"The Black Hat" Photography Website

Hello all,

Photos and report here from a trip to Scotland to see the Jacobite, which will be the first of many releases following a return to updating the backlog for the website.

https://www.blackhatrailwaypictures.co.uk/f167134874

Returning to the Jacobite in Scotland saw me see an operation that often repeated the success of what I saw some years ago. Now the two train operation has become very much established during the high season, the stock and engines also being very much the same, even the nice brochure quoted previously on my last trip still showed many of the details, including the passage from, the History of the Midland Railway written in 1876. However, scones and artisan cheese selections might be a new addition.

The Jacobite prides itself on offering a number of experiences – it gives an insight into travel from yesteryear, a journey with stunning panoramic views and a chance to share an experience with loved ones that will forever remain memorable. While many still were coming for the locations in a Wizards film, many were also taking in the sight, sound and smell of steam engines at work with WCRC’s ‘vintage’ carriages as their own brochure describes. Here, WCRC find engines that have a fitting nod to the lines past. This week saw Ian Rileys engines 45407, running as 45157 The Glasgow Highlander and 44871 joined by North East Locomotive Preservation Groups K1, 62005, my personal all-time favourite engine. My last trip saw the K1 absent and on the first day there, it looked as if Riley’s time might have jinxed my return to Scotland to find 45157 standing on the front of the train. With the K1 needing more time to be prepared, the first day saw the two Black 5’s take on the line in splendid form. The following two days saw K1 take the morning train, with 44871 the latter.

It was interesting to note the crews and see them go about their work, both supported by WCRC. NELPG had a crew with Driver John Hunt, the man who literally has written the book about working and driving the West Highland Extension, ‘Driving the Jacobite’ on the controls for the first workings out of Fort William. On the second journey the Riley crew that was led by Driver Matthew Earnshaw who demonstrated with extraordinary skill that the future of steam can be assured if crews and a new generation can master the art of their forbearers. Both displayed the usual, traditional and excellence in both working their engines, but also speaking to passengers and letting them photograph and view the engine at both the start and end of the journey. It was endearing to see that the many visitors, including many foreign nationals, were saw locomotive operation, performance and support crew teamwork at its very best. Even train crew service was excellent, with friendly welcomes and help to get tickets for the days travel. The fact that the morning service was often booked is a testament to the popularity of the service that might get people wanting the vantage point that the wizard saw from the film, but gets them leaving with an experience of railway travel never to forget.

For me personally, it was a delight to see the K1. It sounded and performed excellently when seeing it at work. The Black 5’s too were great performers and the mix of Eastern and Midland traction this time, gave the line a wonderful feel of the lines history that has often changed with different operators. Last time I came to Scotland, and followed the crews of the Jacobite. Again I quote from the aforementioned Victorian literature that still adorns the West Coast Leaflet,

“If a line were to be built it would have to be by spanning the valleys with stupendous viaducts and piercing mountain heights with enormous tunnels, deep cuttings would have to be blasted through the rock; and mile after mile of high embankments would somehow have to be pilled on soft peaty moors.”

Thus, I managed to get to some other interesting locations chasing the Jacobite, along the route, including the photos between the Beasdale Tunnels and climbed onto peaty moors to get a vantage point that often saw me sinking through the ground and having feet and shoes completely soaked. It was all worth it to witness such engines and crews at work and fate would see sun, K1 and vantage point combine for the photo of the NELPG machine returning to Fort William over Glenfinnan viaduct.

The leaflet continues,

“However great the obstacle, they simply had four obstacles to take – to go over it, or go under it, or to go round it, or to go through it; but go they must.”

I followed these two very different crews, but with both completing the task to the same high standard, often getting a nice wave as again they saw me proudly capturing the moment on camera. I chased after them, over streams and peaty ground, round hills and onto cuttings; but go and chase I must. Again I was happy with my interest. Again I followed the Jacobite.

 

Hello all,

Report here from the Severn Valley Gala weekend:

https://www.blackhatrailwaypictures.co.uk/p261474384

Arriving into the area around the Severn Valley listening ironically to Big Trains, East Coast Racer track, I was able to see a few trains tackle the climb on Erdington Bank. Then with me starting to feel none too well, it was time to get the tent up and prepare for the next few days. Friday turned out to be a day of glorious weather but with me having a heavy cold, wearing black saw me more like a lizard during the hot sunny weather. Resting between photos. There were some nice sights as I started out photographing the viaduct near Kidderminster, the new bridge providing a good new vantage point for something different. Then it was nearby for the closer photos, joined by others which forced me to change my vantage point.

With the sun panning round and joined by a new friend, Harvey, who volunteered to be a new guide for the area, I photographed near the tunnel. Thence it was over to near Bewdley, before heading for Arley and Victoria bridge in the fading light. The angle here was not good, nor was the river shot at this time of day – the foliage having grown too high.

Saturday started with a shot nearby, breakfast and starting to feel better made me more confident for the day. I ventured to Highley for the Autocoach; saw that before then heading back to near Bewdley. Some photos here were nicely lit before then joined by Tom, I set off on foot for the decent side of Victoria Bridge and was joined by John from down south somewhere… The friendship and convo that you have when meeting people is what makes this as much fun as the engines and photography, so perched on the banks of the Severn, on our own little islands we admired the trains, scenery and the chance of me falling in.

Saturday night proved to be memorable, joined now by the excellent photographer and good friend Tom Houseman, we admired that gorgeous Darlington built machine 43106 being turned out instead of the Q class. Then it was food and a slight rest before the night time running. This was the main reason I was there, the experience and sight of being on a station in the early hours, odd photo and chat to others being something not often experienced. Sadly for me the two trains seemed to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, some revelling in the occasion with perhaps too much merriment, the other set being one that was already a travelling hostel. To me, it defeats the purpose. Yes some might want overnight travel and rest, but the many volunteers that manned the stations, signal boxes, engines and stock all deserve better. They were working unsocial hours, for free, on a shift pattern few sleeping on the trains would countenance. They deserved better, with more enjoying their graft and hard work, with all the facilities and atmosphere the railway could offer. If you wanted to sleep you should have left the train, it is not a travelling hotel designed to give cheap accommodation with the cost of rover tickets for all those on board unlikely to meet the many trips along the line or the energy used by staffing and powering the facilities.

In any case, Sunday proved to turn wet, it gave chance for some photography again on the bank to Kidderminster, before then riding on a turn to there and back from Bewdley. Once done, it was time to bid a good gala goodbye and return north, thinking of where engines climb hills proper – the forthcoming NYMR gala weekend.