Thetownend.com

It's the Great Western Main Line (GWML) electrification. One line has to be closed while they work on the overhead line supports each side of the track.


https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/About-Us/greater-west/Investment-project-schedules (https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/About-Us/greater-west/Investment-project-schedules)

So there is another two to three years of this.

I for one will be sad to see the HSTs go, I remember them being introduced in 1976 - they were so fuckin' FAST! They are also one of the last sets to have old skool manual opening windows. I always stick my head out on the way back to Swindon as I get to the A420 bridge, a great feeling of being home.

Here's one at Swindon station in old livery in the early 80's

(http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/275785/Article/images/19897068/5360632-large.jpg)

Now the 125's are going I suppose there's a pang of sadness,  but in all honesty, I never really took to them in an aesthetic way....by 76, you could still probably find the odd Western Class, Swindon built diesel kicking around, but they had largely been superceded by the Class 47, and for a while the class 50. Westerns were proper ace, Class 47s no more than Ok but the Class 50's a very nice loco.

4 Swindon built Westerns are still extant....Western Campaigner, on the West Somerset, Western Ranger and Western Champion on the SVR, and Western Fusiler, a long way from home in York NRM. Western Champion is still licensed for mainline running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0p7EVypwbkk

Hard to get too excited by electrics....

It bloody does, a mail trains goes through Lancaster every evening around the time I get off my train - big red bugger!

My Grandad used to be a train driver and I was lucky enough to sit in the cab of a HST from Swindon to Paddington when I was a lad, and have a (pretend) drive for some of the journey.  Back before the days of the PC brigrade and hightened levels of H&S.

Will always remember it, not many (non train driver) people get to see that journey from that perspective.

Got this booked up for December Reg: http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/index.php/tour-calendar-reader/events/the-canterbury-champion.html (http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/index.php/tour-calendar-reader/events/the-canterbury-champion.html) Getting on at Didcot.

(http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/system/html/Canterbury%20Champion-9d0ec920.jpg)

I loved the Westerns, used to watch them at Reading when I was in short trousers  :gay:

Nice....definitely a mystery tour into deepest Kent, not sure about the festively decorated carriages mind.

Just watched that. A Western under semaphores, lush!

Not many mechanical signal boxes left now. The drive is on for the mega regional signalling centres which will take out the remainder over the next ten years or so. There's still a few around, most of the GWR boxes west of Plymouth and before Marazion still have semaphores. Then there's Yeovil Pen Mill with the last GWR lower quadrant signal in Wessex, Moreton-in-Marsh on the O*ford to Worcester line, Worcester Shrub Hill and surrounding boxes plus some on the line to Birmingham. Bits and pieces in Wales and northern England etc. Elsewhere there are the Littlehampton and Bognor branches, Greenford East with the last surviving semaphores in London.

Most notably Shrewsbury is destined to survive until the 2020's, a real mecca of mechanical remnants. Severn Junction box is the largest surviving box in the UK

(http://www.roscalen.com/signals/Shrewsbury/060918/SBJBoxFromUpPlatform.jpg)

With some awesome old signals

(http://www.roscalen.com/signals/Shrewsbury/060918/SBJUpPlatformHomes.jpg)

(http://www.roscalen.com/signals/Shrewsbury/070526/SBJDownHomesCOToP4.jpg)

This site gives the timing for their removal: http://www.signalbox.org/sectionc.php (http://www.signalbox.org/sectionc.php), although the page doesn't seem to be working at the moment  :(

Even our local 1968 Swindon Panel Box is overdue for closure, control was supposed to move to the Didcot RSC (Regional Signalling Centre) when the Gloucester line was doubled but the Dawlish sea wall problems postponed it. There is even a preservation movement to buy the signal panel for a museum and to run it as a simulator!

Mods, can we have a trainspotters thread? Thanks  :)

 :smugfu:

PS forgot to add that Banbury still has GWR semaphores, well at least until next year...

More on Swindon Panel here http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/ (http://www.swindonpanel.org.uk/)

I will shut up now  :D

The GWS at Didcot are putting together a whole new exhibt (in a new building) showing the history and development of signaling from the early red flag days to the current - this will include Swindon Panel.

Right thats me out also!

The GWS has the rebuilt Radstock signal box, which my grandfather worked....slightly weird feeling being in there, as it's the same box, but not the same place...so it doesn't quite chime with my historical imagination.

I think it's time for the "bat of rebuke" from those Fosters ads to be shown. zzzzzzzzzz

How about the Gillingham Express

(http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag351/rickrose1204/IndiaCrowdedTrain_zps5fb10394.jpg) (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/rickrose1204/media/IndiaCrowdedTrain_zps5fb10394.jpg.html)

Bring back the football  special.
Looks like the one that went to Wrexham in 77.

Christ, that was a train trip to remember!

Now I know why our crowds are so low, you are all out spotting trains.

If Lee Power could get an old Loco on the Bank, would that entice all you Saddo's back :)

Only if it was the preserved and working Swindon built Warship D832...

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Class_42_D832.jpg/800px-Class_42_D832.jpg)

 ;D

Absolutely not. There isn't a beer can in sight.

No no no no no, no no no, no.

Signals are not awesome regardless of whether or not they are old or new. Futuristic signals... perhaps. But new or old signals... NO. They are not awesome. They are about as awesome as traffic lights and pelican crossings which score about exactly zero on the 'awesome' scale'.

But train people might disagree, so here's your own thread. You guys be like this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lutNECOZFw

Does anyone remember the special to Burnley where a passing trains door flew open and smashed the carriages windows showering some of our fans in glass. Some people had bad injuries from that, so my mates on the train told me.
Must of been about 1984-85 time

Was on that train. Think it happened at Crewe station - I thought a bomb had gone off the noise it made

I was on that one . Burnley were a top team back then.
Stuffed us on the pitch.First game that i went to where they sold beer in the ground.
Happy days.

No, FH, sorry. Old stuff is awesome  :toocool:

How about the old road signs that I remember from my yuff before the hideous new "continental" signs came in? They said what they meant and were quintessentially BRITISH

(http://www.sankeyscenics.co.uk/communities/3/004/008/947/313/images/4544794555.jpg)

Love the official "Public Lavatories" ones  :pint:

The new road signs are British...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Calvert

Worst. Thread. Ever.

