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Sunday 28 February 2016

LNWR Coal Tank turned on the turntable at Keighley

The Coal Tank and the Taff Vale tank were running 
double headed this weekend on K&WVR


A Yank in the Yorkshire Dales S100 No 65 at Embsay


Rescued from the batch sold to the Southern Railway
after WW2 


There were fine engines as shunters and have done 
well in preservation. 

Class 27 locomotives were designed by John Aspinaland 484 were built between 1889 - 1918 at Horwich Works. It was the standard goods engine used by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. Aspinall opted for a two-cylinder format with a non superheated round top boiler.David Joy's configuration of valve gear was employed. By the time Aspinall became general manager of the L&YR on 1 July 1899 more than 400 of the simple but powerful engines had been built. More were built under his successors, Henry Hoy andGeorge Hughes, albeit with some modifications. By 1918 there were the 484 locomotives in the class.


One locomotive, 1896-built L&YR number 1300 (later LMS 12322 and BR 52322) has survived


Seen here at Embsay on the Embsay and Bolton 
Abbey Railway

Friday 26 February 2016

Taffy tank engine No 85 now back in steam K&WVR Winter Steam Festival

Well despite all the difficulties K&WVR pulled off
a very good winter steam festival today.


It runs for Sat and Sunday and is well worth a visit.


It is grand to see the Taffy Tank back in steam 



As one pbserver said it has a better paint job than 
my new car.

Thursday 25 February 2016

K&WVR 2016 Winter Steam Gala – Final Call (2)

2016 Winter Steam Gala – Final Call (2)

by news@kwvr
Our post from earlier today was to be the last word on locomotive availability. Since posting this news we have learnt that 'Black 5' 44871, although 'prepped' and ready to be towed to Keighley, can not visit the Railway due to the unavailability of drivers at such short notice.
After the disappointment of receiving confirmation that 44871 will not be able to join us, we have just learned that resident BR Standard 4 ‎75078 has developed a fault that is likely to result in the locomotive being unavailable throughout the Gala weekend. The organisers have yet again reworked the working timetable to accommodate this latest setback to make sure that we make the best of the fleet to put on a great event.
43924-160216'1-AD
Our never say die attitude continues, and the crews and volunteers of the Railway will be pulling out all the stops to put on a great event, albeit a very different one to what we had planned.
For all the latest information and working timetables (which we hope are not subject to more change) visit the Winter Steam Gala webpage.
news@kwvr | 25 February 2016 at 19:25 | Tags: Keighley & Worth Valley RailwayKWVRWorth Valley Railway | Categories: 2016 Winter Steam GalaKWVR | URL: http://wp.me/p49H9R-1sn

K&WVR 2016 Winter Steam Gala – Final Call


2016 Winter Steam Gala – Final Call

by news@kwvr
Having been made aware of a problem regarding the planned move of LMS Class 5MT 4-6-0 44871 to the Railway, the event organisers have been burning the mid-night oil to still bring this visiting locomotive to the Railway
Despite a very considerable effort and sleepless nights by the event organisers, which has included talks with a number of mainline operators and locomotive owners, we have to concede that 'Black 5' 44871 will not arrive in time for the start of our Winter Steam Gala. We are very disappointed by this outcome, but hope that you will still join us to welcome back Taff Vale Railway 0-6-2T, no. 85 back into traffic (seen below last weekend when on a test run with 43924), as well as enjoy double-headed trains, demonstration freight services and the rest of the operational home fleet.
85-160219'6-II
However, thanks to our never say die attitude, we are still working hard to bring the locomotive to the Railway and hope that it can arrive in time for Saturday & Sunday services..
Please be rest assured that we our doing our very best to put on a great event, albeit a very different one to what we had planned.
Updates will be posted on the website (www.kwvr.co.uk), as well as via Twitter (@worthvalley) and our Facebook page. For all the latest information and working timetables (which are subject to change) visit the Winter Steam Gala webpage.
news@kwvr | 25 February 2016 at 11:51 | Tags: Keighley & Worth Valley RailwayKWVRWorth Valley Railway | Categories: 2016 Winter Steam GalaKWVR | URL: http://wp.me/p49H9R-1sh

Saturday 20 February 2016

Hunslet saddle tank, austerity type No 69

No 69 AKA Norman at Bolton Abbey



Those warmer days are on the way back. The 
Embsay Bolton Abbey Line will soon be busy 
again

Lisa Riley got a ten from Len On the K&WVR

43924 was in charge for Lisa Riley's holiday of 
a lifetime with Len Goodman


They had a go a shoving a shovel of coal in the 
boiler


You can see the driver was inpressed


Good on the two of them.


