34046 Padd to Worcester. 12/9/20

Thanks Shep.

 

Well I guess we will have to savour and reminisce over all those past vids from the Sapperton area now its a no go area for the foreseeable future. Luckily there have been plenty of good ones.

 

Footage of the trip yesterday, seen at Twyford, Hanborough, Kemble and Cholsey:

 

My video of Braunton powering up Sapperton from yesterday (with a lil' 47 assistance after some classic Bulleid slipping )

 

Which, of course, actually increases the risk, ironically!

 

Very nice light - I liked the Muntjac crossing! That was more than a little assistance though!

 

I don't know the area very well - is the Frampton Mansell crossing a public footpath? If so, there is a process to go through to close it officially and I'm not sure erecting fences without it is legal. I could be wrong and am happy to be corrected. I would have thought that if the police were present at the crossing then it would be obvious that no trespassing would take place (and couldn't anyway if fences have already been erected?), so why insist that those there move on (unless there was a Covid angle to it too)? Surely the police can recognise the difference between suicides and enthusiasts there for an obvious reason?!

 

shame the BTP do not enforce the wearing of maks on trains they do not challenge anyone coming through the barriers at Bristol i

 

Remember there's a difference between entering a station and entering a train - the latter requires a face covering, but not the former.

 

According to National Rail, "Face coverings are mandatory on board the train and in all enclosed areas of railway stations, from when you enter a station, throughout your journey and exiting the station at the other end."
https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/face-coverings.aspx

 

My video climbing Sapperton at Chalford, lovely steady beat and slippage before the diesel assisted.

 

Can’t resist posting my vid of a very poorly Tangmere on an unassisted climb from the now probably no go area. Bless her, she was declared a failure soon after and didn’t make it back to London. No surprise there, and she’s never been seen since. I do miss her:

The Cotswold Venturer, 34067 Tangmere, 26th September 2015.

 

Good lord, NR need to do some serious weedkilling on that section of track, it looks worse than my front drive. I'm sure braunton would slip on that too.

 

I went to the crossing at Frampton Mansell where the barriers have been erected. There were about 4 BTP officers present. They explained that the crossing had been closed for some time due to locals using it to cross while riding motor cycles. I asked if I could cross but they said I would have to make the trek over the tunnel mouth which I had to do. They were very courteous and I realised that they had a job to do. As time was getting tight I joined a small group of photographers on the hillside above the tunnel mouth. Soon afterwards two BTP officers climbed the hill to speak to us. They asked us politely to move on and everyone did so without argument. Once again I felt that they, rightly or wrongly, had been given a task to perform and they had to do it. I had no problem with that. <BJ>

 

I've just received a message regarding Robin White.

''It is with deep regret that I must advise you that one of our cameramen Robin has passed away whilst filming at Sapperton. He was a good friend and will be sadly missed''.

This has come as a terrible shock. I've always regarded Robin as a very dear friend and a gentleman. RIP Robin.

<BJ>

 

While I didn't know him, this is such a shame to hear, after everything that happened. My condolences to his friends and family.

RIP