As sad as it is, I do miss the old engines with the ridiculous sound before they departed the station

Thought you'd be chuffed..

Don't derail the thread please.

Found this video of talk talk on YouTube

http://youtu.be/6lutNECOZFw

Am I the only one on here , to hold 08 class shunters in high regard?  Used to be common as muck and often covered in muck, still a few kicking around on the mainline, and plenty at preservations.

(http://s3.freefoto.com/images/24/50/24_50_18_web.jpg)

Nope, you have an ally in me Reg. Plus the rarer 09's which were either lower geared or higher powered, can't remember.

There's an 08 still working in Didcot Network Rail/DB Schenker yard although it is in EWS livery.

I don't dislike EWS livery...

Class 03 shunters....swoon

Hmmm, but for some reason BR blue seems to suit most UK diesels?

I have always liked Choppers, class 20's as they look like overgrown 08's. Usually working in pairs as the visibility down the body is shite. Still lots around in the private operators, doing railtours and occasionally hired to NR. They definitely look best in blue

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Sheepbridge_Bank.jpg/800px-Sheepbridge_Bank.jpg)

There's still loads of 08's in daily use, FGW have got at least three of their own, there's one down hinksy yard near Oxford and the one mentioned at Didcot.

Can we have a discussion on coaches next please
. My grandad built them at the works

Uh, there is a thread with over 100 pages on fucking cycling don't forget.

It was just before Crewe station yes and it was fucking loud, me and my mate were sat there when the train left but moved down to the next carriage to sit wth some more mates otherwise we would have been hurt. Crap game on the pitch too....I also remeber Burnley fans bricking the train on the bridges between Burnley and Blackburn so had the old bill on the train making sure we didn'y put our heads out of the windows until we were past Blackburn where the BTP got off.

I was an apprentice at BREL from 82 to 83 (before I decided to go work in computing as I didn't enjoy manual work) here is a pic of my group from the Apprentice Training School 82/83, me with hair!
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jjedmunds/406356_10150993436298095_104798868_n_zps6ac0268f.jpg)

Alan might recognise which one I am :D

We learnt on the Warships D832 and 818 along with the Hymek 7029 while they were stored on the turntable.

e5?

I thought that was you. Her name actually was Audrey.

You're in the back row?  :sherlock:

Wheres the wally :D no not back row.

C5 then

Nope thats Craig Campbell :) Talk Talk is the only person on the TEF has seen me with hair, I also wasn't that big back then but still as handsome :D

Yup, a10 John. You WERE the original Michael Jackson...

And I have contributed to both, what does that make me!

You know me too well Alan :) spot on.

On one of these?

(http://www.bikehacks.com/.a/6a0120a7ed5f9d970b016765d77eeb970b-pi)

unsavable! :)

I recall in 62, when this bad boy was being trialed on Western metals...

(http://www.derbysulzers.com/brcwlionyard.jpg)

Known as Lion and numbered D0260, it was a prototype, which eventually wasn't persued BR preferring the class 47.

Well exciting mind....seeing this white thing flash past, the only one of its kind.

Did you have to put your flask down quick to snap that Reg?

Scrapped 3 years before I was born, shame they didn't believe in preservation of prototype diesels back then such as the Falcon and DP1 and Kestrel etc.

Loads more info on Lion here: http://www.class47.co.uk/c47_feature_425.php (http://www.class47.co.uk/c47_feature_425.php)

It's interesting in that BR was in such a rush to replace steam that they had already placed the order for Class 47's before Lion had even been properly trialled. Doomed from the beginning, but what a stunning loco. There was even a proposal to build a replica Lion from a dead Class 47 a few years ago  8)

DP1 is preserved at the National Railway Museum at Shildon, John? Love those whiskers!  :toocool:

(http://i1372.photobucket.com/albums/ag351/rickrose1204/thomas-the-tank-engine_zps5885146f.jpg) (http://s1372.photobucket.com/user/rickrose1204/media/thomas-the-tank-engine_zps5885146f.jpg.html)

Thomas has origins in the E2 Class designed by Lawson Billinton in 1913

(http://www.semgonline.com/steam/pics/mm_32109.jpg)

You deserved that Audrey  :smugfu:

:D

Was always a fan of Steam Engines myself, classics like The Flying Scotsman and The Golden Arrow, but my personal favourite was The Mallard.

(http://lowres-picturecabinet.com.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/43/main/9/88678.jpg)

Presently at the Ribble Steam Railway in Preston unless Thor has got at it!

And that from a Swindon man.... traitor!

He's a mackem  :)

Sorry, I know they weren't Swindon, but the A4's were and are gorgeous, beautiful, fantastic pieces of machinery that exude a real and palpable sense of excitement, even for people like me who weren't even a glint in the milkman's eye when they were plying the rails. Gresley was a genius.

I was waiting at a crossing on my way to Lindisfarne once when I heard a steam engine in the distance, so got out of the car to watch. Leaning over the rail to look down the line I was ridiculously excited to see an A4 huffing its way at considerable pace towards Newcastle. What a brilliant ride that must be along the East Coast Main Line.

I was on the 83/84 photo. The last BREL apprentices to go into the works before imminent closeure.

Explains a lot 4D!  :D

(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g171/jjedmunds/311613_10150993436658095_1584786982_n_zps983e0efb.jpg)

Surely....you deserved that Reverend Audrey.

JJ, where did you get the group photos? My old man must be in one, he was an apprentice back in the 80s but I can't be sure exactly when.

They are on the Facebook group Sam, heres the link.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/swindonapprentice/

The slow and painful decline of our once great nation is exemplified by the loss of compartments on trains...to the present day point, where you're shoe horned into a sardine tin full of gormless idiots, yabbering away inconsequentially on phones, or farting about on laptops/tablets...or both.

Were there still compartments, then people would be more civilised and take in the views like the neglected artist Eric Ravilious, who sadly perished in WW2....

(http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l1mx83FuNa1qbn130.jpg)

 :clap:

I actually think if we brought back those old booth-style carriages then it'd be a much nicer place for all. Farts like reg could avoid people who wanted to use computers or listen to music (on headphones I hasten to add).

