Barrow Hill Roundhouse by night; Amy's shots

Time Line Events recently staged one of their regular night shoots at the awesome Barrow Hill Roundhouse, near Chesterfield. We've been wanting to do one of these shoots for years, but they always clash with Scouts or they fall on a school night. This October, the fates aligned to allow us to attend, so here's a selection of Amy's pics from the night (the pair of us were there with both Younger and Elder Childs).

Trying a variety of different styles during the shoot, like this aged-looking image.

A few opportunities for arty close-ups, like the buffers of two box-vans parked up on one of the shed roads.

The lighting allowed for some rather dramatic shots.

By the end of the evening, the smoke from the machines meant you got odd effects, like the ceiling looking like a painted canvas backdrop.

Whilst the focus of the even was on the steam locomotives, there were plenty of opportunities to get some shots of the diesel and electric locomotives that were there under-restoration.

There'll be a couple more of these coming up this week, with other shots (including some cameos with actors in period dress).

 

Middleton Railway Gala, end of Summer

I (Ben) have been struggling to fit-in doing railway photography recently, between family stuff, the Day Job, and commissioned work. Indeed, as a railway enthusiast I've not managed to do much of the Railway 200 Celebrations at all this year. One event I did manage was a morning at the Middleton Railway.

Always the glamorous locations...

Yeah, definitely wouldn't be walking around here at any time later than about 9.30am.

The abandoned Dartmouth Road branch.

It was a slightly gloomy morning, sadly. Usually when we go the galas at the Middleton the weather is stunning. Maybe it's because I was there on my own, the weather-Gods must smile instead on Amy or The Childs, not me.

The train service was a bit limited too, compared to normal. The Balm Road Branch, usually a highlight, is now shut because the level crossings can't be used, so services were just the same mixed train and three locomotives trundling back and forth on the main line.

Still, a few chances to get pictures of the trains as references for model projects.

One of the highlights of the Middleton are the carriages where you can see the locomotives up close, though another disappointment this year was the open-balcony coach wasn't in service. Luckily one with observation windows at the ends was in use instead.

For all those minor disappointments, however, the Middleton does have an atmosphere all of its own. Small, industrial locomotives, unusual stock, and an unfenced railway. And yet, when the line was first preserved, it was in a post-industrial hellscape, whereas today it's a little corridor of the countryside buried in suburbia. I've not come across a preserved line quite like it, and I do enjoy visiting.

I only had time for a morning there, riding the trains and a bit of linesiding, but I was able to add to my library of shots of the place (as a modeller of Micro Layouts, the Middleton crops up a lot in my articles).

 

The Turner Prize at Cartwright Hall, September 2025

A few weeks ago, we went to see the Turner Prize show at Cartwright Hall. It's not often we get an exhibition of this calibre up here, but the City of Culture Status opens doors a bit.

A nice, bright, Autumn Sunday morning saw us arriving bright and early for the show.

We started with the room showing the work by Zadi Xa. Interesting colour palette, and the reflective floor was an eyecatching feature, allowing you to appreciate the work in a very immersive fashion.

Haunting.

Also on the ground floor, Rene Matic. This was more like the sort of work we spent years viewing at galleries around the country, particularly when we were both studying at Uni. The way the pics were presented was interesting, and the selection of pics was attention-grabbing.

Mohammed Sami was my favourite of the show- huge canvasses on the walls. I kept coming back to this one, I love the way the shadows sit on the scene, and the unusual viewpoint.

Eyecatching and slightly troubling, thought-provoking too.

Nnena Kalu. There's something great about a big, colourful installation piece that fills a space.

We've done a few Turner shows over the years, Ben particularly (as he lived a little closer to London growing up, so was able to nip down on cheap day trips in the days that the shows never left the city). A good mix of work, and all four of them show the effort and creativity that's been put into the work. Definitely worth seeing.

 

Metcalfe Models Terraced Houses in British Railway Modelling

Another project in British Railway Modelling magazine for me (Ben), this time a rather fun build of the new generation of Metcalfe Models terraced houses. My commission was to construct and personalise the kits. 

This was pretty much where the 'build according to the instructions' bit ended, and the fun began...

Basic interior details, and lighting from Christmas Tree lights.

There's a painfully detailed, as ever, account of the build on the model-making blog. And in the mag of course, please buy the mag and support non-AI generated, proper hobby publications!

Personalising each house was rather fun. This one was based on ours.

Then a house for sale.

And the Dreaded Kids Birthday Party. Again, all based on where we live now, and where we lived up in Carlisle in a street not unlike this.

Quite a big diorama built for this one, because it's intended for another article early next year.

And in the mag, looking good as usual thanks to the talented design team at BRM.

 

Twilight at Pont Croeser

During the summer we ended up doing a couple of evening trips down the road to Pont Croeser Station in the evenings.

Well with a sky and sunset like this, how could we not?

The main purpose of the visit was with getting some reference pics of the Welsh Highland Railway halt here.

We're doing a build inspired by this for Garden Rail Magazine, so needed some shots of the real building.

There's a reason we love coming back to this part of the country every year...