Martin Loader's Railway Photography



		The first ever Deltic triple header on 9 March 1997 lays a smokescreen across Burrs on the East Lancashire Railway as all three locos open up by arrangement creating this spectacular effect. 55015 Tulyar, 55002 Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry & D9019 Royal Highland Fusilier were working the 10:00 Bury to Rawtenstall as part of the Deltic Preservation Society's 'Three Deltics' weekend. Even though it looks like the first two locos are only working on one engine, there is still 6,600 hp available for this seven coach train, which is certainly adequate!
		D9019 Royal Highland Fusilier lays a smoke trail at Nethercott, on the West Somerset Railway while working the 17:25 Bishops Lydeard to Minehead service on 20 September 1998, during the line's diesel gala. This is one of the less photographed spots on the line, as it does require a bit of a walk from the nearest road!
		D9000 Royal Scots Grey accelerates away from a speed restriction at Sterns on the Severn Valley Railway with a Bridgnorth to Kidderminster train during the line's Diesel Gala on 14 October 1989. Although in a sunny patch here, as can be seen from the clouds a number of pictures were spoiled by the sun going behind a cloud at the crucial moment.
		D9000 Royal Scots Grey approaches Lakenheath on a very dull 22 February 1997 with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z30 03:58 Bristol Temple Meads to Norwich 'Norfolk Napier' railtour. Unfortunately the loco had just stopped pluming, although the smoke can still be seen drifting away in the background and even in the field to the right of the loco's nose if you look carefully! This location was chosen to frame the train between the derelict remains of the clerestory coach and the impressively tall signal, even though this did mean including lots of grey sky.
		Running nearly half an hour early, D9000 Royal Scots Grey passes Wrenbury (between Whitchurch and Nantwich) with the 1Z27 10:18 Cardiff Central to Glasgow Central 'Tunnock Express' on 4 August 2001, conveying athletes returning from the Special Olympics. The monument on the hill at Hollyhurst, approximately two miles away, can just be seen on the horizon.
		With the houses of Newburgh visible in the background, 55022 Royal Scots Grey passes Easter Clunie with the Railway Touring Company 1Z50 07:20 Kings Cross to Inverness 'Autumn Highlander' four day railtour on 5 October 2007. The sun which had been out for most of the day had disappeared into high cloud, but just before the train was due it came out again, producing this dramatic lighting. Although the sun was directly down the track, this was one of the few locations en-route from London where the sun would be on the nose. 55022 was replaced by 40145 at Perth, although 50049, which can just be seen on the rear of the train remained with the tour all weekend.
		55022 Royal Scots Grey is seen in the pouring rain at Oban on 6 October 2007, shunting the stock of the SRPS railtour, which had arrived as the 1Z55 06:28 Dundee to Oban, and would depart several hours later as the 1Z74 16:45 Oban to Dundee. In a perfect piece of timing the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry Isle of Mull had just arrived with the 12:45 sailing from Craignure (Mull) and would soon depart with the 13:45 return.
		55022 Royal Scots Grey & 50049 Defiance power past Bridge of Earn with the Railway Touring Company 1Z55 08:20 Inverness to Kings Cross 'Autumn Highlander' railtour on 8 October 2007. There was certainly no doubt when this train was approaching, as in addition to the distinctive Deltic whine, a plume of smoke could be seen rising above the tree tops over the fields to the right for over a mile! Considering the Deltic is obviously running on both engines, it was a surprise when the train passed under the bridge to hear that the 50 was also under full power! Needless to say 40145 on the rear of the train was taking it easy!
		55022 Royal Scots Grey passes the site of Over Junction, near Gloucester with the Pathfinder Tours 1Z47 08:00 Cardiff Central to Llandrindod Wells 'Heart of Wales Explorer' railtour on 29 March 2008. Despite the novelty of a Deltic over the Central Wales line, the forecast of torrential rain for later in the day in Wales put me off traveling any further west. In fact it was sunny when I arrived at this location, but that didn't last long, and by the time the railtour appeared it had become very dark.