Cathedrals Express Basingstoke - Lincoln 13/04/11

Steam Dreams have great stewards and Ray from SWT Revenue Inspectors is a new addition so make sure you have a ticket! A few years ago, a tour with the King went all wrong being declared a failure at Taunton and a diesel with vaccum brakes had to be summoned from Eastleigh. In the end, we arrived at Worcester where a bus took hundreds of passenges back to Brimingham to get our cars. I got home to Woking at 7.10am. And yet I always look back on this tour as one hell of an experience.

Most of you know my view on diesels tagged on the back of steam tours and that is one reason why I, and trust me hundreds of others, do not travel as often now. If we accept what has been said, we can expect a diesel on the back of all steam trains as an insurance against failures. And yet ironically, yesterday it was the Class 37 which failed and which probably contributed to the hot box on Tangmere having to pull such a heavy load.

IRONIC!

 

Tangmere just left Connington going south.

 

Look at them, show them to others, send them to mags, the crew, the loco owners - all sorts of things. Do you find it odd that people wish to take photographs?

 

I wonder if the point Sheff is making is that what does someone do with exactly the same photo as 20 others? I'm not sure even loco owners or crew would appreciate getting 20 copies of the same photograph!

 

I just avoid galleries altogether,find it silly everyone standing together like sticky toffee for "the shot" unless of course it is literally "THE" shot!

 

Tanglemere just through Willesden HL on her way home.

 

Surely this 'group' photography has been seen before-the newspaper press photographer at work.
The amateur spends thousands on equipment,this must a godsend when opportunity like this crops up to grab the camera out of the bag and give it an airing.
The Brits love huddling up together,safety in numbers maybe.

 

Hey don't get me wrong, I take the odd snap if something happens to be passing my way, but I find it odd that people will go to such lengths (eg step ladders etc ) to get a photo. But each to their own eh? I'd be very concerned if someone up a ladder were near enough to the line to fall on to it if jostled. In my time as a construction site engineer, step ladder falls were No1 on the list of serious injuries / fatalities. Just be careful out there - think where you could end up if you tip over.

 

I bet the drive to the vantage point was fraught with more danger than standing on a small set of steps.

 

Yeah - having seen chaser in action you may well be riight!

 

Second choice image Martin. I do it purely for enjoyment,i dont really care much for these master shot locations partly because I know someone will do better in some way. I do go to the locations but often for much more low-key workings such as a test train,60 or other freight. Don't forget unlike a lot on this forum I photograph diesel easily as much as I do steam and that I will go as much for a diesel shot as I would for steam. With steam I often take a back seat with lineside,mainly going for record shots. That is why most of my best shots are of diesels,that and the fact I go on more tours than I lineside. Although saying that has often started other arguements!

 

For anybody who was on the tour may be worth looking in the email, got one from Steam Dreams last night about discount on future tours & 50% discount on a London - Lincoln tour. Either way was a good day out.

 

Ever heard of Lemmings Mark? :lol:

 

LOL!! Thats how it gets with some of the desperation and lengths people can go to. Such as the scenes at Peak Forest a number of weeks ago when it was as if the pope was on board! I stood on my own at Hare Park Jc and got an exclusive shot,which would I rather have,nice but all too common shot or mediocre,but local interest exclusive shot,yep,I think i'll stick with that........It wouldn't of been so mediocre if the sun hadnt set!

 

Why to many people go for the same spot? One major problem with photographing on today's railway is the amount of lineside growth. On my stretch of the GN many former good locations have disappeared behind a wall of trees and associated undergrowth. Thus photographers tend to gather at the locations which are still clear. Very often this is at stations and as it's simple good manners not to get in anyone else's shot, forming a gallery is a good solution. Some photographers still strive to find new positions but even so there is a finite number before all the decent spots have been discovered. I don't see why people have to have a dig at the actions of others. If some photographers wish to emulate each other and congregate at a location then so be it. Not for me to judge. Offhand remarks about lemmings are uncalled for IMHO.

 

Come on..I'm sure the 'lemmings' is a tongue in cheek thing; we need some light hearted comments after the last couple of days. Anyway, all together can actually be better for us all cos at least you haven't got everyone else in your photo. Re your GNER location, i assume its Sandy /Biggleswade (think they're Beds) ; I'd assumed previously you were LMS (wrongly) but if your trees are growing, you should try the southern Electric line Ascot/ Bracknell/ Wokingham/Earley wher a lot of steam travel; but the trees and Undergrowth impossible. Helicopter next I think !