6 “gronk” haulages in a week, August 2025
I have never been that desperate to rake in “gronk” haulages. Back in the day on an East Mids Ranger, if there was little out, the Leeds – Poole portion would be joined at Rotherham Masborough or Donny for the Sheffield shunt.
Link to my BR “gronk haulages” 1977-2000 (with phots) here.
Into preservation and a good few more have been raked in with little effort or enthusiasm on my part…
Recently 3 very different Galas at Brechin, the Spa Valley and Cholsey – Wallingford saw me rake in 6 different 08/09’s!, 2 of them (08060 and 08922) were winners too!
Caledonian Railway Gala, Friday August 1st 2025
08046 as D3059 “Brechin City” was doing the short almost platform length brake van rides at Bridge of Dun. Good fun but to quote one basher “you could measure the mileage with a tape measure! “.
08046 with brake van awaits customers for her short trip up and down platform 1 at Bridge of Dun, the impressive footbridge was relocated from Dunblane a few years ago now, August 1st 2025
With a celebrity driver 08046 is about to rumble up and down the platform at Bridge of Dun on August 1st 2025
Spa Valley Railway Gala, Friday August 8th 2025
Visiting 09004 (as 3668) and resident 08922 (as 4152) were top and tailing “Thumper” 1317 on several Eridge – Groombridge shuttles, much thrash and i raked in 6 gronk miles on 3 single trips. 08892 was quoted as sounding like a “70” , she was quite loud.
Some serious 09 clag here as 09004 , Thumper 1317 and 08922 approach Groombridge station with the emcars to form the 1342 Groombridge – Eridge on August 8th 2025
09004 with 08922 tailing grumbling nicely leaving Eridge with the 1600 to Groombridge on August 8th 2025
Cholsey and Wallingford “Shunter day”, Sunday August 11th 2025
I last visited this always atmospheric preserved line back in 2006, so it was good to see and hear the ex Park Royal Guinness “Gronks” 08022 and 08060 in action once again. A good crowd filled the 3 Mk I’s all day to enjoy 08022, 08060 and 08123 in various combinations on 4 round trips.. This caused some anguish for some as only the lead loco was powering whether single or treble headed!
To their great credit CWR Control ensured that all 3 “gronks” performed as the lead loco on at least 2 occasions. That deep rumbling thrash whether on the move, or standing under the former Maidenhead canopy at Wallingford station brought back many memories of a time when a “gronk” could be seen and heard at most decent size BR stations, alas they are hardly heard working on the big railway these days, although a good few survive as depot pilots.
The Cholsey – Wallingford Railway pulled out all the stops for their shunter day, and everybody enjoyed it.
My first ever triple headed gronk even if 08022 the lead loco was powering with 08060 and 08123 idling on the 1230 ex Wallingford seen here at Cholsey blocks on 10th August 2025.
Green machine 08123 prior to working the 1430 Cholsey – Wallingford on August 10th 2025
08022 and 08060 at Wallingford during a quit interlude prior to working the 1530 to Cholsey on August 10th 2025
08060 and 08022 rest under the impressive former Marlow bay canopy from Maidenhead with the last train of the day, the 1600 ex Cholsey to end an enjoyable day
I am working on my list of preserved shunter haulages and it will hopefully be finished in a few weeks.
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