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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 2h

Siemens Desiro MainLine of the SNCB / NMBS on a Brussels S Train service, seen here at Brussels-Midi. 08184 is one of 305 Class 08 units ordered in 2008 by the Belgian Railways, replacing many of the older 'Classic Twin' units in service.

Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 2d

Been busy on holiday in Belgium this week, so been lacking on the uploads recently! Had a lovely time, and I'm back home now with plenty of photos to share. The lion at Antwerp Zoo is courtesy of my minion, @adewis611.bsky.social, who took command of my camera for the afternoon.

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Reposted by Sam Foulger

Locomotive Spotting North West @locospottingnw.bsky.social · 3d

I couldn't let this World Mental Health Day pass without comment. I know how hard it is to talk, to reach out, I really do, but... support systems are there, and anything has to beat the alternative.
#ItsOkayNotToBeOkay

67010 leads HD07 out of Crewe on Thursday 2 October 2025.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 9d

The Duxford Flying Finale might have been a battle against the wind, with very limited flying, but a fantastic day nonetheless!

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 10d

Now at King's Cross going to Cambridge rather than from Liverpool Street, due to a fallen tree 😅

Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 10d

Lovely meeting @ukrailadventure.bsky.social this morning, hope you two have a good day on your travels!

My adventure's already gone awry 😅

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 10d

The Flying Comrades at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. It is a bit of a rarity to see Soviet era types displaying in the UK, with the Flying Comrades being unique on today's air show circuit, flying a trio of Yakovlevs, a pair of Yak-52s, G-BXJB and G-YAKF and Yak-18T G-HAHU.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 13d

Yakovlev Yak-18T G-HAHU at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show, one of three aircraft of the Flying Comrades. G-HAHU was built by Yakovlev in 1993. The aircraft has been registered in Britain since 2013 as G-HAHU and is named 'Red Rosie'.

Yakovlev Yak-18T G-HAHU at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show

One of three aircraft of the Flying Comrades display team. G-HAHU was built by Yakovlev in 1993. The aircraft was registered in Hungary as HA-HUE until 2013, when it was registered in Britain as G-HAHU. The aircraft carries nose art and the name 'Red Rosie'.

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Reposted by Sam Foulger

Locomotive Spotting North West @locospottingnw.bsky.social · 15d

Another little impromptu trip up to the East Lancs Railway today for the farewell to Black Five 45212, which is soon to be withdrawn for ten-yearly overhaul. The locomotive has been suitably chalked up for the occasion, as was common at the end of steam.

45212 blows off steam at Bury Bolton Street. The markings are clear to see, the face in particular a reference to 8F 48305 at Barry scrapyard, marked up with 'Please Don't Let Me Die'. Happily, the 8F survived, and so will 45212!

45212 accelerates away from the token exchange and around the curve out of Bolton Street towards Heywood, the chalk markings on the smokebox evident.

Still looking freshly ex-works, D5053 crawls towards Bolton Street with a set of blue and grey Mk1s.

Something a little different - ex-Greater Anglia Mk3 DVT 82143 and Mk3a TSOB (ex-FO) 10415 at the Bury Fire & Rescue Service training facility near the station.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 15d

The 2nd Yak-52 of the Flying Comrades came in the form of G-YAKF 'Медведь' (Bear). This is an example built by Aerostar in 1991, and served with the DOSAAF as Grey 10. It was later registered in Russia as RA-02090 and in South Africa as ZU-IAK. It has been registered in the UK as G-YAKF since 2007.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 18d

Yakovlev Yak-52 G-BXJB 'Slybird' at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show flying as part of The Flying Comrades display team. This Yak-52 was built by the Romanian company Aerostar in 1987 and flew with the Soviet DOSAAF. It has been on the British civilian register as G-BXJB since 1997.

Flying as part of The Flying Comrades display team alongside another Yakovlev Yak-52 and Yak-18T, was G-BXJB 'Slybird'. This Yak-52 was built by the Romanian company Aerostar in 1987 with the construction number 877403 and flew with the Soviet DOSAAF as Yellow 15. It was later registered in Lithuania as LY-ABR and has been on the British civilian register as G-BXJB since 1997.

