The Great A4 Gathering

Photos of motive and rolling stock, stations, signals and anything else train related in U.K. & Ireland! Photos should be 800x600 pixels, maximum size 130K. Very good ones will be moved to the Online Gallery, the rest will be pruned away after 14 days to conserve space.

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John Ashworth
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The Great A4 Gathering

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Photos by Dave Rodgers, York, Sunday 7th July 2013
Dave wrote:On Sunday afternoon Julie and I were in York visiting friends but were able to make a brief visit to the NRM on our way home for the last half hour before closing at 18.00. The extensive publicity for 'The Great Gathering' of all 6 surviving A4 pacifics (including the two from North America) has certainly caught the public's imagination and paid off with huge crowds at the Museum (up to 12,500 visitors reported on one day). There was no queuing when we arrived but still hundreds of visitors surrounding the A4s until we were all ushered out at 18.00. We had hoped that the Museum would be virtually empty in the final minutes but it was not to be but with a lot of patience it was possible to get clear views of the 3 BR liveried A4s (60007, 60008 and 60009) for the odd mili-second!
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Geoff Pethick
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Re: The Great A4 Gathering

Post by Geoff Pethick »

Gill and I booked tickets for the early morning photographers event when only 50 were admitted. Cost us 15 quid each but well worth it to have some time to photograph and reminisce. A great uncle of mine, Ted Windle, was one of HNG's draughtsman on the project, so there was a family connection.

Once the doors opened it was like Harrod's sale and the hordes came storming in. We met up with Colin Jenkins and he and I stayed in the museum until after 3pm, during which time it got so crowded that it was one out, one in, for a while. NRM report that 140 000 people visited
during the two week event. Not only that, entrance during normal times was free, so it was a great day out for everyone.

Did the NYMR the next day and North Norfolk the following week, having already done the Vale of Rheidol the week before being in York.

Back to reality now at SANRASM!

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Geoff Pethick
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John Ashworth
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Re: The Great A4 Gathering

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Another photo by Dave Rodgers, 30 July 2013.
Dave wrote:With an hour to kill before my train home I called in again at the National Railway Museum. Whilst the Mallard 75 Exhibition (with the line up of all 6 surviving A4s) has now ended, the recent cancellation of Bittern's run up to London has meant that there are still 4 A4s on display in the Museum and with the bonus of no sponsorship headboards! The crowds of Mallard 75 may have subsided but the Museum was still far too busy for comfort and getting photos was not easy. The best I managed was this shot of the 3 blue A4s taken from the footplate of Dominion of Canada with Bittern on the turntable and Mallard on the right.
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Ian Roberts
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Re: The Great A4 Gathering

Post by Ian Roberts »

I visited the museum yesterday on my way home from a three week contract job.
As Dave says, there were four A4's still on public display. Union of South Africa was on the site on the preparation line and just visible from the corner of the car park.
I had been pulled by Sir Nigel Gresley on the North Yorkshire Moors line the day before.
So it was possible to see all six.
A bonus was Scots Guardsman in the station about 10:15 am with the Scarborough mid week charter.
It had been very frustrating to be only about 60 miles from York for three weeks but not able to attend.

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John Ashworth
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Re: The Great A4 Gathering

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60009 Union of South Africa on the Scarborough Flyer 02/08/13

http://tinyurl.com/qdx6lgm

http://tinyurl.com/prcmr3k

http://tinyurl.com/o9k5626
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Re: The Great A4 Gathering

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Re: The Great A4 Gathering

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