I for one cannot be arsed to sit on the dull tedium of a commuter train for 3.5/4 hours without feeling like I'm doing something constructive like reading a book or doing some work. Hell, even playing Football Manager to drag myself away from the tedium and uselessness of the modern rail service.

Did a6 have his hair done by Brian Chartz ?

b10 is tim parkin

Back up now. Swindon A and B boxes still scheduled to close this year  :no:

Swindon B is already in Didcot.

:)  :gay:

This thread should really be in the Nev General....but waffling about Kemble, found this.

http://www.urban75.org/railway/kemble-railway-station-gwr.html

Nice pics, but the real gem is a bit of film right at the end....definitely worth a look... :)

can anyone recommend a good photobook on the Swindon works, or the steam locos that were built there...or even one about the steam museum?

A Christmas present for somebody whose English is not good, so a photobook with lots of nice glossy photos would be ideal  :)

Moved to NevilleW General.

Super bit of film, well found Reg!!  When I left school I Had to go to Gloucester to art college, catching a train at Minety!!  When that closed I had to travel to Kemble to go on to Glaawwster.  Did you know that at one time there used to be a news and sweet kiosk on the up platform at Kemble? Used to be run by a family called Bayliss as I remember!

Has anyone been on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway? Taking Steam Engines a few times as a kid from Pickering to Goathland (where Heartbeat is filmed). Well worth a trip for any steam engine fanatics: http://www.nymr.co.uk/

The NYMR is well worth a visit and not too expensive, a good way to spend a few hours.

Yep I've been on that....I'm very much a GWR (Swindon BR) man though, so don't get fully excited by norvern locos, albeit they're better than Southern railway cack.

Camped more or less in Goathland....didn't know about Heartbeat at the time, a lovely little place...probably ruined by too many tourists now.

Minety and Ashton Keynes.....shame it's gone like Bayliss's.

There used to be a station at Purton as well, given the way that Swindon has expanded to more or less swallow Purton, you'd think there'd be a good case for re-opening a Purton station.

I too prefer GWR but it is still a nice line.

One very interesting place not far from Goathland is the Fylingdales listening station, which is a massive struture just off the main A171, never seen anything like it anywhere, almost alien like in its structure.

(http://tridentploughshares.org/wp-content/gallery/2011-fylingdales-july/fylingdales-listening-station.jpg)

I'll see your Fylingdales and raise you a Menwith Hill

(http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/webimage/1.6464693.1393441382!/image/2059714425.jpg_gen/derivatives/articleImgDeriv_628px/2059714425.jpg)

I saw a steam train in Lincoln on Saturday. A bit of it anyway. 

Cool story eh.

Some years ago I was doing some contract work for Purton parish council and was talking to the parish clerk and we were discussing that - he told me that they had been approached previously to see if they would be interested in discussing re-opening but the councillors decided against it!!  Just up from Minety we had the delightful Oaksey Halt - nothing more than two platforms with a shelter - passengers from Oaksey had to get off the train at Minety or Kemble to purchase their tickets!  The area of the old station has been used to store materials when the line was re-doubled earlier this year.

Wootton Bassett could re-open also....and then Stratton Park Halt, for the proposed eastern expansion. It's a real shame that our lost lines, weren't incorporated into some sort of tram type system, to cater for Swindon's expansion.....the present road structure isn't going to be sustainable in the long term.

As a comment in the paper said, we have a road system designed for 80,000 yet withing a few years there will be 200,000 living in the area!

Yep....madness.

Here's a pic of a Swindon built Class 120 DMU (well a couple of them)....3 car units

The 120, was a proper old workhorse, and hasn't really got the appreciation it deserved.

There were also Swindon built Class 123, 124 and 126.

(http://www.disusedrailways.co.uk/images/Midlands/derby%209.85a.jpg)

They've been talking about re-opening Purton station for over 20 years. It'll never happen.

Over the summer I regularly cycled through Oaksey, there were often spotters out on the bridge as you go into the village. Quite a good long straight stretch of track there that and a fairly low bridge that gives a good photo opportunity I suppose.

Any idea of the station Reg?

Derby apparently

http://www.disusedrailways.co.uk/Midlands2.htm

 The Class 126's were built for use in Scotland.....apparently there's a few preserved, where they're known as Swindons  :)

 http://www.srpsmuseum.org.uk/dmulist.htm

Derby, seem to remember going to their old ground - The Baseball Ground - where they had their own platform for match days!!

I used to work on the 120's when I was at the Apprentice Training School for the year or so, 126's were ugly spuds as were 124's.

Think something must have happened to the 126's as the original 50's design were quite friendly in a Thomas the Tank engine sort of way. They went from this

(http://www.traintesting.com/images/Leith%20central%20DMU.jpg)
to this...

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7215/7323634816_29eb80e345.jpg)

Probably something to do with the harsh weather...

I understand that the 2 variants were so that the ones with the gangway door ends could be coupled together for inter-city expresses where only one guard was needed for the whole train rather than one per unit. Often used on Glasgow Central to Ayr semi fast services.

Ah...that makes sense.

Same sort of thing with the class 124 Trans-Pennine fleet....

originals like this...

(http://www.railcar.co.uk/jpg/124/title.png)

joining units like this...

(http://www.lostrailwayswestyorkshire.co.uk/images/donations/Paul%20Holroyd/Multiple%20Unit/class%20123%20Leeds.jpg)

Yep thats right, only the Swindon built DMU's were used for long haul inter-city trains so it was either designed for that or put on the inter-city trains because of the design, could be have been either.

Doing this tomorrow.

So happy  :-[

2hrs 20 mins late arrival in Canterbury ouch

However one of Swindon's finest creations doing what she was built for this morning.

5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe powers over Wichnor v…: http://youtu.be/Nw8vItMVwTI

Yeah, carriage related, had to dismantle the set at Leamington Spa. Nothing wrong with that gorgeous Swindon built loco, what an engine! I will upload a Yootoob of it pulling away from Didcot this evening when I have a minute. Power man...