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Reposted by Sam Foulger

Locomotive Spotting North West @locospottingnw.bsky.social · 19d

Some lovely little festivities up at the East Lancs in celebration of Railway200! The oldest operational steam locomotive in Britain rubbing shoulders on a surprisingly bright day with some of the more modern heritage diesels on the route.

Warship D832 'Onslaught' draws into the platform with a set of blue and grey Mk1s while that ultimate rarity, D1041 'Western Prince' - a locomotive which has spent almost all of the last twenty years holed up in the shed in Castlecroft while a catastrophic electrical fault and serious rot is addressed.

Current flagship of the ELR steam fleet, 34092 'City of Wells' stands at Bury having just tailed in a diesel-hauled service.

Recently repainted and renumbered, D5054 powers out of the tunnel at Castlecroft. The locomotive carries the number D5053, as D5054 never historically carried the two-tone livery.

Britain's oldest operational steam locomotive, Furness Railway #20 of 1863 stands in Castlecroft yard.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 20d

Cavalier F-51D Mustang II LN-BMU at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. This aircraft is displayed as "Miss Rebel" of the 23rd Fighter Group, as flown by Captain Oran S Watts, based in China during the war with Japan.

While this aircraft's earlier service is unknown, it was rebuilt in 1968 by Cavalier Aircraft into a Mustang II and served with the Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña (Salvadoran Air Force), including service during the so-called 'Football War' between El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. This war saw the last combat between piston engine fighter aircraft, with Salvadoran Mustangs engaging with Honduran Corsairs.

The aircraft returned to the US in 1974, where it was registered N31FF until sale in 1998, and it was registered the next year as N405HC. The aircraft was sold again in 2005 before once again being sold in 2006 when it moved to Sweden, under the ownership of the Biltema Co., registered SE-BIL. It was later transferred to Norway, with Biltema Nordic Services, in 2020.

The aircraft is displayed as "Miss Rebel" of the 23rd Fighter Group, as flown by Captain Oran S Watts, based in China during the war with Japan.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 21d

46115 Scots Guardsman at the Greatest Gathering. Another loco from the West Coast Railway, 46115, was built in 1927 by the North British Locomotive Company at Springburn, initially numbered 6115. WCR restored the locomotive to its last years of service, in BR lined green livery.

Another loco from the West Coast Railway, 46115, was built in 1927 by the North British Locomotive Company at Springburn, one of seventy Royal Scot Class locomotives to be built, fifty of those being at the Glasgow works. 6115 was later rebuilt in 1947 and renumbered 46115 with Nationalisation in 1948. Eventually, the locomotive was retired in 1966, and purchased for preservation in 1969 by Ron Bill, and moved to the Dinting Railway Centre, before sale to 46115 (Scots Guardsman) Steam Locomotive Trust.

The locomotive was sold again in 2002, and once more in 2008 to West Coast Railway. WCR restored the locomotive to its last years of service, in BR lined green livery. The locomotive is one of just two Royal Scot Class locomotives to be preserved, with the other being 46100 Royal Scot.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 22d

The other Southern Region visitor to the Epping Ongar Railway's Southern Giants Steam Gala was 926 Repton, courtesy of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The locomotive has been restored in Southern Railway numbering and livery.

Seen here at North Weald on the Epping Ongar Railway is 926, one of two Southern region locomotives visiting the railway for its steam gala this year, themed around 'Southern Giants'. 926 was built at Eastleigh Works in 1934 and later renumbered in British Railways service as 30926 in 1948. It was the last of the class to be overhauled under BR in 1960, though it only served for another two years, before withdrawal in December 1962.

The locomotive was purchased for preservation in 1966, with restoration being completed in 1967, when it was donated to Steamtown USA in Vermont. During this time, the locomotive was donated to the Cape Breton Steam Railway in Canada until 1979.

Finally, the locomotive was sold once more and returned to the UK in 1989. Its overhaul at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway was completed in 1990, and it steamed once again on British track.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 22d

A recent acquisition by the Biggin Hill-based Warbird Experiences Ltd is the North American P-51D-25-NA Mustang 44-12473 / G-MCSW, depicting 44-14237 'Moonbeam McSwine' of the 487th Fighter Squadron, as flown by fighter ace, Captain William T. Whisner

A recent acquisition by the Biggin Hill-based Warbird Experiences Ltd is the North American P-51D-25-NA Mustang 44-12473 / G-MCSW. This aircraft was built at the Inglewood factory in California in 1944 and was shipped to the UK in March 1945 for the Eighth Air Force, though it returned to the US in July without seeing active service.

