Sunny and Steamy at Evesham Vale...
Hello everyone. "Wow!; Summer is here at least!". Lucky really, as this is the first post of June! Today, after a visit to Leamington, we drove onwards on the A46, past Stratford and through the beautiful countryside towards Evesham. By 1:30pm, we had reached Evesham Country Park, set just off the A46 on the approach to the quaint town of Evesham. This country park; complete with garden centre, full car park and shopping area; has, since 2002, been home to the Evesham Vale Light Railway. This neat 15" gauge steam railway is now in its 9th year of operation and runs for 1.25 miles through the Apple Orchards of the country park. We have visited here many times in the past, I myself having driven a loco here for the day last December (see other posts). Today, under the lush blue skies, the railway was in full operation, taking a good trade aboard its lovingly kept 4-coach trains. The locomotive was the stalwart 0-6-0STT Severn Lamb product; "Dougal". This engine was built in 1970 and used to work at the Longleat Railway. The EVLR purchased her in November 2004 and have since added a tender and a bigger boiler & firebox. After our picnic, the family decided to take a break whilst I had a look around the station, little did I know that I would end up riding around on the footplate; again! Half way on the journey, the train pauses for a few minutes at Evesham Vale. Driver Chris adds more coal to the fire...
After my footplate trip (thanks very much to Jim, Helen and Chris for that) I rejoined the family. Funnily enough, they were ready to take their journey on the train! So, we boarded the coaches and enjoyed the 2:30pm departure from Twyford. The scenary on the line, particularly on a day like today; is beautiful. I would say that the views from the train are probably the best that the Vale of Evesham has to offer. Without travelling on the train, I would say it would be rare to be able to appreciate such views to their full extent. The line usually uses 4 enclosed coaches but, due to the lovely weather today, "Dougal" was hauling 3 open coaches and 1 closed coach. The open coaches have glass windows as their ends too, affording good views of the locomotive at work. "Dougal" approaches a foot crossing, high above the Vale of Evesham...
At Evesham Vale, there is a 4-minute or so stop, allowing tickets to be clipped, passengers to board and alight and, especially important, to allow time for returning passengers to examine the engine. The EVLR staff are always very proud to discuss the workings of their well-kept treasures. Below, one of the views from Evesham Vale can be seen. From this vantage point, you can see openly in all directions...
Below, "Dougal" simmers away at the end of the platform at Evesham Vale. From here, the track climbs back up and onto the down-route, completing the 'Baloon Loop'...
The lovely "Dougal" is spotted at Evesham Vale. This is a powerful locomotive. The tender and larger boiler have given her a new lease of life and, since modification, 4 coaches are hardly taxing!...
"Dougal"...
I managed to grab one or two shots during my footplate ride. Below, "Dougal" chugs along the lowest section of the line. The track in the distance is already climbing upwards to the right. From here, the train will climb all the way around the loop until the tunnel is reached, where the track descends once more. This view is taken from the Fireman's side...
The EVLR is an odd route really. At only 1.25 miles long, one would think that driving it would be easy. I found out last December that it most certainly is not easy! What the line loses in length, it more than makes up for in gradients! One minute you're climbing slightly, then you drop severely down, before climbing up again, and dropping down again, and so on. If you don't keep on top of the engine, you either won't have enough steam to get up the hills or you'll just run away! Below, "Dougal" cruises along the lowest section of the line. The train has descended for a vast distance, being held on the Air Brake and with the regulator shut...
Below, "Dougal" runs round at Twyford. The ex-Markeaton Diesel Loco ("Cromwell") can be seen in the background. The EVLR also owns the ex-Markeaton steamer; "Markeaton Lady". However, I'm told that "The Lady" is in dire need of boiler work and won't be seen for a while yet!...
"Dougal" can be seen below on Twyford Turntable. The 'Baloon Loop' always results in engines returning to Twyford the right way around. However, without the turntable, they would end up leaving tender first. The turntable is located at the end of the platform, close to the car park and right next to the path to the shopping area. The sight of loco's on the table is probably the first sight of the EVLR that most visitors get. I suppose really that the below is the trademark shot!...
Below, with "Dougal" resting at Twyford Station, the firebox doors are open and the water level can be seen in the Fireman's-side gauge glass. "Dougal" has a good size firebox, allowing free steaming on a low volume of fire...
All in all, a lovely two trips (and a picnic!) at the EVLR. Thanks to Jim, Helen and Chris for another lovely visit. The railway really is beautiful and, as always, I would recommend a visit there to anybody. Trains are always steam hauled and both the loco's & coaches are both well-kept and comfortable. The stations are tidy and are also well-kept. Finally, train fares are very reasonable for a trip lasting 20-minutes or so. All in all, a perfect little railway to visit! Click HERE for their website. Thanks for reading everyone. Well, thats post No1 of June; I wonder how many there will be by the end? Sam.
