2014.06.15 Moreton - Great Western Main Line electrification

On the way back from Cholsey I took scenic route through South Moreton and to my surprise I noticed first catenary masts erected along that stretch of the track!
There are only several so far, all on the south side of the track.
I also found very nice trainspotting spots and pleasant way back to Abingdon, so that was a great treat for Father's day :)

2014.04.05 Great Wester Main Line Lower Basildon - Goring - Cholsey

I had opportunity to have most of the day all for myself, so I grabbed the camera and went for a quest for good spots at the far east of Oxfordshire. Probably those places are well known, as there is very limited number of bridges along the line, however to know the location is only part of success: convenient parking space, time to get from a car to the place as well as options of framing can give (or take) extra points. That is also part of a plan to combine these findings into decent guide (which I kind of started long time ago with Denchworth and Kennington Junction ). Thus disclaimer: these photos are only to provide reference for location and possibilities - you need better weather, time and subject to make the most. However poor they may be though, this is the last season when these places look in that way, as the electrification works has seriously started and soon on that stretch of the line a new element - catenary - will appear, with all the consequences.

Lower Basildon - technically outside Oxfordshire borders, however trying to find
a decent place to capture bridge on Thames at Goring this meadow was too tempting.

 

165105+165103 1D27 London Paddington - Oxford see from bridge on the road leading to The Leatherne Bottel

South Stoke Ferry Road

South Stoke South Bank - unusual sight of Class 150

Reading Road at Cholsey - view on both sides from the road bridge.

Thames at Cholsey

Cholsey Cutting. It takes 10 minutes walk to get here but is well worth it.
There is a fence added to the bricked barriers , but it was modified by some spotters by adding extra openings.

2013.08.29 Exploring tunnels

The way back from recent job was not far from two railway tunnels: Wickwar Tunnel on the main Bristol to Birmingham line and Chipping Sodbury Tunnel on the South Wales Main Line.

The former I was more intrigued about, as expected to see some rolling stock I'm not used to - unfortunately class 158 I heard only once stopped the car, so managed to take quick shots only:

158955 1V94 Brighton - Great Malvern

 

Approaching Wickwar Tunnel 158955 1V94 Brighton - Great Malvern

 With my typicall luck all the goods trains in the timetable for that time weren't activated, and all that was left were good old Voyagers serving XC.

Wickwar Tunnel 1M45 Bristol Temple Meads - Manchester Piccadilly
There is a light at the end of the tunnel...

... belonging to 1V52 Glasgow Central - Plymouth

Wickwar Tunnel 1V52 Glasgow Central - Plymouth

1V53 Manchester Piccadilly - Bristol Temple Meads

And as I put long lens to get some different view, the next train appeared to be double set, and didn't fully fit the frame:

Wickwar Tunnel 1S49 Plymouth - Dundee

Wickwar Tunnel 1S49 Plymouth - Dundee

Chipping Sodbury Tunnel broyght 'classic' HSTs:

Chipping Sodbury Tunnel 1B37 London Paddington - Cardiff Central

Chipping Sodbury 1B37 London Paddington - Cardiff Central

Chipping Sodbury 1L65 Cardiff Central - London Paddington

Chipping Sodbury Tunnel 1L65 Cardiff Central - London Paddington

A 'dessert' for the end of the spotting:

Chipping Sodbury Tunnel 66167 Tilbury I.R.F.T (Ews) - Trostre Works

You've been framed

Because of location Radley seem to naturally be the most exploited trainspotting place for me - unfortunately it doesn't offer too many opportunities, so they need to be created - this time (23.05) I used the road bridge for framing.

And this yellow HST was the reason to be there -16.12 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Old Oak Common H.S.T.D. working (I presume) a test run:
Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail)  1612
Bromford Bridge                    1713
Solihull                                   1742
Leamington Spa                     1812
Kings Sutton                          1833
Oxford                                    1851
Reading                                  1931
Slough                                    1950
London Paddington         2035    2044
Northolt Junction                   2051
High Wycombe                      2123
Princes Risborough         2134    2147
Banbury North S.B.         2226    2237
High Wycombe                      2349
Northolt Park Jn                     0001
London Marylebone         0018    0026
Northolt Park Jn                    0038
Kensal Green C.Serv.Plt.  0119    0129
Old Oak Common H.S.T.D.  0139

2013.05.22 Denchworth: Winchester to Southampton Airport Parkway special

I quickly realized that to catch class 43 or 158 all one has to do is go anywhere near the track and wait - so not much fun. Chasing goods trains seem to be more exciting option (not so much when they do not appear where and when they should).

So once I found this info:
1042 Winchester to Southampton Airport Parkway
Runs WO on 22/05/2013 only
Wantage Road  1334-1356
it didn't take me long to decide to have lunch on the go and capture that mysterious train.

The decision was made easier as earlier I tried locations around Wantage Road anyway (nothing particularly good, but about that soon), and also found these photos : http://table158photography.weebly.com/uploads/8/2/1/2/8212554/dpp_2925.jpg
http://table158photography.weebly.com/uploads/8/2/1/2/8212554/dpp_2927.jpg

and couldn't quite remember such a view at Denchwort.

 Here is the expected train approaching, met by 1B35 London Paddington - Swansea:

When it got closer it appeared it is not a goods train, but some special - 67020 + 12 Pullman coaches + 67028

I have no idea what was that, maybe one day I'll learn how to dig up more information, for today only short timetable showing loop route of that train:
Winchester                                            1042
Southampton Airport Parkway             1052    1057
Salisbury                                    pass    1151
Chippenham                               pass    1257
Swindon                                     pass    1316
Didcot Parkway                                     1406    1408
Oxford Road Jn                                     1434
Winchester                                            1538    1543
Southampton Airport Parkway             1553

Search for the best trainspotting spot around Abingdon (1)

Inspiration comes from Thames Rail blog, which I appreciate because it focuses on freight traffic - and shows great photos!
So taking advantage of days getting longer and longer I'm on a crusaide for the best spot for train hunting around Abingdon.
Today's candidate is Denchworth (again - already covered in recent post):
+ the only distinctive landmark (Didcot Power Station) around on the horizon
+ good view from above and place to park a car
- quite remote (though not that much if going straight after work)
- class 43 HSTs only as passenger services

That view is going to be a 'classic'

And this is a nice option - I like the bends of the track and presence of the Stokenchurch BT tower.

What the White Horse can see..

Late spring allowed finally to think about some days out, and it's high time to prepare the little hiker for more challenging walks, so we headed off to Uffington. Unfortunately weather forcast traditionally failed, but still we had chance to avoid showers and see some nice landscapes.

 Between Uffington and Faringdon: the latter to the left from the Folly Hill.
Behind Brize Norton airfield.

 Fernham (Silver St.) and Kringel Wook

 Whitehorse Tipi Village and Great Coxwell

 As above, though from the car park

And the last view at Faringdon

Long time ago Faringdon was linked with Uffington with railway,
now however there is little chance to spot any train nearby ;)

Great Western Main Line

Beautiful Saturday afternoon spent exploring locations along Great Western Main Line between Groove and Uffington - very nice spots indeed, expect more photos from over there in the future.
Ubiquitous - as of now - class 43 HST may seem boring, but soon (if electrification goes as planned) will be memory only - as were the clouds from Didcot power station cooling towers, now leaving the sky intact.

For a change - duo of Class 66