I find it hard to believe this is the seventh 'Annual Review' I've posted. Once again, I've been extremely lucky. Despite reaching "Three score years and Ten" (when the Manufacturer's Guarantee expires) I'm still fit enough to enjoy new experiences. Not being sure how long this situation will prevail, I managed to cram four overseas trips into the year and a fair bit of time on the footplate.
OVERSEAS TRAVEL
Safari
I thought I ought to 'go on safari' at least once in my life. I ended up visiting Zambia and the Victoria Falls, Namibia and a few days river cruising followed by a very luxurious trip with Wilderness Safaris in Botswana. Of course, I feel a little guilty that I didn't 'rough it' but it was exceptionally enjoyable. There are 28 posts describing the trip and these posts include links to my pictures.
Mongolia and the Trans-Siberian
My planned trip to Tibet was cancelled at short notice because the Chinese stopped issuing tourist visas. Instead, I flew to Ulaan Bataar, witnessed the Mongolian annual National Games and then joined the 'Golden Eagle' private train back to Moscow. This adventure is described in 17 posts which include links to pictures.
Burma
Once again, I returned to Myanmar which is now slowly starting to "come in from the cold" following visits from both the British Prime Minister and the American President. This time, I went south to Mawlamyine before taking the 'Road to Mandalay' river cruise to Bhamo. I also made visits to a number of schools and the medical clinic supported by the 'Road to Mandalay' Social Contribution. 21 posts describe the trip and give links to my pictures.
Malta
I accompanied Ann and Dean for a week in Malta. It had been many years (I'm not sure how many) since my previous trip and I was surprised at how much had changed. There are 8 posts which describe the trip and include links to my photographs.
RAILWAYS
Railways, General
John, Phil, Mick, Ian and Mike at Brewood Hall.
A small group of enthusiasts met again at Brewood at the end of January 2012 (details). During the year, the group has exchanged information and queries during by e-mail.
Railways in the West Midlands are a particular group interest and that encouraged me to add a number of articles during the year including:-
Sedgeley Junction, Deepfields, Tipton, Tipton (again), Tipton Station Shunting Frame, Rail & Canal at Bloomfield, 'Breakdown' at Bloomfield, Albion, West Midland Railways.
Railways, U.K. Modern Image
I still use what remains of our national railway network for getting around but without much pleasure, I'm afraid. Occasionally, that provokes a post (usually some rant about the Train Operating Companies or the dreadful Network Rail), such as:- Liverpool by Train and London and Birmingham in 2012.
Railways in Zambia
During my safari holiday, I discovered that there's a railway museum in Livingstone which, of course, I visited giving rise to an article here with a link to a set of pictures.
Quite by chance, I was in Livingstone on one of the days when the steam-hauled Royal Livingstone Express dining train operated. I managed a footplate ride described here (with a link to my pictures). I also made a short post on Zambesi Sawmills Railways. Since many of the locomotives I'd seen in Zambia were North British Locomotive Company products, on my return to the U.K. I added the article North British Locomotive Company.
Railways in Mongolia and Russia
There was obviously a strong railway theme to my Mongolia and Trans-Siberian holiday and the 17 posts in the series Trans-Siberian include a fair bit of 'technical' content together with links to my railway pictures. In addition, there are a number of 'specialist' articles including:-
Russian Railways, Russian 'YeA' class, Mongolian Railways, Russian 'FDp20' class 2-8-4, Russian 'FD20' class 2-10-2, Numbering of Russian Locomotives and Rolling Stock.
Railways in Burma
During my trip to Burma described above, I used the railway from Yangon to Kyaikto, Katha to Naba and made another trip on Yangon's Circle Line. In addition, I made various brief visits to stations by road. There are a few new posts including:- Yangon to Kyaikto by Train, By Train to Naba, Bago to Kyaikto by Train, The Circle Line Revisited and the start of a series on 'Railway Signalling in Burma'.
PRESERVED RAILWAYS
I am currently Secretary of the Old Locomotive Committee and an active volunteer at MOSI, The Battlefield Line and Peak Rail.
The Old Locomotive Committee
My first involvement in preservation was with the locomotive 'Lion' and the Old Locomotive Committee. Now 'Lion' is on display in Liverpool Museum, that chapter is closed, but I'm still Secretary of the Old Locomotive Committee which, in addition to its study role, encourages live-steam modellers of 'Lion', holding an annual competition for 'Lion' models called 'Lionsmeet'. I've added a few posts during the year including:- The Titfield Thunderbolt, Driving 'Lion', OLCO AGM 2012 and Lionsmeet 2012.
MOSI
MOSI (the Museum Of Science and Industry at Manchester) has now become part of the Science Museum Group. Steam train rides continue on the Museum's Demonstration Line using the 'Planet' replica and restored four-coupled saddletank 'Agecroft No. 1'. I've always loved the site, as the 1830 Goods Warehouse, Station Buildings, Irwell Bridge and other constructions comprise (albeit somewhat altered) the First Passenger Railway Station in the World. This is a marvellous legacy and to be able to take a steam train ride on the site, even today, represents a triumph of preservation. Of course, Network Rail have decided that a new line - the Ordsall Chord - is required to improve rail communication between Manchester's various stations so the steam operation at the Museum is currently threatened. Posts during the year include:- Agecroft at MOSI, MOSI Mini Maker Faire, Day out with Thomas at MOSI and Santa Specials - 2012.
The Battlefield Line
I did a number of 'turns' in the year, often on the diesel railcar (including a 'Midweek' on Wednesday 22nd August and 'DMU Shuttle' on Saturday 20th October 2012 as part of the 'Friendly Engines' weekend). Unfortunately, I was overseas for the Steam Gala. The railway had originally planned to hold more 'Day out with Thomas' days in October but these were cancelled. New posts during 2012 include:- 'Thomas' at the Battlefield Line, Battlefield Line Modellers' Weekend 2012, A Day on the Footplate (1), Battlefield Line 1940s Weekend (June 2012), A Busy Few Days and The Bear's Story. On 31st December 2012, I drove the diesel railcar on a 'Mince Pie Special' day. The weather was pretty foul for most of the day but the trains were fairly well patronised and everybody remained in good spirits.
Peak Rail
During 2012, the service has normally been top-and-tailed to Matlock Town, with a steam locomotive at the south end and and a diesel at the north end. We started and finished the year with 'Sapper' as the steam locomotive leaving '68013' to perform the balance of the running. The first main-line steam charter to Peak Rail for some years provided a milestone, as the train engine 'Oliver Cromwell' was turned for the return journey on the turntable at Rowsley. Once again, the 1940s Weekend proved very popular. A number of posts have been added during the year including:- Peak Rail in Winter, Steam Charter to Peak Rail, A Day on the Footplate (2), Peak Rail 1940s Weekend 2012, A Busy Few Days and Santa Specials - 2012.
BREWOOD HALL
I understand that rainfall in the area during 2012 was the heaviest since records began (about 100 years ago). It certainly seemed damp and clammy for much of the year. There were no major events in 2012 but a few posts have been added during the year including:- Railway Friends at Brewood (also referred to in 'Railways, General' above), The Brewood Buddha Statue, Oak Tree Pruning at Brewood Hall.
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