For this post I thought we’d focus on the recent transport gala and the narrow gauge railway in particular, given that we presented both a strong Penrhyn Quarry Railway theme, but also Durham County Water Board railway too – and, of course, reunited Glyder with Ogwen, both in steam together since at least 1965…

Below: As with all best-laid plans, there was a glitch in the preparation, when one of the couplings on Glyder broke during mid-week running.  Chris turned his attention to making replacements, rather than repairing what had already been repaired at some point in the distant past, and the first couple of photos here show just how he did this…

Below: By tying nots in steel bar, he was able to both create the loops needed, and also the 90 degree transition between one end of the coupling and the other.  I’m aware these photos are sideways, but it takes so long to resolve, and the orientation doesn’t really take away from the image in this particular case!

Below: The new coupling (above) is seen with the old…

Below: On the Thursday before the event, the visiting locomotives arrived – and to answer questions as to how they move – his is the method!

Below: On Friday we hosted a photo-charter, where a group of photographers club together to hire the railway for the day in order to obtain a range of images, usually with greater control of the environs and line-up of locomotives.  The income is usually put against the costs of hiring/transporting locomotives, so is a very welcome additional income stream.

Below: Over in the town, the photo charter participants had Sheffield 264 and Crosville 716 to play with before the museum opened at 10am.  Photos courtesy of David Williams

Below: Several photos taken of the narrow gauge during the weekend – when the sun shone (and before the torrential rain that brought things to a close on Sunday afternoon!).

Below: Together again – though this time in steam!

Below: A healthy line-up of narrow gauge motive power at the end of the day…  Eventually we hope to add a second shed road to the right of this, and extend the running shed so that all of the locomotives are kept in one place. Something for the future…

And how they used to look…

Special thanks to the locomotive owners and crews, as well as other crew, who made the locomotives and themselves available to help with this event, and allow us to create some lovely images for the photographers and visitors alike!