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Snow!!
Until the last few years snow was becoming something of a rarity.However since 2009 the white stuff has become a regular feature during the Winters.
Today's '1C85' the 14:03 from Paddington to Penzance passes a very sunny Clink nr Frome with 43079 at its head with 43056 trailing.No IET's were seen today in the snowy conditions,which was a bonus really as they will be around for many winters but the old HST's will not be after this year.
..2 february 2019..
GWR's 43198 leads '1C77' the 10:03 from Paddington to Penzance through Berkley Marsh nr Frome.43192 being the rear gunner.Amazingly this was running pretty much to time although it had lost 4 minutes or so being diverted via Westbury Station with its consequent lower speeds as the Avoiding Line there is currently closed probably because of 'points failure paranoia' at Heywood and Fairwood Junctions.
..2 february 2019..
With the local side-roads still being packed snow and ice I elected to walk the mile or so from home to here at Berkley Marsh for this shot of '1A78' the 06:50 from Penzance to Paddington.The incentive being an incredibly clear blue sky so no chance of getting 'done' by a cloud! FGW-Blue 43159 was leading with GWR-Green 43170 on the rear sandwiching the complete blue set of carriages.
..2 february 2019..
With snow conditions precluding the use of my car a short walk of about 200 yards up to Clink Road Junction produced this nice wintery HST shot.Here is 43187 and 43071 making quite good time (Only 10 minutes late) with '1A87' the 12:55 from Plymouth to Paddington.For certain this will be the final winter for these trains before the end now projected to be around about early-May. It was nice while it lasted!
..1 february 2019..
THe train '1C82' the 13:03 from Paddington to Plymouth was running about 35 minutes lae due to the adverse weather conditions.Here the 43024/43023 combination are seen passing Clink Road nr Frome.Passenger services were running reasonably well but freight trains from the Mendip Quarries were pretty decimated with only about 30% running.
..1 february 2019..
Mongrel 158961 in GWR livery passes Church Road in Heywood Village with '1F17' the 12:44.5 from Newport to Portsmouth Harbour.
..19 march 2018..
Mongrel-Flatface 150925 was today pressed into long distance service working '1F11' the 10:30 from Cardiff-Central to Portsmouth Harbour.Here seen approaching a rather snowy Hawkeridge Junction nr Westbury.
..19 march 2018..
'1F23' the 10:23 from Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff-Central worked by a FGW-Blue 158958 passes a pretty cold and desolate Hawkeridge Junction shortly after departing from Westbury.It got no further than Bristol-TM as the remainder of the journey was cancelled at the request of the police ???
..19 march 2018..
Caught in an all too brief glimpse of weak sunshine HST-Combo 43197/43124 powers through Clink Road Junction with the 06:19 from Truro heading for Paddington.As usual these days a couple of inches of snow paralyze the network and today little of no freight appears to be operating away from the Mendip Quarries,which is a pity!
..19 march 2018..
This morning I woke up to a 4'' covering of snow overnight.so a short walk up to Clink Road Junction bridge was in order to picture this working that was running just eight minutes behind schedule. This is 43151 leading '1C76' the 08:57 from Paddington to Plymouth.
..18 march 2018..
The contrast between a filthy unkemp grubby dull faded 66141 with its loaded train of mha's and the dazzling snow makes for a difficult picture to record.However one must take advantage of the snow while it lasts hence this snowy effort. The daily '6O41' from Westbury to Eastleigh is seen slowly passing Upton-Scudamore shortly after departing Westbury.
..21 january 2013..
Network-Rail's new 'Big-Idea' for the 3rd-rail lines in the south is the 'Snow-Train'.Basically it is a de-icer unit that sprays the 3rd-rail with a fluid to remove and prevent too much ice forming thus preventing efficient current pick-up on the EMU's.Here are Yellow Perils 57312 and 57303 T&T the two bogie wagons that contain the spray equipment.This working '8Y87' has just departed Eastleigh going initially to Southampton then according to a man on the bridge then up to Wimbledon in London before coming back to Eastleigh.The camera settings of 500th@f4 at 800asa.Note how bright all the lights are! Kinda says it all about the conditions!
