Kirklees: The Battle of the Atlantics

Miniature Railways - Colin Peake's Photographs

13th September 2008

Or the one we've all been (secretly) waiting for!

For a railway founded on narrow gauge outline locomotives and stock to pull off a gala starring miniature outline locomotives is something of an achievement. The Kirklees Light Railway's 'Battle of the Atlantics' gala was truly one of the greatest gatherings of miniature railway equipment seen in some time. Not just locomotives, but complete rakes of stock journeyed to West Yorkshire from Lincolnshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and North Wales for the event.

Attending were:

Atlantics 'Sutton Belle' and 'Sutton Flyer', plus railcar no.4, and six enclosed, two open coaches from the Sutton Collection at the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway;
Atlantic 'Red Dragon' from Windmill Farm;
Atlantic 'Synolda' from Ravenglass;
Atlantic 'Joan' from Rhyl;
0-4-0ST 'Pet' from Sherwood Forest

Seeing these smaller than usual trains operating on the Kirklees Light Railway appears to have attracted a great number of enthusiasts to the railway and all trains appeared to run to capacity.

Double headed trains took the graded 4-mile run with ease, whilst a solo performance from 'Sutton Flyer' earlier in the day showed that the smaller locos could handle the longer than usual runs and grades. Whether they could day in day out is another question, but the weekend was about enjoyment and everyone certainly seemed to have a smile on their face!

Sutton Flyer is prepared for the day. 640x480	Red Dragon takes to the turntable. 640x480	A busy scene outside the shed before services really got going. 640x480
Sutton Flyer prepares to take the first vintage train of the day out. 640x480	Looking ahead from Sutton Flyer's cab. 640x480	Joan exercises along the platform line. 640x480
Sutton Flyer after arrival at Shelley. 640x480	Sutton Flyer takes water on the turntable. 640x480	Another view of Sutton Flyer on the turntable. 640x480
Coupling up the open coach (used as brake vehicle) for the return run. 640x480	Sutton Flyer ready for departure from Shelley. 640x480	Sutton Flyer waits in the loop at Skelmanthorpe. 640x480
The vast difference in scale - standard gauge architecture/miniature loco! 640x853	Sutton Flyer after arrival at Clayton West. 640x480	A tripple headed shuttle working storms to Cuckoo's Nest. 640x480
Red Dragon and Pet at Cuckoo's Nest. 640x480	A closer view of Red Dragon from Windmill Farm. 640x480	A closer view of Sherwood Forest Railway loco Pet. 640x480
Joan and Synolda on arrival at Shelley. 640x480	Synolda heads for the turntable. 640x480	Synolda takes water at Shelley for the return run. 640x480
Joan receives some attention at Shelley. 640x480	Joan and Synolda await departure. 640x480	The KLR's own super powered duo arrive at Shelley. 640x480
Joan waits patiently at Skelmanthorpe. 640x480	Joan and Synolda await passage othe next vinatage train... 640x480	...headed by Sutton Belle and Flyer. 640x480
A view of Suton Belle in the sunlight. 640x480	Red Dragon departs from Clayton West wth a shuttle working. 640x480	Synolda in perfect sunlight at Clayton West. 640x480
'Little and Large' outside the Clayton West shed. 640x480