KWVR Spring 2026 Steam Gala

We hadn't expected to make it to the Keighly and Worth Valley Railway Spring Steam Gala this year; normally, I (Ben) like to try and get a couple of weekdays off work to lineside on the Thurs and Fri, then we ride as a family on the other days.

This year though, a lack of staff at work meant that looked like a no-go. Then I earned so much TOIL I needed to take it somewhere, and by happy chance, it coincided with Amy having an Inset Day as well, so we were able to ride the trains Friday instead. 

After weeks of terrible weather, the sun was (largely) out on the Friday, and we were able to get some pics, mainly project-fodder for upcoming magazine work.

The railway had laid on a pair of visitors for this year, SR Pacific "Braunton" and GWR "Nunney Castle". 

Impressive as these engines are, I always struggle a bit at this time of year. Unless you catch the lighting right, it can be a bit tricky to photograph dark green locomotives against the dead surroundings. Though it helped mainly getting station shots on the Friday and Saturday, as the more urban backgrounds helped the locomotives stand out.

"Nunney Castle" was particularly impressive, and useful to get some shots for a project for Hornby that's coming up.

This was the machine we were most interested in catching though, Avonside "Dora". Very much a toy, and a rich-mans plaything (it's the privately owned loco of a millionaire owner, temporarily based on our railway), it's a lovely, characterful thing.

It was particularly impressive, shunting stock around Keighley Station, effectively on station-pilot duties.

"Anne", the Sentinel, was out as well, and provided a useful opportunity to get some pics.

The Friday and Saturday were mainly spent riding the trains (and buying bits from the VCT shop), and it was a lovely, lively atmosphere, with busy trains. I decided to come back Sunday morning for a few lineside pics too, and they'll be in the next update...

 

Salts Mill in the Spring Sunshine

We've realised it's been a bit of a grim winter, weather-wise, and consequently there hasn't been too much photography going on. That said, whenever the weather has permitted, we've tried to snap some pics. Here's some from the wonderful Salt's Mill, in Saltaire, from earlier in the year. From memory this was pretty much the first decently blue-sky saturday of the year when we went out.

 

Liverpool Waterfront

I (Ben) have been doing a lot of research on the Liverpool waterfront for an upcoming piece for Hornby; after immersing myself in photographs of ocean liners, brick-built warehouses, iron cranes and the overhead railway, it was a little odd to pay a return visit to Liverpool and see all the steel, concrete, and glass.

There's an interesting mix of buildings around the Albert Dock; I was actually quite taken with the modern look.

It has to be said though, it was all a bit austere in many ways compared to the old Liverpool, but I suspect the 'character' of the places in those old photographs was quite grim and probably a bit dangerous most of the time.

Still, it made for an interesting contrast.

More on the project later in the year, with a bit of luck...