Les Auld - photoblog

The final minutes .......

Les Auld — 2009-07-04T00:00:00Z

........ of the day when the suns lingers just on the horizon sinking into the cloud bank edging Liverpool Bay and the evening sky glows red and gold. Two minutes later the sun had fully set and the Burbo Bank Windfarm disappeared from view and you could imagine that it was no longer there.

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And so time passes ....

Les Auld — 2009-07-03T00:00:00Z

.... and the sun goes down over Liverpool Bay and the Perch Rock Lighthouse moves into shadow. On the far left can be seen the windmills of the Burbo Bank wind farm. I really wanted the setting sun to be more central on this but to get the picture I would have had to wade out into several feet of the River Mersey so I settled for this view.

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Perch Rock

Les Auld — 2009-07-02T00:00:00Z

It has been a while since I posted an image of Perch Rock Lighthouse in New Brighton, so here is one I prepared earlier.

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Kings Dock

Les Auld — 2009-07-01T00:00:00Z

The new BT sponsored Convention Centre and the Liverpool Echo Arena catch the last of the sun's light on Kings Dock, in the distance the Albert Dock complex may just be seen.

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The Great Marquess

Les Auld — 2009-06-30T00:00:00Z

The ex LNER engine The Great Marquess stored awaiting overhaul at Bridgenorth on the Severn Valley Railway. The work was completed in 206 and 61994 is currently working on the Churnet Valley Railway.

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After the storm

Les Auld — 2009-06-29T00:00:00Z

Evening at Bridgenorth Shed on the Severn Valley Railway. A rainstorm had just passed over Bridgenorth and the evening sun started to appear.

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Central Station

Les Auld — 2009-06-28T00:00:00Z

Now I am the proud holder of a Merseytravel Travel Pass I can roam the network with impunity so a long term project is to photograph every station in the network, so far managed a few only. This one is Central Station in the heart of Liverpool on the Northern Line platform.

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Georges Dock Building

Les Auld — 2009-06-27T00:00:00Z

Perhaps one of my favourite buildings at Liverpool's Pier Head, Georges Dock building on the Strand is both the headquarters of the Mersey Tunnel company and the ventilation shaft for the original Mersey Tunnel. Opened in 1934, the architect, Herbert J. Rowse, incorporated fine Art Deco detail into a clean square building. The green shelter in front of the building is one of the original ticket booths. The tunnel comapny run guided tours of the building and ventilation shafts but so far I have always seemed to have missed them. On the right hand side can be seen the Port of Liverpool building. On another subject I have just found out that yesterday's image of the DUKW has been selected as picture of the day in the Liverpool Echo on Saturday.

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Like a DUKW to Water

Les Auld — 2009-06-26T00:00:00Z

One of the Yellow Duckmarine tour DUKWs enters the dock complex at Salthouse Dock in Liverpool. Four DUKWs run continuous one hour tours around the docks and the city centre on most days. The DUKW is a six wheel drive amphibious truck developed by Genral Motors during World war II and served with distinction in many parts fo the world supporting amphibious landings. the name comes from the model naming terminology used by GMC; the D indicates a vehicle designed in 1942, the U meant "utility (amphibious)", the K indicated all-wheel drive and the W indicated two powered rear axles.

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Back to Crosby

Les Auld — 2009-06-25T00:00:00Z

It is a while since I was last at Crosby beach to see the Gormley statues, so as sunset approached I went down there last night to check if they were all still there, and so the were. There were quite a few people about as well, walking around, playing on the beach and photographing the statues. So they still hold some attraction after a few years.

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Becconsall Old Church

Les Auld — 2009-06-24T00:00:00Z

To the north of Southport on the west bank of the River Douglas near where it flows into the River Ribble is Becconsall Old Church. There has been a chapel on this site since the early 16th century, probably erected by the de Becconsall family, the local squire of the manor. This current building was erected in 1765 and was paid for by £60 raised and subscribed by local farmers and £30 raised as a levy on the parish. Hand made local bricks were provided by Sir Thomas Hesketh, lord of the manor. An annual payment of £2. 16s. 5d. has been paid by the Duchy of Lancaster since 1535 for prayers to be said in Becconsall Chapel for mariners on the River Ribble. This payment is still made to the church today.

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On Shed - Swanage

Les Auld — 2009-06-23T00:00:00Z

The Swanage Line is one of my favourite preserved lines, they have some fine engines down on the south coast. Here BR Standard Class 4MT 80104 is standing outside the stone engine shed just past the station. To end this short series on preserved steam here are a few facts on preserved lines: There are 108 Operating Railways and 60 Steam Centres operating throughout the UK and Eire.Total route mileage is over 400 miles with 302 stations.This is greater than the London Underground system and would exceed the distance between London and Glasgow. Heritage railways directly employ 1,330 people and also benefit from the work of 13,550 volunteers.There are 1314 preserved steam engines, including Narrow Gauge and Broad gauge engines of which about 800 are operational at any one timeThere are 1397 preserved Diesel and Electric locomotivesHeritage railways earned around 50 million pounds in 2005, 60% of this being from trains journeys, 15% from catering, 14% from shops and the remaining 11% mainly from workshops and charter trains. All in all it is quite a a big business.

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