Part 1 HERE
After we rode on the train, Sophie and I photographed the WW2 re-enactors and bits and bobs around the station.







Dad’s Army




Stay tooned for Part 3!
rocking a camera across the Universe
Part 1 HERE
After we rode on the train, Sophie and I photographed the WW2 re-enactors and bits and bobs around the station.
Dad’s Army
Stay tooned for Part 3!
While Sophie and I were visiting the Stephenson Heritage Railway, (post on that HERE) a gentleman saw us taking pictures, and came over to tell us we might like to visit the heritage railway that he was involved in, the Aln Valley Railway. Great idea we thought, and we decided to go when they also had a war re-enactment thing going on.
The aim of the volunteers is to reopen the Alnwick to Alnmouth railway line. The original station in Alnwick is now home to Barter Books
so a brand new railway station and visitor center has been constructed by volunteers on the outskirts of Alnwick from where the railway follows the original trackbed towards Alnmouth Station.
The first thing we did was have a ride on the train.
the carriages were a bit less shabby
and the journey was shorter, but some lovely views across Northumberland
They had quite a few trains in their workshops and at the station
Next time we’ll have a look at the WW2 stuff going on at the station, so stay tooned!
Finishing up our day visiting the tall ships, here are a few more random pictures I took on the day.
Actually the handstand man was part of a shoreside kind of play where himself and a couple of totties ran around half a ships deck, but I have no idea what that was all about.
I think though, my fave shot of the day was looking up at the grey block of flats overlooking the river and seeing this
Stay tooned for a visit to Stockton-on-Tees where we visited the cemetery, and the Butterfly House.
Part 1 Here
Part of the joy in photographing a big event like this, is people watching, and there were plenty of interesting humans for my camera.
stay tooned for more ships ahoy!
and into battle we go!
The WW2 re-enactors did a display at the end of the day and everyone piled in to do battle. I’m not sure if it was based on a historical one, but I doubt it. It was great fun to watch anyway, and everyone survived!
All photo’s embiggenable and
Loads more photo’s of the day HERE
Stay tooned for our next outing, when Sophie and I go to see the Tall Ships when they came to Sunderland.
These are some more photo’s of re-enactors taking part in WW2 and their vehicles.
I loved this next chap, thought he really looked like he’d stepped out of a movie
and this lady was spot on with her costume and hair do
mustn’t forget the Germans!
channelling Clive Owen?
This vehicle is (acccording to Phil, who knows these things) a Hanomag SDKFZ 251 Ausf C. Called “Magda” she is a half-track armoured fighting vehicle built on an OT-810 chassis, badged to the Panzergrenadier Divison Großdeutschland. Designed and built by the Hanomag company during World War II. The concept was to allow panzergrenadiers to keep up with panzers and provide infantry support as required. In practice, there were never enough of them and most panzergrenadier units had to make do with trucks. She was brought in by the Northern World War 2 Association, and I believe all the WW2 re-enactors belong to that.
They also brought along an American M24 Chaffee Light Tank. This appeared during the latter stages of World War 2 and saw considerable service in the Korean War that followed.
Not sure what type of jeep this is but I do like the motorbike fastened on the front.
That’ll do for today, stay tooned for our finale next time, when they all go into battle.
The main event as far as Phil was concerned was the German armour and uniforms, and he was very impressed with the authenticity of both. The re-enactors covered the German, British,American WW2 and included some French resistance people too. Lots of renovated vehicles were also on show, and at the end of the day they had a full on battle which was fun to watch.
Previously mostly used for rail, industrial or agricultural hopper cars, the Kubelwagon was a light military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military (both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS).
I have no idea what this next thing really is, (but had a guess)
The Resistance were here too
they were cooking lunch….
More evidence of the USA contingent
and we found some!
I think that’ll do for today, but stay tooned for more WW2 next time.
The Civil War re-enactors really looked the part
They looked good in colour too
They didn’t.
Stay tooned for WW2 next time!
As well as the medeival lot, we also found some Tudors (at least I think this chap is)
and some (not very convincing) Romans
Some of the people who came to see the show also dressed up in style
my favourites were this couple I saw walk past me
it wasn’t a great photograph as you can see so I ran after them and asked them if I could take their photo
how cute are they? 🙂
also spotted this chap,
and this lady
Stay tooned for the American civil war next time!
PART 1 HERE
On we go with some more pictures of the Vikings, or Northmen if you prefer, some more anglo–saxons I think. (Sometimes it’s hard to tell which are which). For the captions you need to have watched the TV series Vikings, sorry if you haven’t. (Really you haven’t ?? Have you been living under a rock?? Great TV programme, watch it now and then come back 🙂 )
That about wraps up the Vikings and Anglo-saxons, stay tooned for another journey into the past next time!
The Frontline event is a 3 Day event, Friday being a free Living History event for the local community, and Saturday – Sunday a full Living History multiperiod event with arena battles/displays throughout the day. Phil and I went on the Saturday and it was a great day out. Lots of daft buggers dressed up in anglo-saxon/Viking/German/USA civil war & Roman gear/ plenty of re-enactment battles and a perfect day for photography.
We’ll start with the medieval lot. They learn crafts such as cooking, bread making and butter churning, ale brewing, naalbinding, embroidery and spinning as well as training in combat, which may include axe, sword, spear or Dane –axe and also formation and shield wall skills. We sadly didn’t see their combat display as Phil was drooling over the German military displays, but I did get pictures of their more homely pursuits.
Whilst we didn’t see the battles, we did see plenty of the warriors
Next time we’ll have a look at the Vikings and a Tudor or too! Stay tooned! 🙂
Part 1 HERE Part 2 HERE Part 3 HERE
Coming to the end of our day out now and first off some WW1 Nurses
There were quite a few horse-drawn buggies with WW1 re-enactors driving them
as well as the odd motor vehicle
and a genuine WW1 airplane, though it might need some restoration yet
We had lunch in one of the cafe’s
and rode on this bus to take ‘aerial’ shots 🙂
They had some horses ploughing fields
and I used my telephoto to take some pictures of the horses and owners
When we got off the bus we stood and watched everyone and everything go by
but mostly I just loved all the horses
and that’s about it, except for my award for most appropriately dressed person of the day goes to…
Well if you’ve got it, flaunt it! 😀
So that’s the end of our trip to Beamish this time, there’ll be others I’m sure as they have a lot of events on, and once you buy your ticket, you can go as many times a year as you want.
All pictures can be clicked on to embiggen where they look even better cos you can see more stuff in them. 🙂
The full album (which has a fair few more photo’s) can be found HERE
Stay tooned for the next adventure!
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