Join us for an evening of steam photography at Didcot Railway Centre featuring 4953 Pitchford Hall

About this event

Join us for an exciting evening of steam photography at Didcot Railway Centre with visiting No.4953 Pitchford Hall in lined British Railways black livery as the centrepiece attraction. Early in the evening we will line up three Hall Class locomotives outside the shed, with 4953 being joined by 5900 Hinderton Hall and 6998 Burton Agnes Hall. From then on, it will be a fully Western Region, British Railways liveried line-up with 4953, 6024 King Edward II (in BR Blue) and 2-6-0 ‘Mogul’ No.5322 (in black) posing in and around the most authentic GWR steam shed surviving in preservation.

The first scenes will be taking advantage of the Autumnal light as the sun (if available!) sets providing illuminating glints of our locos on shed. Then we will turn our attentions to photographs inside the shed as dusk turns to darkness. No.4953 will be in steam during the day and throughout our evening event.

No.4953 was completed at Swindon in August 1929 and was initially allocated to Bristol’s Bath Road Depot and was later transferred to Cardiff Canton in August 1950. Later allocations were to Swindon in March 1959 and latterly Cardiff East Dock from where it was withdrawn in May 1963, being consigned to Woodham Brothers Scrap Yard at Barry in South Wales in November of that year. Rescue came in 1984 and over the next twenty years No.4953 was rebuilt and returned to steam at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham. The Hall is now resident at the Epping and Ongar Railway carrying lined British Railways black livery, and we would like to thank the loco’s private owner and the host Didcot Railway Centre for facilitating this event.

Catering will be available with hot food in the cafe from around 19.00 hours. Start time to be confirmed, but expected to be 17.30 meet for an 18.00 start, running until 22.00. Numbers will be limited for this event so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Event requirements

Equipment

• Spare batteries
• Camera
• Lense cloths
• Filters
• Lenses
• Tripod

Knowledge

• All levels welcome

Fitness

• Low

Other essentials

• Sturdy outdoor shoes
• Torch
• Warm clothing