Mainline Steam spotted betwixt Fleet and Farnborough...
Discussion
No photo at the moment, but my son might have got one.
He was stranded at work on Wednesday by a bus that never turned up, so I leapt into action (and into a half-polished car) to fetch him home in time for food.
As I drove to Fleet I passed large gaggles of often camera-equipped folk thronging any and all vantage points over the railway, so I suspected that something interesting was afoot. Anyway, I collected him, and headed home, when we glimpsed the tell-tale signs of smoke and steam under the railway bridge next to Fleet Station.
I got a wiggle on up the Farnborough Road, and when we passed other groups of 'spotters' it was clear that the train had not yet passed. Keen to see whatever it was for myself, I looked for a safe place to pull over. I chose a small residential side road, which allowed safe parking, although not in an ideal viewing spot. Then we waited under a tree for what seemed like an age.
Eventually, after a westbound freight train and an eastbound commuter service had passed, we heard the tell-tale sound of something quite different straining the rails. Then, into sight in the gap in the trees, along came The Cathedrals Express, hauled but no less than 60103 'Flying Scotsman' itself!
Thank providence that the bus didn't turn up because if it had I think we'd both have missed seeing such an impressive sight "in the wild" - him on the bus too early to see it, and me polishing a mediocre car that was in dire need of a shine-up. And our viewing spot didn't turn out to be too bad either. Looking up at the engine as it steamed past on the slight embankment with BMW HQ on t'other side of the line.
Taster from last year's event to try to make up for the lack of photos or video this time... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnhmxe9kMPU ...I was distinctly under prepared if I'm honest, as it was only meant to be a quick 'dad-duty' trip!
He was stranded at work on Wednesday by a bus that never turned up, so I leapt into action (and into a half-polished car) to fetch him home in time for food.
As I drove to Fleet I passed large gaggles of often camera-equipped folk thronging any and all vantage points over the railway, so I suspected that something interesting was afoot. Anyway, I collected him, and headed home, when we glimpsed the tell-tale signs of smoke and steam under the railway bridge next to Fleet Station.
I got a wiggle on up the Farnborough Road, and when we passed other groups of 'spotters' it was clear that the train had not yet passed. Keen to see whatever it was for myself, I looked for a safe place to pull over. I chose a small residential side road, which allowed safe parking, although not in an ideal viewing spot. Then we waited under a tree for what seemed like an age.
Eventually, after a westbound freight train and an eastbound commuter service had passed, we heard the tell-tale sound of something quite different straining the rails. Then, into sight in the gap in the trees, along came The Cathedrals Express, hauled but no less than 60103 'Flying Scotsman' itself!
Thank providence that the bus didn't turn up because if it had I think we'd both have missed seeing such an impressive sight "in the wild" - him on the bus too early to see it, and me polishing a mediocre car that was in dire need of a shine-up. And our viewing spot didn't turn out to be too bad either. Looking up at the engine as it steamed past on the slight embankment with BMW HQ on t'other side of the line.
Taster from last year's event to try to make up for the lack of photos or video this time... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnhmxe9kMPU ...I was distinctly under prepared if I'm honest, as it was only meant to be a quick 'dad-duty' trip!
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