The Derwent Valley Light Railway was a light railway which ran from York Layerthorpe station south east through a series of small agricultural villages. It remained independent all its life until finally closing in 1981, though a short stretch is now preserved. I travelled on it on 6th January 1964, aged 17, in the cab of a BR class 03 diesel which was the sole motive power.

I visited the Lyme Regis branch on a cold wet day in January 1961, when I was 14. The three Adams Radial tanks survived for another year.

A set of photos showing Battle of Britain class 34053 Sir Keith Park which is currently being restored by Southern Locomotives Ltd. SLL have provided me with most of the photos shown to encourage support of this restoration. My thanks to the copyright holders whose names are given where known.

Work is progressing well on the restoration of this loco at the Herston works and it could return to service in 2010. However more support is needed to fund the remaining work including boiler repairs.

I have another website focusing on 34053 Sir Keith Park and the man after whom the loco was named:

http://sites.google.com/site/34053skp/

If you have any photos or memories of SKP in service I would like to hear from you. nicksidmouth@gmail.com

A collection of photos from various sources showing 34010 Sidmouth, a Southern Railway West Country class loco. Please note that most of the attached photos are not my copyright, and are individually marked either on each photo or in its Filename. My thanks to the copyright holders.

I have a general website about 34010 Sidmouth including information on its working life, current status and restoration:

http://sites.google.com/site/34010sidmouth/Home

Sidmouth is awaiting restoration by Southern Locomotives Ltd, based in Swanage. You can contribute to its restoration by buying shares in SLL. For more details please go to:

http://www.southern-locomotives.co.uk/

To encourage interest in Sidmouth's restoration I'd like to gather more photos in this collection. It seems to have had a relatively low profile career, and any contributions such as photos or reminiscences would be appreciated. If you can help me please contact at nicksidmouth@gmail.com

Feb 2009: SLL have provided me with some additional photos of Sidmouth.

A visit to railways in NSW Australia, March 2004. I was based in Sydney and made several trip by train: North towards Brisbane on an XPT (the Oz version of the HST), west into the Blue Mountains around Katoomba, a day visit to the ZigZag railway, and south to Moss Vale on a steam special behind Pacific no. 3801. Lots to see and lots of fun.

A few photos taken in the Calvi area of metre gauge trains. On the north coast there is a "frequent" (every hour or two) service between Calvi and Ile Rousse. The train is generally formed of one of the older powered units (red/yellow) and an unpowered trailer, or the more modern white/blue units in which both cars have under-floor engines. The trains are often very crowded and insufferable in hot weather. There are halts every kilometer or two leading to very slow journey times as passengers struggle to get on and off. Despite this it's a fascinating network and well worth a visit.

Grand Central's first HST seen at Kings Cross and York

Various photos from the 1960s, some taken with a Brownie 127. Apologies for lack of detailed descriptions, and what is shown may be incorrect......it was a long time ago!

Steam locos around Basingstoke, Winchester, Southampton and Bournemouth

March 09. I have photoshopped the colours.

These photos record the last weekday running of the Atlantic Coast Express from Waterloo to Exeter Central on Friday 4th September 1964. This was the last run to the high speed schedule; 80 minutes to Salisbury, then a stop at Sidmouth Junction, then on to Exeter.

Merchant Navy 35022 Holland America Line took the train to Exeter. There a Hymek diesel took the Ilfracombe and Torrington portion onwards and West Country 34015 Exmouth took the Padstow and Plymouth portion. There is a photo of 34015 arriving at Padstow on that day on Page 110 of the book "from the footplate: the Atlantic Coast Express".

Steam trains around Mile Post 31 on the SW main line in the early 60's. MP31 was the highest point between Waterloo and Basingstoke and marked the end of a long gradual climb for west-bound trains. Some of the photos are taken at Hook Heath, several miles closer to Woking.

March 09. I photoshopped the colours.

Salisbury was half way from Woking to the magical west country. It even had the occasional GW "namer"

I lived in Woking from 1951 to 1969, right opposite the railway line. Here are some photos I took, mainly 1961 - 1965

Photoshopped March 09 to improve colour rendering

I visited Inchicore railway works in Dublin in 1963, mainly to see Bulleid's turf burner which was awaiting scrapping. I was shown round the site by a policeman who was very friendly but who wouldn't let me photograph the turf burner because its demise was politically sensitive at the time. Also on death row were the Drumm Battery Railcar, two magnificent 4-6-0 Tanks from the CBCSR and the three West Clare diesel locos.

Isle of Wight railways in the 60's

Various railway photos in the 70's, including triple-headed iron ore trains on Stormy Down and steam and diesel at Barry scrap yard.

Feltham was the main freight shed for the south western section of the Southern Region. In the early 1960's it was still home to W, Q1 and S15 classes. Some years earlier my Dad took me there on a Saturday morning and we drove S15 30509 up and down the yard.

On private land near Templecombe the Gartell family have built a 2 foot guage railway. Most of it runs on the trackbed of the former Somerset & Dorset line. It's a friendly little line and well worth a visit. For opening days see their website:

http://www.glr-online.co.uk/

Trains around Guildford in the 60's, mainly on the Reading line around Wanborough.

Photos of the Guildford to Horsham branch line from the 1960's including some on the last day of operation.

I photoshopped these in March 09 to improve the colour rendering

Some photos taken on the Isle of Man in the early 60's

This was a farewell trip by an M7 loco around south London on 7th May 1964.

A few photos of steam locos in Perth and Aberdeen in the early 60's

A motley collection of photos of steam railways in Wales in the early 60's

A warm Sunday afternoon at Templecombe station. I alighted there and walked a mile down the road to the Gartell Light Railway; see that Collection

Photos from a trip to the West Somerset Railway to see 30850 Lord Nelson

Photos taken in 2004 when Anglia Railways was morphing into "one"

Views from the RHDR

From Bilbao to Alicante, mainly on one of the older Talgo trains

Some colour shots taken on a trip to the Isle of Man is 2000; exact details to follow. The IOM steam railway is a total delight; I was there during "train week" which featured special trains including a rare outing for "Caledonia".

A few photos from the stunning Vivarais system in southern France. The line runs from Tournon, not far from Valance in the Rhone valley, to Lemastre up in the hills. I travelled on the last Sunday of the season when there were no tourists and locals had been invited. It was France at its best, laid back and enjoying life. We stopped for a break at Boucieu-le-Roi; the locals had set up stalls selling wine, coffee, honey, etc.

The Vivarais is currently closed. Its access rights to the mixed-gauge section near Tournon were terminated and it suffered other financial problems. Hopefully a rescue will come about - it was undoubtedly the best narrow gauge line in France.