Curator at large…

Paul Jarman / July 14, 2011 / Leave a comment / News

14th July 2011

Over the last five days or so I have been out and about throughout England, meeting contractors and looking at various projects. Here is a brief review of just a few of the things I saw…

Below: Kidderminster, the Severn Valley Railway and Stannier 5MT Mogul No.42968 has just arrived with an afternoon train from Bridgnorth.

Below: At Hampton Loade this ex Barry Railway coach is under restoration. I was particularly interested in the footboard brackets, something which is missing from our DoS coach and which will be replaced with regard to loading gauge and clearances (the reason they were removed in the first place).

Below: Another LMS Mogul, Ivatt 2MT No.46443 seen at Bridgnorth on a footplate experience train.

Below: Another photo of 42968.

Below: Moving on (south) to Didcot Railway Centre in Oxfordshire, here is GW Mogul No.5322 in WW1 ‘Railway Operating Division’ livery.

Below: This is Jane. Or Shannon. It depends on when you stick a pin in its history! Currently subject of an appeal for an early return to steam, something which would look very nice at one of ours steam events…

Below: On the left is the replica Broad Gauge loco, Firefly. A standard gauge train disappears into the distance to the right of the scene. Note the mixed gauge track.

Below: Didcot is home to the Great Western Society, based around an original GWR locomotive shed which has been extensively developed to include restoration facilities, carriage sheds, working demonstration lines and much else.

Below: This is Newcastle built RSH ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’.

Below: The engine is interesting in being fitted with a Worthington type pump, like Coffee Pot No.1 at Beamish, and is the only other standard gauge loco with this that I have seen.

Below: One of the latest projects at Didcot has been the completion of the Steam Railmotor, basically a railway carriage with a steam engine built into it at one end. It is seen here in its own engine shed, based on an original at Reading and similar to what we are planning to build here at Beamish to support the Rowley Station operation.

Below: Moving eastwards, I called in at Duxford, an enormous museum and part of the Imperial War Museum. This loco is a narrow gauge armoured Simplex, and is actually ours! It was loaned for restoration many years ago and is on display in the Land Warfare Hall at Duxford.

Below: The Land Warfare Hall has a large number of diorama displays, as seen in these views…

Below: In a colossal hanger to the west of the site are a large number of aircraft on display – the first view shows an English Electric Lightning. In the other views see how many types you can spot…!!!

Below: I was very taken with this portable workshop!

Below: In the conservation hanger is this Boeing B17 – better known as a Flying Fortress, currently receiving attention following stripping of paint.

Below: Outside is another B17, Sally B, which shows the outline of these impressive WW2 bombers to advantage.

Below: The interior of the American Air Museum…

Below: A delicate situation as a Mustang is unpacked and prepared for assembly – they look so much more fragile than steam engines being unloaded!

Below: Duxford is still a working airfield and this Spitfire was flying throughout the afternoon.

Below: I came back north via Crich, home of the National Tramway Museum. Here is Glasgow 812 in the depot complex.

Below: A series of views taken inside the Great Exhibition Hall at Crich, which shows the development of the tramcar through an exhibition of vehicles and various films and displays.