Alton to Canterbury Cathedrals Express 3-10-13. Loco ???

33029 and 70000 passed through Egham 16:24 1 minute late, will post an image soon.

 

Britannia

 

Ta very muchly!

I only asked for clarification................... despite the unconfirmed reports of Britannia, it "could" have been Braunton or the two Black 5's!!!

 

My Father saw the move just outside Aldershot about 3 minutes late. He got a shot of Britannia on the rear so now we believe the loco allocation for tomorrow! As Duty Druid said it could have been any of the other loco's currently residing at Southall Looking forward to the first run with 70000 since March.

 

A shot of the 33 leading through Egham. Hope to get a shot of the Brit tomorrow too on her first tour in a while! Nice little preview for me to keep me going til the MHR gala with her at the end of the month.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgraw/10056567873/

 

Enjoy the trip................................ hope you get lucky with the weather before the wet stuff comes down!!

 

Thanks for that. Hopefully the wet stuff will hold off until we are back on for the return run. When I checked the forecast yesterday Canterbury was supposed to get very wet at around 16.00 an hour before we leave. When we went last time with the 8F it hammered it down on the way back to the station and we got soaked.

 

Having seen this evenings forecast......................................................... I think you're going to get very wet!....................................

Then again, you might just make it back before it comes down.


I just hope Brittany (as the support crew know her) performs as we all know she can - she sounded like a sewing machine when she came down last week................ I shall wait until Sunday, if she behaves herself tomorrow, when she's down to haul the SD lunch train - shes coming past (almost) my back door!!

 

It was doing shed loads of work at the back going from a stand at Bentley and up the hill to Alton. Sounded really good.

 

You mean the box needed a shove for a change!.................................................

 

Indeed it sounded very much like that.

 

Not a surprise really, imagine trusting a 33 to pull a real train!.

 

70000 on time and working well up towards Foxhills Tunnel at Pirbright this morning in the gloom. Pic to follow.

 

In the gloom at the Woking water stop and through West Byfleet:

http://simonwhittinghamphotography.zenfolio.com/p296272575

 

Brightening up the morning then at Pirbright Common. I don't suppose anyone knows the gradient of the line here approaching Foxhills Tunnel?

 

Britannia accelerating away from Tonbridge (with plenty of shoving from the 33) in the piddling rain. Was running 10 minutes down according to RTT, but OT through Paddock Wood, so I assume they omitted the stop in Tonbridge loop?

 

An image from this morning approaching Egham well before it started raining this afternoon. Was following a slightly late stopper and as such coasting on amber lights but opened up through the station.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgraw/10067294853/in/photostream/

 

Meeting a Piccadilly Line tube on approach to South Acton with the Kew Bridge Steam Museum tower in the background. (Right arrow on first photo takes you to a second):

Britannia South Acton

 

On time leaving Ashford - er, actually slipping out of Ashford would be more accurate. 33 not helping

 

Sounded good at bentley, and Ashford (surrey) got held back at Orpington and sounded a bit "off" at Chelsfield, with the 33 working its socks off