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Steamclips uploaded a new video
(2 months ago)
The Christmas Market in the area around Bath Abbey has become a firm favourite with shoppers from all over the country. To celebrate the first day ...
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The Christmas Market in the area around Bath Abbey has become a firm favourite with shoppers from all over the country. To celebrate the first day of this years 18 day market, The Railway Touring Company enlisted un-rebuilt Bulleid pacific: Tangmere, to head this tour from Poole to Bristol for a bit of communal retail therapy of the festive kind and as this was my last chance of filming mainline steam this year we decided to join the shoppers and enjoy the atmosphere. We pick up the tour on the outward leg passing West Grimstead where, because of high winds, I was forced to the near-side and the full wind-rush of a steam train passing at speed! A generous water stop at Salisbury allowed me to get to Bapton for the next shot, where 34067 looks like its Hornby counterpart, fresh out of the box, in wonderful muted November sunlight, but unfortunately accompanied by the background noise of two Police helicopters, possibly chasing turkey rustlers! The market gets more and more crowded as Christmas approaches and it was very pleasant strolling around with plenty of room to browse the many stalls with the Christmas atmosphere increasing as the light faded to darkness. Most would call me mad for my last shot, in total darkness, from high up on Bathwick Hill. The gift-laden passengers await their return train and after boarding, without the customary whistle, Tangmere silently pulls out of Bath Spa station, the lights of the city just about silhouetting 34067 as she picks up speed on her way back to the south coast.
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Steamclips uploaded a new video
(3 months ago)
Surely one of the most mouth-watering prospects of the year: a GWR King plus a BR Britannia, a combined Tractive Effort of 72,450lbs, vs. 12 coache...
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Surely one of the most mouth-watering prospects of the year: a GWR King plus a BR Britannia, a combined Tractive Effort of 72,450lbs, vs. 12 coaches over the Westcountry Banks in glorious autumn colours. At the first location I chanced the long shot on the "wrong" side as far as sun and strong southerly wind were concerned, above Beam Bridge on the climb to Whiteball. Next to another high level position above a well known location but this time with the sun behind and the main road mercifully quiet. Overlooking Tigley, the train storms up through the trees and emerges out on to Rattery Bank, finally disappearing once more into the trees approaching Marley Head tunnel and the foothills of Dartmoor beyond. For the return leg, the first location just had to be Hemerdon, where the bridge became packed up to three deep! Although the earlier sun had long gone, the results made it well worth the 90 minute wait in order to get a good position. The passing HST must have been really frustrating for those on the left of the bridge! Next, a drive straight up the A38 as the train negotiates the long way around the coast and after a quick getaway from Hemerdon, we found ourselves approaching Exminster with just enough time to grab a shot with literally seconds to spare as the pair race through in failing light on this high speed stretch. Finally in heavy cloud, giving a real portent of the winter nights to come, 6024 and 70013 take a well earned rest and water at Exeter St Davids before heading out into the night towards Taunton, Bristol and the end of an awesome steam tour. Congratulations and a big thank you to all involved.
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Steamclips uploaded a new video
(4 months ago)
Featuring clips in path (not date) order of: 71000, 60163 and 6024 at work on the Torbay Express during the 2011 season.
Along with well known locat...
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Featuring clips in path (not date) order of: 71000, 60163 and 6024 at work on the Torbay Express during the 2011 season.