Hello everyone. "Wow!; Summer is here at least!". Lucky really, as this is the first post of June! Today, after a visit to Leamington, we drove onwards on the A46, past Stratford and through the beautiful countryside towards Evesham. By 1:30pm, we had reached Evesham Country Park, set just off the A46 on the approach to the quaint town of Evesham. This country park; complete with garden centre, full car park and shopping area; has, since 2002, been home to the Evesham Vale Light Railway. This neat 15" gauge steam railway is now in its 9th year of operation and runs for 1.25 miles through the Apple Orchards of the country park. We have visited here many times in the past, I myself having driven a loco here for the day last December (see other posts). Today, under the lush blue skies, the railway was in full operation, taking a good trade aboard its lovingly kept 4-coach trains. The locomotive was the stalwart 0-6-0STT Severn Lamb product; "Dougal". This engine was built in 1970 and used to work at the Longleat Railway. The EVLR purchased her in November 2004 and have since added a tender and a bigger boiler & firebox. After our picnic, the family decided to take a break whilst I had a look around the station, little did I know that I would end up riding around on the footplate; again! Half way on the journey, the train pauses for a few minutes at Evesham Vale. Driver Chris adds more coal to the fire...
After my footplate trip (thanks very much to Jim, Helen and Chris for that) I rejoined the family. Funnily enough, they were ready to take their journey on the train! So, we boarded the coaches and enjoyed the 2:30pm departure from Twyford. The scenary on the line, particularly on a day like today; is beautiful. I would say that the views from the train are probably the best that the Vale of Evesham has to offer. Without travelling on the train, I would say it would be rare to be able to appreciate such views to their full extent. The line usually uses 4 enclosed coaches but, due to the lovely weather today, "Dougal" was hauling 3 open coaches and 1 closed coach. The open coaches have glass windows as their ends too, affording good views of the locomotive at work. "Dougal" approaches a foot crossing, high above the Vale of Evesham...
At Evesham Vale, there is a 4-minute or so stop, allowing tickets to be clipped, passengers to board and alight and, especially important, to allow time for returning passengers to examine the engine. The EVLR staff are always very proud to discuss the workings of their well-kept treasures. Below, one of the views from Evesham Vale can be seen. From this vantage point, you can see openly in all directions...
Below, "Dougal" simmers away at the end of the platform at Evesham Vale. From here, the track climbs back up and onto the down-route, completing the 'Baloon Loop'...
The lovely "Dougal" is spotted at Evesham Vale. This is a powerful locomotive. The tender and larger boiler have given her a new lease of life and, since modification, 4 coaches are hardly taxing!...
"Dougal"...
I managed to grab one or two shots during my footplate ride. Below, "Dougal" chugs along the lowest section of the line. The track in the distance is already climbing upwards to the right. From here, the train will climb all the way around the loop until the tunnel is reached, where the track descends once more. This view is taken from the Fireman's side...
The EVLR is an odd route really. At only 1.25 miles long, one would think that driving it would be easy. I found out last December that it most certainly is not easy! What the line loses in length, it more than makes up for in gradients! One minute you're climbing slightly, then you drop severely down, before climbing up again, and dropping down again, and so on. If you don't keep on top of the engine, you either won't have enough steam to get up the hills or you'll just run away! Below, "Dougal" cruises along the lowest section of the line. The train has descended for a vast distance, being held on the Air Brake and with the regulator shut...
Below, "Dougal" runs round at Twyford. The ex-Markeaton Diesel Loco ("Cromwell") can be seen in the background. The EVLR also owns the ex-Markeaton steamer; "Markeaton Lady". However, I'm told that "The Lady" is in dire need of boiler work and won't be seen for a while yet!...
"Dougal" can be seen below on Twyford Turntable. The 'Baloon Loop' always results in engines returning to Twyford the right way around. However, without the turntable, they would end up leaving tender first. The turntable is located at the end of the platform, close to the car park and right next to the path to the shopping area. The sight of loco's on the table is probably the first sight of the EVLR that most visitors get. I suppose really that the below is the trademark shot!...
Below, with "Dougal" resting at Twyford Station, the firebox doors are open and the water level can be seen in the Fireman's-side gauge glass. "Dougal" has a good size firebox, allowing free steaming on a low volume of fire...
All in all, a lovely two trips (and a picnic!) at the EVLR. Thanks to Jim, Helen and Chris for another lovely visit. The railway really is beautiful and, as always, I would recommend a visit there to anybody. Trains are always steam hauled and both the loco's & coaches are both well-kept and comfortable. The stations are tidy and are also well-kept. Finally, train fares are very reasonable for a trip lasting 20-minutes or so. All in all, a perfect little railway to visit! Click HERE for their website. Thanks for reading everyone. Well, thats post No1 of June; I wonder how many there will be by the end? Sam.
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