Sorry about the quality as they are screen grabs

Friday 19 February 2016

K&WVR Locomotive Roster for Weekend 20th & 21st February 2016

Locomotive Roster for Weekend 20th & 21st February 2016

by news@kwvr
USATC S160 2-8-0 5820 was withdrawn during last Saturday's service with a problem that prevented it completing it's duties. 43924 substituted on Sunday and has been hauling the crowds that have been visiting for Postman Pat  throughout the week. However 5820 has been repaired and will be at the head of steam services this weekend.
Once again the diesel service will be in the hands of  diesel railbus M79964.
Whilst every effort will made to ensure that the advised motive power is available, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway reserve the right to change this when operational circumstances so dictate.

K&WVR 2016 Winter Steam Gala Update

2016 Winter Steam Gala Update

by news@kwvr
We have now been made aware of a problem regarding the planned move of LMS Class 5MT 4-6-0 44871 to the Railway that may well prevent the Black 5 attending the Gala event. The organising team will know more in the next few days and the railway will let you know as soon as we have confirmation on whether or not the locomotive can join the gala fleet and whether we can arrange an alternative visitor, although finding a replacement is very unlikely at this late stage.
Please be rest assured that we our doing our very best to put on a great event, albeit a very different one to what we had planned, so we will revise the pricing appropriately depending on the outcome of our efforts over the coming days.
We will post updates on situation on the website (www.kwvr.co.uk) as well as via Twitter (@worthvalley) and our Facebook page.
news@kwvr | 18 February 2016 at 19:35 | Tags: Keighley & Worth Valley RailwayKWVRWorth Valley Railway | Categories: 2016 Winter Steam Gala | URL: http://wp.me/p49H9R-1s6

Thursday 18 February 2016

Monday 15 February 2016

K&WVR Locomotive Roster for Weekend 20th & 21st February 2016

Locomotive Roster for Weekend 20th & 21st February 2016

by news@kwvr
USATC 2-8-0 5820 was scheduled for the steam turn over the weekend but troubled developed late on Saturday. The air pump stopped working which caused the brakes to come on just outside Mytholmes Tunnel. Despite the best efforts of the crew, nothing seemed to be fixing the problem and accordingly assistance was summoned and came in due course in the shape of English Electric 0-6-0 D0226. The pump apparently coming back to life which meant that the two could run together back to Oxenhope.
Bar staff also rose to the occasion, reopening during the delay, providing delayed passengers with free soft and hot drinks to ease the disappointment of a delay to their journey.
The 3 photographs below show the locomotive at a standstill just below Ebor Bridge, D0226 reading for coupling up and the pair having arrived at Oxenhope as darkness creeps over the Valley.
D0226-160213'1-RBa
5820-160213'1-RBa
D0226&5820-160213'1-RBa

With  5820 stopped for the problem to be investigated, MR 4F 0-6-0 43924 stepped into the breach on Sunday and this popular locomotive will continue, as scheduled, throughout the week on the half term timetable. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the Railway is being visited by Postman Pat®, with the result that an additional diesel service will operate throughout the day on all 3 days which will be in the hands of diesel railbus M79964.
Whilst every effort will made to ensure that the advised motive power is available, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway reserve the right to change this when operational circumstances so dictate.

British Railways standard class 4 75078

Simmers in last years sunshine at Keighley


Hopefully back in service for the Winter Steam 
Gala at the end of this month

Saturday 13 February 2016

Railway posters from the past

Genteel places such as the one 
below were places for the 
wealthy to see and be seen.

The Cathedral cities had long been
a place of pilgrimage or just for the
curios visitor


Worchester above and Hereford
below 


Malvern was of course the place
where the wealthy middle classes 
sent their sons and daughters
to be educated. All good work
for the railways 

The GWR and the LMS worked closely 
with each other serving the west and
north west 

Shrewsbury station before mechanised road transport

The cabs and carriages await those wealthy enough
have or to be able to afford them


Not a motor or steam vehicle insight outside the station

Friday 12 February 2016

The LNWR Coal tank

Always a favorite on special days and hopefully 
on duty for the winter steam spectacular at the
end of this month. Come along and join in 
you won't be disappointed


USA TC S160 departs Keighley

The S 160 departs Keighley for Oxenhope via 
Ingrown, Damems, Oakworth and Haworth.