An interesting day out though, went down the Greenford branch past the last semaphores in London (GWR lower quadrants of course) which I have wanted to do for ages, I think that there is only one booked train a day for driver training purposes.

The West London line was good too. It is so good to be on a train with opening windows that you can stick your head out of (cf. enjoy the 125's while you can) although it was bloody cold!

Phwoarrr. That is a lovely video.

http://youtu.be/USkaW7oWBpI (http://youtu.be/USkaW7oWBpI)

Can't beat a whizzo.

You still get a few freights going down there daily as well as the Chiltern service.

Greenford East scheduled to be removed (sob) in 2019, four/five years left to enjoy it


http://www.signalbox.org/sectionc.php?year=2019 (http://www.signalbox.org/sectionc.php?year=2019)

A website devoted to signalling....ace  :)

TT don't know if you're familiar with the writing of this fella.....http://www.adrianvaughan.co.uk/2011/10/07/the-signalmans-trilogy/

But I've got the first 2....morning and twilight, and they're wonderful.

I read these when I was a kid, lovely books are they still in print?

I believe so...

No wonder you lot finding watching Swindon so interesting

How about a dose of Nunney Castle pulling out of Yeovil Pen Mill under semaphores I filmed in July? There's two minutes of leading anticipation if you want to skip it

http://youtu.be/AKP0Jc0Ma-M

 :) Ace,

 The 2 minute wait is worth it, builds the excitement.

No, I am not Reg but have heard of them. Thank you for the pointer, will have a look for them.

Adrian the Rock has a great photo site on semaphores, a lot that have long gone (many West Country/South West/GWR) plus what's left like Shrewsbury, Worcester, Moreton-in-Marsh etc.: http://www.roscalen.com/signals/index.htm (http://www.roscalen.com/signals/index.htm)

And pray tell what other pastimes you pursue and enjoy, other than serial furious masturbation?

I know that HSTs are not everybody's cup of tea but there was something poetic about FGW's 43185 "Great Western" leaving Swindon Station in July. Particularly as they have been re-engined from their original Paxman Valentas to MTUs, the successor to Maybach whose engines were used in the Swindon built Warships and all of the Westerns.

http://youtu.be/xAmhg_1Wul4 (http://youtu.be/xAmhg_1Wul4)

They sent two HST power cars to Exeter today to rescue the failed sleeper service and get it to Penzance!!

Seems they couldn't fix the failed 57 today, apparently the Paddington bound sleeper tonight will be formed with two HST's.

Going to the York Railway Museum recently, there's a lovely installation there, on till March, all about train spotting, with quotes from many an old 'spotter. Curated by Ian Macmillan, the Bard of Barnsley, the highlight is a series of films by Andrew Cross, including a few filmed in the west - up on the hill at Uffington for example.

His technique is simple - the camera doesn't move, he just films a view. At some point a train or 2 crosses the screen. It's the anticipation which gets you. I could see some (many?) people thinking watching paint dry is more interesting, however to those of us of a certain age the wait for a train to appear was a big part of the 'thing' about railways.

And his shots of freight trains in the US are stunning, both in towns and in the desert.

I'd like to think it'll come to Steam sometime after York.

Does anyone remember Ivor the engine?

Chuuu-t-cuff, chuu-t-cuff.

Jones the steam, don't forget Jones the steam.

Wales has still got some great "little" railways....my fave is the Vale of Rheidol, Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge.  A true curio it hung on as BR's last steam line until as late as 89.

A mate in the late 70's used to live in a place called Aberffrwd, which was slap bang on the line. Needless to say he often got a visit from me as you could nip into Aber on one of the Swindon built locos, like Owain Glendower.  It was also at that time one of the last places in Britain to see red kites.

The main drawback, inevitably were the locals, the nearest pub was a good 30 minute walk, up through some woods out of the valley, but it got torched by Welsh extremists as the landlord was English.

http://www.rheidolrailway.co.uk/

I worked on the "Prince of Wales" from the Vale of Rheidol railway as an apprentice at BREL as we used to overhaul them, it was part of the apprentices for pipe fitting.

It was wierd working on a BR blue steam engine.

I haven't done that one but want to. I like the Talyllyn, been there a couple of times. Tywyn to Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol. I read Railway Adventure by L.T.C. (Tom) Rolt when I was a youngster which was all about saving the little line and how a group of volunteers managed it on a shoestring. It was the first preserved railway in the UK.

http://www.talyllyn.co.uk (http://www.talyllyn.co.uk)

A Zombie not working? Surely not. It brings a new meaning for the passengers on the sleeper I guess...

(http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Dawn-of-the-dead--zombies-294285_1280_1024.jpg)

For those interested in such things it would seem that the Penzance sleeper tonight will be formed of FOUR HST power cars - sadly it appears that two of the cars have failed and are being taken down on the sleeper train - no 57 still!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0120330/in-view-men-of-steam#group=p025jt33

http://swindonlink.com/residents-organisations-speak-out-for-thamesdown-drive-extension-politicians-agree-it-should-be-built-but-when/ (http://swindonlink.com/residents-organisations-speak-out-for-thamesdown-drive-extension-politicians-agree-it-should-be-built-but-when/)

George Osbourne looks even more of a clueless Cunt in that picture than he does normally ......

For those that like this stuff
The King George V will be returning to Swindon next year as part of the 175th anniversary of the birth of the railway works

http://www.flicwiltshire.com/News/General/Plans-in-place-to-celebrate-175th-anniversary-of-Swindons-railway-works.aspx#.VRQ68fmsXit

http://youtu.be/5GOmeFY6F-U

Memory jogged, thanks FH.

I was at Swindon station on Wednesday 2nd waiting for a train to Paddington. Sat in platform 1 was the Network Rail Test Train (not the HST one) with a Colas Rail Class 37 one end and one of the last surviving main line certified Class 31s (Network Rail) the other end. I didn't bother taking any photos as there was a flock of gricers with cameras for this pretty rare combination.

But something like this:

(http://tomcurtisrailgallery.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/0/3/6903499/3123397063q012333landoretmdderbyundy210315.jpg)

Fascinating

Rolt is perhaps more famous for his work on the preservation of the canal network....an interesting life.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._T._C._Rolt

Not averse to a bit of canalology myself (just to upset Ironside)

Yes, indeed.

