Encouraged by the good weather, I had a full day out with my cameras.   After heading south down the M5 to photograph 34067 Tangmere working the Royal Duchy out of Bristol, I headed north to Kidderminster for the SVR, lured by the  prospect of seeing another Battle of Britain Pacific (34053 Sir Keith Park, a rebuilt example that I had not seen before) as well as whatever else the SVR had in steam that day.

34067 at Claverham III

34053 at Highley II

I don't know about you, but I prefer the look of the rebuilt form of Bullied's Pacific classes.

I must admit that I had another pressing reason to visit the Severn Valley railway this weekend.   Unfortunately, because of a family wedding taking priority, it's looking extremely unlikely that I'll be allowed to make it to this year's Autumn gala - though as we'll be gathering less than 30 miles away, I haven't entirely given up hope of dropping in on the way home sometime on the final afternoon.

I've been delegated to be busy taking photos of friends and family at the wedding (and those who are in the know will be able to see the results when they've been uploaded to this site), but there will be plenty of other opportunities to photograph steam over the next six weeks or so while the gala season is in full swing.