East Somerset Railway - "The Way We Were" Event - August 2005

The East Somerset Railway "The Way We Were" 1940's nostalgia weekend is becoming an established event for the August Bank Holiday at Cranmore. This year, it was a recreation of a period immediately following VJ Day in 1945 when rationing in Britain was actually increased following the war years and people had to be more resourceful than ever.

Project 62's USA Tank Locomotive 30075 is an ideal representative of this age - by late 1945 almost 400 had been shipped through Newport in South Wales either for use in Britain or for transfer to mainland Europe. Many USA Tank Locos were used in the Welsh Coal Pits in addition to the GWR "Taffy" Tank such as 5637 featured on the page banner above right.

In the August Sunshine 30075 is prepared for duty

Lord Fisher and 30075 coupled together for coaling.....

....then make their way to the coaling stage

30075 attracting attention running round at Mendip Vale

Rural view from Cranmore West - unchanged from 1940's

Lord Fisher busy on "Driver for a Fiver" Duty

Sand bags provide a handy seat in the shade!

Cranmore Station very colourful with flowers and bunting

A general view of the event field and displays

Velocettes amongst other bikes present

The Mendip Motor Club display

A classy classic Rover - has this marque now gone?

All photos are copyright of Project 62 unless otherwise credited