2. Railways

Lower Basildon to Didcot

Isambard Kingdom Brunel's brilliantly laid out road to Bristol via Didcot runs by the town of Lower Basildon and in steam days Goring water troughs were near here. Two sets of lines are present, the original broad gauge trace is discernable as the gap between the the two lines, the "six foot", is wider than the later set of lines. Can you tell which is which? 4/4/2006
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  • Lower Basildon on Brunel's superb road to Bristol from London is a new location for me and an up working approaches with 43171 at the front of this HST working 1A07 0635 Weston Super Mare to Paddington.

    Lower Basildon on Brunel's superb road to Bristol from London is a new location for me and an up working approaches with 43171 at the front of this HST working 1A07 0635 Weston Super Mare to Paddington.

  • A down working catches the morning sun and 43036 leads, with 43025 on the rear, 1B12 0815 Paddington to Cardiff service.

    A down working catches the morning sun and 43036 leads, with 43025 on the rear, 1B12 0815 Paddington to Cardiff service.

  • A late running freight approaches on the up relief road. 66123 works 6L46 2341 Bridgend to Purfleet Ford parts train. It is running over 5 hours late.

    A late running freight approaches on the up relief road. 66123 works 6L46 2341 Bridgend to Purfleet Ford parts train. It is running over 5 hours late.

  • A class 180 Adelante unit speeds by on the down main line with 1D13 0822 Paddington to Oxford class 1 working. The unit is 180110 with its front cover over the coupler missing.

    A class 180 Adelante unit speeds by on the down main line with 1D13 0822 Paddington to Oxford class 1 working. The unit is 180110 with its front cover over the coupler missing.

  • An engineers working rumbles by on the up relief with 66056 hauling a lengthy rake of 40 MHA and MTA wagons loaded with ballast.

    An engineers working rumbles by on the up relief with 66056 hauling a lengthy rake of 40 MHA and MTA wagons loaded with ballast.

  • This section of the GWML sees a great deal of freight workings each day, the largest number are operated by Freightliner. 66504 comes by on the down relief with 4M50 0725 Southampton to Hams Hall freightliner service.

    This section of the GWML sees a great deal of freight workings each day, the largest number are operated by Freightliner. 66504 comes by on the down relief with 4M50 0725 Southampton to Hams Hall freightliner service.

  • The sun is coming round fast as the morning wears on. A down service speeds by with 180109 working a 1D15 0852 Paddington to Oxford. Oh how I wish it was a class 50.

    The sun is coming round fast as the morning wears on. A down service speeds by with 180109 working a 1D15 0852 Paddington to Oxford. Oh how I wish it was a class 50.

  • A well loaded freightliner, powered by 66574, heads towards London with 4O14 0435 MX Garston to Southampton. The train will bear right at Reading West Junction for Basingstoke and onto Southampton.

    A well loaded freightliner, powered by 66574, heads towards London with 4O14 0435 MX Garston to Southampton. The train will bear right at Reading West Junction for Basingstoke and onto Southampton.

  • Another down working to Oxford is formed by DMU's 165117 and 165107. This pair are on the down slow and their service is 2N19 0833 Paddington to Oxford.

    Another down working to Oxford is formed by DMU's 165117 and 165107. This pair are on the down slow and their service is 2N19 0833 Paddington to Oxford.

  • Class 220 Voyager unit 220005 heads for Reading on the up fast with an unknown working.

    Class 220 Voyager unit 220005 heads for Reading on the up fast with an unknown working.

  • On the left is a FGW high speed train on 1L34 0730 Swansea to Paddington. Whilst on the up relief is a class 220 Voyager with a Virgin Cross Country service, 1O06 0600 Leeds to Bournemouth.

    On the left is a FGW high speed train on 1L34 0730 Swansea to Paddington. Whilst on the up relief is a class 220 Voyager with a Virgin Cross Country service, 1O06 0600 Leeds to Bournemouth.

  • EWS have made inroads into Freightliners core business and operates container trains of their own, they call them Intermodals. 66244 forges on for Southampton with 4O53 0430 Wakefield Europort to Southampton.

    EWS have made inroads into Freightliners core business and operates container trains of their own, they call them Intermodals. 66244 forges on for Southampton with 4O53 0430 Wakefield Europort to Southampton.

  • This was a real surprise, FM Rail's Nanking Blue liveried 47712 heads west with 5Z47 Old Oak Common to Minehead ECS. The stock is the SRPS mkI train from Bo'ness.

    This was a real surprise, FM Rail's Nanking Blue liveried 47712 heads west with 5Z47 Old Oak Common to Minehead ECS. The stock is the SRPS mkI train from Bo'ness.

