More trackwork and Gallopers are coming along well

Toby on the 2ft gauge

Ever the glutton for punishment, I put myself into the frame for another day of trackwork before the maintenance season ends and Bressingham opens its doors to the public again on 27th March. The other motive was to get a behind the scenes glimpse at The Gallopers as they are reassembled following their overhaul and inspection.

Trackwork and Gallopers update

Track maintenance

Today's visit was to help do some work on the track. When the main season finishes at the end of October there is a five month window to do any track maintenance before things open again fully towards the end of March. Obviously this work needs planning around the Christmas and February half-term opening as some trains do run for these events.

Photoshoot for Christmas 2010 marketing

Bressingham's Snow Queen (taken on previous visit)

After my first Christmas visit I knew that I could achieve some much better images with the use of flash lighting. In my mind's eye I pictured the Snow Queen in her sleigh with the background washed in blue light to give the image a cold tone. Given the very low light levels inside it would be virtually impossible to shoot the Snow Queen without the use of flash. The image here was taken on that visit and was the sort of style that I wanted to achieve today.

Christmas photographs in the snow

Seat at entrance to Nursery Line

The recent cold snap earlier in the week has left several inches of snow on the ground where I live. A quick call to Sue at Bressingham confirmed that they too have a fair bit of snow still laying - ideal conditions for doing some promotional photography for next year's Christmas marketing campaign.

Given today's impulse decision I will be restricted to photography outside as my tripod is in my car which is having its MOT this weekend. With the surprise weather conditions I am quite happy to make the most of the snow outside.

A family visit to Bressingham at Christmas

The Snow Queen's sleigh

Today we visited Bressingham's Christmas event so that little one could visit Santa and have a ride on the steam train. During my induction day I had seen some of the preparations for Christmas taking place so it was nice to see the finished article.