THE DORSET COAST EXPRESS WED.11TH & 18TH AUGUST

Departed basingstoke 19.30

 

looked and sounded sweet running through Winchester earlier, will post my pics up tomorrow of it coming through at a brisk pace

 

Followed 30777 from a first shot near Popham tunnels, (MP 56.75), then leaving Soton, passing Moreton to a stop before the single line section, (trains running a bit late due to a reported earlier bridge strike near Dorchester), then finally soon after leaving the signal stop near Moreton.

We then turned the failure of 44932 to advantage. Getting to Norden somewhat earlier than planned so we could get a return trip to Swanage with both 34028 and then 30053. Giving us time to then photo the two chimney first locos cross at Harmans Cross in late evening sunshine.

Really loved the Swanage Railway. And very impressed with the newly recruited ticket inspector, Alice, who added a lovely, (and very attractive), touch to the trains.

Photos to follow.

 

.... of Alice ?

 

No! She was happy to have her name mentioned here, but the only photos I took yesterday were of 30777, 30053, 34028 and 80104!

Found the Swanage Railway a really great place to visit. Packed a lot in from 14.15 to 18.15. Two return trips from Norden, lovely cuppa and cake at Norden, got my ticket examined by Alice three times, walked up Swanage platform at a max of 5.9 mph, (LOL!), some nice photos of what was going on, and a pleasant lineside session at Harmans Cross. Ending as we started out journey home, running parallel with 34028 as she left Corfe Castle for Norden in low evening sunshine.

Looked like it was a very busy day for the railway. Lots of peple travelling, and that Norden Park and Ride looks to be very popular. Superb scenery and I did notice some mini hill walking going on nearby....................

And, getting back to topic, doing the above meant I avoided having to see a sharp pointy thing on SR metals!

 

Yes, Swanage Railway is always a good place to visit and I've always found them to be a particularly friendly bunch there. Don't forget their gala weekend in September although I understand that there is a GWR visitor (Bradley Manor) coming so beware if you have an aversion to copper chimney tops!

 

Copper is sort of welcome in that area. I did see, (and photo), such machines working to and from Weymouth in the 1960s.

But not sharp pointy things. Which is why I was so pleased Don, Tim and myself stayed on the Swanage Railway until after the danger had passed last night.

 

30777 leaving Soton yesterday.

Could have done better, but only just got there from near Micheldever, and was somewhat distracted as was in the middle of several phone calls, (only when not driving), to my eldest daughter because a neighbour had rung me earlier to say my house alarm had gone off, (a rare false alarm for my usually reliable SECOM system as it turned out).

 

nice photo Brian seems a good spot that one

 

Taken in the morning up in deepcut, 30777 looked in fine form, and sounded a lovely as she travelled off into the distance



and again in black n white


will post up my photo of the A4 a bit later when i get to it

cheers
Matt

 

And now for the A4 on the return run through Winchester

 

Super shots from yesterday chaps. I went with video at Brookwood as the light was going very fast there. 60019 made a great departure.

 

My turn: 30777 aproaching Bincome tunnel:

A4 on Upway:


I also got the Red Arrows and the return of the Arthor

 

Digressing - late and off topic... Yeah, Swanage is a great railway. The one thing that particularly endeared them to me when I stayed near there for a month in 2002, and still does, is their vision. They're not just a dedicated preserved railway - they really see it as part of the local transport infrastructure. They see a future for eg commuting into Bournemouth/Poole from Swanage etc - and clearly the council share that view, and recognise the dire traffic pressures in part of the area too, judging by the fact that (if I recall correctly) the funding to upgrade the main line connection to Wareham was recently approved. (Shame they built a car park over one of the platforms there...)