Steam trains will be running all half term week
on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
Take the kids along for a little history.

Thursday 11 February 2016

Railway posters

How times, perceptions and attitudes change


I know Aberystwyth well 



Look at the change in perceptions 
of the annual holiday

K&WVR February 2016 Half-Term

February 2016 Half-Term

by news@kwvr
Young or not so young, from the local area or visiting from further afield, everyday of the February school half term, there is no need to worry about whether steam trains are operating. Throughout to the holiday steam trains will be in operation every day.
Postman Pat® visits us on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and to help you see everything you want to see, an extra diesel service is being provided  on all three days, throughout the day, in addition to timetable published in our literature. For more information about Postman Pat®, visit the Postman Pat® page on our main website
Travel by train and explore the area from all of our stations. Look at the timetable page to see the time of trains on the day of your visit and download the timetable at home. Or pick up a timetable leaflet from any KWVR station.
news@kwvr | 11 February 2016 at 11:30 | Tags: Keighley & Worth Valley RailwayKWVRWorth Valley Railway | Categories: KWVRKWVR News | URL: http://wp.me/p49H9R-1rR

Great Western Railway and the South Wales Docks

Wales not only provided fine steam coal for the
Great Western Railway it was also a very large 
provider of transport to the great ports of Cardiff
Swansea and Barry, aswell as serving the great 
steelworks at Llanwern now so sadly in decline
as are most of this countries industries


We had family in Cardiff and on short holidays to
see them the Docks were always a fascination for
me as a young lad. Couple to that trips across the 
Bristol Chanel to Weston Super Mare and 
Ilfracombe, it is little wonder I went 
to sea myself


Trips to Swansea was really to the Mumbles and
the Gower peninsula. Passing the great docks and 
seeing the big ships was always a treat for me


London and Birmingham Railway

The London and Birmingham 
Railway was of course the precursor to
the London and North Western Railway.
The London Birmingham link was always
regarded as crucial, Birmingham
being the largest manufacturing
city in the country

However Birmingham and 
Birkenhead were also served by the 
Great Western Railway. The Birmingham
station being Snow Hill and of course
the LNWR (LMS) used New St

LMS Posters

The LMS along with most other railways produced
some magnificent posters


Here possibly the Royal Scot or the Midday Scot.
Could also be the Irish mails

Wednesday 10 February 2016

BR Standard class 'Morning Star' 70021

We see and hear much of the preserved Evening 
Star, however there was another star. It was
Morning Star a class 7 better known as the 
Britannia's


70021 MORNING STAR built Crewe Works, entered service August 1951 with a BR1 4250 gallon tender, withdrawn from BR service December 1967. Cut for scrap.  70021, was only 16 years old so had plenty of life in it.

Monday 8 February 2016

K&WVR Locomotive Roster for Weekend 13th & 14th February 2016

Locomotive Roster for Weekend 13th & 14th February 2016

by news@kwvr
For the last weekend before half-term, USATC S160 2-8-0 5820 will be hauling the steam service this weekend. Once again the diesel service will be in the hands of  diesel railbus M79964.
Whilst every effort will made to ensure that the advised motive power is available, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway reserve the right to change this when operational circumstances so dictate.

Saturday 6 February 2016

K&WVR Autumn Steam gala some unpublished pictures

BR standard class 4 75078


Just what Riddles designed them for, a good leaves 
Oxenhope Keighley bound


I m sure our old friend the LNWR Coal Tank will be 
on duty for the Winter steam gala last weekend
of this month


Always a treat and often with heritage coach set

Friday 5 February 2016

Holt Station North Norfolk Railway and 9F 92203 Black Prince

It was a lovely early autumn day wen we visited 
the North Norfolk Railway


Black Prince having just drawn its train into Holt


A lovely station though not easy to find by road


More than well worth the effort

Sherringham station North Norfolk Railway

That all important and long awaited link restored


The restoration of the level crossing at Sherringham
once again linked the North Norfolk Railway known
to some at the Poppy line, to the main rail network


How many have happy memories of arriving at the
seaside for a week or fortnight holiday


Superbly restored

Holt Station North Norfolk Railway

Once a common sight when the horse was the power
source of road transport


A common sight around country station in my 
young days


North Norfolk Railway Holt station museum

Hole station hosts the railways museum


Some very good static exhibits


Brake vans


Brake vans galore


Southern railways brake/guards van