EL2 electric industrial locomotive

With another load of coal from the opencast pit at Pingzhuang, EL2 Bo-Bo electric no.7340 heads to the local washery.(built in the GDR by LEW Hennigsdorf) The opencast pit here and the electrics are no longer in use, but a number of deep mines are still active.

Kearsley Electric shunter

The day that Mr Jackson drove Mr Heyl and myself around Manchester to get pics of the emergency 'drags' after the 'Whisky and Soda' crash that required all passenger trains between Scotland and the LM region to pass through Manchester and Stockport! During that day, we chanced on Kearsley Power Station and asked if we could take some photos. They not only said yes, but turned on their overhead system and took us for a ride up to the exchange sidings on number 4 loco! Top men! Our two 'guides' are seen here chatting whilst we wander about taking photos! More to follow.....

class 08 diesel shunter

Coupling rods in the cab and part of my train, Target 30, south Manchester 'trip' working.
This day's working consisted of 25138, light engine Guide Bridge to Dewsnap, 9T30 to Trafford Park via the Fallowfield single line, back to Ashburys the same way, back up to Dewsnap for the next trip which included 08923, back to Trafford Park via Fallowfield - leave all but 08923 there - take the shunter to Reddish Shed, take the brake van back to Dewsnap and light engine back to Guide Bridge, followed by a few lunchtime beers in The Boundary Public House! A gratifying days work!

drivers cab 27001 electric locomotive

Metropolitan-Vickers Publication 1956 08
If you think that this is bit too technical, you should see the pages I've omitted!
Enjoy the cab view from 27001 which seems to have no bogies underneath, judging by the crossing gates being level with the cab!

87015 'Howard of Effingham' at Euston station

87015 'Howard of Effingham' at Euston - 26th September, 1982
After an exhausting weekend in Ireland doing GMs and Metrovicks, we were on our way back to Manchester via Crewe when they put this on the boat train. Well I couldn't turn down my highest mileage loco, so off we went to the 'smoke' via Bescot, Stetchford and Northampton! My 32nd run with it for a total of 3,834 miles! Seen here after the stock release.

class 87 loco at Heaton Norris Junction

class 87 loco at Heaton Norris Junction - 29th June, 1977
An early example of the tried and tested method of 'wrapping camera strap around wrist and hoping for the best', used as recently as April this year in New Zealand where it was literally a 'breath of fresh air' to be able to lean out of a train or be on an outside platform of a train - a long forgotten pleasure on the mainlines of this Health and Safety ridden country!

class 86 and crew at Manchester Piccadilly

86217 and crew at Manchester Piccadilly - late 1970s
After what Barking Bill said about 'a moment in time', I was reminded of this grainy 400asa neg that is now more important for the inclusion of the traincrew. Everybody seemed to look older than they actually were, or is that another sign of my own headlong (wine induced) rush into dotage?