7th October 2021

Arrived a bit later
Swindon Steam
Colin Pidgeon

​These are Colin Pidgeon's photos of the two steam specials  yesterday.  He has given me permission to pass them on.
[1] 35028 awaiting departure.for Bristol
[This train came back through Swindon 135 minutes late because of loco preparation issues earlier.]
[2] Taken from the eastern end of platform 4 is of 46100 about to pass through platform 4.
[5] 46100 passing through Swindonon the centre road on its return journey. with a SAPHOS TRAIN special to Kiddermnster.
Kind regards to you and Valerie,
Ken

35028 Clan line about to depart Swindon for Bristol Copyright Colin Pidgeon 6th October 2021

Royal Scot at Swindon Copyright Colin Pidgeon 6th October 2021

Royal Scot at Swindon Copyright Colin Pidgeon 6th October 2021

Many thanks to you Colin and to Ken for passing the pictures on.
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Delays to steam specials explained
Colin Pidgeon

​Friends,
These comments are from my good friend - Colin Pidgeon.  His help is very much appreciated.  Thank you, Colin.

46100
The original delay was due to cows on the line which had been hit by A Cross Country voyager which in turn blocked the route for the water stop at Hinksey Yard.
46100 had been held North of Oxford station while this was being cleared up.
A decision was made for an emergency stop for water behind 35028 Clan Line which was also taking water in the loop between Wantage Road & Challow.
[Hence the comment I heard yesterday on platform 4 of Swindon station that BOTH STEAM SPECIALS were one behind the other in that loop.].
On its return, 46100 was through Swindon right time at 16.29 but arrived at Kidderminster at 21.36 instead of 21.23.


N.B. 35028 returning
I saw a pair of white headlamps and heard 35028 go through about 135 minutes late due to a loco preparation delay at Bristol.  

Has anyone any more details of those steam specials, please?
Well done to all,
Kind regards and keep safe,
Ken

P.P.S.  An update
Here Is some additional information,from Lawrence Walters who reports.

There were some 48 cows on the line at Kennington, all trains in each direction were delayed .None of the cows were hit. 46100 was held at Oxford platform 3 to remove a passenger who was taken ill . My train to Didcot was cancelled twice, I got to Didcot on a Worcester to Paddington service that stopped at Didcot, an unusual morning. 

Many thanks to Lawrence Walters for the update.

Pennies - a bit of light relief
Ken Mumford

Ken writes :-  Before Vic Mitchell passed away - a sad loss to the railway world - he gave me permission to use material from his various books for my PowerPoint presentations - this permission I always acknowledge  in those presentations. I trust you will find these statistics of interest
I trust that you will find of interest.  Ken

Pennies. From Ken Mumford with permission from the late Vic Mitchell.

Thanks Ken, and of course the late Vic Mitchell.
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Yesterday at
Swindon
Ken Mumford

Swindon - Clan line looking great passing through. Copyright Ken Mumford

46100 Royal Scot at Swindon 6th October 2021. Copyright Ken Mumford,

The driver waits for the 'off', 46100 Royal Scot at Swindon 6th October 2021. Copyright Ken Mumford

Many thanks Ken.
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Seeing Red at
Dawlish
Ron Kosys

A delightful picture, the sun illuminating those famous cliffs at Dawlish and to cap it all quite a choppy sea and high tide as 47472 powers along the sea wall on the 30th September 1989 with the 1A42 the 09.05 Saturdays Only Paignton to Paddington. Copyright Ron Kosys.

A perfect picture though perhaps a damp walk along the sea wall - many thanks Ron.
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A study of
Penzance
Clive Parker

Penzance in 1974. Copyright Clive Parker .A Western waits in platform 4, maybe D1013 with the red nameplates. A bubble car waits further duty in the background. . Adding age to the scene are the gas holders alongside the harbour.

Many thanks Clive.
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