Indeed, Narrow Boat was a book that kicked off interest in saving the canals and is also a great read. Have you watched that Great Canal Journeys series with Timothy West and Prunella Scales Reg? There was a section in one of the first series where they visited Rolt's widow, Sonia. I hadn't realised that it was mainly her that set up the Inland Waterways Association.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_Rolt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_Rolt)

As a 'canal expert' Michael Portillo's words, not mine - what do you want to know  ;)

Back on topic, just to annoy the hell out of Jayo  ;D

Had a trip from Reading to Swindon in the only rebranded FGW to GWR HST set last week. Love the retro metal logo on the power cars. The first class HST carriages were upgraded a while back (hence my bemusement with where the initials on the seat backs had come from) but this one has fully refurbed standard class in green, it looks really smart. Shame it will be the only one, it's not worth doing to the rest as they only have a couple of years to go   :cry:

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/647/21036539003_195e1d98a5.jpg)

Where a railway and canal meet each other is always quite exciting....as the man with the stick shows locally in 1953.

(http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8339/8209173046_6429c60361.jpg)

I watched one of Prunella's canal shows, but got a bit upset, because of her fall into dementia....I remember when she was a bit of a milf in Marriage Lines with Richard Briers.

My dad always used to go on about the canal through Swindon.... and trains!

Bewster thinks I know his mother  ;).  Hope you're not implying the same  :)

I am not sure whether my father could post on here - I hope that he doesn't. Also I assume you are  not my father as your posts are not all about Maurice Owen!

Phew.

Trains, barges and Maurice Owen, the old man has taste. 

Of course, the Wilts and Berks, joined the Thames at Abingdon where Maurice originally came from. Once upon a time he could have made the journey by barge to his beloved CG.

"Narrow boat, it's narrow boat!"

http://www.canalscape.net/Dont%20Call%20it%20a%20Barge/Dont%20Call%20it%20a%20Barge.htm (http://www.canalscape.net/Dont%20Call%20it%20a%20Barge/Dont%20Call%20it%20a%20Barge.htm)

I stand corrected, the W and B would have been too narrow for a barge as defined.

I told a friend I'd had a holiday on a 60ft narrow-boat.

He said: "That's not very narrow."

Trains are terrible. GWR are useless, Southeastern are shysters and Southern don't even have space for luggage on their fucking Gatwick service.

However, barges were used on the Wey Navigation (the oldest canalised river in the UK) from Shepperton up to Coxes Mill to transport grain until quite recently. The mill only closed in 1983, not sure when the barges stopped. Yeah, it's now apartments  ::)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coxes_lock (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coxes_lock)

The canal locks down to the Thames were made wide enough for the barges but upstream from there it's narrowboats only.

One of my favourite canals, had about seven weekend/week trips on it over the years. Beautiful countryside and lots of canalside pubs all of the way through Guildford to Godalming.

I'd also have to recommend the Basingstoke Canal which passes very near us and is, effectively, a tributary (do canals have tributaries?) of the Wey Navigation.  Lots of restoration work done recently.  Wonderful running route.

Think they are branches, much like railways.

Yes. I have poked a boat's nose a mile or so down it before. Unfortunately it will never get to Basingstoke again due to the Greywell Tunnel collapsing years ago so it stops a bit short.

It has a wonderful mazy route, it's a "follow the contours" canal rather than an engineered one.

Last time I looked it was still suffering from water supply problems? I'm certain it must be navigable over the last month or so though  ;D

I think the water supply problems are at the western end.  It's always navigable on 'our' section through Frimley & Ash Vale.

Width usually depended on what sort of cargo and more importantly the budgets of the promoter's although available water supply sometimes dictated as obviously narrow locks need so much less water supply. I only ever had one 'narrow' canal on my patch.... The locks were not much wider than a canoe.

Oh the APT - what memories

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35061511

Is that what memories, in a kind of swoon fashion?  Or what memories, in a matter of fact way?

The latter for me. Tory underinvestment :), as Thatcher spunked the nation's new found oil wealth, paying for mass unemployment, as manufacturing industry was decimated in preparation for privatisation and a low wage economy.

Oh Reg  :pint:

Saw it a few times and as a young lad at the time the future of trains was exciting!

(https://media.giphy.com/media/OMK7LRBedcnhm/giphy.gif)

My favourite Simpsons episode...

Gary: Oh, don't worry, Mr. Simpson, we can take care of ourselves.
Snake: Uh, wallet inspector!
Benjamin: Oh, here you go. I believe that's all in order.
Snake: Wow, I can't believe that worked! (runs away)
Homer: Hey wait a minute that's not the wallet inspector!

 :)

That is all I think when I see this thread :D in the nicest possible way of course.

I'm just a jock, Marge. It's my responsibility.

 BBC 4 show with Peter Snow......Trainspotting Live  :)

They are live in Swindon tomorrow, get yourself down there Reg?

They're doing 125's that's Talk Talk land.

The fella who photographs little used stations an absolute star....he's been to all stations in GB, but only publishes the obscurities.

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/transport/video-britain-s-most-dedicated-trainspotter-finishes-marathon-effort-to-visit-every-uk-station-in-cambridgeshire-village-1-7374393

Another part of Swindon's heritage being saved, and about time... c.17 mins in.....

Points West, Evening News: 22/08/2016: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b07nr6jt via @bbciplayer

Took a trip down to Devon yesterday. Got a Two Together Railcard so the cost to Exeter St Davids was peanuts. GWR and Devon County Council are running summer Sunday services to Okehampton (the former LSWR station on the old mainline to Plymouth) which is now the terminus of the heritage Dartmoor Railway. They have a short working to the mothballed Meldon Quarry and just my luck - if you like BR Class 4s - that the recently purchased by a private buyer from Direct Rail Services Class 47 47828 was doing the biz. Straight off of mainline services and Sandite workings apparently.

https://youtu.be/cS9fJ7gtgMY

I love Class 47s, my favourites after the Westerns and ahead of HSTs. A brief conversation with the driver and I got to sit in the cab too!