..19 january 2013..
Seen in the snowy yard of Eastleigh Works is DBSO 9710 still wearing the livery of its last operator 'One' before it went off lease.The workings out of Liverpool Street to Norwich now being exclusively DVT's.In all probability it will become part of the yellow 'Network-Rail' allocation if and when it is refurbished.
..19 january 2013..
The famed Eastleigh Shunter 60049 was seen moving ballast wagons back and forth in the distance whilst watching on the main road bridge overlooking Eastleigh Station.It was a long two hour wait (It seems like six!) before it finally pushed the assembled wagon-set back into the main yard.By now the light was becoming quite dire but in view of its imminent departure soon back to Toton,probably for storage the wait was eventually worth it.
..19 january 2013..
1st built GE 70001 with its well hidden nameplate 'Powerhaul' camouflaged on the framing departs Eastleigh Station after a brief stop to change crews.This working '4O27'started out from Garston at 05:26 and is going just down the road to Southampton-MT.
..19 january 2013..
'4O27' from Garston is seen approaching Eastleigh past the very active Freight-Yard there.Examples of Classes-57/60 and 66 can be seen scattered about the yard on various duties.This Freightliner is going to Southampton-MT with 70001 at the head.Passenger traffic today was quite sparse due to South-West Trains operating an 'Emergency Timetable'
..19 january 2013..
After a good 4 to 6 inches of snow falling on Friday (The day before) I felt I had to go out and get a few snow-shots despite the light actually being abysmal. Here is '7C29' from Acton going to Merehead with two rakes of boxes combined.The second set had not even been unloaded probably due to the weather problems yesterday.Schenker-Red 59203 was in charge as the train sweeps through Great-Cheverell on the B&H heading west.
..19 january 2013..
43159 kicks up a mist of snow particles as it powers through Great-Cheverell on the B&H with '1A76' the 06:55 from Plymouth going to Paddington.The temperature this morning was just below zero so the recent snow was still hanging in the trees and shrubs.
..19 january 2013..
I suppose this qualifies as a 'Snow' shot due to the light dusting still evident trackside.Interestingly as there a wagon on the rear this Monster-Convoy it qualified as a '6' working rather than an '0'...So here we have '6C41' from Newport -ADJ going to Westbury with 59201 hauling 66147/66077/66152/66188/66023/66127 and just one loaded open stores wagon.Working being used to position majority of these loco's at Westbury ready for the Christmas-Holidays booked engineering trains. This almighty Convoy was recorded at Ladydown nr Trowbridge. ..24 december 2010..
Gone but not forgotten is '6V62' the once regular Fuel /Bituman train from Fawley that served both Bristol-SFM and Plymouth (Both Bituman and Diesel).Here is 66047 in a rather picturesque scene at Arn Hill nr Warminster with the 'tanks'from Fawley.The Bitumen Depot in Plymouth closed and the Fuel Oil slowly dwindled until FGW decided to supply both Bristol and Laira by road. What a way to run a railway! Its final run was on 29th october 2013.
..21 october 2010..
'7C31' Theale to Merehead approaches Clink on a bitterly cold morning with last nights snowfall still clinging to the lineside trees and bushes.59205 was on the duty and the train was running pretty much to time! ..13 january 2010..
66591 on the diverted '4O54' from Southampton going to Leeds seen at Oakley shortly after passing Worting-Junction.Working going via Laverstock-Loop and Andover due to an Engineering Possession on the normal booked route.By the time this arrived the sun was virtually set and temperature had dropped like a stone to well below zero! ..09 january 2010..
