Normal Service at Danes Wood

25th July 2014.

Services are running normally on the Danes Wood railway, apart from speed restriction past the oak tree. The first three pictures show the progress of a freight train of 36 loaded wagons, a GUV, and a brake van. It had set off from The Barn headed by a Stanier 8F, which failed before the whole train had left the yard. A West Country class pacific, normally a passenger train engine with a reputation for wheel-slip on gradient, was the only loco available to deputise for the failed 8F. A Jinty was standing by to assist as a banker if needed (which it was).



34041 "Wilton" deputising on a heavy mixed freight, crosses the Lawn viaduct below the 1 in 50 bank from The Barn.

 

The train pounds up the 1 in 50 reverse curves towards the Gate viaduct and the Oak Tree, assisted at the rear by an unidentified "Jinty" in ex-works condition.



The short level stretch above the Gate viaduct offers little respite as the train must be slowed to 5mph past the Oak Tree before the final 1 in 50 climb to the summit tunnel.




Shortly after Wilton has passed, the celebrity new-build A1 pacific "Tornado" clatters down the gradient from the summit with an evening luxury dining train.

30th July 2014

A couple more shots from yesterday to show that trains are still running despite the major construction work at Quarry Junction. The main reason I want to keep the circuit complete as long as possible is that most visitors (friends, relatives, neighbours) ask to see it running, whether or not they are normally interested in model railways, and we usually have a fair number of visitors at this time of year!


A short fitted freight train crawls tentatively through the diversion construction site.



Standard class 4 2-6-0 76011 rattles into a curve with a short fitted freight, as the last light of the sun is fading. The photographer has used several high-powered flash guns to make this picture, with the permission of the railway company and the full knowledge and agreement of the loco crew.