35028 Clan Line and 70000 Britannia to Bristol 3rd August

Wasn't getting at you but usually get some updates prior to Reading.

 

Oh dear, pretty inevitable given the current conditions, 30 degrees & a fairly brisk wind. Only good thing, looks like lots of rain on the cards tomorrow (around here anyway).

 

Yes between 18.40 & 19.10. Usually go to the car park to watch it arrive & then drive down to the foot crossing along Brunel Way (past the mini roundabout) to see it pull away.

 

70000 was about 30 mins early at St Denys, sat outside Northam for a good 20 mins.

 

Went to Theale to see 35028 tonight, got a text saying it was 15 late at Ditton Marsh not sure if that was this morning or tonight though. In the event it arrived at Theale at 19.20, 40 down. This was cut to 30 minutes by shortening the water stop to 20 mins (2 bowsers in attendance). Seemed to be a lack of updates again, I sent the 2 from Theale, although there were more people there this evening.
A quick mobile phone shot of it leaving Theale by the foot crossing, the sun was a bit bright hence the glint.

 

Oh dear, that was me. It was meant to say "Dilton Marsh", and it actually referred to Britannia. (Clan Line didn't go via Dilton Marsh.) I was subscribed to both tours this afternoon and got a bit confused. There was probably a text on the Britannia thread saying Clan Line was sat at Heywood Rd Junction at 17:55, waiting for a path. She finally got the road at about 18:05, roughly 30 late. Looked lovely in the sun, from White Horse Hill. Don't think I'll get time to edit the footage for a few days, though.

 

It wouldn't of made any difference to me as I don't know the area & what trains are passing through it. Done me favour actually, indicated that 35028 was running late which it was!
Just checked, you did write DiLton Marsh. That's what comes of trying to read text messages in bright sunlight.

 

Some passable and rubbish shots below...

70000 at Corston on the outward leg


35028 at Avoncliffe Station on the outward leg


70000 near Avoncliffe on the return leg


35028 near Claverton on the return leg

 

Not rubbish,Ian...as I've said in my previous comments,seeing the English countryside in all it's glory,like your pictures,gives us Londoners a boast...any moment here urban warfare is about to break out,and to know around the corner life still exists and a landscape that once made Britain great can still be seen from the carriage window.

Well done.

 

Familiarity? This evening I witnessed 70000 Britannia on the very first Bath Spa Express with a full rake of blood and custard coaches. Soon after Clan Line passed me hauling the magnificent Bristol to London Orient Express. Two superb trains and both running in beautiful sunshine.
Recently I have rarely posted the times of trains passing a particular point because I was criticised for doing so. See 'Torbay Express 2011 Season' messages 197 and 198. I believe the moderators are gradually guiding us towards the Railtour Live system. I prefer to read the updates on a computer at home. Then I check the latest weather webcams for a particular area and then decide where to see the train. Easy. <BJ>

 

A couple of pics of Britannia

 

Doesn't seem to be any pictures.

 

I think it is a good idea to post updates on the forum, people can get a rough idea what is happening before they venture out. If they see the train is running roughly to time they can go to their desired location & use railtours live for more immediate information. No good going out & then find the train is running very very late. Sidmouth's reply in #198 on said thread looks like a bit of sales talk. Not knocking RTL, it's a very good system, when people send updates, but let people decide how they want to play it. For example 35028 was 40 late getting to Theale last night but had no warning of this except for one message saying it was 15 late at one location which turned out it was meant for 70000 , an unfortunate mistake I know.

 

Thanks to all who gave us two trains in such glorious conditions yesterday.

35028: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RchN0oSgmzw
(Bradford on Avon and working hard at Trowbridge on the return)

70000: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuNMcniSRkg
(Bradford on Avon and Upton Scudamore)

 

I'll second that. The immaculate coaching stock hauled by Britannia looked very smart.
Soon after Clan Line appeared with the Orient Express. Wonderful.
Not quite so sure about the Rainbow Set behind Tornado yesterday. Oh well, 'Two Out of Three Ain't Bad''. <BJ>