Locomotive Spotting North West
@locospottingnw.bsky.social
Class 66s are starting to get boring now, aren't they? Trainspotting across the northwest and beyond. Military historian by education. On-board host, views and comments my own. Also includes heritage buses!
Ace and trans, but not much good at either. 🏳️⚧
Ace and trans, but not much good at either. 🏳️⚧
With October very firmly in the past, it was time to welcome in November with a quick trip over the Pennines to Dewsbury for their end-of-season bus rally. The weather was gorgeous, the residents put on a good show, and with an excellent selection of visitors as well.
November 2, 2025 at 7:16 PM
With October very firmly in the past, it was time to welcome in November with a quick trip over the Pennines to Dewsbury for their end-of-season bus rally. The weather was gorgeous, the residents put on a good show, and with an excellent selection of visitors as well.
I couldn't let this World Mental Health Day pass without comment. I know how hard it is to talk, to reach out, I really do, but... support systems are there, and anything has to beat the alternative.
#ItsOkayNotToBeOkay
#ItsOkayNotToBeOkay
October 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
I couldn't let this World Mental Health Day pass without comment. I know how hard it is to talk, to reach out, I really do, but... support systems are there, and anything has to beat the alternative.
#ItsOkayNotToBeOkay
#ItsOkayNotToBeOkay
Another little impromptu trip up to the East Lancs Railway today for the farewell to Black Five 45212, which is soon to be withdrawn for ten-yearly overhaul. The locomotive has been suitably chalked up for the occasion, as was common at the end of steam.
September 28, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Another little impromptu trip up to the East Lancs Railway today for the farewell to Black Five 45212, which is soon to be withdrawn for ten-yearly overhaul. The locomotive has been suitably chalked up for the occasion, as was common at the end of steam.
Some lovely little festivities up at the East Lancs in celebration of Railway200! The oldest operational steam locomotive in Britain rubbing shoulders on a surprisingly bright day with some of the more modern heritage diesels on the route.
September 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Some lovely little festivities up at the East Lancs in celebration of Railway200! The oldest operational steam locomotive in Britain rubbing shoulders on a surprisingly bright day with some of the more modern heritage diesels on the route.
Moving onto the mighty Napier Deltic at the Greatest Gathering! There were three Class 55s present, but unfortunately one was parked in the corner well out of the way; also featured is the new-build Class 23 nearing completion, formed from a spare Deltic engine and a Class 37.
September 11, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Moving onto the mighty Napier Deltic at the Greatest Gathering! There were three Class 55s present, but unfortunately one was parked in the corner well out of the way; also featured is the new-build Class 23 nearing completion, formed from a spare Deltic engine and a Class 37.
Alright, back to The Greatest Gathering! Here we have a selection of no fewer than five of the six locomotives in the Class 50 Alliance fleet - the only absentee was 50031 'Hood'.
September 2, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Alright, back to The Greatest Gathering! Here we have a selection of no fewer than five of the six locomotives in the Class 50 Alliance fleet - the only absentee was 50031 'Hood'.
This year's Southport airshow was somewhat beset by heavy rain across both days, but the blue skies came out to play towards the end of Sunday! Here we have some iconic British aircraft and a special visitor displaying in the skies above the Irish Sea yesterday.
September 1, 2025 at 2:45 PM
This year's Southport airshow was somewhat beset by heavy rain across both days, but the blue skies came out to play towards the end of Sunday! Here we have some iconic British aircraft and a special visitor displaying in the skies above the Irish Sea yesterday.
And another day of things found at work! Firstly we have the Return of the King - bolstered with three spare carriages to replace the collision-damaged ones, set HD02 coasts through Leominster into a signal check with 67014 pushing. Then, as a little bonus, the full Flying Banana at Newport!
August 27, 2025 at 9:21 AM
And another day of things found at work! Firstly we have the Return of the King - bolstered with three spare carriages to replace the collision-damaged ones, set HD02 coasts through Leominster into a signal check with 67014 pushing. Then, as a little bonus, the full Flying Banana at Newport!
It's always nice to see something different at work! 40013 'Andania' leads a set of Intercity Mk3s with 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman' on the rear through Newport.
August 26, 2025 at 10:20 AM
It's always nice to see something different at work! 40013 'Andania' leads a set of Intercity Mk3s with 45118 'The Royal Artilleryman' on the rear through Newport.
Aaaand briefly back to the buses for the third annual Joint Fishwick's and Ribble Running Day in Leyland. I only spent a few hours today, but a thoroughly enjoyable time was had!
August 24, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Aaaand briefly back to the buses for the third annual Joint Fishwick's and Ribble Running Day in Leyland. I only spent a few hours today, but a thoroughly enjoyable time was had!
Definitely one of the highlights of a brilliant day with the Dartmouth SR&RC was the magnificent paddle-driven steamship Kingswear Castle, which took me on an hour-long cruise from Dartmouth down to the mouth of the river, then back up as far as Greenway. A spectacularly enjoyable day!
August 24, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Definitely one of the highlights of a brilliant day with the Dartmouth SR&RC was the magnificent paddle-driven steamship Kingswear Castle, which took me on an hour-long cruise from Dartmouth down to the mouth of the river, then back up as far as Greenway. A spectacularly enjoyable day!
Next up in our overview of the Greatest Gathering we reach the ubiquitous Brush Class 47 and its derivative Class 57. Compared to some other less-numerous and yet well-represented, Class 47s were rather sparse on the ground, but those examples present were all excellent.
