THE CATHEDRALS EXPRESS 70000 Oxford-London-Canterbury Thu 7th April

Three of my shots from Basildon, near Pangbourne this morning in the sun:http://steamtube.ning.com/photo/albums/70000-britannia-cathedrals

It was clear she was being held back as she had lost her path and had yellow signals ahead. Still, a nice bit of acceleration towards the large gallery on the bridge and a Whistle from the crew. She slowed after the bridge and must have crawled through pangbourne.
70000 looks cracking in Black. Hope they have a good day with her.

 

Departed Ashford approx 13:50 - not as noisy as Cromwell!

 

Here's a video of her just past Cholsey this morning, looking great in all black! Includes a few stills from Reading on Tuesday as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSRpxKshTR8

 

Passing Five Oak Green tonight, just after leaving Paddock Wood. Not the best conditions for photography: heading almost straight into a low evening sun. Maybe just a couple of minutes late and sounding rather nice accelerating up the grade to Tonbridge.

 

I saw 70000 running in to the up relief at Slough this morning, running parallel with an HST which also stopped at Slough. There were certainly a few gobsmacked spectators some of whom where hanging out of the window snapping the Brit.

I have to agree with others, she does look mighty impressive in black and once the nameplates are fitted, I think we can all enjoy it running in this livery pending the inevitable change to Brunswick Green at some stage in the future.

From an ex signalman point of view, the only (and very tiny) issue I had, was the headcode. There is clearly a lamp missing on the left hand bracket for express duty - or don't those rules apply anymore?

Nick

 

Those rules don't apply - it just needs to have a working headlight. Anyone know why the high-intensity lamp was over the driver's side buffer rather than in the middle (as seems normal for most mainline steam engines)?

 

Photo'ed outside Ashford on the return leg:
http://thestig.co.uk/set1950766/media69354736.html

Excellent sights and sounds!

Steve

 

Some pictures from East Kent

 

Seemed to be driven quite steadily on the way out, Bearsted was taken at a steady pace well within her capabilities, Martin Mill this evening was a little different, came up Walmer bank in fine style, decibel levels were well up with Cromwell.
Well done to all involved, superb sounding and looking and a fine looking support coach as well.

 

I have seen the video from today barking her way along (I would say to the same standard as Cromwell). Unfortunately I couldn't make it out today to photograph and Video. I'm not sure i'm Totally convinced with the Black Livery. i just hope it grows on me. With the setting sun; it could almost be Green at times.

 

Double post

 

Had a good day following Britannia today, sounded and looked magnificent through Sandling.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40657924@N04/sets/72157621684090281/with/5598870638/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4o_09do68Y

 

Here is my vid of 70000 at mitre bridge & willesden this evening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yDKSiJvBV4

col

 

Thanks for the update from Tilehurst, well worth going out to see on a fine evening.

Something sounding not quite right on 70000 at Didcot but didn't seem to be causing too much of a problem, short sound clip below:

 

Nice to see you at Purley - couldn't believe there were only 3 of us on the bridge there, as its about the only place between Didcot and Reading where the sun was right at that time of the morning.

70000 crawled up the hill towards the signals as the stopper was still in the block ahead, also, an orange jacketed Network Rail guy descended to the track as she approached. The signal changed, the regulator was opened and then the driver had to get on the whistle for the track worker (who was still out of frame). The slow approach also allowed a westbound HST to clear the shot as well.

70000 looked and sounded great - well done.

I'll get round to uploading my shots sometime over the weekend.


STEVE

 

I sent the update from Tilehurst, I am pretty appalled about the lack of updates on this, I subscribed at around 9.50pm & the previous update seemed to be 12 HOURS EARLIER! ironically from Tilehurst at 10.11am on the outward journey.

 

Nice description there Steve, I'd looked at the sun angle too and was surprised how few people there as well but not always easy to get time off work. I think the track worker was expecting 70000 and might have stayed out of our view. Didn't quite get the shot I was looking for and the wobbly footbridge and late running conspired against me getting a night shot at Didcot but reason to go out again sometime I guess. Look forward to seeing your shots, you usually manage to do some quality work.

buseng, I subscribed all day but had no updates until (presumably) your request from Tilehurst for information on the return leg. My phone packed in just after your update so couldn't send from Didcot and I was just along from a morning update at Cholsey I think. If people don't send in updates though there's not much we can do really, but if it's any consolation your update was very welcome indeed, thanks again.

 

Don't want to go too far off topic on this thread so I'll post over on 'Text Alert' thread. I'd be quite interested to know how many people actually subscribed to this tour though.

 

Yes that was me requesting info from Tilehurst after realising the previous update was 10.11 am. I had no response to this request, but as you know it came along at 22.19 when I sent my update. Heard it for ages in the Reading direction before it appeared. Glad my update helped you.