Wednesday 19 February 2014

Stood on a Mallard whilst next to a Bittern!



18th Feb.  Up with the larks and soon listening to bird song (a Song Thrush has been singing outside of my home in the dark of night this week), I departed Killingworth early this morning and along with Sam and my brother Peter we headed for Durham.  We reached Shildon just before 8.00am on what I guess you could call a twitch of sorts.  After all we were after looking at rarities.  Our morning was to be spent at The National Railway Museum at Shildon and I think that some might argue that there is little difference whether you are twitching birds or twitching trains!  I was trying to remember when the last time was that I was up and out so early on anything but a bird watch.

A Bittern, Union of South Africa and Sir Nigel Gresley begins the day
 
I’ve never been to The National Railway Museum at Shildon and as far as I remember I’ve never been to Shildon!  We went today to see the The Great Goodbye.  On 3rd July 1938, the A4 Class Pacific locomotive Mallard raced down Stoke Bank at 126mph to set a new steam locomotive world speed record. That record still stands.


Wheels on Fire...Mallard

In 2013  the 75th anniversary of Mallard's achievement, it is being marked with the Mallard 75 series of commemorative events of which the Great Goodbye is one, including spectacular opportunities to see the world's fastest locomotive united with its five surviving sister locomotives.  The other five Locomotives are Bittern, Union of South Africa, Dominion of Canada (originally named Woodcock), Sir Nigel Gresley and Dwight D, Eisenhower

Mallard

Stood on a Mallard

Only six of the 35 A4 locomotives built survive in the world.  Dwight D Eisenhower and Dominion of Canada have been temporarily repatriated from their home museums in Canada and the US for the celebrations.

Now you may be wondering why this report is appearing on a wildlife blog.  Well there are strong connections to birds as you will see from the title.  Just in case anyone doubts me, I can assure you that I was stood on a Mallard today (every schoolboy’s dream at one time I’m sure) and I have images to prove it, and it was next to a Bittern.

Where else could Bittern Magnet Sam be other than next to a Bittern
 
The Sir Nigel Gresley was named after its designer.  Sir  Nigel Gresley (19 June 1876 – 5 April 1941) was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive designers and responsible for the design of the class A4 Pacifics.  Sir Nigel’s interest in ornithology accounts for many of this class of locomotive being named after birds.  The names included Golden Eagle, Kingfisher, Falcon, Kestrel, Merlin, Sea Eagle, Woodcock, Osprey, Great Snipe, Golden Plover, Sparrowhawk, Bittern, Guillemot, Herring Gull, Wild Swan, Mallard, Pochard, Gadwall, Garganey, Gannet, Capercaillie, Seagull and Peregrine.


Sir Nigel Gresley...wheels on fire

 So today saw us taking a close look at the locomotives.  We were there early, as we weren’t just joining the masses.  Oh no, not us!  We were attending a special event for photographers before the doors were open to the crowds.  I can vouch for the fact that when the masses did join us there were crowds of them and when we left the car parks were ‘chocka’, with a tail back of traffic stretching for about two miles from the event.  Decent photography would have been impossible.  We went home happy having watched as some of the locomotives were put in to position and put into steam whilst only about twenty-five of us were present.  The smell of the steam took me back to my childhood when taken to far off places by my big brother, such  as Newcastle Central Station and Carlisle Station.  It was a real adventure at the time.  It was an excellent adventure today too and the weather was at its best, the bright sunshine at times making for atmospheric, but difficult lighting conditions.  When Peter had booked us onto the event we had been concerned about snow and ice making for a difficult journey.

More wheels on fire 


On the return home two Common Buzzards were sighted over the A69 following our stop for a cuppa and later in the day I saw a Nordic Jackdaw near to the roundabout at  the north end of Billy Mill Lane.  OK, I know there are varying views about what constitutes a Nordic Jackdaw, but it was good enough for me, a mere train spotter for the day!

16 comments:

  1. Great pictures. We went to NRM Shildon yesterday afternoon so it was crowded but nevertheless brilliant. Wonderful to see so many people of all ages and backgrounds admiring classic, elegant engineering.

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    1. Thanks Phil. It was certainly an excellent way to spend a few hours and I was amazed at the numbers turning up. Cheers.

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  2. Lol.
    I knew your post was going to be about choo choos.

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  3. Ha. Well living in Killingworth I ought to show an interest in locos. Which reminds me I think it is a George Stephenson celebratory year in 2014, or is it 2015. I seem to remember Friends of Killy Lake mentioning celebrations in between their Swanbusting antics.:-)

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  4. ............and birdies, of course.

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    1. Thanks Mark. I have a few others.:-)

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    2. Cheers Brian, I look forward to seeing them.

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  6. Brian, Great Crested Grebe on large lake this morning (Thurs) First day back ?
    Scaup also. Pair Oystercatchers again.

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    1. I can answer that one John! Yes it seems it was the first day back for the Grebe. its 2 days ahead of schedule as if I remember correctly it was the 22nd it reappeared last year. Scaup still showing well too!

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  7. Great pictures and a great morning, I was quite drawn to the "Bittern" I must admit! :) Thanks Sam

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    1. Thanks Sam. I have to admit I was pleased with some of them. Looking forward to seeing yours though! Cheers Brian. PS Very pleased to hear that the GCG is back and hopefully the pair will be reunited soon.

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  8. Cheers Sam. Nice to see it. The others will follow soon, i'm sure. The Scaup came quite close, not too phased at all. Light was poor this morning sadly.

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  9. I presume Mallard was driven from York. It would be great to see it in motion. The one and only time I saw it in service it was chuffing slowly, in reverse, through Grantham Station. Wonderful machine.

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  10. I too assume Mallard was driven up although not too sure about the arrangements Andrew.
    Turn out for this event has far surpassed expectations with a turn out up to Thursday passing what was expected for the full week.
    Talking to my father last night who tells me he unexpectedly watched an A4 arriving at Newcastle in 1935. He tells me that of course these locos where the talk of the town then. My father was 15 at the time. Sam passed an interesting comment as to these locos still looking futuristic until today and I agree. Cheers.

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  11. Just to clarify the above point about the Mallard. I understand that for some years it has been impossible to put this loco into steam. Cheers.

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