ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Thursday, 14 January 2010

THE FAT CONTROLLER (14/01/10)

This post is all steam locomotives, so skip it if you find them offensive, boring or dirty smokey things. Today Molly looked after the van whilst I indulged myself in an orgy of anorakism.

The National Railway Museum is the largest railway museum in the world and is superb and well worth a visit, several visits!

I have a couple of criticisms, the lighting is mixed and designed to thwart photography. I took this up with them and they admitted things are purposefully that way. The second is the guidebook which is pretty much a contradiction in terms. A superb publication but not a guide, it doesn't even provide a list of exhibits. It costs £5.00 so have a look before you purchase it. Having said all this entry is free, National Trust take note!

Now my muppetry, having bought the guide I failed to make notes. Back to a load of pictures of things. (What's new!!). The second problem is the light, I tried flash but it would take two flash units plus assistants, plus diffusers or at least bounced flash, probably a combination.

Having got that off my chest I had a wonderful couple of hours in a fantastic place. I could have spent twice this time but the volume of people drove me away. What little boy of my generation didn't want to be a train driver? Very nearly purchased an engine drivers cap in their shop!

Untitled_Panorama1_edited-1 HDR panorama of the Great Hall and the turn table.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA A Works Saddle Tank Locomotive...............What buffers...........

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA    Her Engine Plate......Both these with fill flash.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA  William Stroudley painted this locomotive in 'Improved Engine Green'. Now I am definitely, clinically certified, colour blind. He was either a terminal case, had a wicked sense of humour or a batch of tan paint to shift. ('The Kings Clothes.'). Springs to mind.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA First Class in 1829..........Cheap skates had to sit in open wagons......Moaning commuters take note!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThese magnificent gates are stolen from Euston Station in London. If Network Rail have missed them I've found them........And claim any reward.

P1141543_42_41_40_39_edited-1  The Iron Duke...........HDR, have given up flash as a bad job.

P1141559_8_7_6_5_edited-1Clean and sparkling bright.

P1141569_8_7_6_5_edited-1            My favourite........Was somewhat distracted whilst taking this. A Japanese couple enquired  'Us getting help?'. I had collapsed the tripod and being prostrate on the floor had attracted their concern. Sweet, the Brits would have just walked all over me.

P1141614_3_2_1_0_edited-1       Mallard, the worlds fastest steam locomotive.........................................

P1141609_8_7_6_5_edited-1     And the plaque to prove it.

That's it. Once again I apologise to those visitors expecting stunning images of York.....Oh OK.........

 OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA     The River Ouse this morning.... You didn't miss a thing.

I have enough images for another post......................No! No! No!  Yes! Yes! Yes!.... I LOVE EM!

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15 comments:

  1. Angie Moore14 January 2010 at 17:29

    Trevor will love this post Adrian! He calls me the fat controller, amongst other things! Great pics.

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  2. Unknown14 January 2010 at 17:42

    Nowt wrong with the photography Adrian. Quite frankly I think you have done a sterling job.
    Seeing Mallard again rekindles schoolboy memories (incidently I have been collecting the Trains Illustrated magazine for somewhile now and have completed most years).
    The one thing that amazes me is that it is all free. Hope you got some more Pacifics up your sleeve.

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  3. ADRIAN14 January 2010 at 17:45

    Angie, the place is a feast, the big plus being the subject doesn't go away,(or words to that effect) whilst I am focussing.

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  4. ADRIAN14 January 2010 at 17:51

    Trevor, got the Duchess of something for tomorrow.
    Flying Scotsman is elsewhere. It gets a bit embarrassing. I see a couple of dirty Thomas the Tanks and forget the big showy jobs. It's free right enough..Brilliant!

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  5. DawnTreader14 January 2010 at 19:49

    I'm not really interested in steam locomotives, but I have seen LOTS of them in my day... because my dad was/is obsessively fascinated by them... Back in the 70s when we travelled in Britain, we visited more museum railways than I can count.

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  6. Bob Bushell14 January 2010 at 19:50

    I agree with you, the Mallard, the best steam engine that anyone could wish for. My bro is a steam engine fanatic; and a good photographer, but I think you are up with him.

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  7. Unknown14 January 2010 at 21:12

    Adrian these are awesome! I had to laugh about the couple asking if they could help you because you were on the floor. You should have asked them if they could be your lighting technicians? ;o)

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  8. ADRIAN15 January 2010 at 05:51

    Dawn, I apologise for inflicting yet more of them.
    Bob, thanks, could spend another couple of days there.
    Penny, Yes crawling around must seem odd to some people. It has happened before, admittedly outside and usually whilst looking for beetles or some such.

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  9. Pauline15 January 2010 at 08:06

    I can just picture you in your engine driver's hat, laying on the floor, upsetting the tourists. Luckily, it was worth it!

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  10. ADRIAN15 January 2010 at 08:39

    Pauline, half the fun of lugging around a camera, flash, tripod is to be found in the people I meet. With mobile phone cameras now so good even a DSLR fascinates.

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  11. holdingmoments15 January 2010 at 14:51

    Superb images Adrian, despite the lighting nightmares. HDR works a treat on these.

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  12. gwentman15 January 2010 at 23:16

    Adrian
    Have only visited this Railway museum once on a conferece and forgot my camera! Must make another effort to go again, with camera.

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  13. ADRIAN16 January 2010 at 06:24

    Yes well worth a visit Gwentman.

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  14. GB20 January 2010 at 10:58

    What is it about the Mallard? I only saw it once but it was truly a case of once seen, never forgotten. I've started a bucket list. The NRM is on it!

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  15. ADRIAN20 January 2010 at 11:04

    GB, yes an excellent place, free as well.

    ReplyDelete

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