Vintage Trains 2025

Bristol Temple Meads.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/albums/72177720326517622

 

My shot of 7029 accelerating out of Cheltenham with the outward leg of the "Whistling Ghost" tour this morning.

 

Smoke filling the Bristol sky as Clun Castle headed towards Birmingham.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/16582147@N07/54558648121

 

Super sound off both 7029 and 37240 going up through Ashley Down!

 

7029 raises the sound level as it thundered through Bromsgrove in the high 70's with a soundtrack that will live long in the memory !

 

With a guest appearance of Mr Digit. I had thought about watching it go past there but decided to go to Temple Meads.

 

That was sensational, the 37 clinging on the back for dear life there!

 

I was just pointing out where the viewer should be looking

 

Indeed it was, the polar opposite from the outward leg.

 

I wasnt planning on going out as I was away, but then ended up trevelling a short way to just shy of |Yate near Wickwar to get it coming back from WSR. What a thrilling sound from the double chimney Castle. Made it worthwhile going out!

 

7029 crosses the Somerset Levels with the outward working of the Whistling Ghost tour to Minehead. https://www.flickr.com/photos/79185888@N04/54561861207/in/dateposted-public/

 

Apologies -- I was trying to say that having been @ Blackwell for the assault of The Lickey I would be very interested to know IF anyone can
confirm or hazard an educated guess PLEASE as to what her speed @ the summit was??
(I would also concur that the 37 was hanging on for its life as she passed)
THANKS
N

 

I wasn't paying close attention as I was trying to enjoy the moment, but I think my phone GPS said something like 55-56kph

 

I was told 77 at Bromsgrove and 28 over the top.

 

7029 gets away from Derby at Pear Tree with 1Z10 Derby to Stratford upon Avon.

 

Any suggestion of sunshine around Stratford this afternoon proved to be wishful thinking.

The mid-day run to Snow Hill at an amazingly empty Wilmcote.


and the return to Derby at an equally deserted Danzey.

 

I had a day out to Stratford yesterday. Not a bad schedule from Derby, just two stands at signal/loop on the way back. Particularly in the morning the schedule was quite demanding but as far as I could tell the tractor did nothing at all. Put it this way, the starts from the stations were not suspicious and you certainly knew about it when the diesel started up at Hatton. I thought the load factor on the train was a bit worrying, so would encourage anyone with doubts to support the enterprise.

I don't think I'd been to Stratford for sixty years. What a strange mixture! My plan was to walk the canal up to Wilmcote, visit the Arden house and either walk or train back depending on fitness and weather. Hopeless. As soon as you get to the end of the paved bit, the towpath degenerates to a narrow trod with overhanging branches and brambles. Perhaps I didn't do enough research and there were better options for spending four hours.

So, Clun, my 25th and quite possibly last different loco on the main line since starting this game in 2012. Most trips --48151. Rarest---76084.

 

Peter

Many years ago I walked the Eastside of the Avon from the Tramway Bridge until the old railway bridge crosses, then over that, back along the old railway line, and after that along the West Bank of the Avon stopping for a pint before getting back to where I started.

Paul