The Great Gathering, 2013

We got to both versions of the Great Gathering, at York and Shildon. All six surviving Class A4s, including the two temporarily repatriated from America - Dominion of Canada and Dwight D Eisenhower, were on show at both venues.

There was a lot of moaning about not being able to get photos of the locomotives because there were too many people straying into the shots. I’m not impressed with this particular whinge. Trains are all about people, as well as machines. That was certainly the nature of the occasion in this instance.

There are often separate photographers’ viewings, charter trains, high vis’ vest wearers’ passes for the lineside, special night-time openings and, no doubt, all sorts of other accommodation made for people who really can’t countenance other people straying into their view finders.

I didn’t bother much with photos at either venue. I basked in the never-to-be-repeated event, felt honoured to have been able to witness these wonderful locomotives at the head of day-to-day express trains in the early 1960s, relished the company of like-minded friends and just enjoyed the moment.