Magnificent looking engines. Was one of them used on Top Gear for the race between the train, car and motorbike?
Yesterday I went to the Shildon Rail Museum to see the last six A4 Pacific class engines seen together for the last time. The occasion was to celebrate the Mallard's world record of 126mph set 75 years ago.
It took us over an hour queuing to get near them and over the week, thousands have visited.I took my Grandsons to see them so they could get close up to these marvels of steam... what a great day it was too to be there.
Anyway a few pics.....
Waiting in the queue...
Getting closer...
Finally....
Harry, my Grandson at the helm!
It was a great show to see these engines together for the last time.... The boy's and I certainly enjoyed it.
Rod
Magnificent looking engines. Was one of them used on Top Gear for the race between the train, car and motorbike?
Nice to see, I well remember seeing the Flying Scotsman thundering through Hartlepool Railway Station one day in the mid '70s. And thanks for posting photos from Shildon; my dad was born there but I confess I don't think I've ever been there myself.
Great looking engines, you have to admire the people who preserve and maintain such machines, I worked for 'Ian Allan' (magazine/books) for twenty years and sadly the younger generation are less interested in such things these days
Was talking to a pal in the local earlier who had a drive down, horrendous queues just to park, and then more queues once on site. Apparently they'd hoped for 68,000 visitors and had @ 70,000 with three days to go!
F.T.F.A.
I went to see them when they were at NRM York, place was rammed and was a nightmare to get anywhere near the engines. I have a good panoramic view of all the engines somewhere, I will dig it out and post it.
If anyone wants to see the photos I took they are on a public album on my account at google+
search for barry small or barrysmall77@gmail.com, they are too big to post on photobucket without waiting ages to upload them.
So please educate me as to why they wont be seen together again.
A4 4496 "Dwight D Eisenhower" was named "Golden Shuttle" until 1945.
Fantastic machines!
"A man of little significance"
Nope - that was "Tornado" a newly built A1 (to original specs - slightly improved see here: http://www.a1steam.com/)
I've seen it, actually I've been on a train pulled by it - fantastic!
The A4s are among my favourite steam engines though - Mallard's record (and engine) breaking run was amazing.
Cheers,
Damn, I missed this, but I'm sure it will all happen again.....just 25 years to wait!!
One word. Classic
What a sight!
Thanks for posting Rod.
Cheers,
Neil.
Thanks for posting Rod.
If you've the slightest interest in steam, Google "Strategic Steam Reserve". Nostalgia & conspiracy theory all in one.
______
Jim.
A fantastic day out!
I'm actually quite amazed so many are still kept in running condition. Marvellous work there by the rail restoration enthusiasts.
So clever my foot fell off.
What the fuss was all about......
http://mobile.thenorthernecho.co.uk/...or_final_time/
Rod