KWVR Spring Gala

As the leaves drop from the trees, and our local line, the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway winds-down their operations after the summer rush, it's back to the start of the year today on the blog, to when the line held their Steam Gala.  I (Ben) had just started a new job, but was lucky enough to get a day off on the Friday, so I was able to spend a couple of days riding the trains and going lineside.

Walking up to Damems bought this unexpected sight, next to a river on a cold Spring day, quite some way from either sea or swimming pool.  As people who've spent several projects mucking around in random spots with inflatables, I wonder if it was someone doing the same as us.

Visiting from the Severn Valley Railway, the Pannier tank trundles through Damems.

Something of an unexpected problem whilst trying to get to a location, turned out my boots were not as waterproof as the makers would have had me believe...

Being as I'd be stuck at the more urban end of the line on the Friday, I thought I'd revisit an angle I'd tried during 2020, and the bridge over the old Great Northern Railway route into town.

Light-engine run by the 0-6-0, just returned to service at this point.

Down amongst another favourite location spot, the high retaining walls on the climb out of Keighley.

I managed a couple of hours up at the more rural end of the valley, and went for a slightly arty shot with the snowdrops in shot.

My lunchtime companion, I'd guess he'd just come out of winter hibernation, as he was a bit sluggish.  I ended up moving him out of the middle of the path.

Saturday was mainly spent actually enjoying riding the trains with the family, but I manged a couple of shots, such as the Pannier above...

...and a night shot with the other visiting loco, which was most unusually hauling a night freight train.  There were a few of us out to see it, Elder Child accompanied me to get some pics, and the station staff very kindly let us all onto the platform, and left the lights on.

Sunday morning saw some light-engine moves, so I was out bright and early to see them. The best of the bunch was the Pannier shuffling around Keighley.

There were many, many photographers out and about, so I didn't end up getting owt published in the mags, but I did manage one of the night shots in the Pic of the Day feature.