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Page contents © D Swan 2007
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These recordings are intended primarily as a
supplement to the photographs on this site. However, I hope that some of them do stand as works in their own right.
The recordings should, in any case, provide a bit of audible atmosphere to go along with the photographs. I hope also,
that with practice, the quality will continue to improve! Happy listening.
Instructions
The sound files are arranged in chronological
order with a listing at the top of the page summarising all the recordings. It is then just a matter of scrolling down
the page to find the date of the recording in which you are interested. After a short description is a box containing
a summary of the recording including time and size of the file and a thumbnail of the action if available. I`ve tried
to keep the files at a manageable size for all users to avoid major downloads but the trade off is a slight loss in quality.
All files are in mp3 format sampled at 64kbs.
In the summary box is a large CLICK TO PLAY link.
Click the link to launch the track in your default media player (ie Windows Media Player (WMP), the track should load and
play. Do ensure that your media player is configured to play mp3 files. In WMP go Tools/Options/File Types and
tick mp3. If that fails you can right click on the CLICK TO PLAY link, this will bring up a standard Windows dialogue
where you can select 'Save Target As' (Internet Explorer), 'Save Link As' (Firefox).. Selecting this option will bring
up another standard Windows 'Save As' box. You can then choose where you want to save the file; you can then download
the file and play it in your chosen media player whenever you like!
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20 January 2007 34067 Tangmere nr Winchfield
17 February 2007 35028 Clan Line departs Winchfield
17 March 2007 6024 King Edward I nr Shrivenham
04 April 2007 35028 Clan Line nr Theale
21 April 2007 35028 Clan Line departs Ascot and nr Lower Basildon
(2 runs)
28 April 2007 6233 Duchess of Sutherland departs Winchfield
and at Whitchurch (2 runs)
09 May 2007 850 Lord Nelson at Brookwood and Virginia Water
12 May 2007 35028 Clan Line at Micheldever
19 May 2007 850 Lord Nelson at Winchfield and near Micheldever
(2 runs)
26 May 2007 71000 Duke of Gloucester near Banc-y-felin, Carmarthenshire
29 May 2007 Vale of Rheidol no 8 Llywelyn
13 June 2007 850 Lord Nelson departs Farnborough
23 June 2007 850 Lord Nelson departs Eastleigh
07 July 2007 34067 Tangmere nr Abinger Hammer and Liss (2
runs)
21 July 2007 34067 Tangmere at Whitchurch
29 August 2007 34067 Tangmere at Theale Business Park
14 September 2007 35028 Clan Line nr Worting Junction
15 September 2007 34067 Tangmere nr Whitchurch
29 September 2007 35028 Clan Line at Micheldever
20 October 2007 35028 Clan Line departs Brookwood
01 December 2007 60009 Union of South Africa at Crofton and
Ascot (2 runs)
11 December 2007 30777 Sir Lamiel departs Basingstoke
18 December 2007 34067 Tangmere nr Shere Heath
20 January 2007
A bright, sunny but very windy day finds us at Potbridge near Winchfield
for this VSOE trip from London Victoria to Southampton E Docks with Tangmere in charge. In this cramped location beside
a bridge and the wind, we were never going to get very far today. 34067 approaches and whistles before passing under the bridge
in this brief clip. The loco seems to be taking it easy and is perhaps still being assisted by the diesel on the rear. The
following service train was definitely delayed due to the water stop.
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34067 Tangmere, Potbridge nr Winchfield
20 January 2007
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17 February 2007
A sunny day at Fleet seemed too good to miss, so a mad dash to
Winchfield followed, arriving as recently overhauled Clan Line is being serviced. Dull and cloudy at Winchfield
as 35028 opens the drain cocks, lets out a whistle and gets ready to depart, just as a service train pulls in to the
up platform. The rather large assembled 'gallery' on the up platform all shuffle along the platform as 35028 gets underway.
