Category Archives: Bourton

Monday 26th March 2012

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I had one more weeks leave to use up before the end of financial year at work so I booked it for the last week in March. Well I think I hit the jackpot with the weather as it had been nice all weekend and the forecast for the week ahead showed wall to wall sunshine for most of the week. My plan for Monday was to try and photograph some different workings to normal and try some new locations.

I decided to start of my day on the Berks & Hants photographing some of the Class 59 hauled stone workings so set off for the curve at Crofton pumping house. I had arrived early which was lucky as my first target was running early, 59102 rounded the curve very slowly with the 7A09 Merehead – Acton Yard and was held at the next signal await the local unit depart from Bedwyn.

I made the short trip to Bedwyn station for my next working and saw that 59102 was stopped alongside the canal so stopped to bag another shot before continuing up to the station. Next up was the 7C31 Theale – Merehead empties today in the hands of pioneer 59001 as commemorated by the bell just above the cab window.

I knew that 70018 was on the Wentloog liner today as it had been reported working down earlier in the morning so I made the tip over to Bourton on the GWML to bag the shot. 70018 seems quite popular at the moment probably die to only being in the country a few weeks and still looking pretty clean. 70018 was running pretty much bang on time as it passed me with the 4O51 Wentloog – Southampton.

Now this is where things get interesting as I had seen a report that a pair of 56s were workings a scrap train to Cardiff. This was too good an opportunity to pass up so I set off to the Ashchurch area to scout out some locations as I was not familiar with the area. Eventually I settled on the level crossing at Tredington as it was a nice open location. The 56s were running about 1 hour late when finally 56312/302 passed with the 6Z69 Burton – Cardiff Tidal scrap!

Monday 19th March 2012

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I had a few days leave to use up from work so decided to make it a long weekend and I hit the jackpot with the weather today with plenty of sunshine all day. I decided to head out West to Shrivenham area as there are a couple of morning workings in the timetable and I fancied the shot at Ruffinswick.

The first working I was targeting was the 6M50 Westbury – Bescot engineers but after its booked time came and went I realised it was cancelled and I nearly gave up on the second working as well but it was eventually reported departing 40 minutes late so I relocated to the bridge at Bourton which hasn’t appeared on this site before. Having lost even more time 66532 eventually stormed into view with the 4L30 Bristol – Felixstowe Freightliner.

Next up I had been scanning the gen lists and noted that a fairly new 70 was allocated on a lunchtime liner so decided to head to Kings Sutton for the shot. Despite the brilliant start to the day the cloud had started to bubble up but the luck was with me today as 70018 appeared under the bridge with the 4049 Birch Coppice – Southampton making a fine site and still looking smart.

Well not much could beat 70018 for shininess apart from well an even newer, shinier 70! I had now moved on again this time to old faithful Cholsey for the afternoon liner. A scan of the gen lists proved elusive on the motive power but eventually a very shiny 70019 going hell for leather and making a racket stormed down the relief with the 4M68 Southampton – Birch Coppice with a an HST doing its best to ruin the shot which I think adds a bit of interest to the shot.

Friday 28th October 2011

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I seem to be getting extremely lucky with my time off work at the moment as bar a bit of fog this morning another belter, the question was where an what to photograph and I have managed to bring you two new locations plus a new working as well. I was hoping to bag another shot of 66721 on the Appleford spoil empties but thick fog put paid to that, instead I headed west to Bourton

Now this location I have been to a number of times but not had much luck plus the fact that there is only really one working that fits in well with this shot and that is the 4O51 Wentloog – Southampton Freightliner. Motive power for today’s working was 66539 and running banging on time makes a fine sight in the cutting.

Next up I headed back to the Thames Valley to try another shot I have been wondering about for awhile so decided to investigate and that was the view off the high bridge East of Cholsey station. I arrived to find a pretty good view although the bridge has wire mesh on top blocking the view but a couple of convenient holes suitably placed provided the solution. It is a bit shadowy at this time of year and would be ideal in the summer months but 66566 looked good hauling the 4O27 Garston – Southampton Freightliner.

The penultimate shot of the day was a working I have never photographed and that is the Water cannon that runs for a few weeks in the Autumn to clear the lines of leaves and mulch and improve rail head adhesion, providing traction this year are a pair of DB Class 67s. Running as the 3J41 Didcot – West Ealing via the houses 67017 top and tails with 67008 as they pass Cholsey.

The final shot of the day is a bit of a bonus as I didn’t realise it was scheduled for this week and that is the New Measurement Train. Some signalling problems actually helped me out as it was delayed by an hour by the time 43062/014 passed me on the 1Z21 London Paddington – Derby in much better light.