Agricultural Power from the Past – Review of the event…
Here is a glance over days 2, 3 and 4 of the Agricultural Power from the Past event – grabbed as and when I had the chance and so augmented by the work of others, whose contributions are very much appreciated!
Firstly, here are a couple of photos showing Blackpool Boat tram No.233’s last few working days in the UK – seen awaiting public service on Friday and taking part in a photographic charter on Saturday night. We were intrigued by rumours 233 was not going to operate on Sunday – certainly not the case and evidence that the rumour mills are very much active even when the sun shines and we are fulfilling our endevour to ensure 233 was in service to the very end of its stay!
The weather was by and large very kind, and the Par twins proved popular both during the day and during two evening photo shoots, one which was an extension of the usual public day, whilst the second (also seen above with 233) was a Jason Cross organised shoot taking place after dark. You can see more of Jason’s work at his website: http://www.15c.co.uk/news.htm
Dave Hewitt sent a selection of photos taken on various days of the event – seen in this gallery:
Colin Slater also sent some images through:
Here are a few of my own shots:
Whilst I didn’t really escape duties in the Colliery, some passing vehicles were photographed, and are seen here. I’ll shortly add a gallery about the event and include numerous other images kindly sent in by others, to give a moer complete picture of the event.
Various working displays were set up for the event – a sawbench being seen here, complete with Field Marshall tractor providing the motive power.
A highlight (for me at least!) of the day was the steaming of No.18 on test, following careful attention to and adjustment of its slide valves by Alan Freebury, who was one of the guest drivers attending to help us out. The locomotive was steamed today, and for the first time performed rather well. There is still much to sort out in terms of fine tuning, but it was able to haul a number of short trains and reveal something of its ‘voice’. We now have a further long list of jobs to complete, but it was a great lift to drive it and hear it striding up the Colliery yard. I hope to add some film of this shortly…
Here is a gallery of photos taken by Eric Garrod, a regular photographer at Beamish and whose website can be seen at: http://www.ericgarrodphotos.com/
Excellent photos love the double heading of the par twins,
I’ve noticed that you have bars in the 4ft holding the rails together on the colliery exchange sidings, why do you do that as I thought sleepers do that? any info much appreciated.
Hi Rob – they are tie bars, to hold the gauge. With the flat bottomed track in the Colliery, the rails are spiked to the sleepers, sometimes screwed. These can work loose over time and whilst the sleeper retains its structural integrity in terms of supporting the track, the tie bars ensure the rails cannot spread and assist the track fastenings. You will also see them on the tramway, and they are often hidden too, where concrete foundations are used for the rail support (as in the case of some of the tram stop areas for instance). Its a belt and braces approach and in due course the aim is to bury much of the Colliery railway sidings in pit waste and ash to recreate the appropriate appearance – if we can find enough to do the job! Paul