KWVR Diesel Gala... Love a Deltic

The Class 55, or "Deltic" is one of those design classics and icons of the British railway scene.  The KWVR had "Alycidon" on the roster for the Diesel Gala, and I (Ben) was anxious to get some pics of the machine ready for an upcoming article.

Incidentally, the first train pic I had published in a mag was a Deltic at the KWVR.

Working the goods, the main pic I was really wanting to get for the whole weekend.

Though I preferred the angle for the return.

I'd booked for myself, Elder Child, and Father-in-Law to ride the goods train to Damems and back.

The shots of the loco were taken on the run back downhill, with the 55 trailing; it was throwing out so much oil that everyone in the brakevan on the way up got splattered. No fault to the loco, it's designed to blast up the ECML with a dozen coaches, not hill-climb slowly through the Yorkshire hills.

Back at Keighley.

Running-round.

And on a passenger train at Keighley.

Lurking in the gloom.

 

KWVR Diesel Gala, 2025

Ah, the Worth Valley Diesel Gala. I've been going to these every year they've run since about 2008, and love them. For sheer variety of photogenic traction, they can't be beaten.

The day started up at Haworth, with Father-in-Law and Elder Child (both working volunteers, but on their day off here). Network Rail 47 trundling past...

...though we were here for the Goods which followed (pics in a separate post).

Then it was down to Keighley to ride the goods, and there was the 47 again.

The ride on the goods train was great- completely different atmosphere to the one we rode on the steam gala.

"Alycidon" doing the honours on one end...

"Vulcan" was on the other.

Then back up with the car to Ingrow to join the train, and the start of two days of actually riding the passenger services (Friday with Elder Child and Father-in-Law, and me and Amy on the Sunday).

Weather was... changeable.

There was a bit of photography around the site at Ingrow, for some model making project work.

A great weekend overall- there'll be more in some future posts.

 

A little play with the underwater camera

Whilst we were in Cemaes, we decided to ressurect the underwater camera.

The pics didn't emerge too well; the quality of the camera really isn't that up to snuff these days.

We reckon for the next trip, it'll be time to resurrect the camera bag with the plastic lens-case that you can use any camera with.

Still, there's something in it. Subject matter is right, just need to upgrade the technology we're using to try and capture it.

 

Sunset over Cemaes

After a week in Wales, it felt like the sun finally came out properly when we arrived on Anglesey for the second weekend of the half-term.

We took the opportunity to pop down to the beach for the sunset.

Bit of a play with the panoramic setting...

Sometimes it's just nice to get out for a stroll, and to take some pictures, on a pleasant evening.

Around the Ffestinog on a murky May holiday

The weather over the Half-Term was rather on the poor side. It didn't make for great photography conditions generally, and considering how many shots we've taken on the Ffestiniog in the last two decades, the recent trips have been a bit of a poor showing.

The pair of us went for a walk up around Tanybwlch, the claggy, murky conditions clear to see.

Still, there was the chance for some nice shots of the local plants...

Play with the panorama feature.

About the best train shot of the day. Due to some poor planning, I (Ben) managed to leave the memory card out of the camera, so this was as good as the phone could cope with.

Slightly better shot of "Merddin Emrys" at Porthmadog, in the brief bit of afternoon sunshine on the Wednesday.

"Merddin Emrys" again. I wanted a shot of this loco in the new (old) livery, and if the clouds had moved just a little quicker, it would have been in perfect light... Maybe another go in July beckons.

The last day in Porthmadog, and "Taliesin" at Harbour...

"Merddin Emrys" one final time, in the gloomy light.

 

The flowers of Cemaes

Just a short post tonight, whilst we're in the edit from last week in Wales.

These are some shots Amy took in my (Ben's) parent's garden. Partly just for the pics of some very lovely plants, but partly also to get some fodder for possible future abstracts/digital photomanipulations.