Next Sunday (11th) is the last weekend of trains to Okehampton this year. Book it now if you fancy it. I have pored over the railway atlas maps of Devon and Cornwall for years but never ever thought that I would travel to Okehampton on a train, much less a Sprinter.

As we bought a rover ticket we went back to the beautifully preserved and maintained Crediton station and then on to Barnstaple on the Tarka Line, once a major LSWR junction for Ilfracombe, Torrington and the long defunct Lynton and Barnstaple narrow gauge railway. We even found the old Town station in a housing estate on the quayside.

Just to keep Reg happy, it was HSTs from Swindon to Exeter and back and I loved that too  ;D

 Very nice.

To me getting on a train at Swindon and going west, feels right, getting on a train and going north, south or east is OK, but doesn't have the same feel of emotion or excitement. No idea why.

Devon got badly hit by Beeching, Cornwall perhaps less so, as there are still a couple of curious little branches left.

I have been on the Barnstaple - Exeter. Lovely.

Seen at Swindon station last night. "They are trains Jim, but not as we know them!"

Hitachi Inter City Express number 002 running on diesel

(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/swindon_alan/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0258.jpg)

(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/swindon_alan/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0259.jpg)

(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/swindon_alan/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0262.jpg)

The new and the old. Forty years between them

(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/swindon_alan/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0260.jpg)

I'm on a train now. True story.

 Is that the stock for when the line is electrified?

Yes and there's two flavours Reg. A purely overhead electric version and a dual power diesel/overhead electric one - which can run on beyond the GW Electrification project area. What pissed me off was that they uprated the engines from the original spec so that the ICEs could manage the Devon banks. GRRRRR. Was hoping that the 125s would hang around on the GW main lines into Cornwall for a lot longer :-(

Can't wait to open the door via the push of a button, instead of leaning out of an open window when there are normally any number of people waiting on the platform who are much better placed to do the the job.

Hope the seats are comfy as well.

Ooh, shame about the 125's, but the diesel/overhead sounds well sexy and probably prone to breakdown. In the words of the great Mick Jones, Godzilla ate the bullet train.

Ha, the Clash indeed!

The new ICEs are quite clever really, the same electric traction motors are used from either the overhead wires or from alternators on the diesel engines (unlike the 125s they are underfloor in the coaches so will be as noisy as the horrid Voyager Cross Country units). When the day comes - which will definitely not be in my lifetime - and the whole of the network has been electrified then the engines are removable too. I think the plan is to leave one in for emergency power for the scenario you describe.


The interior looked really nice, standard class seating is mainly in sets of four sharing a table and a whole window with a few airline type seat rows interspersed.

They are a modern train and thus the seating will be nowhere near as comfy as that found on older stock!

Northern are so short of stock that we have this little ensemble running past the bottom of the garden a few times each day until 2017 at least, its very nice to not have an engine under the floor and is so much quieter, however they are often very busy as I understand people have been travelling from all over the country to sample the old days.

(http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn340/kevsmith/British%20Railways%202015/IMG_1687_zpsv1qymwi1.jpg)

 Class 37 if I'm not mistaken. Lovely engine, all built between 60 and 65. In my 1985 Ian Allan there were 308, of which I'd spotted 56.

There are still an amazing amount around Reg. One of the most versatile diesels BR ever owned. I saw a pair double ending the Network Rail Ultrasonic Test Train at Didcot last week.

Still operated by NR, DRS and Colas. Much more info at www.class37info.co.uk/ (http://www.class37info.co.uk/)

If you made the effort and plied the network I think that you could still probably spot 56  8)

Didn't spot as many as I should have (37s, that is - steam man, me), but did ride on the ones up in Caithness. Georgemas Jnc, a 37 trundles down from Thurso, picks up one coach from the Wick train, travels 5 miles and err, does the reverse half an hour later. 3 times a day. Bonkers from any viewpoint, esp financial.

But the 'grunt'... yep, can see the attraction.

There are loads round here as they pull attached the nuclear stuff to and from Sellafield plus WCRC at Carnforth have a load.

Doing this one. It's my 26th birthday present  :D

http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/index.php/tour-calendar-reader/events/the-mersey-weaver-ii.html (http://www.pathfindertours.co.uk/index.php/tour-calendar-reader/events/the-mersey-weaver-ii.html)

That looks like fun!?

Yeah, and don't forget to wear your new anorak.

Balls, has he gone already? I missed the chance to call him a cunt  :crash:

Chill....

(http://www.urban75.org/photos/stives/images/stives312.jpg)

Ha! Nice one Reg  :thumb:

That's St Erth station and here's a video I took a couple of summers ago from exactly the same place on the platform!

https://youtu.be/IPTbGo2W7L0

If any one has little 'un who want to see Flying Scotsman, through Swindon on 28th October

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U54120/2017/10/28/advanced

Good heads up, will try and remember to have a look.

Hopefully it won't be late, like the new class 80 out of Temple Meads. which got to Paddington 41 mins late, with liquid dripping from the air con and seats roped off.  Apparently Grayling was on board... he might be best advised to stick to being MoT, rather than airing his hoped for solution to post Bexit food shortages, of a Dig for Victory style return to British farmers increasing their yields and folk squabbling over allotments.

Have to say, having seen / been pulled by the Scotsman recently, it was somewhat underwhelming. Shitty squeaky little whistle and pretty quiet. Nothing like a good old Western Manor or Hall working hard.

Reg, the realtimetrains website is great, so if a train is delayed you'll be able to see it's so, and stay in the pub for another 15 minutes or whatever. No more waiting around sitting on a trolley for ages, playing Owzthat with yer mates.

Hope this doesnt happen if you do go!

https://youtu.be/E6ye4pgbTwM

Sure that won't happen, Reg can spell Flying..... ;)

Not sure I'd want to own up to having been pulled by a Scotsman, no matter how under/overwhelming the quality of the experience

Well obviously it's not going to be in the class of a Manor or Hall, let alone a Castle or King, but it is a steamer.

The humble BR porter's trolley... the Works churned out thousands.

You can stil buy Owzat, but it's a horrible plastic thing.  A young mate was recently bequeathed a proper set by his grandfather, a good way of passing a winter's night at the bar.

Unfortunately he buggered off to Germany, after the Brexit vote, seeing the writing on the wall.