No diesel on the rear as 35028 heads away and is heard for sometime. However, only a short part is heard here as the
'gallery' noisily pack up their gear. 35028 was running a VSOE circular tour from London Victoria via Andover, Southampton
and Winchester. A still day and we hear 35028 quite well.
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35028 Clan Line departs Winchfield
17 February 2007
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17 March 2007
I wasn't going to put up this recording of 6024 heading towards
Swindon near Shrivenham with this Vintage Trains tour. We don't get the full benefit of the 'King' sound, but after
a few listens it's grown on me. The tour ran from Solihull to Tyseley via Didcot. Some noise from a photographer
climbing a wire fence is heard before 6024 clatters by in this brief clip. The real story came from the stop at Swindon.
Arriving at Swindon shortly after passing Shrivenham it was found that the 'King' had developed a hot
axlebox on the tender. Fantastic work by the support crew enabled the bearing to be changed in a siding at Swindon.
The loco then rejoined its train and continued its journey, incredibly only ninety minutes down. A tremendous performance
by all involved and a credit to the whole preservation movement.
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6024 King Edward I nr Shrivenham 17 March 2007
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04 April 2007
On the previous Saturday I had gone out to see 850 Lord Nelson
on its maiden tour since an extensive and leghthy overhaul. Having found a good spot South of Romsey, 850 was sounding
very evocative as it whistled its approach across some foot crossings. As the loco approached it started 'blowing off'
furiously and the recorded was somewhat marred! (And by a passing Romsey bound service too). I had better hopes
the following Tuesday for 35028 Clan Line getting away from its water stop at Theale. 35028 was returning
to London Victoria following a trip as far as Westbury on this VSOE tour to Bath and Bristol. We're down in the business
park but 35028 is soon heard approaching. As the loco passes Clan Line lets fly just like 850 and whistles
just for good measure. Well I guess I might as well include 850 too so you could compare them both. The tracks
are fairly quiet so I could fit in safety valves at work. Download just for curiosity really.
THE FOLLOWING TWO TRACKS CONTAIN SUDDEN, LOUD INCREASES IN VOLUME-
LISTEN WITH CARE AND PROTECT YOUR HEARING AT ALL TIMES. PLAY TRACKS QUIETLY AT FIRST TO LOCATE THE INCREASES IN VOLUME.
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Caution- this track has a sudden increase in volume!
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35028 Clan Line departs Theale
04 April 2007
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Caution- this track has a sudden increase in volume!
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850 Lord Nelson nr Totton
31 March 2007
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21 April 2007
A lovely spring day finds us on Platfrom 1 at Ascot. 35028 Clan
Line is being serviced. We hear a 'right away' whistle, 35028 whistles and the drain cocks blast as the loco
gets underway. Clan Line slips several times but driver Michael Hunt has full control as the loco passes us.
A huge train as usual for this VSOE trip from London Victoria to Oxford and return but given the slips I presume 67001 on
the rear was just idling. We can just make out the loco as it whistles away towards Reading.
If 3 1/2 minutes of struggling Bulleid isn't for you the next track
is less than a minute long. Out near Basildon on the Great Western main line on the return leg, 35028 blazes underneath
us and appears to startle an Owl!
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35028 Clan Line departs Ascot
21 April 2007
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35028 Clan Line near Lower Basildon
21 April 2007
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28 April 2007
Two tracks here from this 'Cuneo Centennial' tour from London Waterloo
to Yeovil Junction and return. The train was run in conjunction with The Cuneo Society to commemorate one hundred years
since the birth of renowned railway artist Terence Cuneo (1907 - 1996). The tour was hauled by LMS Princess Coronation
Class no 6233 Duchess of Sutherland. Due to last minute gauging issues 6233 would run as far as Salisbury before Class
57 diesel no 57601 hauled the tour to Yeovil Junction and back to Salisbury.
