The Olympic flame was in Worcestershire today, reaching Bewdley in the afternoon. A special train was waiting to take the flame to Kidderminster, with a brief stop at West Midlands Safari Park, where the elephants were waiting to wave a flag at the train. I’m sure there will be a news link on the internet showing the elephants & I will add it later. Here is a link from the BBC web site
My photos show the train soon after it passed the Safari Park
First train seen was the flask from Keyham to Crewe , hauled by 37608, running as 6Z40. An empty coal train from Rugeley ran south behind 66522 as 4V57 and after what seemed a very long wait, the convoy appeared. 57003 hauled 50026 from Eastleigh to Lydney & the Dean Forest Railway. 31466 was attached at Lydney and the 3 locos headed to Burton. Eventual destination is the KWVR for a diesel gala this weekend.
A very smart looking 31466 at the rear of the convoy
The photos showing Queen Victoria have already been included in the updates from the previous 2 days, but I decided to include them in a separate album. As mentioned before, the event was to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the original railway along the Severn Valley between Worcester & Shrewsbury in 1862.
Queen Victoria is seen heading for her train at Arley.
The second day of the anniversary weekend. Some more photos of the visiting locos and of course “Queen Victoria” at Arley.
This loco is the oldest working steam loco in the country and was built in 1863
The railway between Worcester and Shrewsbury was opened in 1862 and the event this weekend marks the 150th anniversary. Three visiting locos built in the 1870s could be seen in action at Kidderminster and “Queen Victoria” travelled the line in her special train, stopping off at the stations on the way to Bridgnorth.
The Head Wrightson no. 1 “coffee pot” is one of the visiting locos
After watching a couple of freight trains pass, 47805 & 47818 are seen heading the empty stock from Crewe to Eastleigh through Leamington Spa, with 47802 on the rear.
The locos accelerate through the station
The West Coast Class 57 went to Gloucester to recover the Class 47, which had failed last week, and then to Kidderminster to collect 55019. The convoy is seen passing Cradley Heath on the way to Burton.
The 3 locos passing Cradley Heath
As well as the locos above, a few photos of LNER teak 7960 in the bay at Kidderminster. 55019 is also seen in the yard, and Captain Baxter is outside the Carriage Works, also a poor distant shot of Furness Railway no. 20.
A distant shot for a change, 43106
The convoy to Swanage, seen in the previous update, had to be recovered as 47375 failed. 50049 is sent to recover D821, 55019, D8188 & D8059. The failed Class47 was left at Gloucester. The locos are seen as they arrive back at Kidderminster and are shunted to the diesel MPD yard.
5 diesels, a semaphore signal & sunlight
Unfortunately nothing went to plan for the loco move to Swanage. D6515 had problems on the way from Swanage to Barrow Hill to collect 55019 and was replaced by 47375. After a late arrival the previous day, the convoy departed on time with the 3 SVR diesels attached for the journey to Swanage. Everything seemed fine, but the 47 failed later in the morning and the convoy had to be returned to Kidderminster – those photos will follow later.
The 5 locos are seen reversing off the SVR tracks
I was at Kidderminster to see the convoy of diesels depart for Swanage and this loco was on a low-loader in the car park. The loco was built in 1877 and will be seen in action over the 150th anniversary weekend May 19/20th.
It’s so hard to get back into a routine when you have a few days away. I’m so behind with everything at the moment. Anyway, some photos taken at Bodmin last week – our train was hauled by 5521.
This photo is taken at Bodmin General
