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Description
It was back in 2008 during the early days of my photographical life, that by way of a steam gala at the East Lancashire Railway, I was introduced to 6201 "Princess Elizabeth"

I thought nothing about such a meeting, as it was then just another engine to me. But the princess, and fate, had other plans.

Fast forward to 2010, July 23rd. I'm taken to Diggle by following a tip off that it is a rather nice location. We travel there to capture 6201 working the Scarborough Flyer northbound. After deciding to shoot her with a landscape type of photo, and indeed shooting just that, I then have a sudden urge to keep shooting once I stopped having got what I wanted, something inside tells me "Not enough, go again!"

The result? A daily deviation, my most faved and viewed photo, and the most popular in Europe for the whole of 2010 according to a poll on DA.

It was after this, that me and 6201 were to become inseparable. Wherever she'd go, I'd go, if cost and time were to permit.

Fast forward once more to 2012, and the high point arrives at Railfest, where for the first ever time, I get the chance to board the footplate of the princess herself. And for the first time, she poses for a few photos.

But all good things, must come to an end.

After a send off from the north worth its weight in gold...

:thumb342867961:

... and a further one from the west, it was her final final time on the mainline when she arrived at Chester station, with a Cathedrals Express from Slough.

The expiration of the year will see the expiration of her boiler ticket, and with that full withdrawal from operation. She will remain at Tyseley for the foreseeable future, with overhaul work expecting to commence later in January. How long it will take is anybodys guess however, as the group at last check wasn't in a stable state with lots of internal issues and even warfare kicking off, not to mention the lack of funding available.

6201 peers into the clouds, perhaps wondering: "When will I see the sky once more?"

It's over. THIS, is how we say... goodbye.

LMS Princess Royal Class 7P 4.6.2 number 6201 "Princess Elizabeth": 2000 - 2012. Farewell. You will be sorely missed.

Description
It was back in 2008 during the early days of my photographical life, that by way of a steam gala at the East Lancashire Railway, I was introduced to 6201 "Princess Elizabeth"

I thought nothing about such a meeting, as it was then just another engine to me. But the princess, and fate, had other plans.

Fast forward to 2010, July 23rd. I'm taken to Diggle by following a tip off that it is a rather nice location. We travel there to capture 6201 working the Scarborough Flyer northbound. After deciding to shoot her with a landscape type of photo, and indeed shooting just that, I then have a sudden urge to keep shooting once I stopped having got what I wanted, something inside tells me "Not enough, go again!"

The result? A daily deviation, my most faved and viewed photo, and the most popular in Europe for the whole of 2010 according to a poll on DA.

It was after this, that me and 6201 were to become inseparable. Wherever she'd go, I'd go, if cost and time were to permit.

Fast forward once more to 2012, and the high point arrives at Railfest, where for the first ever time, I get the chance to board the footplate of the princess herself. And for the first time, she poses for a few photos.

But all good things, must come to an end.

After a send off from the north worth its weight in gold...

:thumb342867961:

... and a further one from the west, it was her final final time on the mainline when she arrived at Chester station, with a Cathedrals Express from Slough.

The expiration of the year will see the expiration of her boiler ticket, and with that full withdrawal from operation. She will remain at Tyseley for the foreseeable future, with overhaul work expecting to commence later in January. How long it will take is anybodys guess however, as the group at last check wasn't in a stable state with lots of internal issues and even warfare kicking off, not to mention the lack of funding available.

6201 peers into the clouds, perhaps wondering: "When will I see the sky once more?"

It's over. THIS, is how we say... goodbye.

LMS Princess Royal Class 7P 4.6.2 number 6201 "Princess Elizabeth": 2000 - 2012. Farewell. You will be sorely missed.