First up, I'd rushed from Fleet to Winchfield only to find Winchfield
looking like a 'Summer's Saturday', with platforms jammed with onlookers for the water stop of 6233. I fought my way
down to the end of the 'down' platform and set up quickly. Lots of action here then as an express passes, D of S
whistles and gets underway. Drama next as a service train pulls in to the 'up' side, this must have completely
eclipsed 6233 from all the photographers there. 6233 passes and is away to the shout of 'Give me that ball...'.
A quick fade and cut of about 20 seconds as the crowd start to disperse before we pick up the loco again heading away towards
Hook and Basingstoke whilst someone checks their digital snaps.
For the return trip we head off to Whitchurch and more drama.
We are just outside the station as 6233 heads up from Andover. As 6233 approaches the station a little 'Turbostar' to
Salisbury appears around the corner to the consternation of those gathered on the 'downside'. We first hear the 'Turbostar'
slowing for its stop then pickup 6233 which soon thunders past, completely obliterated to those on the 'downside'. 6233
then climbs away towards Overton and Basingstoke, sounding terrific and one of the highlights of 2007. We can make out
the loco until the 170 departs and we are hardly bothered by the light aircraft overhead.
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6233 Duchess of Sutherland departs Winchfield
28 April 2007
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6233 Duchess of Sutherland at Whitchurch
28 April 2007
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09 May 2007
A spell of dry settled weather had given way to wind and rain for
this Cathedrals Express tour from London Victoria to Bath and Bristol hauled by 850 Lord Nelson.
We catch up with 850 during a water stop at Brookwood on the return leg. Down in the car park for the departure we are
surprisingly free of extraneous noise as 850 whistles and gets underway. Lord Nelson makes a surefooted
departure in very damp conditions as it heads towards Woking. We can just make out the loco for a moment after
the stock has passed by.
A few minutes later we catch 850 again this time passing Virginia
Water. We hear the easy rhythm of 850 as it approaches and passes. As the loco crosses the junction with the Reading
line the final carriage causes some mighty flares on the damp 3rd rail with which the carriage is presumably in contact with.
We can then make out the faint sound of Lord Nelson accelerating out towards Staines.
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850 Lord Nelson departs Brookwood
09 May 2007
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850 Lord Nelson at Virginia Water
09 May 2007
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12 May 2007
I'd had a good result from Micheldever in the past and the station
was empty when I arrived. By the time Clan Line arrives, some 20 minutes down a huge crowd had gathered and
I had mics on the island platfrom whilst I tried for a picture from the disused 'up' platform. In the end I presume
late running 35028 is the cause of a platform alteration which is being repeated like a mantra as 35028 approaches.
We do however, get some impression of the immense power of the Merchant Navy Class loco as it boils past on its way to
Litchfield Summit, albeit in a terribly flawed recording.
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35028 Clan Line passes Micheldever
12 May 2007
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19 May 2007
Two recordings here of 850 Lord Nelson with 'The
Dorset Coast Express' from London Victoria to Weymouth and return. Firstly, a visit to Winchfield where 850 had stopped
for water. A Waterloo bound 'Desiro' express powers past as 850 gets underway and is soon heading
towards us and past our position in a nearby wood. 850 passes under the road bridge at the western end of the station and we
hear 850 again for a short time before Diesel 67019 brings up the rear. 850 didn't rocket away despite the waiting service
train and running some 30 minutes late, so I don't think the '67 was providing too much help.
Next, on the return leg, we are near a remote
road outside Micheldever Station. It's nightime but clear and calm with just a faint rumble from the distant A303. A car buzzes
by and we pick up the sound of 850 working up the grade. Lord Nelson soon clatters by, again some 30 minutes down,
hard at work although 67019 doesn't appear to be completely idle at the rear. 850 rounds the curve towards the station and
we hear a distant whistle as the train heads towards the tunnels at Popham. Overhead, Venus and a thin crescent Moon make
a lovely close pairing on this tranquil evening.
