6024 on VSOE to Bristol, 14 July

10.27 through Taplow accelerating away from restriction through Burham and after being checked by unit in front.

 

Stormed through Tilehurst a couple down but going very well

 

For all those that can't use there mobiles at work, 6024 with the VSOE sounded great going through Sonning Cutting this morning & running to time.

 

NATPRES t0714a VSOE update, no diesel on train.

 

Maximum load hauled by 6024 on the mainline in recent years was 580tons (net).

 

There seem to quite a few text updates coming through for this run, thanks to the guys who are sending them in :thumb:

If anyone is using IE and not seeing them appear as they come in just click new posts and they should appear in the list in between the normal forum posts.

Neil.

 

Through Bath about 20 minutes down - looked fantastic as the sun came out for a few moments.

 

Rolling into Bath. 30secs later the sun was out........ Oh well, not too bad after a bit of tweaking:

 

where did you take that shot from?

The sun stayed in a minute two earlier at Sydney Gardens. Link below.

http://michael527.fotopic.net/c1871854.html

 

From the park behind Beechen Cliff school which you can get at by going right to the top of Shakespeare Ave off Bear Flat.

 

Or alternatively if you are fit there is a path which runs from just off the road opposite the bridge behind the station. However it is basically steps all the way up and unless they've improved it in the last 20 years since I was at school up there, its pretty rough as well. Park is called Alexandra Park. (I'll save the stories about us sliding down on our school bags when the path froze in winter!). This time of year there's a lot of foliage on the trees on the cliff so it can be hard to get a clear shot.

 

There are currently 2 decent gaps in the trees up there. Was surprised to get anything when I went to suss it out.

King was 22 down off BTM on the return.

 

6024 is thirty minutes late at Dauntsey Bank.

 

Went out to Newton St Loe for the return and got soaked for my trouble. Photos OK but 1 minute later would have been better......

 

What we miss is those large GWR numbers up front..what a difference from Saturday's trip out of Paddington.
Ah,well,we can't have everything can we...

 

Nice shots from Newton St Loe, thanks for the info re Alexandra Park.

Was told by one of the firemen that the King was late because one of the drivers was delayed travelling from Eastleigh, there was a fatality at Warminster/Salisbury, and the guy was making his way to Bath.

 

The king did not arrive back in Bristol Temple Meads until 1639 departure was from platform 3 after the 5.00 London Pad

 

19.01 thru Goring & Streatley on up main at 75mph ish. Clag and sun too!

 

About 25mins late in Sonning Cutting going great guns
court us out as running on the main !
No sun but the heavy shower had passed over.

 

she arrived around 5min early so it looks like she had the main all the way, a hst arrived a couple of mins behind.