6024 - The Bristolian 3rd March

Anyone else booked on this? Last trip to/from Paddington before 6024's overhaul.
Busy few days for 6024 and crew with the tour to Cardiff on 1st March.

 

t0303a.htm Provisional timings from uksteam. Hopefully she will get a run on the Main where shown.

 

6024 BTM - Pad, 35028 on Surrey Hills. Anyone feeling rich and willing to risk an 18 minute connection between Pad and Vic could travel on both!

 

Helicopter !!

 

Still places available - thought this would be a popular trip. UKSteam still showing times as unconfirmed..

 

Tickets arrived this morning. BTM d 09:30 / a. 19.35

 

Looking forward to tomorrow's run - hope no signalling problems...
6024 running LE today arriving Barton Hill 23.20. t0302p.htm

 

Reported passing Chippenham at 22:52 so all should be good to go. Good luck for tomorrow,hope you all have another great run. Last one into and out of Pad for a while!

 

Big Brother is on this one. 13 cars and no box. Looking forward to reports from all directions before I go off owling.

 

Why not pop over to Twyford to see her roar through on the up fast! You will be most welcome! By the way what is owling?

 

Left Bristol on time looked superb in the winter sunshine from my viewpoint above Newton St Loe shame about the 1st class mark 2 in intercity livery

 

All off to Twyford then !!! Suns out, just need to get a place on the correct side !! Good luck all

 

Passed Christian Malford, east of Chippenham about 10 down. Didn't seem to be working that hard up Daunsey.

Looks like another photoshop job with the coaches!

 

Still about 10 min down at West Swindon.

A couple of quick snaps.

 

It could have been far worse than an Inter-City coach towards the centre of the train and a full blue Mk.2 at the rear.
This is a Pathfinder railtour. When I think of Pathfinder the words Set and Rainbow spring to mind. <BJ>

 

You don't keep them in an underground aviary do you Brian?

 

Seems about on time now just before Twyford going well on the main,

 

Must have caught up well, probably at the water stop, but Crack on time Twyford...She is one magnificent engine at speed in the sunshine.

 

6024 seen approaching Iver Bucks Mainline Steam 2012 - Stephen Leek's Photos | SmugMug

 

Don tells me around even time, (net of checks), up from Wantage Road to Paddington. Quite a lot of 74-75 mph running with 13 on for circa 500 tons. Sounds very good for the Great Way Round. (wink)

Owling, by the way, is just like linesiding. You wait for hour after hour in lovely sunshine, but as soon as an Owl turns up it clouds over. That is for the daytime hunting Short-Eared Owls currently over-wintering on Sheppey in Kent.

For nocturnal Barn Owls you wait similar lengths of time in the icy cold and dark where you think one will perch by a road where your headlights will illuminate it. Then, just as one lands there the only car to pass in half an hour drives past and scares it off. Just like waiting all evening for a steam special up the S&C, and as it approaches a low flying army helicopter starts extensive night training overhead, destroying the video sound track.

Seven nights this last week got me one good Barn Owl photo.