66161 heads the Hinksey to Eastleigh Departmental Tripper '6O26'.Seen passing Worting-Junction west of Basingstoke.Majority of todays payload was a fair sized rake of 'Seacows'.A bogie hoppers type not quite so common now as it was a few years ago! ..09 january 2010..
59206 eventually appeared on the 2nd of the two working up to and back from the Cement-Works and Westbury-Yards. Here seen slowing for the Works entrance-gate though by now actually on the spur line to the sidings.Glad when this finally appeared as a hot coffee was long overdue! ..07 january 2010..
FL-HH 66606 on the final approach to Westbury with a heavily delayed Stud Farm to Westbury-VQ with the then new Railtrack Gondola's.This working usually runs overnight so a shot in daylight on the 'in' working is quite rare. ..07 january 2010..
Schenker's then Flagship Loco 59206 viewed running light back into Westbury-Down Yard past the bright-white vista that was Westbury. Tut-Tut,it appears no attempt had been made to clear the platforms of the slippery white stuff.No H&S when it suits FGW? methinks. ..07 january 2010..
SWT 158881 slows for the Westbury stop past the Power-Box there. ..07 january 2010..
43163 sporting a rather distinctive large red-backed cast nameplate 'Exeter Panel Signal Box 21st Anniversary 2009' runs slowly away from Westbury on the approach to Heywood-Junction.Working heading up the B&H towards Paddington. ..07 january 2010..
59206 worked a couple of Engineers Trains from Westbury Cement-Works back to the Yards at Westbury proper.Here seen leaving on the first one '6w48',actually coming out of the Works sidings though difficult to see from where I was stood.Rail line speed was largely uneffected but I doubt if anybody even approached the road-speed as indicated on this particular morning! I know I didn't. ..07 january 2010..
43152 gets away from Westbury having just come over Heywood-Junction heading for the BIG City.Another extreemly frigid day.Road conditions were very treacherous and even going to this spot at Westbury(barely 6 miles from home) was quite an expedition. ..07 january 2010..
With a heavy load of ballast in 'JNA-s' 66124 toils slowly up the bank towards Warminster with '6O41' from Westbury going to Eastleigh.
..7 january 2010..
With a heavy load of ballast in 'JNA-s' 66124 toils slowly up the bank towards Warminster with '6O41' from Westbury going to Eastleigh.
..07 january 2010..
158798 crests to top of Upton-Scudamore Bank with the 08:30 Cardiff to Portsmouth service.Note the pair of Deer sitting in the snow in the left background enjoying the mid-morning sun! ..07 january 2010..
With services all running out of course it was just a case of 'turning up and waiting' to catch a working in these conditions. Here 43037 passes Clink nr Frome heading for the West. ..06 january 2010..
66125 with 60073 DIT drags a set of Falcons on '6O41' from Westbury going to Eastleigh.Seen at Norton-Bavant on a cold-crisp morning.
..22 december 2009..
With 66154 in charge '6D15' heading from Avonmouth to Didcot-PS passes Ashbury's Crossing,Shrivenham.Again fast HST's have sucked most of the light snow off the tracks. ..10 february 2009..
43197,once named after 'The Railway Magazine' but now anonymous passes Shrivenham with a westbound service.Notice the heavy crust of ice in the field due to the -5 degree temperatures. ..10 february 2010..
'4D12' is an empty Coal returning from Didcot-PS to Avonmouth-BHT.66055 seen passing the site of Ashbury's Crossing nr Shrivenham. A super clear day but the temperature was well below freezing! ..10 february 2009..
43126 speeds London-wards with an Express from the West-Country.Note how the powdery snow has been largely 'hoovered' off the tracks by the action of the high speeds used on this stretch of the B&H. Location is Woodborough Loops. ..07 february 2009..
0-6-0 DM 08652 stands in Whatley Quarry under a liberal coat of overnight 'white-stuff'. Naturally the Quarry was paralysed for the rest of the day due to light fall. ..03 february 2009..