The weekend just gone, the 1st and 2nd of July, was the "Rolling Stock Out" event at the Middleton Railway. Held in association with the Leeds Steampunk Market, the event featured steam-hauled trains in operation on the railway with a large market held in the exhibition shed (selling all manner of frock-coats, medals, jewelry and the like), and many, many people in costume.
Me and Amy are both Steampunk enthusiasts (and we've both done photography projects in the genre before), and frankly if we were not both so socially-awkward introverts, and didn't live in a slightly rough area, we'd probably go the whole hog with the cosplay too. But though we were not dressing up for the event, we decided it would be a nice way to introduce The Childs to the genre, pick up some bits and pieces from the market, and have a ride on the trains.
That isn't us by the way, but just a couple of the large number of people in costume (there was even a dog in goggles, always an excellent sign of enthusiasm).
One of the many reasons we like the Middleton Railway is that the custom-converted passenger carriages have an open verandah end; last time we did this it was diesels, the experience of being out and exposed whilst blasting through the tunnel hauled by steam power was rather more impressive...
I wanted a few reference pics looking along the track for a miniatures project I'm going to be doing in the autumn...
Park Halt, at the end of the line, is wonderfully basic, with minimal fencing meaning you can get nice and close (whilst being careful of course) to the locomotive.
The Slough Estates Railway no.3, which was in charge of the trains in the morning.
Arrival back into Moor Road, with "Matthew Murray", the other locomotive in use that day, on 'driver for a fiver' duties.
Still not us, far too glamourous, and neither I nor Amy can carry off a top hat with that aplomb.
With the possibility of Driver for a Fiver on offer, we went for it (well, me and the Father in Law). Not immediately obvious, but I'm driving this particular loco... where it turns out I have a similar style driving locomotives as I do cars, which is; defensive, too fast setting off, and braking too hard, to the alarm of passers by...
Then it was back on the train after lunch, where "Slough no.3" was still on mainline duty.
A slighter better attempt at the photograph in the tunnel...
Back at Moor Road, and more of the wonderfully costumed ensemble watching the Coffee Jousting.
Peckett Saddle tank outside on display.
After the drivers had stopped for lunch, the locomotives were swapped over and "Matthew Murray" was on the service train.
Quite busy up at the Park Halt terminus...
Then it was back off down the line.
Amy took a spell on the camera on the return journey, doing some long-exposure shots from the verandah.
On the return the train slammed to a somewhat sudden halt in the tunnel (apparently because of people on the tracks at the far end, or so we heard afterwards), and the loco let off steam, which was a, shall we say, interesting experience for those of us exposed on the end of the carriage. Still, made for a nice dramatic shot for Amy at the end of the shoot.
All in all a very fun day out, the Steampunk market was great (new coat, and some badges, top job), and the train rides enjoyable standing out on the verandah. There are some more events by the same lot http://www.leedssteampunkmarket.co.uk/ later in the year, so hopefully some more photography opportunities later in the year.
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