The previous weekend was hot, Monday and Tuesday were cold and very wet but the forecast for the BBQ was good. We were worried but as it turned out there was a blue sky, lovely fluffy white clouds, warm but not hot air, a slight breeze and a freshness from all the rain. In other words a perfect day.
Glenis and Tom started the day and got the equipment prepared and cleaned. Others began arriving by noon and we knew that a few were coming later in the afternoon. A good turnout.
Everyone had a good run before the BBQ was turned on. The smell of gently cooking meat wafted around as the late comers arrived and we all had a great social day.
The evening was very pleasant and a few hardy runners played trains until it got dark.
Elliot, Joe, and Mike took the photos.
(Wednesday 13th September 2023)
Mike took this photo of the BBQ but where's Elliot, our Chef ?
We all relaxed in the sunshine, waiting for our grub and chewing the cud.
Meanwhile Elliot gets his Accucraft K1 running.
Doug runs his red Katie pulling his goods train.
Tom resuscitates his engine with a squirt of oil.
Mike goes Talyllyn and pulls his impressive slate train.
The brakeman looks a bit cold while he eats his lunch
Tom looks serious for a moment as he steams his Accucraft.
John ran his Roundhouse Merseysider, pulling a coal train.
A set of Binnie tippers on steel wheels and a tiny brake van.
And the guard peering out from his van door.
Eric Joins the fun with his Alco.
Doug runs his stunning Lilla with a Denby themed train.
Everyone had arrived and we were getting hungry.
Elliot and Glenis got busy but we were all too hungry to take photos.
Mike's daughter, Mary, chats to Doug.
And we had gorged on all the meat while Mary finished off the salad prepared by Glenis.
Free from cooking duties, Elliot got down to some serious running.
Joe joined in with his Bertie.
And as it got darker...
... Joe got his tiny lamps working. He says he wants a red one now.
Joe and John's trains in the sidings were busting to get started.
Tom ran his impressive Mallet on the newly electrified top track.
Joe tried to capture the lovely evening atmosphere.
John got a few circuits in with his Merseysider.
Joe got a cracking sequence of photos around the track.
Elliot and Joe decided to do some double heading.
It was fun but it just looks WRONG !
Mike restored some sanity...
...while Doug moved to the top track.
Great shot by Joe...
... but couldn't quite get the shot of Mike going under while Doug went over the bridge.
More double heading fun and games.
As the sun started to set...
... the light began to catch the steam....
... making wonderful photos.
Elliot staged his own Super Power Wednesday.
With two Ffestiniog classics, the K1 and the Funkey diesel.
Joe's Bertie pulls a night goods train at the end of our BBQ Wednesday.
Then we realised that it might be too dark to see while we packed up.
It really was a fantastic day and everyone had fun.
And the late start enabled a better attendance because not all of us are retired !!!
If you have more photos to add to this or other galleries then please send them to bgrawebsite@gmail.com.