The Cathedrals Express - Ashford to Bristol - 17/12/11

Never never seen so many people at Twyford. Looked fully loaded to me and good to see the enginemen waving and laughing with the kids. Vid up soon.

 

60163 Tornado at Twyford 17 Dec 2011 001.MOV - YouTube 60163 Tornado at Twyford 17 Dec 2011 004.MOV - YouTube

These should be up soon (hopefully) At Twyford, amongst crowds which I wasn't expecting in brilliant sunshine, they've turned into more of a steam viewing experience rather than pure steam video !!!

 

Tornado passed Oldfield Park, Bath at 13:18 en route to Bristol with 13 coaches and no trailing diesel. Although only a small station, I counted 74 people on or near the station waiting for Tornado to pass through. The loco can certainly still draw the crowds. <BJ>

 

Didn't realise so many people at the station. 60163 certainly made a spectacular sight on departure:

 

Didn't see anyone, clouds rolled over and rain followed as Tornado passed through Bathampton.

Tornado at Bathampton - a set on Flickr

Twenty minutes later, the clouds had lifted and the sun reappeared just as I strolled into the pub for lunch.

 

Very good photo. Best side to photograph a west bound train, but the sun has played havoc with my efforts in the past and I usually have ended up half way down platform 4 under the roof overhang !! But the weather was kind to us all at Twyford

 

Tornado departed Bristol TM 15 mins late at 16:49 due to loco arriving late to collect stock. <BJ>

 

Just about on time at Twyford, following the stopper as timetabled. As this morning, ended up out of the platform because of the length of the train which means could not catch on video in the darkthe spectacular and noisy departure with wheelslip and clouds of steam from all possible places ! (I wish I'd had the cam on though for the sound recording ! Oh well ). Passengers looked a happy lot, waving etc, like a scene fron The Railway Children ! (Remember)

 

Extraordinary. Quite extraordinary!

 

short vid of this evenings arrival at Twyford. 60163 Tornado arrives Twyford 17Dec2011 001.MOV - YouTube

 

Shot of her in the morning light at Five Oak Green near Paddock Wood this morning. 60163 Tornado on The Cathedrals Express - 17/12/2011 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

Nice shot.

 

Tornado reported departing Kensington Olympia 2 early at 20:16. <BJ>

 

Spectacular run thru' Didcot on the main tonight with much steaming and whistling.
The signallers managed to squeeze it thru' in a narrow gap between a several late running HST's and despite this Tornado was allowed the fast road and the Main on towards Reading.
I often hear complaints about the way the big railway treats steamers so I thought the confidence showed by the signallers for Tornado resulting in some sensible running was worth commenting on.

 

Well done to these signalmen who allowed Tornado to run up the main to Reading. It's a pity the same signalmen were not present last Thursday when having been giving permission to run fast from Woking direct to Clapham Junction were denied at the last minute because the signalman had not been told despite the reassurances from the loco inspector!

Got Bless the Great Western and its signalmen! Ho Ho Ho!