'Steam in the Landscape'

Geoff Richardson

A day photographing the landscape of the Yorkshire Dales is rarely less than rewarding, and when the scenery includes a steam train it is never less than dramatic. You don't have to be some sort of 'anorak' to appreciate the site of a fully laden steam locomotive charging up the 'Long Drag', pounding out plumes of smoke, it is a vision that should inspire any photographer.

It was in the late 1980's that I found out by accident that 'Steam Specials' were once again running regularly on the main lines of British Rail. I was out walking in the Dales on a sunny summer morning, looking for some inspiring landscape pictures, I noticed a dozen or so photographers lined up in a field high above Artengill Viaduct in Dentdale. My curiosity aroused I left the footpath and made my way up towards them, interested in finding out what was going on. I was surprised and delighted to find out that they were awaiting the arrival of the 'Duchess of Hamilton', not a royal personage you understand, much more important. This was the Stanier designed 'Coronation' class main line locomotive which was due to arrive in about 15 minutes time. I couldn't believe my good fortune. The thoughts of seeing this superb specimen of British engineering in its natural environment brought memories of my youth flooding back. This class of locomotive was my and many other small boys favourite locomotives.

Like most young boys in the early 1960's much of my time was spent taking down the numbers of various engines and underlining them in a small book, the Ian Allen published 'ABC Combined Volume' of British Railways Locomotives. Published annually this was a must for any young boy and, as I remember, my first copy cost 10/6d in old money, just over 50p now. This was no small amount in those days and I was overjoyed to receive my first copy as a birthday present.

In the early 60's the practice, of underlining engine numbers in a book, was considered to be a perfectly normal, healthy, pursuit for a normal, healthy young boy approaching the age when life's other attractions would become more interesting. At that age our idea of getting into mischief was to sneak around an engine shed without permission, carefully trying to avoid the Shed Master who, depending on his mood or personality would usually eject us. In reality the engine shed was a very dangerous environment and we should never have been allowed anywhere near such a place, but I ask myself, how many of today's parents would gladly swap those risks for for the ones faced by today's children?

Underlining engine numbers in a book
- once considered normal for a young boy!

Anyway, enough of the problems of today's youth, back to Artengill and the arrival of the Duchess of Hamilton, or should I say non arrival! The 15 minutes was now 30 and no sign of the promised train. Patience, I already knew, from photographing the landscape is often required. I was to find out that when it comes to getting a decent shot of a steam locomotive in the landscape it is most definitely a virtue. After an hour the other photographers were clearly becoming impatient, mutterings about the sun getting too far round being the main concern. Clearly these photographers new a thing or two. My meagre hand held Chinon CE4 with its standard 50mm lens looked somewhat out of place against the line of Hassleblads, Mamiyas and Bronicas placed firmly on tripods. One photographer even had two separate cameras mounted on a crossbar attachment, one for colour, the other for B/W. Clearly these were serious photographers who were looking for something better than the normal snapshot.

Photography in my youth was largely unaffordable, but I did manage to take a handful of pictures in the mid 1960's at the time approaching the demise of steam on British Railways. My handful of photos were of dubious quality, taken with, I think, not too sure of the name, a 'Brownie Junior' camera. Despite their ropey quality they are precious to me. They are my only visual memory of those lost innocent days of youth when a summer 'Runabout Ticket' allowed myself and childhood friends the first chance of freedom from parental control. One of the pictures, (above) was of the same class of locomotive as the Duchess of Hamilton. No. 46254 City of Stoke-on-Trent, here I think, standing at the southern end of Preston Station, possibly in the summer of 1965 and reaching the end of its life. The photo shows the main line passenger locomotive in a rather unkempt, depressing condition. A sad ending for such a proud locomotive. Today at Artengill I would see one of these pacific locomotives that had survived, maintained in superb working condition, doing what it was built for, pulling a main line passenger express. Here I would see one steaming through the beautiful countryside of the Settle-Carlisle Railway, a truly inspiring vision.

The belated arrival of Duchess of Hamilton at Artengill

About 90 minutes late the locomotive finally arrived, serenely crossing the viaduct with its compliment of twelve coaches. I was happy enough but couldn't help noticing a somewhat muted appreciation by the other photographers. Such was my anticipation of the locomotives arrival That I hadn't realised that the sun had moved, placing the train and viaduct in their own shadows. I was also to learn that it is the exhaust from the locomotive that would add drama to a picture, here there was only a modest trace of smoke. At this time I didn't know much about photography (some think that's still the case), especially railway photography, but my interest grew and by studying my own, and other photographers work in railway magazines my pictures improved to a standard at which, if not brilliant, were certainly acceptable to me.









February 2003 -
The Duchess of Hamilton seen on static display at the National Railway Museum in York. The museum is now FREE to enter

 

My selection of photographs were taken during the late 1980's and early 1990's when specials running on the Settle-Carlisle were a regular feature.

Details of the running of today's steam specials are listed in the monthly publication 'Steam Railway'. This publication is a must for anybody interested in the subject and reproduces steam photography of the very highest quality.

CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE

1. 60532 Blue Peter	2. 4771 Green Arrow	3. 46203 Princess Margaret Rose

4. 6201 Princess Elizabeth	5. 4472 Flying Scotsman	6. 4472 Flying Scotsman

7. 46229 Duchess of Hamilton	8. 71000 Duke of Gloucester	9. 45690 Leander

10. 71000 Duke of Gloucester

© ALAN RICHARDS and DALES AND VALES MAGAZINE