I still have my 'original' set (in its blue tin container).  A favourite variant of the game used to be 'Test Players v Famous People from History'!  :)

Firstly I need to get back to Wilf's original correct spelling Owzthat.. a set in decent condition in its blue box with rules goes for £40 on e-bay. Not that you'd wish to sell such a lovely thing.

Just an update its now Royal Scot tomorrow so at least a Swindon connection there.....

One for you Castle fans - well Reg at least....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-birmingham-41801693/clun-castle-steams-again-after-ten-year-restoration 

A sexy beast to be sure, if you notice when it goes to Oxford next year, then it might be worth making the effort to get over and see it.

Up your street Reg?

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/17454889.steam-train-trips-travel-through-wiltshire-this-spring/

I saw that and got a frisson of excitement... but reading just showed typical Adver poor quality... it says 3 and then outlines 2 neither of which come too close to Swindon.

I have got a lengthy train trip to do soon... reading Kilvert's Diary set partly around his Langley Burrell curacy (near Chippenham) in the 1870's it was easier and quicker to get around by train than it is now.

Looks like these trains will be running March 9th, April 6th/June 1st/July 6th/October 12th. Birmingham to Oxford via Worcester and Swindon.

1115ish through Swindon http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10732/2019/03/09/advanced

I'm not a Steam fanatic but locally not far from me. Give a mile or two is the Midland Railway Centre. It's a little dishevelled from it's heyday but it still has some interesting engines there and also still has a couple of working sheds.

Mostly it's the Princess Royal Locomotive; Margaret Rose, which I hear people travel all over to see her. They stoke her up now and again and have her trundle along the small line here. Even though I'm not a huge fan, I love it that I can hear on occasion the "toot-toot" and slow chugg of a distant engine. Incredibly special and something that should continually be preserved. To know of an engineering feat is one thing but to be able to see it working is another.

Likely that Reg has visited but has anyone else? I know Pete Waterman gets in there now and again.

Where are you, I seem to be spending too much of my time in Ripley at the moment and its a complete ballache to get to!

Never been to Butterley, Both Princess Margaret Rose and Duchess of Sutherland* have Swindon connections being designed by Sir William Stanier who was born and trained with the GWR at Swindon before being headhunted by the LMS in the 1930's when he was in his 50's.

* Being a pedant and I know you like that ;), I suspect you mean Duchess of Sutherland as PRM has not had a fire in her belly since 1996!

Never been there myself, have driven past it on the A38 a few times.

I have met Pete Waterman at a couple of rail connected places, hes a lovely bloke and always has time for anyone who has anything to do with railways and especially with a Swindon connection.

He spoke to me for about 10 mins once when I told him I used to work at the rail works in Swindon.

He does not have a particularly good reputation or image in railway preservation circles.....

Thats interesting as I have never heard anybody say a bad word about him. I have met him a couple of times at the WSR.

Yes apologies the PMR is preserved in the West Shed at MRC and can been seen but no longer operational. The DoS is the one they must haul out every now and again or loaned out. They have Saloon used by Winston Churchill and a few other bits and pieces at West Shed.

One thing? Why the fuck are you spending a lot of time in Ripley? It's just a nondescript town. Got to be planning related, I would guess? I wouldn't say it's that hard to get to though? Just of the A38 or from the M1 via South Normanton (Pinxton to us locals)/ Mind if you're coming via NE like say M6, A50 then that takes you further south. Best bet is M61, M60, then pick up the A6, brings you pretty much right into Ripley via Ambergate. A6 is nicer than the A50 also. More scenic.

Amber Vallley Council offices are in Ripley. I normally get the train to Manchester then travel with a colleague, Manchester-Ripley takes a bloody age.

I know. So do you work for AVBC then, or on their behalf?

Well that is why people have said for ages that Ripley would still benefit from a Train Station. A halfway point between Chesterfield & Derby. As well as close proximity to Notts, Sheff & Leicester makes it an ideal commuter town. The bus network is pretty good offering direct travel to Derby, Notts & Chesterfield. Alfreton  has one and lots of nondescript ones still exist between Belper & Matlock (Ambergate, Whatstandwell, Cromford). Funding aside, I've no idea why they've never reconnected the line up to Langley Mill, it's hardly a huge amount of track needed, although I do appreciate it's not a simple engineering task. The parish covers around 25k residents but the wider area (Loscoe, Codnor, Heage, Pentrich, Marehay, Denby, etc) makes up for probably around 70k, and as you'll likely know Amber Valley as a whole must cover a population of around 130k?

I take it you get the Manchester to Alfreton train. With a change at Sheff? Then it's either bus or taxi to Ripley. I bet you'd love it if the train went to Ripley!  :D

Got a couple of jobs for Clients in AV so meetings with Council are at Ripley.

Joy of joy :) If I were you, I'd schedule a "Diary Appointment" of an afternoon and head down to MRC for a mooch around. You'd like it.

Here are a couple of shots by myself from down there. Doesn't show a lot other than me being artsy but the b&w one kind of typifies the era and vibe of the area. Enjoy.

I know that there are a few (or Reg at least) who like to see Swindon's finest engineering achievements in action, Clun Castle is passing through on Saturday at 1116 so plenty of time for a hit of nostalgia and local pride followed afterwards to go for a pint or 4 before the Yeovil game!

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10732/2019/04/06/advanced

I know some of you like your HST's...

https://www.gwr.com/about-us/media-centre/news/2019/april/the-time-and-date-of-the-last-high-speed-train-to-run

Talk Talk would have been the man for that, but he's off stalking elsewhere these days..... no women left to pursue on the TEF.

Personally never got too excited by the HST's, of course better than nothing, but goes back to when it used to easy to stick your bike in the guard's van and go off somewhere, always a bit more of a problem due to lack of space on HST's.

One for Reg. Caught the train from Cardiff Central for today's game & between Bristol Parkway & Swindon I noticed what I thought was a platform, pretty much wholly submerged by grass (on the rhs heading towards Swindon). Done this journey about a 100 times over the years & never noticed it before. Kept my eye out for it on the opposite side on the way back & couldn't see it. I would say it was closer to Swindon than Parkway. Any ideas?

