The Canterbury Christmas Special Saturday 10 December 2011

Well today was one of the best days i have had. I travelled up to Bearsted in the morning to see 35028 pass and then catch the next service train 5 minutes after her which would then pass 35028 at Lenham allowing me to get back to Canterbury to see her arrive, however the local Gen groups were stating that she was 10 minutes late and sure enough the service train was the first one into view. 35028 gave those of us at Bearsted plenty of warning that she was coming and put on a great show! With a 20 minute wait for the next train back to Ashford, we were amazed to find out that 35028 was still in the Lenham loop when arriving at Lenham, the plan that i had made earlier in the day was still possible, and sure enough while waiting at Ashford 35028 was stopped and the next service to Canterbury was allowed ahead. Pictures and videos will be up later.

 

Nice little trip round the south today, nearly 400 miles covered chasing 34067 and 35017. 5 locations but only 2 photos worth processing. Could've made Hollingbourne if we'd known 35017 was so late! Still, got a shot of the loco renamed and renumbered so I'm happy.



Approaching Wye station. The gates had only just been closed and the signal cleared as she approached so she was accelerating away nicely.

 

5944, that is a great shot. Look at the gradient change behind the train too - well captured

 

Beautiful shot 5944.
Watch out that UK Railtours don't use it in one of their brochures without asking permission first as they have done with two of my pictures used in the new brochure that came on Thursday. As I browsed through it the other day a picture of 35028 in the Surrey Hills and 70000 near Goring looked very familiar. Then I realised they were my shots which they had copied from Steam Tube on the internet without asking! I think I will have to send them an e-mail!

 

As promised yesterday, my pictures and video are now online.



Video: 35017 Belgian Marine on The Canterbury Christmas Special 10-12-2011 - YouTube

Pictures: Mainline Steam - a set on Flickr

 

The still picture may be very good indeed once it's grown on me. And I think it is doing that. Nicely different.

As for the first video sequence: very, very nice with the sound turned right up.

And unless my ears/eyes/brain etc are deceiving me it sounds as though this wonderful machine has just climbed the 1/60 of Bearsted bank with the equivalent of 16 cars. i.e the box was silent.

In the roof and quite a lot of cut offs, methinks.

 

You'd be able to hear her climb Martin Mill in my video if something hadn't gone wrong with the mic 35017 Belgian Marine on The Canterbury Christmas Special - YouTube Honestly, one day all the pieces will fall into place and I'll come up with something decent!

 

To answey myself in the opening meesage in this thread, Just picture the scene, your at Brixton, the question of will it go over the top or pass by the station on the same level keeps going through your head. The nerves were eased when everything that normally goes over the top also came past on the Atlantic lines, including the Dartfords via Lewisham etc.
So there I am along with a few others who turned up, camera tripod mounted, when first we here "crikey" at the large plumes of steam approaching us. Then came the shattering realization that "it's over there mate" going over the top on the South London Lines.
Grab tripod with camera still recording, and spin it around to record the train passing the former Railway Hotel, tripod is now hand held off of the ground!! Bowled by Argos & the Former Railway Hotel, Brixton! 35028 as 35017 10/12/2011 - YouTube

 

That sort of thing is bound to happen if the Torbay Express gets diverted via South London!

 

I was on the Torbay Express from Woking to Ely yesterday. Much better idea than driving all the way to Bristol to catch it - missed the sea wall at Dawlish though!