A visit to the Great Central

[Autocar Publicity]

As part of the trip to Loughborough recently to look at parts of the autocar, I called in at the Great Central, in company with other autocar volunteers and an old friend. I'd like to thank the RVP group at Rothley for their hospitality. They have some ex-LNER stock and their web-site is http://www.rvp-ltd.org.uk/. They are also engaged in the Mountsorrel Branch restoration (same web-site) from Swithland Sidings.

The King approaching Rothley station with a train from Leicester North.

Rothley station, looking north.

For various reasons, I never managed to get a picture of this loco full face, it was always either heading away or running tender first...

The GC were running an observation saloon and this picture was taken at Loughborough.

[Mickey]

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[Multiprinter]

No.6023 KING EDWARD II is looking good. I like GWR locos.

Only when painted blue though?

[Mickey]

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[60800]

G.W.R. locos MUST ONLY be painted in Brunswick green

I think Micky is due for a re-jab of his vaccination against the G.W.R

The King looks brilliant in blue, and I wouldn't mind Olton Hall in red if she at least had her proper nameplates. Some things though (Lode Star for example) should never not wear GWR / BR green.

Back to the GC;

I still dream of 63601 and 62660 sat side by side on the GC, both in BR black

[Mickey]

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[Autocar Publicity]

I do hope people aren't going to judge the merits of an engine purely on what colour it's in Having said that, being 'colourist', I do prefer green for GWR engines. LNER engines, I've never been able to decide between Doncaster and Darlington green, I like 'em both...

KE2 waiting for the 10.00 departure from Loughborough.

An atmospheric shot, created by the driver hosing down the cab floor.

There's only one colour I don't like for engines, unfortunately that's black... Most of my dislike comes from the difficulties you have photographing them. To avoid them looking like a black splodge in the picture, I set the shutter speed slower which allows the engine to be seen properly but risks the sky being too bright. (I do this quickly by pointing the camera down to reduce the sky visible, half pressing the shutter release and then angling up to my original composition. - I know there are better ways to compensate for backlighting and dark objects in the foreground but I don't always have time for these and I don't like using a flash in a station, even during daytime, when I've not arranged it with the crew first).

This is of 'Darfield' on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey. As the tree shadow indicates, the sun's behind me, everything else is nicely lit, the driver shows up well, giving a human touch, etc. etc. It's just black... arrrgh!

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Nurse, my medication please...