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850 Lord Nelson departs Winchfield
19 May 2007
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850 Lord Nelson near Micheldever
19 May 2007
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26 May 2007
A trip to Wales enabled me to catch up with 71000 Duke of Gloucester
heading 'The Southern Irishman' tour from Newport to Fishguard Harbour. With just a short 'window' to see
the train we are forced to find a local spot and we find ourselves in open country, on a minor road outside Bancyfelin,
Carmarthenshire for the return leg. On a dull but still day we hear the rural backdrop before picking up 71000 just
as a car hurries by. 71000 is in fine form as it passes although we suddenly lose the loco as it heads under the nearby
A40. A very nice, quiet, rural location making a change from the usually congested home counties. The
following day I waited, with many others, in pouring rain for 6024 heading up Cockett Bank in Swansea. Again, very short
on time, I had to leave after waiting 1 1/2 hours. 6024 ended up some 3 hours late but keep an eye on this site, we
may well find ourselves back in Swansea the same time as the 'King' sometime...
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71000 Duke of Gloucester near Banc-y-felin, Carmarthenshire
26 May 2007
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29 May 2007
Arriving late, delayed at the station, time for only the briefest
of visits and only able to find a position near the rear of the train. A trip to Aberystwyth to travel on the Vale of
Rheidol narrow gauge line ended up just a taster for these fascinating railways in Wales. So here is a tiny, on-board
clip, of no 8 Llywelyn heading for the summit at Devil's Bridge.
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VOR no 8 Llywelyn near Devil's Bridge
29 May 2007
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13 June 2007
Late on a Wednesday evening, 850 Lord Nelson is slowing
for a stop at Farnborough on the 'up' side. Just someone quietly taking a video nearby from our position on the
'down' platform, so looking okay. Then, well, a 'down' through freight piles past on the slow line causing a huge draught
and knocking the mike down. Many bystanders appear from nowhere and with 850 stopping for under a minute we do
well to get this recording, (and image). We join the action as 850 whistles and gets underway heading out into the darkness
under the Farnborough Road bridge. We hear the loco well although there is some brief 'chatter'. The recording
ends just before a 'down' express passes and 850 is lost in the night. Lord Nelson was returning to London Victoria with this Sunny South Special following
a trip to Weymouth and is about 50 minutes late at Farnborough.
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850 Lord Nelson departs Farnborough
13 June 2007
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23 June 2007
Helpful staff at Eastleigh Station advised that 850 Lord
Nelson was on time and heading for Platform 2 in what was always going to be an 'urban' track. 850 was returning
to Haywards Heath following a trip to Bristol. It's a fair, if dull, evening in Hampshire, just after a heavy downpour
and the light is fading. 850 is waiting for the 'off' as a aircraft heads for nearby Southampton Airport. A whistle
and we get underway. 12 coaches, no diesel and damp rails are no problem for this powerful and well driven machine and
850 is soon making good progress. A vehicle roars by on the Southampton Road but there is some 'chatter' as 850 rounds
the curve and heads away on the Hedge End branch.
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850 Lord Nelson departs Eastleigh
23 June 2007
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07 July 2007
Two tracks here from Tangmere at the head of the 'Southern
Phoenix'. This tour was run to commemorate the last steam hauled passenger service on the old Southern Region on July
9th 1967. The first leg of the tour ran from London Victoria to Guildford and we pick up the trip climbing west through
the North Downs near Abinger Hammer. It's a light aeroplane jamboree in the Downs today and some ropey old units are
up too. On a quiet and sunny morning they miraculously disperse as we pick up 34067 on the climb out of Dorking.
At 1 in 96 Tangmere runs past at full tilt, whistles as it passes under a road bridge and carries on climbing towards
Gomshall. Although we are some distance away, almost out of sight of the loco, the noise echoes all around the Downs,
stirring stuff.
After being diesel hauled from Guildford to Alton and then to Woking,
the tour headed for London Waterloo hauled by 34067 via a Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Woking loop. After seeing the tour
pass Fleet (with just a flurry of sound) I headed for a spot near Liss to catch the tour crossing the North Downs. A
lovely evening with a large field in which to set up. However, a large herd of cows meant recording from a spot
near a level crossing and a few photters. