Honestly I’m really not…..As far as I’m concerned cars, motorbikes, planes, boats, even roller-skates have got trains beaten into a cocked hat. They’re slow, (even the fast ones), noisy, (even the quiet ones), can’t do a three point turn, and in my experience always have a slight whiff of bottom….No, I don’t really like trains.
That is until I found a yard full of dead ones.
This bunch of rotting rollers were in casual abandon at Rowsley South station in the Peak District, and the ever accomodating Mrs SHPics allowed me a full ten minutes of snapping before pulling me aboard the steam locomotive that makes the short trip to Matlock, where, she prayed one could find a decent cup of coffee…What sort of place is it where you need to catch a bloody steam train just to get a quality caffeine fix?
On the way out of the station we saw 8 middle aged men…Hats with badges, notepads, nasal hair you could swing from and train catalogues in their polyester slack pockets…NOT ONE OF THEM HAD EVER HAD A GIRLFRIEND !
TRAIN-SPOTTERS !!!
Someone needs to tell’em, ‘The only good train is a dead train!’
All Images Copyright Stuart Allan Hyde
stuart allan hyde ______ 
Spiritual World Traveler
These are amazing, Stuart! “always have a slight whiff of bottom…” LOL
Stuart Hyde - shpics
They do though don’t they?
🙂
Conceptual Muse
Reblogged this on Conceptual Art.
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Thanks very much indeed…..If you like’em enuff to blog’em then I’m a happy bunny !!
🙂
nonoymanga
you master the art of texture photography. Cheers Nonoy Manga
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Thats kind of you to say so….Thanks very much.
🙂
scillagrace
Definitely your paradise. I wonder, “Why the six-pointed star on the electrical oil car?” A WWII story there, perhaps?
Stuart Hyde - shpics
SHPics stumbles and falls…I’ve told you about my grasp of history before, and this time its a total dead loss…..I’ve no idea…
Sorry Scilla.
😦
Helen Cherry
I love these but then I absolutely LOVE trains!! especially steam trains.. but I’m definitely not a spotter!
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Hmmmmm…….
You seem such a sensible kinda girl and then you come out with this nonsense…Love trains indeed…
Barking!
Lemony (Gr)Egghead
Fantastic shots. 1 and 2 are especially fabulous. The rust just makes my mouth water.
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Lemony (Gr)Egg-head…Train licker !!
🙂
Lemony (Gr)Egghead
Ha ha ha! You know it! 😀
corneliaweberphotography
Hi Stuart, I just came across your amazing blog through Marina Chetner’s blogging. EXPLODING COLORS that’s what comes to my mind when I look at your work. Thank you for sharing
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Hey Cornelia..
I’m so glad you enjoyed the visit….I hope you’ll come again.
🙂
themofman
I would love to shoot there.
Stuart Hyde - shpics
It’s one heck of a photo op…
🙂
Ann
Wow! These are gorgeous.
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Thanks…You can’t beat a bit of rust.
🙂
west517
beautiful rust!!! love this~
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Thanks. 🙂
Nothing better than a bit of decay.
west517
looove it!!
janemorley2014
Looks like I’m a little late joining in on this one but you ‘Liked’! one of my photos a few days ago so I’m discovering you now! Love this series – chimes in with some ‘beautiful and delapidated’ things I’m doing myself at the moment. Will stay tuned for more……! Best wishes
.. Jane
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Hi Jane
very nice to see you here…….Pop in whenever you like. The kettle is never far off the boil.
🙂
janemorley2014
A good strong Yorkshire brew I hope…..?!
Stuart Hyde - shpics
‘appen you can stand yer spoon up in Shpics tea….
janemorley2014
Sounds reet grand Shpics…
west517
Reblogged this on west517 and commented:
It was the rust that drew me in. The rust. The turquoise and yellow… the “dead” trains. This post was my first introduction to one of my favorite bloggers on WP. One look at this and it’s not hard to guess why. His images are stories made visible with bright narratives that always make me giggle. If you have a few minutes, you must stop by and visit him at: shpics.wordpress.com …I’m sure he won’t mind if you take a look around and if you like mysteries, maybe you can help him figure out, “Who Killed Red Ted?”
Stuart Hyde - shpics
It’s amazing how often I seem to make attractive women giggle……
I was hoping for sighs and swoons and that fluttery sound that eye-lashes can make, but….If giggles are my lot, I suppose giggles will do.
🙄
west517
Never underestimate the power of making a woman smile ~ 🙂 You know, Marilyn Monroe said that, “If you can make a woman laugh you can make her do anything…” 😀 …sigh…swoon…flutter/flutter lol
Stuart Hyde - shpics
I’m on the way to the airport……
🙂
west517
hahahah 😛
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Ah good, your laughing…if you’re laughing I guess you’re smiling, and someone just told me that smiling means you’re up for anything…..
Now, (struggling with my hastily packed suitcase), where’s my passport?
west517
Smiling to be sure~ ….try looking in your fireproof safe…that’s where I keep mine anyway~ 😀
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Nope….Sock drawer….Got it!
🙂
west517
That’s a relief!! …it’s also a good place for emergency lip gloss…and don’t ask why, car keys are best kept in the refrigerator– I rest mine in there everyday and never have trouble misplacing them. 🙂
Stuart Hyde - shpics
My fridge is empty…I just put my last half a dozen bottles of ‘Veuve Cliquot’ in my suitcase.
Chill some glasses and put Marvin on the hifi.
🙂
west517
😛
David
Fabulous rust!
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Trust rust!
You know it makes sense….
🙂
Noelle Granger
Incredible photography. I could feel the rust! But, aw, you’re so wrong about train travel. Maybe your generation just needs to get everywhere fast, fast. I love traveling by train (except up the Eastern US corridor). You can work, eat, talk, or just watch the countryside go by. Relaxing and informative.
Stuart Hyde - shpics
Heeheehee
Lets not get into generations, I was around for The Age of Steam!
🙂
Funnily I had to use a train last week when I went to an exhibition…I was in a carriage of twelve people, three of whom were talking to themselves…I didn’t relax for a second.