The Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Sign

 A picture I took in January 2014 that I found mildly interesting and wanted to know a little more, the plaques were on the side of a building at 125 Northwood Street, Birmingham and the company occupying the building that I was there to deal with were AE Harris & Company (Birmingham) an engineering company that as of 10 June 2022 no longer seem to occupy the site but are still trading. Looking on google maps it appears most of the site has been cleared for development.

The Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company was established in 1854 for the purpose of building locomotives and carriages for use on the railway. Despite the name the company also built aeroplanes, gliders, buses, trolleybuses, and tanks, which during World War II included A10 Cruiser Tank, Challenger Tank, Churchill Tank, Challenger Tank and Valentine Tank.

The company saw a decline in locomotive and carriage stock being built up to 1963, which was the year they restructured, dividing the works up in to smaller units and becoming a real estate and finance company. In June 2014 the company reformed as a not for profit organisation to rebuild locomotives from the 1960 and earlier no longer in use.

The picture can also be seen on Clickasnap full size, resolution and un-watermarked.

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Vintage Railway Pictures. Sir Nigel Gresley, Sir Lamiel, a Mystery and the Ribblehead Viaduct

Beyond my own lens, I find immense joy in curating visual narratives from others. There's a unique thrill in discovering and preserving postcards, photographic prints, and slide collections that offer glimpses into different eras and perspectives. These aren't just images; they're echoes of the past, waiting to be brought into the light. The four images I'm about to share are prime examples, part of a recent acquisition of slides that I'm meticulously digitizing. I made sure to secure the copyright during the purchase, ensuring their preservation and my ability to share their stories.

The first gem from this collection transports us back to a moment in the life of the magnificent LNER Class A4 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley locomotive. This iconic engine, a testament to British engineering prowess, was built in Doncaster in 1937 and held the special distinction of being the 100th Gresley Pacific ever constructed. It faithfully served the railways until its withdrawal on February 1st, 1966. But its story didn't end there. Through dedicated refurbishments, this grand dame of the rails has been lovingly restored, now gracing heritage lines and embarking on rail excursion tours along the mainline. The particular slide you see captures Sir Nigel Gresley on a memorable journey from Marylebone Station in London to the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. Imagine the steam, the whistle, and the sheer power of this machine as it thundered through the English countryside – a truly captivating sight.

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Bathed in an ethereal, almost spectral blue, this image, which I've titled "Ghost Train," emerged during the editing process in Photoshop. The striking hue, an unexpected alchemy of light and digital manipulation, transformed the powerful locomotive into something otherworldly, a phantom presence halted in time. Beyond the chilling beauty of its coloration, concrete details about this particular steam engine remain elusive. All I know for certain is the date it was captured: August 5th, 1986. The exact identity of the locomotive and its precise location on that summer day are lost to the mists of time, adding to the enigmatic aura that now surrounds this hauntingly beautiful photograph.

The third image transports us back to December 1st, 1986, capturing the majestic Southern Railway 777 Sir Lamiel. This locomotive is a prime example of the N15 King Arthur class, a series renowned for its power and elegance on the Southern Railway's lines. Sir Lamiel was not just any engine; it was a product of the esteemed North British Locomotive Company, a testament to the era's robust industrial might.

Entering service in June 1925, Sir Lamiel faithfully served the railway for over 36 years, finally being withdrawn from active duty in October 1961. Its working life saw it pull countless passenger and freight trains across the network, becoming a familiar and dependable sight. Fortunately for enthusiasts and historians alike, Sir Lamiel was deemed significant enough to be preserved as part of the National Collection. Today, this magnificent steam locomotive resides at the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire, where it continues to captivate visitors, offering a tangible link to Britain's rich railway heritage. Its presence at the Great Central Railway allows future generations to experience the grandeur and engineering prowess of these iconic steam machines first hand.

Our journey back in time lands us at Slide 4, a captivating image of the Ribblehead Viaduct captured in August 1976. This wasn't just any snapshot; it was a moment frozen during a pivotal and precarious era for this iconic structure. The photograph clearly shows the viaduct still boasting its double track, a testament to its original design and capacity, and I believe the vantage point was thoughtfully chosen, likely from the vicinity of where the now-closed Ribblehead Station would have once stood.

This period, between 1970 and 1986, was a somber one for Ribblehead. The station itself lay dormant, a silent observer to the changing landscape of British railways. More significantly, the entire Settle-Carlisle line, including the magnificent viaduct, was under a dark cloud of uncertainty. British Rail had cast a long shadow, proposing that the sheer cost of essential repairs to the Ribblehead Viaduct would render the entire line economically unviable. This threat of closure loomed large, making every passing train, every photograph, a poignant reminder of what could be lost. The image, therefore, isn't just a record of a structure; it's a window into a period of fierce debate and determined campaigns to save a vital piece of railway heritage.

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A Lucky Encounter: Steam Train Through North Dean Woods

Sometimes, you just happen to be in the right place at the right time. That's exactly what happened to me on February 29th, 2020, during a walk through the beautiful North Dean woods. For those who don't know it, North Dean stretches along the valley from Copley to West Vale and even up towards Greetland and Norland, with the main railway line between Brighouse and Sowerby Bridge running right along the bottom.

On this particular day, I was enjoying my stroll when I got wind that a steam train was due to pass along the line shortly. You can imagine my excitement! I quickly made my way along the line from the bridge that crosses the River Calder, hoping to catch a glimpse.

I arrived just as the train was approaching from Greetland Junction. Talk about perfect timing! I had just enough time to set up my action camera facing east and my phone facing west, near the track but at a safe distance, of course. Safety first!

The short video below captures the moment the train steamed through, and I’ve also pulled out some images from the footage for you to see.

I can't push the point enough that although it may look close to the railway at no point was I anywhere near the trackbed. The following were taken from the footage and can be seen on Clickasnap.

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Please take a moment to share this post, follow me on social media, and explore my work on Photo4Me and Clickasnap using the links below. Your support means a lot!