Steam Train Outing, a photo from Shropshire, England

Photographer's Note

Old steam trains are operated by the Severn Valley Railway Society between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcestershire along a 16 mile track. It is operated as a tourist attraction with the stations and platforms having a 1940s atmosphere with many memorabilia. These children were on a school outing in an old carriage of a steam train going in the opposite direction from the one we were in. The original line was completed in 1862 but was virtually closed in 1963 when the country experienced large scale railway closures. In 1965 the Severn Valley Railway Society formed and raised money to buy their first 5 miles of track. In 1970 a section opened for passenger services and by 1984 the 16 miles was in operation, as it is today.
The picture was taken on a wet and windy day in July 2008. The beautiful county of Shropshire is in central England midway between Birmingham and the Welsh Border.

SnapRJW, BennyV, CycleEyes, Kofman, snunney, xramm, Budapestman, ktanska, delpeoples, BluSimo, HFASSOURAKIS heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

yquem46 (38752) 2011-02-22 10:37

Oh yes Ann
I like a lot these kids shot through the wet window of the train
Quite a moody shot where b&w is quite appropriate
have a nice evening
Best regards
patrick

SnapRJW (31631) 2011-02-22 10:47

Hello Ann - For me this is pure nostalgia with a bit of Enid Blyton added to the mix! I love it! Oh the excitement of as steam train journey; you have captured it perfectly. An exceptional shot from you today. Best wishes Rosemary

digbymerry (3998) 2011-02-22 10:51

Hello Ann

A lovely, happy photo with the smiling children well captured through the window. Good idea to use B&W as it takes us back in time to the age of steam.

Best wishes

Digby

BennyV (34780) 2011-02-22 11:03

Hello Ann,

Very nostalgic, very English too. It reminds me of old English movies in bl/w, of the fifties, of those years after the war and before the Beatles.

The window shows enough of the kids to be recognisable, yet at the same time seems to have stripped them of all things contemporary, seems to have made them rather timeless. Of course the bl/w adds to this effect.

Only that darn "SMOKING PROHIBITED" sign...that's a definite sign of our times, and not one that I am particularly proud of, I must say. A bit of a shame, on the one hand, yet, also a fine anekdotical element within the picture on the other hand, and, I must admit, it's kind of funny too! In the late fifties the kid on the left might just have been about ready for that first sneaky ciggie somewhere... Times sure have changed.

A beautiful, meaningful picture. Thanks for sharing it.

Benny

lakshmip1949 (19081) 2011-02-22 11:45

Hi Ann,

Nice and pleasant. I like the way the children smiling through that wet window. B&W is perfect.

Lakshmi

Ricx (13495) 2011-02-22 12:01

Hi Ann, You have captured this timeless image so beautifully - it could be just about any era. with the school boy and his tie and all the smiling faces-- lovely BW image of the happy kids,, You have exceptional eye for photgraphy.. well done.. Rich

elenimahera (695) 2011-02-22 13:16

Hello Ann

very wise choice of B/W.The smiling children behind the wet window are a pure delight!!!

Regards
Eleni

CycleEyes (24) 2011-02-22 13:47

Hello Ann,

Special scene in this opportune presentation, this natural and very friendly contact with theme and passengers in this atmosphere is superb.
Great shot !

Best Regards
George

papera (14372) 2011-02-22 13:48

ah, benny beat me to it - I too wanted to say that this image has really an English, post-war mood about it :)
surely the b/w contributes to the effect, but it's really the mix between the rain, the monochrome treatment and the old-fashioned train that creates the mood.
really a nice shot!
c.

MJR (3360) 2011-02-22 15:04

Hello Ann
It had to be black and white ! A lovely image that is all but timeless, the train, the children , and thank goodness the laughter. Well seen, and well presented.
regards
Martin

ManuMay (36447) 2011-02-22 22:23

Hi Ann!

A sweet moment!!

Very nice and funny, kids enjoying life, the travel , the photographer...a new adventure on a steam train!!

Good to post in B&W with an old classic mood, very nice expressions and opportune "smoking prohibited" sign...on a steam train... ;)

Have a nice day...

Manu

JFS (32459) 2011-02-22 22:28

Hi Ann,
I love this shot! It seems of other times! It's nice to see the joy of these children. Good choice B&W.

