The Thames Tornado

Some shots from Frampton Mansell, slightly ahead and to the left of BillR's location.

http://michael527.fotopic.net/c1777783.html

Short video may follow.

 

I guess so, I was the fair haired guy on the short step ladder. Its a small world.

 

Video from Frampton Mansell, just below BillR's viewpoint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfnnwGFx7Kk

 

Thanks for all the pics and vids guys,nice to see some people went out to see it instead of stopping and bickering on here.

 

I hope that you were able to take good face on shots of the half a dozen idiots who were very close to the lineside here & will forward same to the BT Police.

 

Some nice photos and videos guys

Here's a photo of Tornado arriving at Shalford and a video of it departing Shalford station:

http://craigrailpics.fotopic.net/p61978146.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCICu3mhxb4

 

At Cholsey....

http://50031.fotopic.net/c1777390.html

 

The photographs taken at Frampton Mansell can give a very deceptive view. There are many public foot crossings across the tracks in the valley and this can give the impression of trespass especially if a long lens is used to take the photograph. It was such a beautiful morning and many of the local community turned out to see Tornado on the climb to Sapperton tunnel. Let's hope that they didn't 'overstep the mark'. The more images of trespass that the BTP are shown the more evidence they have to ban steam on the main line. Trespassing on or near railway lines is wrong as we all know but I wonder if it is a good idea to send such images to the BTP. <BJ>.

 

To be quite honest, I was unsure about how far others were trespassing at Frampton Mansell. The people on the left hand side of my shots could be by a foot crossing. Even if they were on railway property as far as I could judge they were not close to the track. But there were two types of spectator the quick and the dead.

However, some of you might want to sign up for a doubling of the line.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/8347138.stm

 

looks like standard was at the back unfortunately? Didn't miss much there then.

 

Meanwhile back to the main topic. Does anyone have any knowledge of the speed that Tornado entered Sapperton tunnel. With 11 coaches in tow, it appeared to pass with ease on the final part of the ascent.

Thanks to all the contributors of video and stills today. They were excellent. <BJ>

 

I might just do that next time Tornado is seen on the East Grinstead Line, but thinking about it I'll probably be on the train if that happens

 

So East Grinstead line is the only one in the country your interested in,right?

 

Nope, just the most accessible, not much mainline steam on the Brighton line either, I'd be at Haywards Heath in a few weeks to see Tangmere but I'm on a certain Pacific trip to Cardiff. The last local mainline steam I was able to get to was Tornado at Godstone in the summer. There are a couple of trips with Tangmere soon that I'll be able to watch, again at Godstone but that is it.

Unlike most other part of the country this part of West Sussex is a bit lacking in mainline steam activity. Unlike many on these boards we dont have the luxury of steam every week round here. Now if I lived with my uncle in Farnborough things would be very different.

 

We used to go to the Shalford Lane corssing but stopped as is just to popular. Now founda gem of a site where you get a superb view and you can drive right upto

 

Edited.....

 

I Dont think Network Rail could ban steam Charters trespass is a huge problem on our railways not just when Steam charters are running having worked on the railways for 31 years it still amazes me what people get up to on our railways.

 

Some pictures from me with 60163 approaching and in Victoria.

 

God that roof is in a mess now!

 

Because it's having repairs hence all the scaffolding....