The Echills Wood Railway Observer

OUT & ABOUT with the

 

Echills Wood Railway

 

Members of the Echills Wood Railway often get

invited to visit other seven and a quarter gauge

railways, or other railway related venues. So

this new page is aimed at covering these visits,

throughout the year.

Junior Member Adam Rubidge

Visits The E. V. R.

Adam and his family had a visit to the Evesham Vale Railway several weeks ago, and has sent in these few photos he took on the day.

 

 

Can I please go for a walk now, I'm fed up of riding on this train?

Thank you Adam for sending in your photos. Editor EWRO

EWR MEMBERS AT MVR!

Tango sent in a couple of photos, taken at The Moors Valley Railway a few weeks ago.

Members of the EWR with the Garratt at the Moeers Valley Railway

The Garratt running on the MVR

JEFF CELEBRATES HIS 60th BIRTHDAY 

AT THE STATFOLD BARN RAILWAY

Members of the EWR and many other guests of Jeff & Ken, were invited to attend the Statfold Barn Railway near Tamworth on Friday evening 8th May 2009. Geoff & Ken are members & official photographers of The Statfold Barn Railway. The owner of this magnificent private railway, Graham Lee & his family, generously allowed Jeff to hold his birthday here. Hundreds of guests were treated to sample the two operating lines, with two locos in steam running on the Field Line and a diesel hauled train operating the magnificent garden line which runs through the beautiful landscaped garden of the owners residence.

A hog roast and salad buffet was provided, together with a selection of deserts with drinks including wine, a variety of larger's and soft drinks. Everyone had a wonderful evening and the weather couldn't have been better for the time of the year. On behalf of The Echills Wood Railway, I would like to thank Jeff & Ken for inviting us all and a very special thank you to Graham & his family for his generous hospitality, to opening this very special railway for us all to enjoy. Definately, one of the best private railway's in the UK.

Editor EWRO

Members of the EWR enjoying a ride on the Field Railway. Clockwise from the left, my wife Andrea, Vic's wife, Brian's wife Connie, Brian Thomas, Vic Smith and Tom Hubble.

Leading loco on the top loop of the field railway.

Banker loco on the field railway.

To celebrate his birthday in style, Jeff had his own special Headboard.

Jeff's Birthday Cake.

The Birthday Boy himself, about to cut his cake.

Three more photos taken by Ken Bull

If anyone who has any photos taken at this event, please email them to the Editor and I will add some of them to this article.

  

NARROW GAUGE COUNTRY

Ken Bull captured this pair of Black Five's on a RTC Railtour, entering B. Ffestiniog on Saturday 2nd May 2009. Nos 45231 'The Sherwood Forester' & 45407

Stand by your bed's it won't be long before Jeff is back to take stock of what's been happening whilst he's been in New Zealand. He won't have missed reading the report's though. Jeff & Olive paid Gerald Cox a visit in Australia and also met Bob & betty Nash in Adelaid. Here are some photo's which Gerald has sent, during Jeff & Olives visit.

 

Jeff & Olive at Bob & Betty Nash's house in Adelaid.

Another shot.

Bob's magnificent Berkshire.

No Jeff, you can't bring it back with you!

Jeff is honoured to be the first person to drive the Speedy.

He's certainly enjoying it

I bet Jeff would like one of these!

On a tour of Bob's workshop

If I sell my 47 Olive, I could afford one of these Berkshires.

Where's he gone now!

Blimey! I thought he was in Aussie, not Blackpool!

Watch out Paul & Malcolm, he will be making you an offer for your Tram!

It took Bob four years of labour & love to build this Berkshire!

Hope you and Olive are having a nice holiday > See you both soon. Thank's to Gerald for sending us these photos!

Here are a collection of photos taken by Jeff & Ken at the Llangollen Railway Gala, during last week.

Dukedog 9017 in BR Black

A nice shot, coming through the Dee Valley

At Llangollen Station

D49 Morayshire at Carrog

Morayshire & Mayflower at Llangollen.

Mayflower ready to depart from Llangollen

Mayflower leaving Llangollen.

Royal Scot at Llangollen

Royal Scott again at Llangollen.

Dukedog & City Of Truro double heading with Royal Scott on the left

The newley restored LNER Coronation Beaver Tail Saloon. Ken & Jeff had a ride on this behind Royal Scot.

Mayflower & Royal Scot

Finally, this night shot at Llangollen of D49 Morayshire.

THANK YOU JEFF & KEN

FOR THESE EXCELLENT PHOTOS

Tom Hubble visited the Spring Gala

at the Llangollen Railway on

Saturday and sent in the following

photos!

A 51xx on a Goods Train

7.25" Loco 6860 Aberporth Grange.

 

B1 1306 Mayflower.

Black Five 44801.

