The Snowdonian. 19.5.07

[madhattie]

From SW Gen on Yahoo

EWS class 37s. Sat 19.5.07

1Z37

SEVERNTJN PASS 06:27
SEVNT UTG PASS 06:28
PILNING PASS 06:34
PATCHWAY PASS 06:38
BRISPKWAY 06:40 06:42
WESTRLY J PASS 06:47
YATE PASS 06:50


Returns via a different route.

[Rich_Eason]

Must have been mad.

Got up at o'crack sparrow o'clock (...on a Saturday!) and got myself down to Pilning to watch and hear the 37's climbing out of Severn Tunnel up towards Bristol.

Those of you have visited Pilning will know what I mean by it having its own Micro Climate of freezing cold winds and dark gloomy skies no matter what the weather was like when you left the house, and sure enough should have known better. A few shaky pics from where I was so cold!

[horace]

Mad, no, a dedicated anorak, yes we have all done this at some time in our lives, or probably many. At least it was not raining!!

The question is what it worth it ? The one thing the pictures do not show is the sound, the engines must have been going some, there is a fair old heat haze over the second shot, i bet it was a wonderful noise.

Oh by the way my understanding of the phrase relating to sparrows in the morning is not crack oh sparrow, but to be up at "sparrow fart" a much more descriptive terminology i think, there again what does a sparrow have in common with a 37, not a lot.

Rich, please keep getting up early to get these pics and post them here, it means the rest of us can stay warm in bed knowing that we will still get to see the pics we want to!!

[Rich_Eason]

The noise was really why I went. I always remember watching these climbing up the grade double headed with steel and ore traffic too and from S.Wales and sadly not a sight you get too see as often as once was.

A nice long blast of the horn as it exited the tunnel and the typical rythmic chugging growl you get to love was on good show this morning.

Do it again, yes, getting up so early...not sure, it must be someone else turn next time!

[mow]

If I got up to photograph diesels, I think my other half would be checking out how to section me for acting in an unbalanced manner. They are nice clear pictures of the double header. Liked the observation about the micro climate, I usually find that there is a howling wind. Any sign of the buzzards out there?

[Rich_Eason]

Any sign of the buzzards out there?

No not today, although when I was down there when the Black 5 was doing the rounds to Lydney the other week he was sat ontop the signal protecting the loop exit...

[mow]

If a sparrow had farted the buzzard would have reacted. Will post shots of the Halls later. Liked the shots of the 37s.

[gwrmad]

[quote="Rich_Eason"]The noise was really why I went. I always remember watching these climbing up the grade double headed with steel and ore traffic too and from S.Wales and sadly not a sight you get too see as often as once was.

My mother was born at Aberbeeg so Iwas brought up with these every day coming up the valley and before them the steam trains ,both making a wonderful sound!