In Search of Steam

07/11/2023

Thanks to all who attended who have supported 8 events with 55189 and 46512 this year (with a guest appearance from 65243 ‘Maude’). It is great to see so many fantastic images appearing from the charters whilst knowing we’ve also raised a substantial amount of money for the SRPS & Strathspey! A quick phone photo of the Caley Tank & J36 whilst setting up for Saturday’s evening shoot.

A question we’ve been asked a lot this week is how to find out about the events. We don’t always post charters on Facebook, especially when they fill quixly as many have this year, so subscribing to our mailing list here is highly recommended!

http://eepurl.com/dulXGf

13/05/2023

Three days of charters available to book with the Caley tank in BR black before her LMS Crimson repaint in spring 2024!

10/11/2022

Our first daytime charter announcement of 2023, and again we find ourselves in Aviemore but with a twist!

Scheduled for Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th of April, we will be using Ivatt No. 46512 on a rake of Blood & Custard coaches not too dissimilar to previous events held at the Strathspey Steam Railway. This time round, we instead are focusing on the afternoon and evening shots from the North West of the railway, giving stunning backdrops featuring the Cairngorms and River Spey.

Price is £215 for both days, which against the current cost increases of coal, I'm sure you'll agree is value for money.

If you would like more information including the email invite, please pop us a private message including your email address and we will get the details sent across.

02/11/2022

While we're still working on our own itinerary for 2023, we wanted to share this rather rare charter opportunity, held by our friend Peter Van Campenhout for March which could be rather spectacular.

There is a possibility that BR Black liveried Jubilee No. 45690 Leander may visit the Lakeside And Haverthwaite Railway next spring based on the response to this offering. This is intended to be a short visit, and they are hoping to run it with the railways carmine and cream set on a couple of private photographic events especially for the occasion.

If anyone would like further details would you please email Peter at [email protected] .

For an idea of what the Lakeside branch holds for a photographer, we've included a few photos below and also one of the star Jubilee.

30/03/2022

Earlier this month we ran another weekend of photo charters on the Strathspey Railway with Ivatt 46512 on a local passenger train. We've since several requests from people interested in attending future events - the best way to find out about charters is to join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/dulXGf

17/11/2020

It's great to see several images from some of our events at Bo'ness feature in the SRPS's Diamond Jubilee Calendar! A great purchase for only £10!

10/11/2020

Two years ago today (8-11th November 2018) we ran some very successful 'Caledonian Reunion' photo charters. All fingers crossed for next March with 45025!

15/08/2020

Our friends at the Bo'ness Kinneil Railway, where we have operated several enjoyable events with 62712, 419, 828 and 5643, have suffered landslide damage following the storms earlier in the week. If anyone can afford even a small donation to their appeal they would be incredibly grateful!

29/06/2020

To say we are looking forward to our events with this loco next spring is perhaps an understatement!

Much progress has been made in the past year since the return of the boiler.

Unfortunately the overhaul has been affected by Covid-19 and we still have a few minor and one or two major jobs left to finish the work all of which require materials or professional services.

We need copper pipework, nuts and bolts, oak timber for seats and flooring, some cab fittings and final painting and lining

Any donations would be greatly appreciated and help to finish this massive undertaking in 2020

A huge thank you for your donations and support over the years. We couldn’t have done it without you!

If you’d like to make a donation to this project, please follow the link below and click on the ‘donate’ button. Thank You.

https://thewatkinsontrust.blogspot.com/?m=1

12/06/2020

All of our photo charters with 45025 in March 2021 are now fully booked! If you'd like to be the first to hear about our future events, make sure you have signed up to our mailing list - you can subscribe here: http://eepurl.com/dulXGf. In the meantime, here is an image of '45025' in a condition similar to which we hope to recreate temporarily before the locomotive is finished into lined LMS livery! Photo kindly provided by Phil Metcalfe.

11/06/2020

We've announced some further dates with 45025 on the Strathspey Railway on 23rd and 24th March 2021. Due to the phenomenal demand for our original dates, at point of advertising there are only 9 places left on these additional dates - don't hesitate should you wish to book!

