Wednesday 28th March 2012

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Thames Rail

This is now my fifth update in five days thanks to the gorgeous weather which has got to be a record for me. For today’s activity I started out at my old haunt Moreton Cutting, this used to be one of my favourite locations thanks to the quietness of the location plus the bridge used to have lovely low sides which was great for photography. Then last year the replaced the bridge with a tall metal structure which ruined it.

The new bridge sides are so tall that you now need a stepladder to see over, even for me at my height that is impressive! It was a pleasant wait in the warm sunshine while I waited for my first shot of the day. I had barely seen a Class 70 for months but this week I have bagged loads, first up was 70008 hauling the 4O49 Crewe Basford Hall – Southampton Freightliner.

As 4O49 was running a few minutes early this gave me the chance to move on to my next location which was Hinksey Yard, Oxford. Although it does offer a nice shot throughout the afternoon I don’t visit here very often for some reason, probably because the weekends don’t offer much afternoon traffic on this section of line. I didn’t have long to wait until 66167 hustled through with the 4O23 Hams Hall – Southampton Intermodal.

Now this is where I bag my ‘Brucie Bonus’ for the day! I had decided I wanted to move away from the usual afternoon shots in the Cholsey area and wanted something different so I headed up to Kings Sutton where I planned to bag the afternoon Land Rover cars. I checked out the platform shot from the station but decided I preferred the foot crossing view so set off across the fields. I had been there no more than five minutes when the unmistakable nose of a Class 37 appeared. I was not expecting this as there had been no mention at all on the gen lists which is very unusual especially as it was some quality traction. Shortly afterwards I discovered that 37261 top and tailing 97301 were working the 1Q13 Tyseley – Old Oak Common test train running a whopping 100 minutes early!

After that excitement I could now calm down and await my intended working the Land Rover train. It was running bang on time today as 66009 eased the 6O42 Halewood – Southampton through the reverse curves at Kings Sutton. Although not quite as open as the wagons on the Ford Dagenham trains you can still see through the wagons to view the cars onboard and is nice to see something a bit different.

Tuesday 27th March 2012

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Thames Rail

Only a short update today as I decided to take advantage of the glorious weather and played a round of golf at Hinksey Heights Golf Course which gives some fantastic views overlooking the spires of Oxford. The round of Golf over I decided to head out and bag some late afternoon freight workings.

The first working I wanted to photograph was the car train out of Dagenham as it provides an interesting contrast to the normal staple of containers boxes flying up and down the Thames Valley line. I nearly bagged it yesterday with DBS liveried 66101 in charge but it passed as I was walking across the fields which I was a bit annoyed about but made up for it today as 66027 powered the 6X44 Dagenham – Didcot Ford cars through the fields at Cholsey.

Now that the clocks have changed this opens up the opportunity for more freight in the evening and I thought I might be able to bag a shot at Culham. It was just about on which was good news as I knew 70019 was heading my way on 4M99 Southampton – Trafford Park and bang on time it stormed around the curve in the final dregs of light.

Monday 26th March 2012

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Thames Rail

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!