45212 in the spring sunshine, KWVR

With the Keighley and Worth Valley reopening this very morning, it seemed a good time to post these pics- 'Black 5' 45212 out on test trains a couple of weeks ago, prior to heading up to Scotland for a bit of mainline running.  I haven't seen much of this loco this winter; whilst owned by the KWVR it generally spends much of the year up in the Highlands operating excursions, then returns to Haworth for the winter, but between lockdowns and the loco receiving some mechanical attention it hasn't operated a great deal this winter.  Me and Elder Child saw it briefly on a grim, manky December day when it was operating services, then nothing.

Anyway, we'd been driving past Haworth and seen it in light steam at the start of the week, and I'd heard on the railway enthusiast grapevine that it was heading back up to Scotland, but I didn't know it would be out on test.  Then on the Wednesday of the second week of the school hols, whilst we were stuck in the house doing DIY, we heard the distinctive Stanier whistle as it trundled past to Keighley.  Not ones to miss an opportunity (honestly, as a railway photographer it is great living next to a preserved railway!), me, Elder Child, and Father-in-Law strolled out to get some pics of the return working.

This is a relatively new location for us, part of my quest to try and find lineside photography spots that other enthusiasts don't generally use (though we seen to have been the only people out getting pictures this day anyway as the runs weren't publicised).  And happily, just occasionally, I'm in the right place at the right time with the right weather, for a bit of railway photography.  

I was really happy with the shots from the morning, but with the good weather holding and the train making repeated passes along the valley, it seemed a waste to not go out and get some more pics in the afternoon in our regular spot at Damems by the river.

Really, it's been so nice being able to get out and photograph the trains again; and with them running again from this morning, we'll hopefully be able to ride them again soon.