Closing in on Swindon, there were stations at Hullavington, Little Somerford, Brinkworth and then Wootton Bassett, in that order, Bassett being the closest after the join with the Temple Meads line, and having the most obvious remains.

Are these all on the main line between Parkway & Swindon because it seemed very rural at the point I saw it?

Were on the mainline... the 3 places mentioned before RWB are all small, the stations were away from the village.

Ah fair enough, must have been one of those then!

I'll stick my neck out and say Little Somerford. Fits your description of on the right hand side and still has a bit of platform left... found a photo from 2001 in a book, so prob still there.

Probably one for Reg.... (if the link will work.)

(https://scontent.flhr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/89313306_2054936104652437_175758896500047872_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=ca434c&_nc_ohc=CD4itckp-DoAX8duJWS&_nc_ht=scontent.flhr4-1.fna&oh=2e7f48e675cd378cff213a007a5f3131&oe=5E973005)

 Not seen that one before.... cheers a thing of beauty  :)

That train was The Somerset Quarryman LCGB tour.

16th April 1972

DMU set L713 (W52105/W59821/W59237/W52093) BR Class 123

L713    London Paddington - Ealing Broadway - Slough - Reading General - Didcot - Swindon - Swindon Town
L713    Swindon Town - Swindon
L713    Swindon - Chippenham - Thingley Jn - Melksham - Trowbridge - Westbury - Frome North Box - Radstock West
L713    Radstock West - Radstock North - Writhlington
L713    Writhlington - Radstock North - Radstock West
L713    Radstock West - Frome North Box
L713    Frome North Box - Frome - Witham (1) - Merehead - Cranmore
L713    Cranmore - Merehead Quarry Siding
L713    Merehead Quarry Siding - Merehead
L713    Merehead - Witham
L713    Witham - Castle Cary - Yeovil Pen Mill - Yeovil Junction
L713    Yeovil Junction - Gillingham - Salisbury - Andover Jn
L713    Andover Jn - Ludgershall
L713    Ludgershall - Andover Jn - Basingstoke - Reading General - (reverse of outward route) - London Paddington

That could be a village near my Nan's house in Buckinghamshire? Tiny place, no operational station as far as I know.

I know almost nothing about trains but do love the fact that, for a few years, the Metropolitan line terminated in Brill, Buckinghamshire - my Nan's village. The area where the station was is now a small industrial estate including Brill Beer Brewery.

Ludgershall is a small town near Salisbury that used to have an army railway line accessing it.

Different Ludgershall.... it can be confusing when you get 2 of a seemingly unusual name.... a bit like Sparsholt.

Didn't know that about Brill, a nice place went there once to see the windmill....

(https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/07/ee/c8/9f/brill-windmill.jpg)

Sometimes when lines end seemingly in the middle of nowhere, it's because they were meant to go somewhere else and a bigger company made sure they didn't.

Beautiful isn't it  :zipped:

Good news for Reg and other Beeching detractors:

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/18293468.second-swindon-railway-station-discussed-council-network-rail/

I wouldn't hold your breath, having been involved in the creation of a new station on a line considerably quieter than the GWML, that cost nearly £7m eventually (against a budget of c.£3m) and took about 12 years to come to fruition after PP!

Plus any comparison with Exeter is bollocks, whilst it has 2 stations on the mainline both date from pre-1850.

I got a nanosecond of excitement on seeing the headline.... it had gone on engaging with the article.

You'd have thought that with the plantation of dormitory estates for Oxford, out near South Marston, a reinstatement of Stratton Park Halt could be a winner...

(https://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46230000/jpg/_46230220_4.jpg)

As a kid I'd cycle out here... pretty much still in the country then and an adventure.

Anything on the mainline is going to be problematical as its introducing something slow moving onto what has become a high speed trunk route, whilst modern stuff accelerates much better than it did in the days of steam, the overarching line speed was not 125mph then!

Don't know Swindon that well geographically, would something work on the Gloucester line, otherwise would the cash be better spent on something ala Metrolink? 

 I know it will never happen just me being whimsical.... Tory SBC showed their true colours, when shifting the £5 mill they'd put aside for a possible new art gallery, into building a road for the Oxford dormitory town.

Something for Reg....

https://youtu.be/Oqj3YlkR0y0

that was interesting.

Aborted tunnel for the Midland and South West Junction Railway..... had to do a cutting instead, which is now Old Town Cycle Path.

The somewhat loose backfill meant that the Hunt St houses started to subside, maybe 30 years ago now, so a major project was undertaken to drain the hillside.... the path around Queen's Park only reopened a few years back

Late coming to the party, if it was on the Parkway line my guess would be Badminton which does still have the platforms

That line is still there, rarely used but was in use to the army depot, it is actually the line that went theough Swindon Old Town and on down to Southampton - volunteers are restoring parts of it at Blunsdon, Taw Hill and trying to get as far as Cricklade in the opposite direction

So if the line had taken the direct route to the GWR, the County Ground might have had a railway line through it....

Don't think so.... the proposed route ran more or less parallel to Princess St, having curved off the mainline nr the end of Gooch St. Would then have run up roughly where Northampton St is today.... Queen's Park wasn't there.

Could have had a halt style platform for the CG much nearer.... roughly somewhere in Broad St.

I used to mention these for Reg in the past but it might be of interest to someone. There is a steam train coming to Swindon on Saturday arrives at 1126 and departs at 1540, it's a Castle (one of Swindon's own built in the works) for those further interested.

For anyone whose Interested

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91120/2021-09-25/detailed

7029 Clun Castle is supposed to be the Loco.

Returns via Didcot

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U91123/2021-09-25/detailed

For Reg.

https://mobile.twitter.com/mdumar1989/status/1555216751641722881

I think it's fair to say, that is quite unusual  :eek: ...and Reg would indeed have loved it...

I wrote this for my brother a few years ago but as an old mate of Reg's, I thought I might post this memory of train-spotting at Swindon: http://radicalstroud.co.uk/railway-time/   I might dig out trains and football ones incrementally if you are unlucky.

I loved reading that, thank you.

Apparently none again next week, another alcohol free day then, looks like the cars gotta come out again