A return to the Vale of Rheidol

We did the Vale of Rheidol Railway a few times this year and last, but only in the sense of calling in to visit the stations (and eat in the cafes). This summer, we thought we'd actually ride the line.

One positive of the heatwaves having finally ended, the trains were actually running with steam haulage instead of the two diesel shunters.

No fancy pants first-class for us. But equally, we weren't tempted by the open-sided coaches we'd initially toyed with. Wisely, as it turned out.

This loco was both a blessing and an annoyance. I (Ben) had been really looking forward to the BR Blue tank loco, but it was in the shed. Still, the Garratt is always an impressive beast. Plus, for shots out the window on the way back down, it was really rather impressive.

Waiting to depart Devils Bridge. We didn't get many pics on the way up, as the train was quite busy and we were stuck next to one of the non-opening windows.

As I said, we'd toyed with the open-siders, but decided we'd have one of the near-empty regular coaches for the way back down, as we could poke the cameras out the windows on either side. And this turned out to be the right choice, as the heavens utterly opened just before we got the right-away.

You can't deny, the scenery is stunning.

Moody; might as well have been shooting monochrome.

Waiting for an upcoming service- you can sort of see the rain hammering down.

What you can't see in this shot is the crammed carriages, especially the open-siders full of half-drowned tourists.

Then back down through the woods. This could almost be a line in the tropics, or something like the Puffing Billy in Australia.

The Sun Sets over Porthmadog

Whilst most of the week in Wales, the weather was poor, we did get some amazing sunsets mid-week.

Parking up opposite the Ffestiniog engine sheds at Boston Lodge, we took an evening walk over the Cob embankment into Porthmadog.

Lovely view over to the mountains.

And into the setting sun. We stopped off for a cold drink at Spooners, the station cafe at Porthmadog as it was still a warm evening, then set off back.

Trying out some monochrome shots on the way.

The moon in the disance.

All very pretty, and a nice walk out in the evening.

 

Surgical Instruments

My (Ben's) day job is with medical education; every summer, one of the most dull jobs is auditing our supplies, including the instruments. Well, we have to get them out and count them, so I thought this year I'd have a little fun.

Just some arty angles, using the inspection lights too.

My personal favourite needle holders.

Who knows, might have to get some of these framed up for wall-art pieces at the job.

 

Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway at the end of August

I (Ben) have managed very little photography around the Ffestiniog Railway this year (probably due to how comparatively little time we've had in Wales). Still, we managed a bit of a visit to Porthmadog Station and a few other spots along the line too...

Sometimes railway photography is about being in the right place at the right time. We were driving past Pont Croeser on the way down to Aberystwyth, when this little beauty appeared out of the gloom. We were somewhere we could safely pull off the road, the camera is on the back seat, and out I leapt...

Yellow Train (Wins The Game)

One of the WHR's newer diesels, No.9, trundling by with a hopper wagon.

Anyway, later in the week, onto Tanybwlch, and "James Spooner" trundles into Tanybwlch. I didn't manage any other pics there, as my usual bad timing re-asserted itself. We missed one train on arrival, and left just before two more.

Harbour Station on the last gloomy day of the holiday. Gloomy both in terms of weather, and a fairly dramatic argument with The Childs (compounded by the stress of us needing to drive back home for work and school about an hour after we took the pics).

"Moelwyn" on a shuttle train; I've only managed a couple of pics of this over the years, it was nice to see it out in service.

And "David Lloyd George" running-round. Another year and no pics of my favourite, "Welsh Pony". Ah well, maybe next year.

 

The G O A T

Just a silly little post today.

We were in Llandudno, I (Ben) was in the process of taking an... unpleasant... phone call off the GP, when this little poser appeared.

Yeah that goat is a natural model.

With arty, stylish breeze.

 

Barmouth Viaduct

Whilst we were in Wales, we took a trip out to Barmouth. This used to be a regular spot for us when The Childs were little, but a combination of our favourite cafe closing, the Childs growing to old, teenaged, and boring for days playing on the beach, and the closing of some nice shops, means we don't really go there often now.

What we had though was a need to get some reference pics for an upcoming model project that Ben is doing.

The welcoming face of a mainline station at one of the supposedly busiest seaside resort towns in West Wales...

It was also a chance to get some pics of the dwindling fleet of Class 158's, due to be retired shortly. Shame the weather had taken a turn for the worse after a long, hot, dry summer.

Crossing the impressive viaduct.

This had a lot of refurbishment work done recently, and it probably looks better than it's done my whole life.

Actually the term refurbishment doesn't really do it justice, the level of work it's had. Almost all the metalwork and a lot of the timber is new.

Lots of wildlife to be observed on the low tide.

But again, shame about the poor weather. The idea had been to shoot some landscapes to use as backdrops for a miniatures build.

Northbound train approaching...

...and passing.

Then the walk back up, getting some more research shots for the build along the way.