The updates are getting a bit sparse now, and with reformatting my PC again it takes time to get all the software reinstalled. Earlier in the week I had seen a message stating that on hire from GBRF 66717 was working the Avon binliner. It was sunny so I thought I would give it a go. I headed out to Kennington for it. As you may recall I have had difficulties in seeing this working in recent weeks and today was no exception. It managed to avoid me again for whatever reason, this is starting to get annoying now! While I was waiting the Flying Banana rocketed South on its regular scouring of the Network.
What I had forgotten about until I heard the familiar rumble was that 37042 was working 6Z60 Bescot – Reading West Yard. Not a particularly exciting consist, just one track machine but its all I managed to photograph. I’m on holiday next week but the forecast isn’t too good so whether I get out or not we will see.
Not much has been happening and the weather has been poor also so that is the reason for the lack of updates. Although I did go out for 57602 on its test run there would have been no photos anyway, the train failed at Reading and I had forgotten to check the memory card before I left home and this is the second time I have left it at home!! Saturday was different and there was plenty of sunshine about so I headed off to Didcot. Up on the platform I looked towards the yard and saw a 37 well down there and was about to carry on when I noticed it had a red solebar *Bufferbeam*. My thoughts were what is this 37 then so I went down to investigate. On closer inspection it was 37685 carrying a fresh Intercity livery.
I popped a couple off with the telephoto but soon a driver got in and pulled it up alongside the platforms, he jumped out and asked the assembled photographers where we wanted it so we could eliminate as many poles as possible! What a decent driver!! Looks good doesn’t it!
While this was happening I saw a 57 creeping around the back so a quick lens change and I grabbed a shot of 57006. I am really starting to like these HOT shots! (Head On Telephoto) as you may be starting to notice. I am really pleased with the 200mm and I think it was an excellent additon to my gear. The 57602 test run is provisionally scheduled to run on Tuesday 18th again so I will try for that otherwise lets hope for a sunny morning sometime next week..
I made another attempt at photographing 66549 on the Avon bins today and again I failed. I thought maybe it had be retimed but I saw a report that 519 had been swapped for 549 in the week so maybe it was just running early/late.
It was not a wasted trip though as I got 542 on the same working as I photographed 535 on Monday, whatever it is. I also made sure I did the other shot I mentioned on Monday so here 66542 powers through Kennington. I like the heat haze and it makes it look like the Fred is putting some effort into moving the train!
