Loose_Grip/Pete's photos with the keyword: 48305

Me & Matt were rostered on Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 all day and here is Matt looking back for the tip from the guard as we returned to Loughborough on our third trip.

Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 taken from Bridge 345 at Kinchley Lane showing the footpath that runs down alongside the railway and then bends right towards Quorn. This is part of a pleasant circular walk through the Leicestershire countryside from Quorn & Woodhouse station. HFF to everyone. Have a great weekend.

After a long day starting at 05.45 we were finally back at Loughborough with LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 and I had gone under to uncouple us from the dining train stock at the north end of the station. Another great day at the GCR - maybe a bit hot though... This composition offered itself as I turned round to put the lamp on the middle bracket. Best viewed large for greatest impact!

Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 passes through Rothley GCR station with an empty stock train for Loughborough. Benches Galore! HBM everyone and have a good start to the week!

Taken on World Photography Day. Al is preparing to set off from Quorn station on the Great Central Railway behind the controls of Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305. This photo of a steam loco cab highlights many aspects on a personal level for me. I volunteer as a fireman at the heritage railway so it is the scene of many pleasurable hours spent on the footplate. Al began work on British Railways in the 1950s so he is a direct link back to the real days of steam & it's a privilege to work with him today. 48305 itself was withdrawn from service and sold for scrap in 1968 so the fact that the engine is still running 55 years later is witness to the many hours put into restoring it from scrapyard condition by many other enthusiasts. We are recreating scenes from the past for the benefit of those that can remember them as well as for the many more that don't.

Trains pass on the Quorn straight. We are on LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 heading for Loughborough while BR Standard 2 2-6-0 78019 is on the Up line heading south. It had been misty in the morning but by our second trip it had cleared to reveal another grey day.

We (the Wednesday lineside clearance gang) put our cutting tools down to watch 48305 pass by at Swithland.

Firing Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 on the 13.00 dining train to Leicester North today. We crossed with NRM Class 33 diesel D6535 (which runs under the custodianship of 5305LA) beneath the A6004 road bridge at Woodthorpe.

We were rostered on Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 and here Dave oils round on shed at Loughborough alongside British Railways Standard 9F 2-10-0 92214

Returning to Loughborough with the diner we handed over Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 to the afternoon relief crew, Al & Jon, and retired to the mess. Dave is packing up his things as 48305 drops back behind the dollies. HFF to everyone & have a great weekend.

Morning has broken but there's not a lot of light to show for it on shed at Loughborough. The rain fell continuously as we prepped Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 but by this time we had about 90psi in the boiler and she was coming to life. Not so BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 92214 alongside which was not in service on this day.

During prep of Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 I helped Bill to oil the underkeeps by operating the pump from ground level while he was in the pit. In the brief interlude while he was removing the corks and draining any water I took this shot of the 8F's driving wheel, rods and motion. Preserved locos, particularly freight engines like the 8F, may be much more polished and clean than they ever were in BR days but close up they are still working engines.

Steam is back on the GCR again and Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 was running on this day. We were heading for Thurcaston embankment to clear up the undergrowth cut over the last two Wednesdays when it passed on the 09.20 from Loughborough. HFF to everyone & have a great weekend. A couple of fences to choose from this time.

This quicksilver-like flow alongside Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 under Empress Road bridge began as the fireman opened the injector water valve. The loco tender was being coaled beyond the bridge.

Two shots were stitched to create this image of the footplate of Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 as we coasted down the hill from Quorn. Bridge 340 and the Quorn Up Auto-Distant are visible through the cab window. If you really squint you can see the double yellow on the Down Auto-Distant. The only pressure gauge in view shows 10psi is going through the steam heating system.

We had crewed the 13.00 dining train to Leicester and back with Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 and then spent 1 hour 45 mins steam heating the stock in Loughborough station prior to its later use on the Winter Wonderlights trains. Finally at 16.30 we uncoupled, took water and came on shed where we waited for our relief to arrive at 17.00. Cue time to take some night shots. It may be only a chain fence but it is a fence... HFF & have a great weekend.

After taking water Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48305 slips as it pulls away from the tank north of Loughborough station. It was coming off shed to work the empty stock to Quorn for the first train of the day. I was weeding the site to make it look more presentable in preparation for passenger trains to return to this station. HFF to everyone. Have a happy and safe weekend.

Sunset over Swithland. 8F 2-8-0 48305 and Class 20 D8098 on the 15.40 Santa service today.