Regards,
Juan

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2011-02-23 0:37

Namaste Ann,
Really a moody one. Like very much those children through the glass of window. The water droplets on it added mistsy to it. Great composition. Tfs.
Best wishes.
Subhendu

snunney (130967) 2011-02-23 0:53

Hello Ann,
Black and white suits the mood perfectly as does the rainy atmosphere. A good capture of these excited lads rearing to start their journey. Reminds me of my own childhood. Thanks for sharing.

CLODO (45118) 2011-02-23 2:33

hello Ann

They seem happy to leave their parents though the weather is not fine (but it's England!)
I hope they don't smoke!
Cheers
CLODO

xramm (1831) 2011-02-23 3:08

this is very cheerful of children, and very meaningful of composition. Black and White works great here!
Best regards,
Hakki

Budapestman (82620) 2011-02-23 6:22

Hi Ann,
a superb photo of these kids with attractive composition, the atmosphere of the photo is great, Tfs! Have a nice day! Kellemes napot kívánok!
György

saxo042 (38078) 2011-02-23 8:18

Hi Ann,
A trio of very happy children, obviously enjoying their trip with this old train. I don´t think I looked this happy myself, when I had to go by steam train to school in the fifties...
Kind regards
Gunnar

imannn55 (167) 2011-02-23 9:12

hello Ann,
the smile of the kids is so impressive.a creative shot!
tnx for the comment on my photo.
regards,
iman

ktanska (45056) 2011-02-23 11:46

Hi Ann,
Just wonderful feeling of starting an exciting journey. I'm also happy every time I get a chance to travel on a museum train, but it's the kids that show the fun most clearly. B&W fits well with the theme and water drops add their own texture nicely.
Kari

Graal (103040) 2011-02-24 0:08

Hi Ann,
nice reportage from Your archive. Good shot. Pleasant smiles of childrens. Glass of window like natural filter. Good note and photowork.
Have a nice day.
Aleksander

Nicou (193814) 2011-02-24 1:06

Hello,

très belle compo nsotalgique, ces enfants souriant dans ce wagon de train, avec l'effet de la pluie sur la vitre, sueprbe.

Bravo et amitié

Nicou

AKITA (15125) 2011-02-24 22:09

dear Ann,
a wonderful picture of joyful window scene of the train,
children look so cheerful and enjoying the train travel,
of course I like old trains like SL, also in Japan a few people always try to re-drive the SLs in local area,
in my neighbor Mikasa in summer, we can ride the SL though it is very short section,
thank you for your excellent shot,
Akihisa

sevy (58) 2011-02-25 1:10

Hello Ann,

Nice scene on which the B&W goes well. Good composition and framing with the window providing a frame inside the frame and helps to focus on the childrens through rain drops.
It seems there is a small lack of focus and sharpness but it is not removing interest to the view.

Yves.

mesutilgim (0) 2011-02-25 23:13

Hi Ann,
For me -a fan of b&w photography- this entry is a "Swiss chocklate" !
What a nice capture, with great graphism and giving the joy of the kids perfectly! A "happy capture" !
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

delpeoples (60342) 2011-02-27 3:59

HI Ann

Fantastic B&W shot of these kids. Their smiles are worth a million dollars. I love the rain on the window, it creates a nice effect. Great job.

TFS and have a lovely day
Lisa

jmdias (116477) 2011-03-13 9:38

ann

these kids are very nice shown here. I liekd the texture of this image, created by the rain drops. excellent option for B&W. I liked the framing and the natural smiles of the children. nice job

hugs

jorge

BluSimo (9392) 2011-03-17 3:18

Hi Ann
the attitude of three boys, above all that one on the left within this train, makes me feel an atmosphere of the passed years, as the photo was taken in the '50. The B/W is the right one " translate" for this moment, made by infinites smiles and looks towards the horizon. cheers!
have a good day
ciao
Simonetta

HFASSOURAKIS (4) 2011-03-26 13:44

REALLY IT TRAVEL US IN OLD BRITISH TIMES....SOMETHING FROM "THE WALL" OF PINK FLOYD...you know "...just another brick in the wall..."
EXCELLENT SHOT OF CHARACTERISTIC FACES LOOKING FOR THEIR FUTURE.
LOVELY SCENE AND OF COURSE THE B/W IS THE PERFECT COMBINATION MY DEAR
BE GOOD
THANKS HERCULES

bostankorkulugu (42866) 2011-03-26 23:27

amazing shot indeed... loved the expressions on the kids' faces... and those hands on the window add a lot to the charm of the shot... my compliments ann...

korkut