Along with well known locations, I have tried to include some "new" ones in this sample of clips. Starting with 71000 steaming along the ever popular sea wall at Teignmouth but seen from an unusual location, also passing fire damage on the P&DR, with assistance to reduce the fire hazard at Broadsands viaduct during the very dry period at the beginning of the season. Next, a sequence featuring 60163 in B.R. green, a much more appropriate colour in my opinion. Through murky summer heat, Tornado gives us a good side view as she heads up the Teign estuary towards Newton Abbot. At 164+ tons all hands are needed to get the big 8-P moving on the Churston turntable, I wonder what the 149 tons on the makers plate actually means?? Looking and sounding in perfect condition 60163 emerges from Greenway tunnel and heads for the summit at Churston Station in the early evening light, and finally, passing Preston beach, Tornado should probably be re-named "Rainstorm" after this shot as serious priming from the safety valves resulted in a downpour which soaked us all at the lineside! Lastly, and still my favourite mainline steam loco: 6024 "Spud", seen dashing down the Exe estuary, passing Powderham and Starcross in very windy conditions. The climb from Torquay to the "tunnel" at Hollacombe behind the hotels as the regulator is opened for the last time before Paignton gives a chance to hear that unmistakable exhaust blast. Finally the holidaymakers are gone, and 6024, unimpeded by a local stopper this time, puts on a great show along the Teignmouth sea wall with twelve coaches on, whistling a farewell until next year.
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Steamclips uploaded a new video
(4 months ago)
Postponed in vain from the 30th May to give time for completion to mainline standard of 34046 Braunton, (which will now not be available until 2012...
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Postponed in vain from the 30th May to give time for completion to mainline standard of 34046 Braunton, (which will now not be available until 2012), this Pathfinder tour between Taunton and Portsmouth became the second in one week planned for Southern motive power to be rescued by B.R. standard 70000 Britannia and thankfully the weather this time during filming was a little less wet than the previous Tuesday! The first location is on the Somerset levels at Brent Knoll as 70000 accelerates the train towards Weston-Super-Mare after a short pick-up stop at Highbridge. Upton Scudamore always draws large crowds but the fact that the light was on the wrong side kept many away from this location where the climb on the reverse curves above Dilton Marsh provides a nice pan shot. After a water stop at Salisbury, the train is seen accelerating past Alderbury Junction and starts the long decent to Southampton. But then the rain came!! After a thoroughly wet afternoon in Salisbury, the sun came out for the evening return when we see Britannia, in all her glossy black glory, lifting the train towards Great Wishford. Finally, as passengers are dropped-off at Bridgewater, the crew looks cosy together in the cab as 70000 gives the kind of show on departure that only a steam locomotive at night can provide.
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Steamclips uploaded a new video
(4 months ago)
Quite possibly the hardest won 3 minutes of video ever of maybe one of the unluckiest tours!!
Originally planned for haulage by three ex-Southern lo...
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Quite possibly the hardest won 3 minutes of video ever of maybe one of the unluckiest tours!!
Originally planned for haulage by three ex-Southern locos between Waterloo and Newquay, only 34067 Tangmere was available, double-headed by substitute B.R. standard class 70000 Britannia when the tour set out on Sunday. Taunton was as far as Tangmere could manage before withdrawal, resulting in over an hours delay whilst the back-up diesel was attached to the front, by which time and a lot of waiting in rain, I gave up on filming the down run. But at least there was the promise of rare sightings of steam on both the Newquay and Okehampton branches on the Day 3 return, what we were not prepared for however, was the worst weather of the season! The first location is the summit of the Newquay branch where, after setting up a wind break and hunkering down in the wet heather, 70000 is seen emerging through gale force winds and horizontal rain over Goss Moor. The Glynn valley was at least protected from the wind but the rain was still pouring down as Britannia, with no assistance from the rear, attacks the climb from Bodmin Parkway. The bridge at the top of Hemerdon proved impossible as you faced into the teeth of the storm, so we went to Hemerdon sidings which was only slightly better and after wiping a flooded lens, only minimal video was captured as the train passed. The rain even got into my pan head gasket which started to slip during the pan!! Finally, circumstances dictated that I literally had minutes to set up at an untried location on the climb to Okehampton which I found on Google Earth. Unfortunately the image must have been historical because trees now virtually cover the track and there was no time to film elsewhere. 70000 was climbing well however, mainly due to the extra adhesion afforded by rusty rails, with the diesel having a free ride, so at least the sounds were good -- and ten minutes later, would you believe it? the rain stopped and the sun came out!!! After driving over 200 miles, getting ourselves and the equipment soaking wet and only 3 minutes of video for our trouble, was it worth it? Sometimes being nuts helps!!!
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