| After the excellent steam event at this location earlier in the year I had been really looking forward to returning for this diesel event, which was held at the Roundhouse site over the weekend of 8th/9th of August 2009, but in spite of the impressive array of locos on display on the 8th when I visited, I have to say that I came away a little disappointed with some aspects of the event, and vowing to think very carefully before ever going to any similar events there again.
Amongst the massive selection of locos on display, were (mostly running locos listed here) Janus 07001, Stanton No.50, 55022, 55019, 47818, 56101, 66841, 66425, 66433, D1023, and D1015. There were also a great many static exhibits too, and a truly impressive collection of Deltic locos. My main gripe about the event though was that, on the Saturday at least, there were just too many locos occupying many of the roads outside the roundhouse, and this made taking pictures much more difficult than it was at the steam event, which had been really well laid out, and allowed many visitors to take pictures and films of the moving trains fairly comfortably from the top of the hill, or from a space created near the bottom in front of the angled layout of locos. With most visitors seemingly carrying cameras or camcorders I would have thought attention to this detail would have been a very important consideration. As it was, the only really good place to get shots of the locos on the move (especially with that bright sun making the direction towards the shed very difficult) was down near to the gates where the locos go out onto their short stretch of line before returning again. This was where my day was pretty much ruined, mainly by members, who I assume were Barrow Hill staff, who were not working, but just dashing around in their hi viz jackets and taking photographs of their own for much of the day. Now I appreciate that folks like the signalman have a job to do, and I have no problem at all with getting them in my pictures, in fact I think they often really add to a shot, and I like to try and take a few like that which show them working whenever it's possible (and if they want to get a few of their own during the day why not?). What was annoying though, and not just to me and my travelling companion, but also to many of the other paying visitors down there, was the way that some of them selfishly put their own photographic interests first, and frequently ruined shots for the paying customers by constantly running over to the central pier of the gates to take pictures whilst we were busy trying to take our own shots. I go to many heritage railways, and am a member of a couple of them, and a big supporter of the heritage movement in general, so it gives me no pleasure to have a go at one, but in all my years of attending events I have rarely ever come away with anything but great respect for the volunteers that work so hard to make them a success, so this sort of selfish behaviour from staff members who should know better has really left a very bad taste in my throat I have to say. After five hours of travelling, two hundred miles plus, 30 quids worth of petrol, and 2 x the £12 entrance fee, I left there feeling that I wouldl never darken their doorsteps again after this ignorant performance. I just hope the idiot got the message and that him and the other 'chosen few' of orange blobs who were happily exploiting their privileged position didn't go and ruin it for many of the Sunday visitors as well. Glad I've got that off my chest, but I still feel angry thinking about it even several days later, and I've put a few shots of the berk and his mates in this gallery just to get my revenge. I'll finish on a positive note though, the Deltic workshop was very impressive and boasted an excellent collection of these big locos, but I have to say that my star performer of the day was without doubt the Hulley's bus driver, who was running one of the bus services to Chesterfield. Upon seeing me trying to get a picture of him departing from the site, but having my view blocked by cars coming from the other direction, he stopped and waited until the road was clear and I'd got my shot of his bus before he finally departed with a friendly wave. What a star and a gentleman, pity he couldn't give the selfish orange blob brigade inside the site a few lessons in considerate behaviour! 
I really am starting to turn into Victor Meldrew as I get older I think, these things seem to bother me a lot more nowadays than they ever did in the past!
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That's another photograph ruined 1024x710 IMGP2111.jpg |
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Hope you got all our nice bright hi viz vests in your shots lads! 1024x720 IMGP2127.jpg |
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Who gives a s88t about the paying customers anyway! 1024x744 IMGP2155.jpg |
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If I want to run across here and ruin your shots I will do! 1024x699 IMGP2196.jpg |
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