The Great Britain IX

One of those days I'm afraid.

Decided with the forecast that a location on the descent of Savernake might mean less clag for the strong north westerly wind to blow down and obscure the view....................wrong
At least I didn't need to worry about backlighting 20 mins of solid sunshine vanished with around 10 mins to go and then came out again 5 mins after 46100 passed

Any reports from the footplate ? 46100 wasn't making much noise, the diesel was definitely pushing at this point despite running downgrade and that looks like an awful lot of clag for a loco being assisted downhill. Any coal or firing issues before Frome ?

A Scot on the Berks and Hants by Stephen Dance, on Flickr

 

..... and no delay minutes. The trains were showing up at Taunton that day mostly pretty much on time and leaving Newton Abbot anything from 1.5 to 3 hours late.

...... and we might complain about NR being unable to path STP trains but listen to this : ' On an ordinary summer Saturday, 38 trains were scheduled to pass Whiteball summit between 10 and 4. On 27 July the number was increased to 48, one every 7.5 mins...... Although banking engines were provided at Wellington, no provision was made in the working timetable for trains stopping for a banker; nor for paths for returning bankers. Maximum loads for the section from Wellington to Whiteball (Castle 450 tons ; Hall 420 tons ; 43xx 394 tons) .......it appeared to be left to the drivers discretion whether or not to request assistance.'

Those were the days. But the author D St J Thomas points out that outright locomotive failures were rare.

 

I don't think I'll ever understand why people get so worked about a diesel loco in a train, when the steam loco itself is working in the "wrong" region, with the "wrong" carriages, etc etc. It's as if they need to find something/someone else to blame all the time.

 

Well she has made it over Dainton.....

 

Whats it got to do with them....

 

Looked about 15 near the summit, diesel on tick over, everyone couldn't believe it !

 

And here we have my contribution from Midgham, Watch out for antics from the local wildlife, and from track workers, and the departure from Newbury Racecourse

 

46100 at West Brompton this morning can be seen on http://www.flickr.com/photos/5611hongkong

 

No Grandpa Simpson out today by the looks of it

 

It's made enough noise to scare that horse

 

Nice stuff, almost Cuneoesque in parts, having that Diesel on the back really has ruined the day though hasn't it, barely a whisper from the Scot

 

Probably running to get out of shot before the assembled gallery shouted at him to move....

 

Probably hiding behind the headboard -- it's gonna be like Cuneo's mouse

 

What gallery ? I was on my own !!

If I hadn't been here I would have been at Crofton, either Bridge 99 or down by the engine house, but I've got so many shots there I fancied something different. Bet there was a big gallery at Crofton though !

 

More noise at Theale than Crofton which was subdued and sunless

 

Well what had you shouted at the poor horse to make him run off like that?

 

Steak à Cheval!!! NOM NOM NOM

 

Tesco?

 

my shot at newbury



https://www.flickr.com/photos/jumbojet1/26387412490/in/photostream/lightbox/