THE GREAT BRITAIN IV

Back home after three days of GBIV hunting.
Thursday started well with a lovely view at Barr Loch, but thereafter either the loco was drifting or the sun had gone in. Hey-ho!

Friday was great, with lovely sun and a hard working loco at both Wrenbury (hi Chris) and Llanvihangel. There must have been some very slick servicing at Hereford as she was around 20 mins late at Church Stretton and only 5 late away from Hereford. A shame the sun had gone in by the time we got to Over, but 5029 made a fine sight (and sound) none-the-less.

Different sort of time-keeping issues today - 10 early at Whiteball, 20 early at Totnes, a few minutes early at St Germans. Also, there was something special about the quality of the light in the West Country today! BTW, is this the first time that 70013 and 45305 have run together? Must have been a proud day for the good people of the 5305LA.

Will pop out to see the last leg tomorrow lunch time, if I get up in time. Time for bed now though...

 

Some photos from the first few days.

 

Cracking ehots there .Look forward to seeing more
Henry

 

Heres my video of Day 8, taken at Beambridge and Hele.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uL7I19OX-I

 

All very quiet on here about this today, just had a text saying it departed woodborough 7 early.

 

As above, despite leaving Woodborough early, it arrived at Theale about 15 late. According to one of the passengers it was a slow run with starts & stops. There was a preceding Turbo but that was 10-15 mins beforehand. Left Theale about a minute down & didn't it storm away! Could be heard well past the M4 bridge.

 

Not sure what is going on, but now had a text saying it left Reading 18 down despite leaving Theale more or less on time. More to the point unfortunately, the 47 was added to the rear at Reading. The way it left Theale there did not seem much wrong with 5029.

 

5029 at Avoncliffe on the Bristol to Paddington leg.



5029 at Cattybrook on last Fridays Preston to Bristol leg.





45305 & 70013 at Alderton on the LE move to Bristol on Friday.

 

the 47 was added as there wasnt a path for it as of Iver other than add to the weight its done nothing.

 

Well done Nick. Very nice. <BJ>

 

The delays were our good fortune as she tore through Twyford on the up fast as a goods train was on the up slow with a stopper right behind it.

Caught a few on the hop though as it was booked on the slow.

Saw the diesel on the back and I can confirm that it was not working. Thank God as that would have been a poor way to finish what has clearly been, a wonderful tour of the UK by the greatest mode of transport on this planet - THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE!

Nick

 

I had a report that the box was pushing hard at Reading?............maybe just to get it out of reading?

 

47 added at reading due to no path being available into paddington to help with the ecs moves. The original plan was to attach at theale. Gave a little assistance out of reading but remained idle from then on.

 

Slowed right down past us at Wolfhall; almost to a stand - then accelerated away past Crofton.

Maybe the driver saw the bunch of idiots on the ballast beneath the bridge who had climbed the gate despite being told by the rest of us that it was trespass and that it could jeapardise future mainline steam.

STEVE

 

Here's my video showing Nunney first of all decelerating towards Theale, then making a noisy departure from the water stop:

[video=youtube;iQvxGEfALUI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQvxGEfALUI[/video]

 

When 5029 deafened us at Sonning the 47 was doing absolutely nothing. A glorious audio experience.

 

Near Crofton Pumping Station, which was in steam today.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/sets/72157626567534628/

 

A nice afternoon to be out and about following the Castle around its former haunts. A couple of shots here for you firstly passing through Aldermaston and then hammering through Twyford.

 

Now that's an angle at Crofton you don't see very often - but you will always get the car park in shot from there - Nice

STEVE

 

And a short vid at Twyford.

[video=youtube;ZkqhgHp-UPw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkqhgHp-UPw[/video]