Barry Dock Station 2009
23rd September 2011, the start begins at Barry Dock station awaiting the 07.49 Arriva Trains to Aberdare service, which today was 150279, luckily for a change it was on time, but for once I was not in a hurry.
I had forgotten how uncomfortable riding the commuter trains were, everyone jostling for the door, no politeness here, women children an elderly first and all that I thought, but with two young men barging their way on to the train first, those thoughts obviously do not count anymore. I managed to secure a seat, and instantly became aware of five or six different lots of music coming from head sets in all directions, I couldn’t help but look at the Arriva Trains Code of conduct for passengers, has I did I became aware of three or four loud voices slagging off very loudly a work colleague behind me, then a girl on her mobile phone visibly upset letting the world and whoever she was talking to know her personal feelings, why? On top of this we had a badly flat spotted wheel banging loudly, boy was I glad to get to Cardiff Central I hope this wasn’t a sign of things to come.
With the Rover ticket your not allowed to travel till after 9am, but the reason for an early start was to get a sighting and photograph of the Class 60 on the Murco tanks Westerleigh to Robeston daily working, but I was to be denied. I did manage a photograph of 66201 snaking away across the main with an Aberthaw to Bristol coal empties.
66201
Well 9am was fast approaching and a decision had to be made, Westbury was my first port of call I had decided, but the train was 9.30am from Cardiff so a spur of the moment decision to bite the bullet and catch the 9am Cardiff Central to Plymouth train as far as Bristol Temple Meads, which unbelievably was a 150/1 namely 150120, to Plymouth on a 150 what a daunting thought, but the ride wasn’t that unpleasant and fairly comfortable seating, not cramped has I was to discover some of the trains throughout the day. Bacon and tomato sandwiches were unwrapped for breakfast has we hit the Severn Tunnel with ear popping speed; I have still not found a way to stop that painful popping. Leaving Patchway station you immediately get a view right up Filton Airfield now a lot of the buildings have been demolished. In the distance, a forlorn sight of the last Concorde to have flown standing on the tarmac, what a waste of a beautiful aircraft. I recently read in the press that Filton Airfield is due to close in 2012 but there are plans to build a Concorde Museum and training centre that will be something to look forward to.
Has we entered Bristol a flash of yellow caught the corner of my eye, I strained to look back to see what it was, maybe something Network Rail I thought. Exiting the train I could hear a distinct sound of a diesel engine ticking over, my walk increased to a trot has I strained to see, and there it was a Network Rail Class 31 on a test train with a DBSO on one end. Camera in hand I snapped away, wonderful start I thought with a smile on my face. Has I stood and listened at the true sound of a locomotive it moved off very quickly, and I couldn’t help thinking how lucky that was to capture that.
Network Rail 31465
Coach No. 72612
Coach No. 999605
DBSO coach No. 9701
I took a few more photographs around Temple Meads passing the time until my train to Westbury arrived at 10.23am.
Cross Country Voyager 221121 under the impressive roof of Bristol Temple Meads
158957 arrived and departed on time, luckily I secured a window seat, because the run between Bristol and Westbury is very pleasing to the eye, both architecturally and scenically and I settled down in the comfortable but cramped seat to take in the sights. Has we passed through a few tunnels some famous, whose names I cannot recollect a young man was getting increasingly irritated because his mobile phone kept losing signal in the tunnels, don’t work in tunnels I nearly muttered but thought better of it.
Westbury arrived very quickly and I departed the train at 11.01am and could see in the distance what I knew was a Class 59 moving slow towards the station, another jog ensued, camera at the ready I began shooting again, 59201 "Vale of York" captured was another plus especially has I noted and photographed it was still carrying the bell.
59201
59201 showing the bell
A Freightliner 66615, shunting IOA ballast wagons, closely followed this.
66615
Network Rail IOA ballast wagons
Having captured a few nice photographs I decided not to chance my arm and move on with the intention of reaching Didcot Parkway for a few hours there.
A South West train 159102 was my mode of transport to Bath Spa to catch a First Great Western service toward Didcot.
South West Trains 159102
Whilst changing platforms I heard the announcement, “The 12.13pm First Great Western service to London Paddington has been delayed due to slippery track, and is expected at 12.25pm. I overheard a train dispatcher explaining to a few passengers that is was leaves on the track, ermmm I looked at the trees and 99.9% of trees were still green, good time of the year excuse for a late train was my thoughts. The train was extremely full, with very very few unreserved seats available, but I managed to secure a seat in the Quiet Coach. Again I found the seating to be very cramped, and despite the signs on the windows “Quiet Coach” there was still people talking on telephones and a group of ladies laughing out unbelievably loud, and I could hear the noise of someone with headphones on with music blasting, despite the rules, the Train Manager made no comment passing through the coach, had I paid for a ticket specifically for the Quiet Coach I would have been very annoyed. Well despite the moaning the journey wasn’t to bad and seemed a tad more bearable to have arrived at Didcot in sunshine. The first sight was the Network Rail Class 31 and train I had seen earlier in Bristol parked up but sadly not in full sunshine.
The following are just a small example of photographs taken the next few hours at Didcot. More will be able to be seen on my Railway Photograph web site.
The Pioneer Class 66 66001
First Great Western Turbo 166210
Cross Country Voyager 220012 travelling at speed on the avoiding line
The time was now getting close to be leaving for home, I noticed a bird of prey coming close and low, which I had presumed all day to have been a buzzard, but now it was close I could see it was a Red Kite, which was confirmed by a local train spotter, awesome I had never seen one and managed to capture a poor quality photograph just for the record. I will have to go again and look out for these for a good photograph with the zoom.
Well the body was getting weary and time to plan the journey home, the first train was for Cheltenham Spa via Kemble and Gloucester having not done this route, and with sun shining, I thought this would be a good option. First Great Western HST was again the mode of transport, and again my fears were confirmed there was very little room for stretching whilst sitting. It seems to me that First Great Western had taken the decision to remove most of the table seats and closed up the other seating with each carriage now only having one table seat on each side, the thought behind this was obvious to increase seating for peak travel trains, but to me the trains had gone from being one of the most comfortable trains to ride on to the by far the worse. Considering these trains are designed has long distance and high speed travel, their not a comfortable journey. I am by no means a very big man but I had to get up and stand and stretch a few times due to aching legs on a reasonably short trip.
Gloucester station was quiet and I took the 20 minute wait to sit and stretch my now aching legs. The Class 170 arrived and the first days trip was ended on a pleasant note of following the Severn Estuary in the last of the Days sunshine. Home to my bed with a bagful of wonderful photographs and memories some good some bad.
My Collection of Railway Photographs Old and New
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