Model Engineering Exhibits.

LMS Royal Scot, running without smoke deflectors.

Nameplate.

City Of Truro.

THANK YOU TOM for sending in these photos.

TORNADO AT YORK STATION

This photo was sent in by Chris Perkins, of Tornado, as it was just about to depart from York on Thursday 19th March 2009.

Thank You Chris

SIR NIGEL GRESLEY En route to Lincoln from Kidderminster. With a RCT/SVR "The Severn Valley Limited" captured as it passes Lea Marston yesterday, Saturday 14th March 2009. Photos kindy captured and sent in by Ken Bull.

Sir Nigel heads the 'Severn Valley Limited' as it passes Lea Marston en route to Lincoln via Tamworth & Derby.

Sir Nigel Gresley has spent the last week operating on the Severn Valley Railway and featured during the Festival Of Steam, with other visiting locos, Oliver Cromwell, Duke Of Gloucester & Nunny Castle.

EWR MEMBERS AT THE SEVERN VALLEY

FESTIVAL OF STEAM Sat 7th March 2009

At least fifteen members of the EWR were present at the Severn Valley, Coal Yard Minature Railway, situated alongside the main platforms at Kidderminster. Four visiting severn and a quarter standard gauge steam locos were present, which provided the days entertainment, alongside the larger steam locos, which incidently had four visiting also. Duke Of Gloucester, Oliver Cromwell, Sir Nigel Gresley & Nunney Castle. The Severn Valley's own Earlstoke Manor & Large Prarie were also in steam as well as a few more up at the Bridgnorth end.

Earlstoke Manor & whose this walking towards the camera.

Tom Tom? Just the names of these two, Tom Bailey & Tom Hubble, with the Prarie at the Coalyard Railway, Kidderminster Severn Valley.

Jeff Stevens with his GWR Class 47xx and Tom Hubble on the Prarie.

Dave & Alan Preist were here too, with Alan's Brittania Lord Rowallen, a smaller companion of Oliver Cromwell, which was one of the visiting full size locos. The other shady looking  characters are, Dave Jenkins, messing with the loco and left to right, David Brown, Kevin Brown, Terry Jenkins & Michael Brown. AND, I have no idea who the guy in the red jacket is, walking along the platform in the background, but he was obviously one of the many thousands of visitors who were at the Severn Valley Railway for this Festival Of Steam.

More EWR members. Jeff on the Class 47xx & young Willam Grimett, getting his first drive of the Prarie, as Adrian his Dad & Oliver his brother look on, with Tom Hubble on the far platform. Steve decides to have a passenger's seat on this occasion.

Now for a few shots of the big ones.

Recently restored 70013 Oliver Cromwell on its first visit to the Severn Valley, pulls into Bewdley Station.

Another first timer at the Severn Valley, was 71000 Duke Of Gloucester, backing onto its train at Kidderminster Station. I travelled on this train to visit the new Engine House Museum at Highly.

 

Hagley Hall inside the Engine House

On loan from York is Midland Compound 1000. The loco in the foreground is War Department Loco Gordon.

Ex Midland Travelling Post Office Mail Coach, goes well behind the Midland Compound. This coach is open for visitors to look at, which shows how the mail was sorted, whilst on the move.

If you have never visited this new Museum at Highley, I can thoroughly recomend it. There are other locos on display, including a Jinty, Standard 2-6-4T & 8F. There are many other displays and an excellent cafeteria with inside and outside viewing balconies, with look over the exhibits and the railway outside, plus a well stocked gift shop

Another look at the Midland Compound.

 

Sir Nigel Gresley approaching Kidderminster with a train from Bridgnorth.

Sir Nigel Gresley was running with the Severn Valley Teak Set of coaches.

The headboard 'The Coronation' belongs to EWR Member's Jeff Cogan & Ken Bull, who had loaned it for the day. It certainly looks good on Sir Nigel!

A close up view of the Duke, which was running with a set of Blood & Custard coaches & headboard 'The Great Briton'

The Duke, just before the 10am departure at Kidderminster.

THE FOLLOWING 8 PHOTOS were taken and sent in by Ken Bull

Matty Gunn, Steve Burnett, Tom Hubble, Tom Bailey & David Brown, watch John Hancock & Bill Burnett , as they attend to the Prarie

The Prarie leaves the Coalyard as Matt takes a train load of EWR members up to the Kidderminster Station end of the line.

Jeff Stevens on his GWR Class 47xx

The Prarie & Class 47xx at the Coal Yard Terminous.

David Brown on his small tank loco and two coaches.

A FEW MORE SHOTS OF THE BIG STUFF taken by Ken

 

A shot in the dark of Sir Nigel & the Coronation Headboard

A good day was had by all and it seemed as though half the EWR Membership were there on Saturday.