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Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
Winter Gala Saturday 12th February 2011
Stanier Black 5 4-6-0
44871 restarts the 08:45 freight working from Keighley away from Haworth
loop towards Oxenhope, after attaching Standard 4MT 80002 at the rear.
2:45, 3.2MB
Next was Black 5 44767, taking the
first passenger working past the same recording position, north of Oxenhope.
This working was the 09:40 stopping service from Keighley.
2:24, 2.8MB
The third timetabled working was the 10:25 from Keighley, with Fowler
Class 3F 'Jinty' 47279 in charge of the
3 coach suburban set. Recorded from the hillside just south of Haworth, below the
wind turbine. 2:49, 3.2MB
A timely stroll northwards to the north portal of Mythomes tunnel, in time to
pick up a take of 44871 leaving Oakworth
with the 11:25 from Keighley. After starting around the curve after the mill
buildings a speed restriction was observed over the river bridge, before the
train accelerated into the tunnel. 2:15, 2.6MB
Recordings of the next two trains were not exactly successful. In hindsight,
putting mics directly on top of the tunnel portal was completely bonkers.
Needless to say, the take of 80002 was massively (and irreversably)
over-recorded. Oops.
The next recording, of 44767 and 44871
double-heading the 13:10 from Keighley was almost lost for a different reason -
I forgot to power up the mics until after I pressed 'Record'. Which is why the
track starts late, as the tunnel mouth is approached, Oops again.
0:50. 1.0MB
Another change of position, to just north of Oakworth Mill.
WD 2-8-0 90773 restarts the 14:05 from
Keighley away from Oakworth station. At first the sound is partly masked by the
bulk of the mill building, but becomes very clear as it passes by on the
embankment. The sound echoes from the mill building as the train approaches
Mytholmes tunnel. Unfortunately a swift end-fade is needed to cut out the sound
of some very loud motor bikes which come around the mill corner.
1:53, 2.2MB
Down the valley to Keighley, getting in position just in time to record
Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80002 slogging its way
out of the station onto the GN straight with the 16:30 departure. Church bells
ring throughout. (Not exactly O Winston Link on the Norfolk & Western, but as
close as I'm likely to get.) 3:22, 3.9MB
80002 was followed shortly afterwards by
Lancashire & Yorkshire Barton Wright
Class 25 0-6-0 957 on the 17:00 service to Ingrow West, formed
with two Lancashire and Yorkshire vintage carriages. 47279 simmers in the siding
north of the station, in front of the recording position, as 957 starts
away and takes the train around the curving gradient from the station.
The sound of the receding train echoes from the houses to the right.
2:45, 3.23MB
After reversing down to the station
47279 took the 17:15 departure away to Oxenhope; a 3 coach suburban stopping
service. 2:34, 3.0MB
The final recording of the day was the
18:15 express, double-headed as far as Haworth by 44767 and 90773.
44767 briefly opens its cylinder drain cocks as it passes. The complex
interplay of exhaust beats of the two engines is further compounded by echoes
from nearby buildings. As the sound of the train fades away, 957 whistles and
moves out of platform 4 light engine.
4:0, 4.6MB
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