The aircraft finally flew in squadron service from 1947 with the US Air Force, serving with the 182nd, 136th,120th and 109th Fighter Squadrons before being sold as surplus in 1958. That year, the aircraft was registered in civilian service as N5073K.

The aircraft had a rework by Cavalier in 1963, and in the late 60s, was transferred to the Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña (Salvadoran Air Force), where it is believed to have seen service in the so-called 'Football War' between El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. This war saw the last combat between piston engine fighter aircraft, with Salvadoran Mustangs engaging with Honduran Corsairs.

In 1974, the aircraft returned to the US and was registered N32FF. In 1975, the aircraft was restored as 'Moonbeam McSwine', depicting 44-14237 of the 487th FS, as flown by fighter ace, Captain William T. Whisner and was registered N2151D.

The aircraft flew in the Reno Air Races in 1997, 1999 and 2000, with a 1st Place in the Unlimited Bronze Class in 1999. It was then sold in 2013, and registered in France as F-AZXS for five years before returning to the US where it was registered N51VL. Finally, in 2024, the aircraft was sold to Warbird Experiences Ltd, and arrived in the UK in March 2025, and is now registered G-MCSW.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 23d

At the controls of 34072 257 Squadron, a Southern Railway Battle of Britain Class. It is certainly quite a rarity to see a big Pacific at the Epping Ongar Railway, seen here repositioning for the next service out of North Weald.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 23d

Good morning from Ongar for the Southern Giants Steam Gala at the Epping Ongar Railway. This is the first service into Ongar hauled by Southern Railway Schools Class 926 Repton, from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 24d

37800 Cassiopeia at the Greatest Gathering. The locomotive has been in service with Rail Operations Group since 2016. It was named Cassiopeia in 2018 and painted into Rail Operations Group livery in 2022, as seen here.

37800 Cassiopeia at the Greatest Gathering

From Rail Operations Group, 37800, leased to ROG from Europhoneix. The locomotive was built at English Electric's Vulcan Foundry in 1963 as D6843 before receiving its TOPS number, 37143 in 1974. It was modified to a Class 37/7 in 1986, and numbered 37800. It was part of a small batch of 37/7s that differed from the rest, most notably being equipped with Brush traction equipment.

Following service with British Rail, the locomotive served with Mainline, then EWS from 1998. From 1999 to 2000, the locomotive saw service in France and briefly returned to the UK for storage before heading back to mainland Europe, to Spain. In Spain, it was first numbered LO 25, and later L33.

The locomotive returned to the UK in 2012 and was sold to Europhoenix, and returned to service in 2016 with Rail Operations Group. It was named Cassiopeia in 2018 and painted into Rail Operations Group livery in 2022, as seen here.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 24d

The A-26 Invader, flying alongside the Thunderbolt and Fury representing the Invader with aircraft that fought it with in the Second World War and Korean War. The slot was billed with the somewhat cutesy name of 'Invader & Friends', but the roar of four big radials was nothing of the sort!

One of Europe's newest warbirds, Douglas A-26C Invader NL4313 / 44-34313, joined by a pair of Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd aircraft: Republic P-47D-40-RA Thunderbolt 45-49192 / G-THUN and Hawker Fury ISS G-CBEL. The two aircraft represent wartime contemporaries of the Invader, with Thunderbolts flying alongside Invaders during the Second World War, while the Fury is a nod to the Invader and Sea Fury, both serving during the Korean War.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 25d

A regular on the UK air show circuit, especially at Duxford is Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 45-49192 / G-THUN. This aircraft is presented as 'Nellie B' of the 492nd FS, 48th FG, a unit still based in the UK at RAF Lakenheath, flying the F-15E Strike Eagle.

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 45-49192 at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show.

A regular on the air show circuit, especially at Duxford, is G-THUN. The aircraft was built as a P-47D-40-RA Thunderbolt, numbered 45-49192 and flew with Air Training Command in the closing months of the Second World War. In 1953, 45-49192 was one of 25 Thunderbolts transferred to the Peruvian Air Force, numbered 119, until 1967.

