Rugd1022 Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Along with a mate from work I had the good fortune to be on this fantastic tour last Saturday..... although given generous timings with a stop at Oxford to take on water, The Earl gave a stirling performance on it's old stomping ground. Between Reading and Paddington we were accompanied by a FGW HST for a few miles, the Castle must have been a wonderful sight for those aboard the HST, some of whom were filming it as we went along. Getting any decent shots of 5043 wasn't that easy as there were so many people milling about, hence the close up stuff I've posted. The icing on the cake though, was Pannier Tank 9600 bringing the stock into Moor St from Tyseley in the morning, and taking it back in the evening, a very nice touch much appreciated by all those present. On the return leg, the stop at Warwick Parkway gave the old girl a chance to show what she could do going up Hatton Bank from a standing start... in a word, superb! Nidge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
big T Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Hi matey The B & W shots are lovely, especially the ones at Pad. Im glad Moor Street is back up and working again. I think a nice finishing touch would have been if 'modern' semaphores had been installed at the platform ends at Moor St. as per the one at Shrewsbury. Happy days (even though its GW!!) Treeb Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 Thanks 'T', I've still got a few of 5043 at Padd to sort out. Good point about the semaphores, it would have been nice. By the way, there are two new ones at the south end of Banbury now, ready for when the Chiltern / FGW HST diversions start at Christmas. Nidge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Between Reading and Paddington we were accompanied by a FGW HST for a few miles, the Castle must have been a wonderful sight for those aboard the HST, some of whom were filming it as we went along. Sounds like a rematch of the contest between 5043 and an HST in the same location earlier in the year, when we had 5043 on the Up Main (hauling the non-stop Bristolian) and the HST was diverted out of our way onto the Up Relief, with both of us running at our permitted maximum of 75mph between Sonning Cutting and Burnham - my son's shaky mobile phone footage of The Earl finally powering ahead of the HST at Slough (complete with triumphant whistling) gives me a shiver down my spine every time I watch it. Love the photos Nidge - very atmospheric. Brilliant to see the pannier on ecs, and as for 5043, that is one special locomotive. I wish I'd been on board for that final climb up to Hatton - there's nothing to compare with the sound of a double-chimney Castle driven hard . David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 Sounds like a rematch of the contest between 5043 and an HST in the same location earlier in the year, when we had 5043 on the Up Main (hauling the non-stop Bristolian) and the HST was diverted out of our way onto the Up Relief, with both of us running at our permitted maximum of 75mph between Sonning Cutting and Burnham - my son's shaky mobile phone footage of The Earl finally powering ahead of the HST at Slough (complete with triumphant whistling) gives me a shiver down my spine every time I watch it. Love the photos Nidge - very atmospheric. Brilliant to see the pannier on ecs, and as for 5043, that is one special locomotive. I wish I'd been on board for that final climb up to Hatton - there's nothing to compare with the sound of a double-chimney Castle driven hard . David Thanks David, glad you liked them. You're right, 5043 certaintly is something special, I've seen it lineside numerous times and it never fails to impress. We had the top vent windows open in the Mk2 we were sitting in as The Earl took us up Hatton, the sound will live in my memory for a long time yet. The old boy sitting opposite us was nearly in tears of rapture, bless him.... Right, more pics later, off to 'work' now. Nidge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 there's nothing to compare with the sound of a double-chimney Castle driven hard except perhaps the sound of a single chimney Castle be driven hard? (memories of the Weymouth Seaside Express last August, the climb up Upwey and the one to the tunnel whos name escapes me was awesome) Great pics by the way Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Thanks for posting the pics. I liked them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devondynosoar118 Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Liked them too- Thank you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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