  • It is hard to identify the Voyager units due to the small unit number located low down on the front side valance. This unknown set is working 1M07 0846 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly.

    It is hard to identify the Voyager units due to the small unit number located low down on the front side valance. This unknown set is working 1M07 0846 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly.

  • A piece of On Track Plant trundles along the up relief. 73112 is a Plasser and Theurer 09-3X-D-RT tamper and liner.

    A piece of On Track Plant trundles along the up relief. 73112 is a Plasser and Theurer 09-3X-D-RT tamper and liner.

  • A well loaded frieghtliner from Southampton to Lawley Street comes by during a period of cloud. The service, 4M55 0858 off, is rostered to a work stained 66537.

    A well loaded frieghtliner from Southampton to Lawley Street comes by during a period of cloud. The service, 4M55 0858 off, is rostered to a work stained 66537.

  • 66544 hurries west light engine following a job which look it to Reading West Yard. Now it heads off to its next working.

    66544 hurries west light engine following a job which look it to Reading West Yard. Now it heads off to its next working.

  • Another engineers working heads for Eastleigh. 66203 is in charge of 6O26 1019 MX Hinksey Virual Quarry to Eastleigh Yard and is conveying new concrete sleepers.

    Another engineers working heads for Eastleigh. 66203 is in charge of 6O26 1019 MX Hinksey Virual Quarry to Eastleigh Yard and is conveying new concrete sleepers.

  • The Adelante unit seen earlier returns from Oxford with 180109 forming 1F34 1032 from Oxford to Paddington.

    The Adelante unit seen earlier returns from Oxford with 180109 forming 1F34 1032 from Oxford to Paddington.

  • Obtaining the set numbers on Voyagers is notoriously hard, but this has been identified as 220034 working 1O08 0724 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth cross country.

    Obtaining the set numbers on Voyagers is notoriously hard, but this has been identified as 220034 working 1O08 0724 Manchester Piccadilly to Bournemouth cross country.

  • An unidentified HST set tears along the up fast with a working from west Wales. The train details are 1L40 0730 Carmarthen to Paddington.

    An unidentified HST set tears along the up fast with a working from west Wales. The train details are 1L40 0730 Carmarthen to Paddington.

  • 180101 is running between five and ten minutes late with service 1L22 0929 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington. This train would have taken in the Golden Valley route via Swindon and Stroud.

    180101 is running between five and ten minutes late with service 1L22 0929 Cheltenham Spa to Paddington. This train would have taken in the Golden Valley route via Swindon and Stroud.

  • 43172 leads a Paignton bound train with power on over the level grades at Lower Basildon, a few miles from Goring and Streatly station. This was the location of the Goring water troughs. This HST set would not be using them as it approaches with 1C24 1030 Paddington to Paignton.

    43172 leads a Paignton bound train with power on over the level grades at Lower Basildon, a few miles from Goring and Streatly station. This was the location of the Goring water troughs. This HST set would not be using them as it approaches with 1C24 1030 Paddington to Paignton.

  • 165105 heads west on the down relief with 2N26 1003 Paddington to Oxford.

    165105 heads west on the down relief with 2N26 1003 Paddington to Oxford.

  • The second up service off Weston Super Mare nears the overbridge at Lower Basildon with powercars 43139 and 43125 on 1A12 0930 off to Paddington.

    The second up service off Weston Super Mare nears the overbridge at Lower Basildon with powercars 43139 and 43125 on 1A12 0930 off to Paddington.

  • 165107 forms a class 2 Oxford to Paddington stopping service, 2P43 1045 off, as an unidentified pice of OTP scurries westward.

    165107 forms a class 2 Oxford to Paddington stopping service, 2P43 1045 off, as an unidentified pice of OTP scurries westward.

  • An unknown class 221 Super Voyager shoots past on the down main with 1S61 0946 Bournemouth to Edinburgh.

    An unknown class 221 Super Voyager shoots past on the down main with 1S61 0946 Bournemouth to Edinburgh.

  • A final shot at Lower Basildon, near to the location of Goring water troughs in GWR and BR years.

    A final shot at Lower Basildon, near to the location of Goring water troughs in GWR and BR years.

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    EWS have made inroads into Freightliners core business and operates container trains of their own, they call them Intermodals. 66244 forges on for Southampton with 4O53 0430 Wakefield Europort to Southampton.
    This was a real surprise, FM Rail's Nanking Blue liveried 47712 heads west with 5Z47 Old Oak Common to Minehead ECS. The stock is the SRPS mkI train from Bo'ness.
    It is hard to identify the Voyager units due to the small unit number located low down on the front side valance. This unknown set is working 1M07 0846 Bournemouth to Manchester Piccadilly.