29th April 2020

Reply from David Ellis
Regarding Harry Brown

Hello Mick
Fascinating article about "Harry Brown" by Phil Smith . To bring the article full circle you may like to add the following :-

Many Thanks David

Recent Photos & Musings
Clive Smith

Regards,  Clive Smith

​(1) A class 150 in drab GWR green livery is incidental really in my photo taken at the classic location of Cockwood Harbour between Dawlish Warren and Starcross. The train is the 13.35 Plymouth - Exeter St Davids on Sunday 26th April 2020. My job entails driving around south Devon a fair bit and I found myself on the A379 with time for a break and a cuppa with a train due. On a beautiful afternoon with sun directly behind me and my usual railway photography outings virtually non-existent, this was too good an opportunity to miss despite the subject matter. A 2+4 HST would have been better but I can't be choosy and I am lucky I am able to be out and about when so many others are not. Lot of cyclists around in the area and what better way at the moment to take your daily permitted exercise than a bike ride along the Exe Estuary Cycle Path - that is providing you live along the route. Copyright Clive Smith.

(2) 950001 crosses Bittaford Viaduct with the 2Q08 04.53 Bristol High Level Siding - Laira. After six weeks of superb weather during the coronavirus lockdown this was the first dreary day with persistent rain. I was planning to take my permitted exercise and walk the twenty minutes along the leafy local lanes to Wrangaton and photo it from the bridge there. However not wishing to get soaked and in line with my new sloth-like activity I dragged myself off the sofa and took this shot from my bedroom window on maximum telephoto before returning to the sofa to recover from my exertions and have another chocolate biscuit and look at old train photos. Copyright Clive Smith

Many thanks indeed, an amazing view from your bedroom window, and well timed, the bright yellow test train makes for a very interesting shot.

Harry Brown
Phil Smith

Dear old 'Harry Brown', a sand dredger. 1987, Copyright Phil Smith.

I must admit on receiving the above picture from Phil Smith I wondered what on earth this was to do with railways, we're not a ship site! However on looking up Google I found a most interesting video on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=316qhvUNp38 still not railways but there is a loose connection with Mr. Brunel's bridge and this again appears in the video - worth taking a look.

Clifton Suspension bridge which spans the Avon Gorge is one of the world's greatest bridges. It was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel who was just 24-years-old when he won the commission to build the bridge. ... The bridge's total span is 702 feet and it sits majestically 245 feet above the water below at high tide. 
​Also see https://www.cliftonbridge.org.uk/visit/history/engineering-past-and-present

Many thanks Phil.

Westbury
Andrew Thompson

The driver of 50011 Centurian looks back waiting for the 'right away' at Westbury. Copyright Andrew Thompson.