Berk and Hants Aqua Sulis: Solihull to Bristol

Can't believe I'm the first to post about this today. Running well through Theale at 10.54. Lots of steam effects due to the cold weather. Several other people there, someone seems very quick sending a text, beats me to it every time. Not much point sending 2 from the same location. Just to add, no box on back.

 

Nice shots martin.

 

Through Bath on time - could hear the Earl from sitting in the sun in garden about a mile from the line!

 

Wonderful day today with the Earl in superb condition as always and in good voice. Swept through Banbury 5 mins late (following a late Voyager) on time at Radley, late away from Didcot for some reason and then on time at Kintbury.
Really strange operation at Didcot with the Earl put through to the main line and the immediately following HST swapped to the relief line. Maybe to make operations easier at Reading West Jn?

 

The train had a very nice schedule for chasing around after it.

I caught it first at Yarnton at 8.15, then off to S Hinksey for an hour hanging around for it to leave the loop - worth it though, beautiful sunny morning. Next to Theale, to beat buseng to the update text , then finally, Newbury Station for her departure from the racecourse water stop. Super morning - temperature went from 2C at Yarnton up to 16C at Newbury. My video is just uploading but will be a while - about 4.15pm according to YouTube.

Carrying a headboard reading "80TH ANNIVERSARY OURS" by the way. What does that mean?

Curious to know - did anyone get my text from Hinksey Loop at 9.45?

 

OURS Oxford Uni Railway society? (Although that appears to have folded in the 1990's?)

 

Here's my video, finally got there. Six minutes from 4 nice sunny locations:

[video=youtube;gxbek03PXjA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxbek03PXjA[/video]

 

The OURS on the headboard does stand for Oxford Uni Railway Society.

 

I Noticed whilst at Newbury Racecourse there was a board on the side of one of the Mk 2 Pullmans with " Oxford University Railway
Society Special Train" Perhaps someone could advise further?

I agree Steve a great morning.

Mike M. ( 70c )

 

Yes apparently there are some ex-members on board who will be enjoying a Black-Tie dinner on the return run!

 

Yes thank you, I was just about to leave home on my way to Theale.
So it is you then with the quick texts . Have to get a faster phone.
We seem to go to the same location, but at opposite ends of the platform.
By the way, I have answered your OURS question on the "other forum" as well.
I was on this,
www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/60s/640526ou.html

 

Thanks buseng for the answer and for the link, very interesting. Next time I'm going to Theale I'll PM you and we can find out who each other are!

I use an iPhone for texts - and for taking my videos. Generally, I have typed all the message except the actual time before I start videoing, so I just have to type in the time and send once the train passes. The iPhone lets me copy and paste the previous message too so I don't have to retype the NATPRES bit or the code.

 

I usually type part of the message as well & put in my drafts folder ready for completing & sending. The trouble is that on days like today I have a job to see the screen. Time I have finished fumbling about, it is too late.

 

Looks like she's been allowed to run at Swindon and missed the pathing stop, last reported 34 early at Uffington.

 

5043 Caught on video in a couple of locations

[video=youtube;ntvSrYch0Wc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntvSrYch0Wc[/video]

 

Great stuff Bill.

 

Blimey she was rocketing along in that first clip

 

I'll second that! How on earth did you get the towpath to yourself!? Are there any more updates after 34 early at Uffington? (34 do you mean 14?)

 

With the weather forecast predicting perfect conditions I wanted to repeat this
shot from last December

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d1059/5563415959/in/photostream

Had it worked it would have been almost surreal with the sun and mist on the
canal. However, the hedge by the canal has grown so much in 10 months that it
now protrudes well above the rails. The view from the field has also become very
tight with lineside bushes.

With no time left to move I went back to Heyford station. The canal boatyard
looked so nice with the backlit mist I opted to shoot the shadow side of the
train. I don't think it turned out too bad considering

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d1059/6245671611/in/photostream


Like the Leamington shots Sidmouth

STEVE