So whilst the KWVR Diesel Gala was a mostly positive affair, and a great way to spend a few days unwinding from the job, there were some things which annoyed or frustrated me somewhat.
Diesel People. I get it, these locomotives are really impressive, but I've never 'got' the whole leaning out the windows, and bellowing and screaming. "Thrash!" "My Lordz!" and "TONES!!!" etc. Leaning out to brush, touch, and indeed kiss passing locomotives. It's the sort of thing that gets us all labelled as unsafe nutters, and frankly if someone loses an arm or head, it'll be the railway that gets closed down.
This isn't so much a frustration with the railway, but with Locals. The idiots who started walking the tracks during the Lockdowns, and kept on doing it, as if they'll never get killed by several hundred tons of speeding locomotive, because It's Their Right To Walk Where They F*cking Want". The consequence of this, the railway has had to put up new fences as a disincentive.
Friday saw a return to The Old Haunts.
All looking a bit overgrown down by Bridge 11.
Locals again. It reminded me somewhat that there's a reason why we moved away from here. Still, at least the graffiti is politically balanced. I wonder if the local trespassing teenage idiots have been down here since to update it to reference the new Prime Minister?
My old spot, in the river. I used to come here such a lot to take pics when I lived a two minute walk away... up to the weekend we finally moved out, which was when the drug-taking local teens who'd taken over the woods thought it was hysterical to hurl a brick at me. Proper Keighley Roadmen, living tough down The Ends of Ingrow. Not been back since, up until now.
Half reasonable shot, but I was getting spooked by the atmospherics, even at 9.30am on a weekday morning so I decided to sack it off and head for Population.
Here's another angle that's recently opened up, near Keighley. The old GNR access line to the goods yard. I struggled to get a shot here on the Spring Steam Gala, and fancied it again here. I set up a good 40 minutes in advance...
...then 5 minutes before the train, this Prat shows up. Looks at me, then stops there, right in the shot. Not even taking a picture. Just one of the dwindling number of entitled, Orange High-Vis photographers, the higher life-forms who lord it over us mere mortals on the public side of the fence. He deliberately stood there just to ruin my shot. Happens quite often on gala days, sadly.
Tried to make the best of it with a 90 degree turn.
Less of a problem with people, more of one with climate change. A very wet winter and Spring, followed by a warm sunny late-Spring, and the greenery had gone bonkers.
There's a path in there somewhere. Used to be a favourite spot for me in the valley. Typical, you turn your back by moving somewhere nicer and less stabby for a year, and the place goes all Day of the Triffids.
It also meant things looked quite nice, if somewhat heavy on stinging or spiky plants, bitey insects, and hayfever.
I had planned on doing the bridge at Top Field, but the summer sun had bought the photographers out in force, even at 8.30 on a Sunday morning, and I wasn't keen on joining the herd. So I went to find a more creative angle.
Yet more of the Prats who give the rest of us a bad name. Anything for THE PERFECT SHOT, especially trespass. Is it any wonder the local farmer dislikes photographers? Clearly the fence, barbed wire, and gate don't apply to them who WANT THE PERFECT SHOT (TONES, MY LORDZ, THRASH etc). I bloody despise people who trespass on private land for photographs, there is no need at all, with so many public footpaths here.
Right, ranting over. Sorry all. I shall try to get more positive.
