| A summer gala has held today, featuring MVR Nos 1 Russell and 3 Blackbird, as well as 6 residents |
A busy scene at Woodrow. Russell is about to depart on the 1146. Blackbird is awaiting for Russell to leave so it can continue shunting. Coity Castle is on the same line as Blackbird, awaiting to move into the platform to clear the loop. In the siding are Nos. 8903 and 6 (in between turns), failed No. 5 and No. 10 - on display. 1136x770 wlr_summer_gala_001.jpg |
A favourite train of mine was the double heading of diesels - believed to be the first time since 2004 and the trials of No. 8. No. 8 'Coity Castle' pilots 'Blackbird' out of Woodrow tunnel.... 865x852 wlr_summer_gala_002.jpg |
... and up Amersham bank 809x852 wlr_summer_gala_003.jpg |
The talking train was a new experience for the WLR - and ran twice, with No 8903 and Russell hauling them. The afternoon train is seen here with Russell at the helm, heading back to Woodrow. This is rare - usually the 'TTT' runs on the other ('wrong') line - but this afternoon working commenced at Amersham rather than Woodrow, and this run was effectively a positioning turn 945x751 wlr_summer_gala_004.jpg |
The finale was rather different to usual - new diesel 'Blackbird' on 12 wagons. It performed well along this section... 998x357 wlr_summer_gala_005.jpg |
...rolling sweetly into Woodrow... 1136x852 wlr_summer_gala_007.jpg |
..but by the tunnel it was struggling... 1085x784 wlr_summer_gala_008.jpg |
... so assistance was called for. No. 8903 was hastily relit having just finished its days work - and left Amersham to pilot the flailing diesel up the bank. 1136x852 wlr_summer_gala_009.jpg |
For some reason sporting teh Centenarian headboard, No. 8903 pilots Blackbird up Amersham bank. This train has told us to limit the MVR based diesel to 9 wagons in the future. All trials were undertaken at the WLR wlight engine, and the trials undertaken at the MVR with ECS. Its first revenue earning tip was at this gala. 1136x852 wlr_summer_gala_010.jpg |