With huge thanks to the Strathspey Railway and WEC Watkinson Trust we have gained permission for 45025 to appear in her BR guise for five days only (and we have been assured that it will only ever be a one-off...). The engine is currently in the final stages of a very comprehensive rebuild and will...

07/06/2020

Details of a one-off photo charter with 45025 in her BR late crest livery in March 2021 can be found here! Almost 75% of available places sold in 3 hours... don't hesitate if you'd like to book!

10/05/2020

Good afternoon,

We hope you're all keeping well and staying safe during this crisis. It's understandably the most challenging time most of us will have experienced, and we look forward to emerging out of the other side together and back to enjoying our hobby.

We don't underestimate that during this crisis, it will also be a difficult time financially. As it can be for each individual, the heritage railway community is also finding it difficult due to the enforced closures during this lockdown, and unlikely to reopen safely to passengers for some months to come.

The first of our regular hosts for our photographic events, the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway, have opened up a fundraising effort to help soften the impact that the coronavirus is having on the charity.

If you could spare anything towards the cause, it would be greatly appreciated. We hope that the Scottish railway preservation scene can weather the storm, and that we return with some special photographic events in the years after to show our support.

SOS: Support Our SRPS Fundraising Appeal – Donate here: https://www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/srpsgeneralfund

The Scottish Railway Preservation Society, a registered charity and operators of the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway, Museum of Scottish Railways and SRPS Railtours, has been forced to temporarily cease all operations due to the current Coronavirus pandemic. Coming after the early part of the year when our trains are not running and the Museum closed, our finances are already at their lowest level. We are therefore appealing for donations to subsidise the cost of the Society’s essential services at a time when, unexpectedly, we have no income.



^JS

14/04/2019

Any last minute takes for a day with 419 on Thursday? Full & half day prices available.

11/02/2019

PHOTO CHARTER ANNOUNCEMENT

We are pleased to confirm details of a spring photo charter with the recently restored ‘Caley Tank’ No. 419 and the two Caledonian coaches on Thursday 18th April. Given how popular this locomotive will be on the hire circuit over the next couple of years, this is likely to be the last charter we run at Bo’ness with the loco (the only line with appropriate Caledonian Railway rolling stock) for a number of years.

Given the long spring days, our plan is to run from approximately 0800 to 2000 to capture the best of both the morning and evening light. There will focus on the locations which are fully lit in the spring, starting with the Avon Viaduct (for which both the viaduct and river valley ought to be fully lit) and the approach to Birkhill. In the morning we will also attempt Manuel (pictured above) and shots around Kinneil.

After an extended lunch break we will recommence with photographs in and around the station at Bo’ness, before heading up the line to – fingers crossed – enjoy some nice evening light around the Avon Viaduct, Avonbank Farm and Tod’s Mill. If time allows we may also attempt a shot at Nether Kinneil.

Cost for the day is £75, will all funds raised going towards the continued success of the SRPS. If you are interested, please get in touch!

11/02/2019

Following on from the successful Caledonian Railway reunion charters in November, Andrew and I are running another day on 18th April 2019 with No. 419 and the Caledonian coaches at the Bo'ness and Kinneil railway. The day will focus on what we never managed in sunshine in the Autumn, plus a few other locations more suited to the Spring sunshine.

Expected time is between 0800-2000, and anybody interested are welcome to contact either of ourselves for details.

18/11/2018

One week ago, the curtain fell on our four days of photographic charters with Caledonian Railway No. 828 and 419. Easily our biggest set of events to date, but also the most important due to the historic nature of the reunion.

Thanks go out to the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway for hosting us and their crews, and to the Caledonian Railway 828 Trust and Strathspey Railway for their crews, support and allowing the locomotive to attend.

Lastly, thanks to everybody who attended over the four days. We hope you all got something memorable, and look out for information in the next few weeks regarding our initial plans for 2019. It could be another busy one....

12/05/2018

Ever wondered what happens on a photo charter? A superb video shot by Ian Rattray shows 46512 working past the 'gallery' of assembled photographers on the Strathspey Railway. Interested in joining us on a future event? Subscribe to our mailing list! http://eepurl.com/dulXGf