Class 50s on Bristol branches - June 3rd

[madhattie]

Great pics everyone. Rich, I've always been a Canon fan, but you're making me a Nikon convert!

The tour was very well organised, right down to making up time whenever we lost it. (well, mostly anyway) The locos were superb, even the incident involving the 50 being fed and watered at Latteridge simply added to the day. The stewards were also excellent one and all, worked hard all day long. Even spotted David Cole, chief of operations at the Avon Valley Railway in an orange jacket.

Great fun being thrown around the coach as we slipped and slid at various locations. Even better was doing all the tunnels in pitch darkness until someone complained and made them turn the lights on. gits

Didn't do the final run to SB as I wanted to get home before the kids went to bed. Unfortunately First stuffed up my replacement rail bus service and I legged it back onto the platforms in time to miss the next train to Filton Abbey Wood by seconds.

Finally got home thanks to some incredibly erratic driving by a taxi driver who was clearly on several tabs of speed and cocaine. Thanks first! Danger money as well as my fare next time please. (better yet, just run the trains)

[madhattie]

Off to bed now, more tomorrow!

[eclipseandy]

Hi all
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all who turned out, it was a great day i really enjoyed myself could not fault anything.
I love the fact we ran out of grub and we had to raid tesco to restock buffet , well done that man! It's quite funny really i work in Tesco !

The guy who gave us his hose pipe to refill the 50-Thank You
Andy has gone to bed , whacked but i wanted to see any phots and this site came up trumps .
Fab shots . That is the only problems being on a tour you never gets these shots.
No doubt we will have some good follow up press and we will count up the total and post here.
We have arrived home covered in dirt, my son has fallen into bed looking like he has been up a chimney.
Lots of lovely people on board and all happy to dig deep , we hope we gave you a good day out all at a good price.
I am delighted for Andy and ALL the people that have helped get this to work, even if they were not in the paper or mentioned by name.
All were up for it and put lots of time and effort in to this day for months and weeks beforehand. I have worked flat out the last 4 days on this when he said do the raffle and man the phone and i m wasted , so i take my hat off to all who have been working this out for months, not just my Andy.The seating plan was a huge job for example and was done well.
Thanks also for all the companies that gave so much help and gave up their services for free.
Also all who donated prizes, i had comments from passengers saying "what a lot of prizes"So well done if you won and sorry but a massive thanks to all who bought tickets, i will have a hell of a job counting that all .
It will all go to a great and worthwhile cause.
I know as his wife that he is touched and will treasure this day forever and i thank you all for that.
I am not going all girly or soft, I promise.
Also it took me back 15 years or so , to the good old days !
I met Andy on a fifty so i love them!
The nicest comments we had was that it was well run and one even said it was their best railtour ever and he had been around for years.
So we take that as a huge thumbs up and it has been a worthwhile event and all the phone calls and hitches were worth it , and boy were there some a can assure you .

It was wonderful to catch up with a few old faces, may be tempted to come out a bit more? Hey we do not need too , we will just arrange our own tour!

Thank you for all the help this site gave to our cause.

Best day out i have had for years ever though i worked and did not have a drink!
Same time next year ?
May ask andy that after he has done the 3 peaks this week......!
Anyway i am sure Andy will have his own words to say , but i just wanted to add my comments .

Cheers
Dawn Spencer - the woman selling raffle tickets. proud wife of Andy , the man who dreamt up this idea ! Also Jess and Harry

[MKC]

Excellent Pics - looks like a cracking day

[Rich_Eason]

Good pics everyone! and well done to the organisers....

@BristleGWR - You must have been at Pilning at the same time as me?!

@Hattie - You know Nikon makes sense! I seem to recall a similar incident with a Bristol Taxi driver demonstrating he can do 110mph down the M32...I made the mistake of mentioning I was late for an appointment..

@Portishead Prowler - Good luck!

Glad you all had a fab day, was excellent watching the 50 climbing up through Pilning, even if it was having a bit of help from the back

Certainly at FAW first pass in the morning there was a good turn out to see it go through with lots of interest.

[horace]

Looks like you all had fun, and great pics.

Hattie forget the Cannon, go Nikon, i did and do not regret it at all.

[madhattie]

Nikon? The D40x is a very tempting bit of kit. I do like the ability to make movies that my old point and shoot gives me though. Going DSLR is a tough one for me .

Anyway, here's the timings for today's (mon) light engine movements of the two 31s and the 50. As posted by Captain Doss on Railgen.

BRISTOLTM 13:39
BRISTOLEJ PASS 13:40
DR DAYSJN PASS 13:41
STAPLTNRD PASS 13:42
FILTON AW PASS 13:47
BRISPKWAY PASS 13:48
WESTRLY J PASS 13:55

[Rich_Eason]

So Hattie did you stick you arm out of the window (?) in the way that alot of people seem to have enjoyed doing?

Climbing up Pilning with the 50 at the front, I notice in one of the pics I got a chap actually wearing goggles with his head out the window.

[Portishead Prowler]

Climbing up Pilning with the 50 at the front, I notice in one of the pics I got a chap actually wearing goggles with his head out the window.

I did see him when I was walking down the train, he was out of the window the whole way. :lol::lol:

Rather alarmingly, you could open the doors while the train was moving.

[Rich_Eason]

Climbing up Pilning with the 50 at the front, I notice in one of the pics I got a chap actually wearing goggles with his head out the window.

I did see him when I was walking down the train, he was out of the window the whole way. :lol::lol:

Rather alarmingly, you could open the doors while the train was moving.

Perhaps he likes the taste of Insect and Exaust and the feeling of windburn?!

[gwrmad]

Ah a real enthusiast!

[carpetcone]

I just want to add my bit. A great day out made more special for me as it was based on Bristol, which doesn't seem to happen that often.
My first trip to Westerleigh and Tytherington.
I hope the scratches on the carriages polish out and that WCRC were not too bothered?
I seemed to have sampled most of the drinks available on board....then I found the cider in the brake van!

Lets hope it made money for the charity and good luck to those doing the 3 Peaks Challenge. I've done it a few times, but always driving the coach!

Steve

[madhattie]

Steve (carpetcone) sent me the following photo.



Fantastic or what! Cheers Steve, I'm using this on the index page for a bit

[madhattie]

Some more of mine.









(At Parkway with Portishead Prowler approaching! )

Next three at Tytherington.







This was the only window hanging I did. To be honest I think the gricers would have burst out crying if I'd have asked them for the window space again

[madhattie]

One other thing worth mentioning about this tour was that the organisers provided an excellent quality little book explaining everything to be seen on the route the tour was taking. There was more info packed in this thing than most of the books on a library shelf. Whoever put it together did a thoroughly good job.