August 22, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Next up in our overview of the Greatest Gathering we reach the ubiquitous Brush Class 47 and its derivative Class 57. Compared to some other less-numerous and yet well-represented, Class 47s were rather sparse on the ground, but those examples present were all excellent.
And so we move onto the iconic lines of the Class 43, HST power car. Six examples were on display at The Greatest Gathering; four are pictured here, plus a cab from a scrapped classmate.
August 19, 2025 at 7:48 PM
And so we move onto the iconic lines of the Class 43, HST power car. Six examples were on display at The Greatest Gathering; four are pictured here, plus a cab from a scrapped classmate.
Another couple of pictures from the Dartmouth Steam Railway back in July, this time of 4247, a gorgeous heavy freight tank engine built in 1916. I believe this was her first day back in service after a periodic overhaul, and a fine end to a splendid trip out.
August 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Another couple of pictures from the Dartmouth Steam Railway back in July, this time of 4247, a gorgeous heavy freight tank engine built in 1916. I believe this was her first day back in service after a periodic overhaul, and a fine end to a splendid trip out.
It's 65 years of the Class 37 this year, so it was only fitting to find so many examples at The Greatest Gathering, ranging from class leader D6700 in BR green through to a selection of modern liveries!
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
It's 65 years of the Class 37 this year, so it was only fitting to find so many examples at The Greatest Gathering, ranging from class leader D6700 in BR green through to a selection of modern liveries!
A few of the Type 1s and Type 2s on show at The Greatest Gathering. My personal favourite here was beautifully-restored 27056, resplendent in bulled-up BR blue, gently idling away for much of the event, unwilling to be overshadowed by the 50s roaring away a little further along.
August 16, 2025 at 10:29 AM
A few of the Type 1s and Type 2s on show at The Greatest Gathering. My personal favourite here was beautifully-restored 27056, resplendent in bulled-up BR blue, gently idling away for much of the event, unwilling to be overshadowed by the 50s roaring away a little further along.
Another stalwart of the Dartmouth Steam Railway fleet, and something of a favourite of my late-grandfather's, is 75014 'Braveheart', a Riddles Standard 4MT built at Swindon in 1951. This locomotive brought me back from Kingswear to Paignton on that glorious July afternoon.
August 15, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Another stalwart of the Dartmouth Steam Railway fleet, and something of a favourite of my late-grandfather's, is 75014 'Braveheart', a Riddles Standard 4MT built at Swindon in 1951. This locomotive brought me back from Kingswear to Paignton on that glorious July afternoon.
Let's take a look now at some of the shunters present at The Greatest Gathering a couple of weeks ago. There was only one "traditional" mainline shunter present, but a few other interesting examples on display!
August 14, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Let's take a look now at some of the shunters present at The Greatest Gathering a couple of weeks ago. There was only one "traditional" mainline shunter present, but a few other interesting examples on display!
One of the flagship locomotives of the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway is 7827 'Lydham Manor', built in Swindon in 1950. The locomotive is seen here running around its train at Kingswear having brought me in from Paignton and then later departing, as viewed from one of the river cruises.
August 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
One of the flagship locomotives of the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway is 7827 'Lydham Manor', built in Swindon in 1950. The locomotive is seen here running around its train at Kingswear having brought me in from Paignton and then later departing, as viewed from one of the river cruises.
Alright, alright, let's start making our way through the exhibits from The Greatest Gathering! Here we've got some classic diesels, with classes 08, 42, 44, 45, 46, 52, and 56, almost all in the ubiquitous Monastral blue!
August 12, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Alright, alright, let's start making our way through the exhibits from The Greatest Gathering! Here we've got some classic diesels, with classes 08, 42, 44, 45, 46, 52, and 56, almost all in the ubiquitous Monastral blue!
"Locomotive Spotting", she said... not like it's been three months since I posted a standard gauge locomotive or anything. Let's have, then, a few shots from a brief trip to Crewe taken last week, in the midst of some significant disruption.
August 11, 2025 at 8:49 PM
"Locomotive Spotting", she said... not like it's been three months since I posted a standard gauge locomotive or anything. Let's have, then, a few shots from a brief trip to Crewe taken last week, in the midst of some significant disruption.
And I'm not sure if @tank621.bsky.social would forgive me if I went to an air museum and didn't take some pictures of the aircraft! (3/3)
August 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
And I'm not sure if @tank621.bsky.social would forgive me if I went to an air museum and didn't take some pictures of the aircraft! (3/3)
Four of the vehicles on which I took the pleasure of a ride yesterday. (2/3)
August 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Four of the vehicles on which I took the pleasure of a ride yesterday. (2/3)
A selection of buses at yesterday's bus rally at Hooton Park. A rather badly-publicised event, it nevertheless provides a rare chance to view the museum's aircraft collection for those of us who don't drive. (1/3)
August 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
A selection of buses at yesterday's bus rally at Hooton Park. A rather badly-publicised event, it nevertheless provides a rare chance to view the museum's aircraft collection for those of us who don't drive. (1/3)
The first of three posts showcasing vehicles on which I was lucky enough to ride during the NWVRT event! A few older and a few more modern vehicles to start the array. (2/4)
June 4, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The first of three posts showcasing vehicles on which I was lucky enough to ride during the NWVRT event! A few older and a few more modern vehicles to start the array. (2/4)