To paraphrase Arkwright 'its been a funny kind of week'. I've been out with the camera but I haven't been on the railway but I've been videoing our engines, nonetheless.
First of all I went to Penrhyn Castle, the National Trust owned stately home which was built by the Douglas-Pennant family who owned the Penrhyn Quarry (and much else besides). Hugh Napier is part of their collection and has recently returned there in the company of Princess. On Thursday, the quarry Hunslet was in light steam so it seemed a good day to go and have a look. I also got some footage of Charles, sat forlornly in his cage in their museum. They also have some other interesting exhibits relating to industrial railways, mostly local but not all.
To finish off the days shoot I drove up into the hills behind the quarry where you can actually see Penrhyn Castle by the Menai Strait and the quarry at the same time.
I'm making a chapter for the Year in the life DVD about the locos on tour in August and this will be part of it but it seemed like a YouTube edit was a good idea and this is what follows.
Yesterday it was off to Shrewsbury where Prince has been hauling the Ashbury coach up and down 100 yds of track in the flower show. I was amazed at the number of people in the show and they all seemed to want a ride. Excellent publicity for the railway.
First of all I went to Penrhyn Castle, the National Trust owned stately home which was built by the Douglas-Pennant family who owned the Penrhyn Quarry (and much else besides). Hugh Napier is part of their collection and has recently returned there in the company of Princess. On Thursday, the quarry Hunslet was in light steam so it seemed a good day to go and have a look. I also got some footage of Charles, sat forlornly in his cage in their museum. They also have some other interesting exhibits relating to industrial railways, mostly local but not all.
To complete the story of the PQR I drove down onto the quayside at Port Penrhyn and grabbed a few shots of the old port buildings there. While I was shooting one of the port officials came over and asked what I was doing but he seemed happy when I explained.
Next I drove up to the quarry and got a few shots of the inside of the place as it is now. Although still a working quarry it also has a zip wire for people to zoom down you can drive up into the quarry to their car park and see enough for what I needed.
To finish off the days shoot I drove up into the hills behind the quarry where you can actually see Penrhyn Castle by the Menai Strait and the quarry at the same time.
I'm making a chapter for the Year in the life DVD about the locos on tour in August and this will be part of it but it seemed like a YouTube edit was a good idea and this is what follows.
Yesterday it was off to Shrewsbury where Prince has been hauling the Ashbury coach up and down 100 yds of track in the flower show. I was amazed at the number of people in the show and they all seemed to want a ride. Excellent publicity for the railway.
I took a lot of footage, if I didn't get what I wanted when I came to edit then it would be too late. I even clamped a camera onto the loco for a few different angles. I was delighted that while I was going round the show getting a few GVs (general views) I heard the band master announce that the brass band on the band stand were about to play 'Men of Harlech' so I videoed the whole tune and used it as a background for the whole package. It is just the right length and nicely atmospheric. Anyway you can decide for yourself because here is the very thing...
