quick dash to the platform end to get some shots.

Birmingham Moor Street Concourse, 10 August

MDRS members enjoy a refreshment break on the superbly restored concourse at Moor Street whilst waiting for the onward train to Kidderminster.

GWR Churchward 2-8-0 2885, Birmingham Moor Street, 10 August

On static display at Moor Street was GWR 2-8-0 2885, owned by the GWR Preservation Group.

London Midland Class 150, Birmingham Moor Street, 10 August

Members board a Class 150 London Midland unit for our onward journey

GWR 4-6-0 7802 "Bradley Manor", Kidderminster Town, 10 August

7802 "Bradley Manor" stands in Kidderminster Town station awaiting to depart with the 12:45 service to Bridgnorth. The majority of the MDRS party travelled on this train as far as Highley where a visit was paid to the fantastic new engine house.

Midland Compound 1000 inside the Engine House, Highley, 10 August

The Engine House adjacent to Highley station has some excellent displays on the history of railways along with a number of locomotives, including Midland Compound 1000 which is on loan from the National Railway Museum.

46443 Passing The Engine House, 10 August

BR 2-6-0 Ivatt Class 2MT 46443 passes the Engine House whilst on Footplate Experience Duty.

Prairie 4566 arrives at Highley, 10 August

4566 draws into Highley during a downpour with the SVR's beautifully restored rake of LNER Gresley teaks.

4566 at Bridgnorth, 10 August

4566 is seen in better weather resting between duties in Bridgnorth yard

5164 at Bridgnorth, 10 August

Large Prairie 5164 enjoys a day off.

Visiting Dukedog 9017 "Earl of Berkeley" at Bridgnorth, 10 August

Dukedog 9017 "Earl of Berkeley" visiting from the Bluebell Railway is seen outside Bridgnorth shed.

Black 5 45110 at Kidderminster Town, 10 August

Almost exactly 40 years (bar one day) since she brought the curtain down on BR steam by working the first and last legs of the 15 Guinea Special, 45110 basks in the sunshine at Kidderminster Town.

Sir Vincent, Private Steam Railway Near Windsor, 18 July

A group of MDRS members made an evening visit to a private steam railway based near Windsor on 18 July which consisted of a few hundred yards of standard gauge track. Aveling & Porter 0-4-0WT "Sir Vincent" is seen being steamed outside the shed on our arrival. Unfortunately this locomotive suffered a injector failure and was unable to run.

Hornpipe, Private Steam Railway Near Windsor, 18 July

Our host is seeing addressing the MDRS party in the shed alongside Peckett 0-4-0ST "Hornpipe," which also suffered an injector failure earlier in the afternoon, when both locomotives had passed their boiler examinations. Also visible are some of the headboards and station signs which our host has in his collection.

Finnish Broad Gauge Pacific 1016, Private Steam Railway Near Windsor, 18 July

Our host also showed us the 5 foot gauge Finnish pacific 1016, which he hopes to steam in not so distant future on a short length of broad gauge track.

Trakrat, Private Steam Railway Near Windsor, 18 July

Although both standard gauge steam locomotives were out of action, MDRS members were given two rides up the line on a this diesel powered "Trakrat." This is seen the second trip (with MDRS chairman Tim Speechley standing). Shortly after this it also failed, leaving the railway with no serviceable motive power.

Thalys at Gare de Nord, Paris, 10 May

A group of members travelled on Eurostar from the new St Pancras International station to Paris for the day. There was no formal itinerary, but the group split into sub-groups who explored the Metro system, some of the main-line stations, and a few tourist sights as well. Arrival was at the Gare du Nord, a busy international terminus with plenty of interest, such as Thalys units 4332, 4533 and 4305. These trains are used used for the Paris - Brussels - Amsterdam route - mainly SNCB (Belgian) owned, but some are thought to be SNCF.

Gare de l'Est, Paris, 10 May

The Gare de l'Est is close to the Gare du Nord, but has a very different character with less hustle. The laid-back atmosphere is reflected in the sculpture over the main street entrance.

SNCF 72100 class at Gare de l'Est, Paris, 10 May

Seen at the Gare de l'Est, CC 72100 class loco 172179 had "This locomotive cares for your environment" plastered along its sides. Unfortunately it was also emitting some particularly noxious diesel fumes!

1479 "Sybic" (SYnchronous motors-BI-Current 1500vDC/25kV AC) 26053 awaits departure from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz.

Inside Gare d'Austerlitz, 1500v DC BB9200 9257 (built in 1959) and dual voltage BB22200 22364 (from the early '80's) rest between duties.

272 at Gare de Lyon, Paris, 10 May

SNCF 272 basks in the afternoon sun with a double-deck set at the Gare de Lyon.

SNCF Electric Locomotive Front Ends, Paris, 10 May

A contrast in BB electric front ends at the Gare de Lyon, where 26055 brings in a train past earlier generation 88511.

Gare D'Orsay, Paris, 10 May

The magnificent Gare D'Orsay on the left bank of the Seine was built as a main line terminus and opened for the Paris Exposition Universelle (World Fair) in 1900. Its platforms proved too short for long-distance trains, which were withdrawn in 1939. Suburban services and the station hotel lingered on until final closure in 1973 In 1977 an imaginative scheme to convert the station into an art gallery was proposed. Opened in 1986, it houses mainly French art including a major collection of impressionist masterpieces.

Montmarte Funicular, Paris, 10 May

The Montmartre Funicular is a short standard gauge line up to the viewpoint just below the Sacré Cœur basilica and is operated by RATP. It was first opened in 1900 using water power, but was converted to electricity in 1935 and completely rebuilt by Akros in 1990-1. The track distance is 108 metres and there is a vertical rise of 36 metres. The two cars are operated independently, which means that a service can still be run when one side is under maintenance, which was the case on our visit.

La Chapelle, Paris, 10 May

La Chapelle station is situated on an elevated section of Metro line 2 which crosses the throat of both the Gare du Nord and the Gare de l'Est. Here a train is crossing the approaches to the Gare du Nord on arrival at the station.

Passy Viaduct, Paris, 10 May

Much of Metro line 6 is elevated. Here two trains pass on Passy Viaduct, beneath the Eiffel Tower.

Bir-Hakeim, Paris, 10 May

Metro line 6 is one of the lines worked on the pneumatic tyre system, which can be seen on this train arriving at Bir-Hakeim station with a train for Charles de Gaulle Étoile.

Eurostar Line Up, Paris, 10 May

This impressive line up of Eurostars at the Gare du Nord is somewhat unusual. 3008 on the left is British owned, 3105 in the middle is Belgian whilst 3220 on the right is French. It was to be 3220 that formed train 9059, the 20.13 to St Pancras, that was the MDRS group's train home.