Bittern to Cardiff 5th December

Looking forward to seeing her through Cholsey tomorrow morning. We should be bringing 'Cumbria' up to Cholsey ahead of the days Santa Specials to whistle her through!

I'll probably be at Twyford in the evening to wave her through - hope you have a good day. I look forward to hearing the soundtrack of the Sapperton climb on YouTube!

 

left on time

 

Reports from another forum of her on time through St Marys Crossing (11.54)

 

Through Tilehurst on time. Short video here, unfortunately the sun was facing me on the head on shot, also got caught out as it was surprisingly on the main & I was waiting on the up relief platform.

[youtube]<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tCPceX1p1xY&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tCPceX1p1xY&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>[/youtube]

 

On time past Bourton. Shame the sun disappeared for good not too long before the train appeared.

 

Few minutes late at Chepstow (13.09), blowing off furiously!

 

60019 At Shrivenham.

 

1344 through Rumney.

 

Just heard on the local radio that there has been abridge strike at Broadoak, which is about midway twixt Lydney & Gloucester. No mention of rail disruption, I did try looking on the National Rail Enquiries site to no avail.

 

Could be a lorry striking on the rail bridge I searched Google happened before earlier this year. Apparently trying to avoid Severn Bridge tolls.
Brian

 

Yes sorry should have said it was a lorry that done the striking.
It's just that they normally close railway lines after a strike until the bridge has been surveyed. I'm hoping they have already done it or they won't close the line.

NRE is showing trains to GCR with no significant delays.

 

I tried something a bit different today seeing as 60019 was a repeat of last Saturday.
Went up White Horse Hill and got a distant shot of the whole train.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=306124&nseq=1

Another 5 mins sun and I would have got the shot I really wanted which was with Uffington church in the foreground, but that ended up being a half in half out effort.

Great view up there, I could see Bittern leaving the water stop at Challow and from there all the way nearly to Shrivenham.


STEVE

 

NRE showing the Maesteg (Bridgend) - Cheltenham service train on time arriving at Lydney at 17.57 so I presume the line is open?

 

18.20 at Chepstow (6 early).....

 

Bittern en route for Wales, near Purton, although I must cross check my map.

http://michael527.fotopic.net/c1788915.html

 

Purton - England
Chepstow - Wales

 

Stormed Sapperton in fine style, more or less on time.
I was surprised to see I wasn't the only silly b$@@£r there

 

Looks like Gatcombe to me, very nice pictures BTW.

 

Good effort.

 

Your photographs show the train passing Gatcombe. The train continues next to the River Severn to Purton where your last shot was taken. There are villages called Purton on either side of the river. Both are in Gloucestershire.

Very nice shots! <BJ>