Coalbrookdale

With the holiday in Shropshire drawing to a close, we nipped to the Coalbrookdale museum.

We didn't take many pics inside, though as usual there were some ideas for art and sculpture projects.

Of more interest to me (Ben) was getting some shots for a possible Hornby project.

Around the back of the site was this little collection of stored pieces, overgrown, so I thought I'd get some shots around the yard whilst The Childs were finishing their lunch.

I know this sort of shot is a bit of a cliché, but I rather liked the contrast between the greenery and the rusting metalwork.

 

Driving at Diesel at Oswestry

Having hit a ...significant milestone of a birthday... I (Ben) indulged in a lifelong dream of driving a locomotive. In this case, Class 73 "City of Winchester" on the Cambrian Heritage Railway at Oswestry.

A thoroughly enjoyable morning pottering up and down in this lovely old machine. With a day job that's all high-end electronics and touch-screens, it was great to spend a day playing with something so decidedly analogue.

I took the opportunity for a few detail shots in the engine bay.

Again, proper, lovely old technology.

A last portrait of the loco- though I'm very tempted to come back and have another go!  a big thanks to the railway and to the Vol, Phil, who did the instructing.

 

Bridgenorth Station on an overcast day

Midweek, we took a trip into Bridgenorth for lunch. Naturally it involved a little diversion to the Severn Valley Railway; once a regular haunt, but we've not been there for a long time.

The day was rather manky and overcast, so I (Ben) took the opportunity to get some more creative angles.

I'm also doing some model-making work on the Class 08 diesel shunter, so thought I'd get some detail and close-up shots of the example parked up in the yard.

"Atlantic Conveyor" waiting for the off. I'd switched to greyscale by this point to try and compensate for the poor lighting.

A final shot on the hill opposite the station.

 

Ceramics and Tile museums, Jackfield and Coalport

Amongst the many museums in the Ironbridge Gorge, we were really interested in visiting the tile and ceramic museums (partly because Amy is a ceramicist, and partly because, well, Middle Age is happening).

The tile museum in Jackfield is a working site, but a really nice museum has been created in part of the historical factory.

Studies of the tiles.  Looking for ideas for the new house.

Trying something a little more experimental and abstract with long-exposure settings.

We also nipped over the river to the similar site at Coalport, which is more focussed around things like plates, cups, and more domestic ceramics. Photography was a little tricky with the display cabinets, but there were still a few things which looked like inspiration for future projects.

Lovely spiral staircase.

 

Rushbury

Ironbridge itself; about the only decent shot I (Ben) managed, during a brief day when it wasn't overcast and raining.

We were stopping in a very nice little village called Rushbury; the first couple of nights were clear, and we thought we'd nip out to try a little night photography.  It was the first go with the new camera, and still a bit of experimenting to do.

The weather was rather better later in the week.

Sunset over the village.