Busy 20 minutes @ Cheltenham with 97301 Beastie thrash

I arrived at Cheltenham Spa station just before 12:15 on Thursday 26th November 2009 hoping to see 97301 do a rare reversal and head back North, the engine was running a little late and 66009 came along, not long after 66039 went the other way.

Track machine 77327 caught me off guard as that passed to the North. Then at last 97301 came into view, it was soon apparent that the reversal was not going to happen, the crossover points weren't set. Instead 97301 came into platform 1 and dropped off a crew member, then gave it some as it sped off to Gloucester to reverse. I hardly heard the class 60 (60040) over the 97. It was now 12:35, the twenty minutes were now gone, and a few units had passed in that time as well!

I decided to wait a while for the 97 to return and just before 13:00 it did. Gliding through the station it was then opened up as it passed northward.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• cheltenham
• thrash
• growl
• 37
• beast
• 97301
• 60040
• rail
• railway
• diesel

[jedamotorsport]

Used to live 1 mile from Lansdown station,spent my early years trainspotting here,Peaks,Westerns,Warships,H­ymeks ect,drivers always let us do a cab going south,my father was a postman and used to tell us what was pulling the mail train when he was down there late at night,Can still hear the Westerns going across the gates at Alston Lane late in to the night when in bed,you never forget that sound.

My late uncle had loads of Cine 8 of steam and deisel through here,but alas I think it all binned

[cyclopsfilm]

@jedamotorsport As a lad in the 70's I too remember seeing most of them through Lansdown, how I wish I had a video camera then. Re: your late uncles cine film, that would be such a shame, if they should be found do get them up on youtube and if you need any help give me a shout.

[Intercity47GBRail]

Great video, what time is the 60 due through normally?

[cyclopsfilm]

@Intercity47GBRail It's around 12:30 though can be as early as 11:00 it is usually looped north of the station for about an hour.

[Intercity47GBRail]

Thanks, Might go see it when I'm on holiday.

[37427]

Wonderfully filmed

[cyclopsfilm]

I have no idea, sorry.

[boeingnerd77]

yeh whAT TYpe do the FGW have on the BTM-CNM

is it 158?

[cyclopsfilm]

I have no idea, however there are plenty from BTM to CNM everyday.

[boeingnerd77]

@cyclopsfilm what FGW train does the Bristol TM-CHLT