Capital Christmas Express 28/11/2009

You got a whistle there didnt u? i was north of winchester in a field and heard the whistle.
We have an elderly chap standing on a bridge north of the station to thank for the announcements.

He went and asked about its progress, the information man didnt know, and then decided to mak announcements.

 

Well, in all fairness I'd rather see Tangmere hauling the green set rather than the "dolly mixtures" you can get. She certainly looks good today with the maroons for a change.

 

I'll give you that it looks good with the maroons. But you need something different once in a while.

 

left london on time

 

It may look nice but there are a couple of hideous wheel flats in the standard class coaches. I got stuck with one on the Spitfire

 

Tell shoddy127 that, not me!

 

West Byfleet (would of had a much better shot but focus picked up some small post in the corner...)

http://ashleysmith355.fotopic.net/p62306022.html

http://ashleysmith355.fotopic.net/p62306023.html

 

Through Wandsworth Town on time on the return.

 

Saw her at Egham on the outbound run, great exhaust beat, I'll try and have my little video clip uploaded tonight and then photos next week sometime.

 

This morning was just like the way it was in the 60's at Woking. A clear road on the up fast (rare for Woking these days at any time!) and Tangmere with whistle open sped through. Magical! It was a very sunny morning but for the return, the weather had turned for the worse as Tangmere passed non-stop through the down slow line with the return to Swanage.

With December coming up, we are going to have lots and lots of steam down south. Steam Dreams and the Railway Touring Company have come up trumps with an excellent programme of specials. Us steam fans just do not realise how lucky we are. Or maybe we do!!

Nick

 

There's no more tours in the proper south, ie southwest mainline. Other than Tangers run back up to London on Monday SWML is finished until god knows when.

 

saw the loco a few times today looked in fine form!

at basingstoke : http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewtomsphotography/4140776481/

Farnborough it was tonking it through here, a fantastic sight, i almost put the camera down just to watch it pass : http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewtomsphotography/4141536730/

And finally Waterloo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewtomsphotography/4141526186/

finally does anyone know the name of the driver, this chap : http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewtomsphotography/4141525324/in/photostream/ such a happy looking bloke looked in his element

again a really good run from what i saw of her, superb engine

cheers matt

 

We obviously had the best of the weather in the south this morning, although it didnt last long.

Some shots of Tangmere near Christchurch, scroll to the bottom of the page if you would like a look.

http://crjennings.com/preserved steam main line/Main Line 8 Index.html

 

That's quite nice Chris. In the first one I thought you had a dirty lens until I realised what it was!

Cheers,

Paul

 

Haha thanls paul, yeah I wondered what they were at first.

 

Capital Christmas Express 28/11

Yes, Tangmere looked fine as usual and we certainly had the best of the weather in the morning. We decided to stay at Southampton just to fot her arriving and get the classic shot again, for me the first time for 42 years! And then later running well past Farnborough laying the usual smoke screen.

Don

 

Great shots Don. Super idea to go back to Soton to get Tangy: pity they weren't green coaches. Couldn't get out to photo the train as laid low with a bug.

 

Dont say that Bryan, you've upset LN850 now by being plain old boring!!!!

 

hehe!!!!

 

Just saw her on the way through Sonning Cutting on time, heading back to Southall. Type 4 on front, Tangmere at back tender first as expected. Pretty dull in the dwindling light but looking down from the 'mile high' overbridge, I was VERY envious of the enginemen having the firebox door open. Great Red Glow made me feel a little warmer !!!!!