Welcome to update number 2 of 2004, Hertfordshire had a Pride of the Nation tour booked this weekend so this was an opportunity to get out photting again. The tour was booked from London Paddington – Oxford, the outward leg was straight forward but the return was a large circular return via Westbury and the Berks and Hants. The day before I had also noted a driver training run was booked from Washwood Heath – Swindon out via the Stroud Valley and return via Oxford. This gave me two trains to aim for today and the weather forecast was for sun so all I had to do was pick a location.
Somewhere on the GWML would be ideal as I could phot both workings easily. I settled for the delights of Butterfly Lane Crossing. Where the heck is that I here you ask? Well it’s just outside the old Wantage Road station near Grove. After making my way though a muddy bog I got to the crossing. The line here is on an Embankment and is pretty much dead straight for a couple of miles. I decided to take a few test shots before my prey turned up, I think I’m going to make this a priority from now on as I had left the camera on self timer mode which screwed up the first shot. Second time up I managed to grab a shot of an HST which looks pretty good to me!
The Washwood Heath – Swindon driver training run was booked to leave Swindon at 13.26 but shortly after 13.00 a 67 came into sight on the test train running well early. The consist was 4 mail vans and as you can see 67024 was adorned with a ‘Saltley’ Headboard (What no Seagulls?). The driver gave a few blasts on the horn and a wave as he passed.
I now had about a 2 hour wait until the Pride of the Nation set turned up and although the sun was out the wind made it very cold. 66501 turned up on the Grain – Wentloog liner but as so often happens the sun disappeared at the vital moment. With the cold and cloud I was about to give up and come home but in the end I hung it out just incase and I’m sure glad aI did. The cloud cleared to reveal the sun one final time and as it did the road was set for the loop, this must be the tour approaching and surely it was. 67019 turned up bang on time on the Pride of the nation with nice silver buffers to finish it off. I think this one will be getting printed at a later date! As you are probably aware the forecast next week is for subzero temperatures and snow which I am really hoping comes to fruition. I want to get out and do some snow shots if possible so stay tuned.
