Yesterday evening, the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway ran a special service – a steam-hauled trip from Wirksworth to Duffield and back, with a jazz trio on board, and the newly-restored bar coach fully operational! Here, the Henry Ellison prepares to pull the train back to Wirksworth. I always find there’s something rather charismatic about trains at dusk, especially when there’s a steam loco involved!
And so, to bluebell time; I didn’t have to look very far today, for a sight like this, in a country lane. What I love, though, is the opportunity to appreciate flowers in the wild, all mixed up, so to speak, the apparent randomness giving an extra beauty. That’s not to say that I don’t like formal gardens sometimes, but rather that the contrast is refreshing!
Yesterday was, for me, the day of the teddy-bear. This has nothing to do with soft toys, or Chinese New Year, or anything like that. Let me explain:
‘Double heading’, where two locomotives pull the same train, isn’t uncommon. What is uncommon, here, is the almost laughable difference between the two locos. The rear one is powerful but nothing very unusual, but I’d never seen anything like the front one before. You’ll notice how much like a small steam loco it looks! Their diesel engine growl earned these small locos the name ‘teddy bears’. The idea was that they would replace many ageing saddle tank steamers, enabling branch lines to continue to operate.
A certain Mr B. had other ideas. Don’t get me started…
I’m just taking a few moments to post this photo, taken only today. What impressed me as I ventured out just a short way was the amazing sunlight. Although this picture isn’t particularly to do with Christmas, it did remind me of what the real message is about – the light of the world.
I found this scene just today, while travelling through a nearby area of this amazing county. I noticed evidence of recent high winds, and so I don’t expect we shall have scenes like this one for much longer, but it did seem to typify something which is so special about England. And, of course, that cloudy sky was changing by the minute, as England’s sky always does.
In landscape photography, I find light is almost everything. A very ordinary view can suddenly become special, if the lighting changes – something that happens very often in England! This shot was taken in the early evening. I had stopped to watch this scene for a few moments, when suddenly the sunlight played the trick I’ve caught here. The whole event was over in seconds.
For thousands of years, man has not only used fire to cook food and provide warmth, but also to process metal – to extract it from ore, to refine it, and to work it.
This working forge, which has a large hand-operated bellows unit at one side, is part of a Derbyshire heritage site, where on certain days you can not only see it in action, but also have a go with a hammer on hot metal, yourself! Here, a length of steel bar is being heated to a workable temperature.
This post continues my involvement in the Alphabet Photography Project.
Yesterday (Saturday) gave me the chance to escape into the countryside, where the warm weather had brought these little creatures out in force!
High light levels make it easier to photograph them, as it is then possible to use a fast shutter setting and a small aperture; depth of field – the distance zone which will be in focus – is mush shallower at these close focusing settings.
You’ll notice these two bees were happy to share one flower; maybe humans have a bit to learn!
Once again, this shot is from a visit to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, Wirkworth, Derbyshire. The unusual perspective here was only possible to obtain because a) the loco was coupled to the coach by its front (smoke-box) end, and b) the coach in use had a glazed door at the end. you’ll notice there is very little smoke; this is because this shot was taken while travelling down a steep incline, so very little power is required. Just an hour earlier, I had the experience of riding on the footplate of this same loco!
A few weeks ago, I happened to take a short walk just above the historic town of Wirksworth, Derbyshire. The combination of the desolation of these old lime workings with a very overcast and dramatic sky made the scene inspiring, yet weird, like something from another world. (Remember Charn, in the Narnia books, anyone?)
I am linking this up with this week’s ‘Magic Moments’ at The Oliver’s Madhouse.
