The blog of a retired marine engineer who is old enough to remember the steam era and the joys of holiday trips in trains hauled by steam engines. Please feel free to comment or contact me on teachertalk1234@yahoo.co.uk. The blog is updated daily so please look back or follow regularly so as not to miss information and pictures
Monday, 27 June 2011
KWVR The Stations
Keighley station and the beginning of the line with connections to the main line

Keighley, if you watched the film Yanks then this is the station used and the departure scene
Other exhibits at Oxenhope
Sunday on the Keighley Worth Valley Railway
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Departure Minhead
Departure Minehead, now you know why they got the longest platform in preservation
West Country 'Braunton' at Minehead
It takes and age to begin as the fireman takes ages to get the points set to run round. Be patient and you will have a treat. Lovely locomotive restored to perfection. A rebuilt West Country in the environs for which she was built.
Sunday, 19 June 2011
A1 Tornado
Talking of credit, the A1 loco society deserves great amounts for the gargantuan task of building a locomotive from scratch. Tornado is a wonderful achievement and no mean feat when you consider the cost and money that had to be raised to achieve it alone not to mention sourcing the materiel's and manufacturer's capable of making a large steam locomotive
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Friday, 17 June 2011
Visit to 'Ingrow' on the KWVR
Ingrow station is the first station out of Keighley on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
Museum of rail travel
The museum is well worth a visit and for an entry fee of £2.10 adult and £1.50 senior citizen an absolute bargain. Many of the railways exhibition coaches are housed here and can be lokked around inside aswell as out.
At the far end of this building is the actual carriage repair and refurbishment facility. A bullied carriage and a Diesel car were in for work on them.
Several very good displays both visual and audio, as on entering many carriages and breakvans a description of purpose and duties of personal can be heard.
The main works are at Howarth close to the Bronte Parsonage and Museum. All the heavy locomotive work is done here and often the yard is a haven for the enthusiast
Today there were several locomotives on view though from the safe distance of the picknic and viewing area.
Work being undertaken seems to have been on the Midland 4F 43924 whose tender was being shunted by the diesel.
Backing on and coupling up
Here we see the same Panier tanks having crossed the road and backs down to rejoin it's train.
The West Somerset Railway
Of course for the lovers the standard gauge there is no better place in the south west than the West Somerset Railway which boasts the longest platform in restoration which is situated at it's headquarters at Minehead. Many different locomotives can be viewed there, predominantly GWR and Southern.
And here it is, very impressive.
Most of the stock is GW with the survivor of the S&D in the form of the Midland 2-8-0
Here we see Sotherns rebuilt West Country pacific 'Braunton' at Minehead.