RTF Drone Photo Challenge August 16th to 29th - Trains or Trams

A new round - you chose:

Don’t get too close and upset Network Rail, please!

RULES

The requirement is to submit a single still image created using a drone to illustrate the subject of the competition. This round will run from 00:01 Sunday August 16th to 23:00 Saturday August 29th 2026; the subject is Trains or Trams

The image must be captured while the competition is open. It is a Reason To Fly Challenge so please show that the image is created by a flying camera!

Editing is confined to colour and exposure adjustments and crop only. There must be no removal or pasting of an object. Stacked images, HDR images and non-spherical panoramas are considered single images for the purposes of this competition.

Images must be posted with the following information as a minimum:

In Capitals as the first line of your post:

THIS IS MY ENTRY

If this is not done at the time of posting the picture will be ignored. Should it be necessary to change your picture then delete the previous picture and add “This is my entry” - as above - as the first line of your new post. If in any doubt contact the Challenges Committee
(@Challenges_Committee)

Further Information is required

  • Location
  • Time and date
  • Aircraft/camera used
  • Feel free to add any further information that you think will be of interest

Voting

The members of GADC will judge images. They may vote for any number of pictures through an anonymous poll open for two days after the closing date for competition entries.

Voting in the poll is open to all GADC members, whether they have entered the competition or not.

The Challenge Committee may request the original media in case of a dispute.

Schedule

The competition subject will be announced every second Saturday around 22:30. The subject will be chosen by a poll of GADC members selecting from three that have been picked at random from the subject list. You may make additions to the list at any time.

The competition will run from Sunday 00.01 to Saturday 23.00 fourteen days later. Voting by poll will be open for a further two days until Monday 22:00

The winner (and second and third-placed competitors if there are sufficient entries) will be announced shortly after the vote is closed

Have Fun! Be Safe!

All flights are the sole responsibility of the individual conducting them. Each competitor must abide by the drone code and adhere to the limitations and restrictions imposed upon them by aviation law, the aircraft being used and the qualifications they hold. It takes a lot longer to get up North, the slow way.. If a flight is undertaken in a restricted zone proof of permission having been granted is required.

E&OE

@group-challenges

3 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Boat of Garten, Badenoch and Strathspey.

17.8.26, 13:07

DJI Mini 4 Pro

Locomotive LMS Black 5 number 5025 was built in 1934 in Lancashire by the Vulcan Foundry Limited. Having left service in 1968, it underwent extensive restoration and returned to service in 2021 on the Strathspey Steam Railway line that runs from Aviemore to Broomhill.

18 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

The Train Graveyard
Tees Marshalling Yard, Stockton-on-Tees
Tuesday 18th August, 8:14pm
DJI Mini 4 Pro

Despite there being a very much active rail line nearby, this is a long abandoned area of the marshalling yard, I’m willing to bet some of these carriages haven’t moved for 10 years or more, many being covered in graffiti and rust

24 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

East Somerset Railway
Saturday 22nd August 14:21
DJI Mini 2

First time entering one of these challenges.

Taken halfway down the track of the East Somerset Railway. I’m not really all that happy with how it came out but I stood there waiting for it for an hour so I’m damn well gonna post it!

13 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

  • Neasden Depot
  • 14:43 23/8/2026
  • DJI Mini 3

Neasden Depot in North West London, is the main depot for the Metropolitan Line. My TOAL was from Chesham Street and I spent quite a bit of time waiting for the sun to reappear. Luckily I got a natural vignetting effect. If you look at the skyline to the left, you can see the Trellick Tower, upper centre, the blue walled building is Ikea and to the right further up you can see the Neasden Hindu Temple.

Enjoy,

Peter

12 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Barnes Bridge Station by the River Thames
23/08/26 14:26
DJI Mini 4 Pro
ISO 100 f1.7 1.5s

11 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

UKRL Loughborough
24/08/26 19:00
DJI Mini 3 Pro

4 class 92’s
92046,92040,92045 and 92021.

9 class 60’s
60008,60038,60080,60009,60061
60070,60090,60098 and 60064.

1 class 73
73138

The Class 92 dual-voltage electric fleet holds a historic connection to this specific yard, as they were originally built by Brush Traction at Loughborough between 1993 and 1996. Several units have returned to their birthplace for component stripping or storage.
92046: This locomotive is notably the final Class 92 ever built, marking it as the last locomotive built for British Rail. It has spent over two decades as a crucial parts donor to support active active fleets operated by Europorte and GB Railfreight

Class 60 Diesel Locomotives

UKRL maintains a deep technical focus on the Class 60 fleet, providing ongoing overhauls and strategic storage. A notable long-term commercial partnership exists with DCRail, where UKRL handles complete servicing to sustain high operational fleet availability

Class 73 Electro-Diesel Locomotives

The unique dual-powered Class 73s are frequently serviced by UKRL due to their specialised 750V DC third-rail and diesel capabilities

10 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

17 Aug 26

The 19:47 for Leeds crosses the Ribblehead Viaduct on the picturesque Settle-Carlisle line right on time.

Air 3S 70mm ISO 870 f/2.8 1/160s

(Ooops! Had inadvertently deleted entry :flushed_face:)

11 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Location:- Sharnal Street, Kent, overlooking the Hundred of Hoo Railway Line
Date:- Friday 28th August
Time:- 20:28
Camera:- DJI Lito 1

Freight train with empty petroleum tank wagons en route back from Colnbrook British Airports Authority (BAA) oil terminal near Heathrow Airport to the Grain Oil Terminal on the Isle of Grain in Kent.

Loaded fuel trains run from the Grain Oil Terminal toward Colnbrook BAA for Heathrow Airport use.
Empty return wagons travel back from Colnbrook BAA to the Grain Oil Terminal.

This particular train is a GB Railfreight Class 66 engine, No. 66694 “Steve Hannam”.

Cheers :slight_smile:

Hugh

9 Likes

THIS IS MY ENTRY

Lydney, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

August 29th 2026 15:10

DJI Air 3S / 70mm

Built at Swindon in 1949, pannier tank 9681 brings classic steam power to life on the Dean Forest Railway. Here, she steams through Lydney Town crossing, filling the streets with smoke, nostalgia and the unmistakable magic of a bygone railway age.

9 Likes

Here are the nine images for you to pick a winner. Just one vote this time. Sudden death. First past the post. Winner takes all.

The poll closes at 22:00 on 31st - August Bank Holiday Monday.

@group-challenges

1 Like

And the winner is …

taken by Tim - @Jabtas with a Mini 4 picture of the desolate Tees Marshalling Yard

Congratulations to Tim and thank you to those who entered.

The current challenge can be found here

@group-challenges

6 Likes

Thanks guys, the support is hugely appreciated :heart:

Great shots all round :trophy:

7 Likes

Congratulations to @Jabtas :+1:

The main problem with my entry was that I shot too early (story of my life :grin: ) and it took so long to save the image that the train escaped.

Cheers :slight_smile:

Hugh

Bugger, I’ve missed another rttf challenge, I’ve been somewhat preoccupied sitting at side of daughter practicing driving for her test in a couple of weeks and not been out with the drone.

Personally I think the timing was spot on, makes you look twice and just wonder what exactly is emerging

Would look awesome coming out of a tunnel too

1 Like