In 1969, the aircraft returned to the United States and was returned to airworthy condition by 1974, registered N47DD. During a flight to Texas in 1980, N47DD suffered engine failure and made a forced landing, short of the runway at Tulsa, seriously damaging the aircraft.

The aircraft was sold to Jon Ward, following the crash, with the full set of parts and two fuselages, with the aim of a return to flight. It was sold again in 1984, and once more that year, to the Fighter Collection. The aircraft returned to flight in 1985, thanks to Steve Hinton’s Fighter Rebuilders in Chino, California, before being disassembled and shipped to the UK.

The remaining wreckage, including the original fuselage and engine, was passed on to the Imperial War Museum, forming the basis of their static exhibit in the American Air Museum marked as 42-26413.

The airworthy example, meanwhile, was registered G-THUN from 1999 to 2006 before its sale to Claire Aviation Inc, with the aircraft going back to the US, where it was registered N147PF until 2018, when it returned to the UK in the hands of current owners, Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd, marked F4-J 'Nellie B' of the 492nd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Group.

That group, now named the 48th Fighter Wing, is today based not far from Duxford, at RAF Lakenheath, with the 492nd FS now flying the F-15E Strike Eagle.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 26d

One of the ubiquitous Black Five mixed-traffic locomotives, 44932 was built at Horwich Works in 1945 as 4932. It became 44932 in 1949 following nationalisation, and was retired in 1968. It was sold into preservation and is now based at Carnforth, as part of the West Coast Railways fleet.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 26d

Former Iraqi Air Force Hawker Fury ISS, G-CBEL, displaying at the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show. The aircraft is presented as SR661, a prototype Fury II, and, unlike many other Sea Furys in preservation, still flies with a Bristol Centaurus radial engine.

This Fury began construction as a Sea Fury FB.11, before being diverted for the Iraqi Air Force as a Fury ISS (Iraqi Single Seat), a de-navalised version of the Hawker Sea Fury. In Iraqi service, the aircraft was numbered 315.

The aircraft was brought to the US in 1979 from Iraq and was returned to flight in 1991, registered N36SF. Later that year, the aircraft returned to the UK for its first stint in British preservation as G-CBEL until 2009, when the aircraft was exported to Australia, registered VH-SFW. In 2016, the aircraft returned to the UK, with Anglia Aircraft Restorations, before changing hands again to Fighter Aviation Engineering Ltd, who have operated the aircraft since 2022.

The aircraft is presented as SR661, a prototype Fury II, built with a tail-hook, though lacking folding wings, as a precursor to the Sea Fury production models. The aircraft is equipped with a Bristol Centaurus XVIII radial engine, unlike many other preserved Sea Furys, which have swapped the sometimes temperamental engine for a more reliable American radial.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 27d

From the West Coast Railways stable, British Rail Mark 1 Courier Van 80204, lined up with Mark 1 99312 and Stanier Black Five 44932. This coach was built at Wolverton in 1962 as a Mark 1 Brake Second Corridor (BSK) numbered 35297 and later converted to an NNX Courier Van.

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Sam Foulger @tank621.bsky.social · 27d

Another of Europe's new warbirds making its Duxford debut, was Douglas A-26C Invader NL4313 / 44-34313, preserved in its authentic Korean War markings, as the personal aircraft of Charles H. Howe, the commander of the 730th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Wing, named 'Sweet Eloise II' after his wife.

Another new arrival to the European air show circuit is Douglas Invader 44-34313. This example was built in 1945 as an A-26B-50 Invader. Following the war, it was modified with a glass nose into a B-26C and saw service during the Korean War, as the personal aircraft of Charles H. Howe, the commander of the 730th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Wing from 1951. The aircraft was named 'Sweet Eloise II' after Howe's wife.

Following military service, the aircraft was sold into civilian service as a waterbomber as N5457V and later C-GHLK, before being donated by Conair to the Reynolds Aviation Museum, which sold it shortly afterward. Still registered as C-GHLK, the aircraft was operated by Canadian Warplane Heritage from 1990 to 1999.

It was then sold once again, and passed through American hands, registered N119DR, and from 2011, N4313, and returned to its Korean War markings. Its sale into Polish hands was first announced in 2022, although it only arrived in Europe this year.

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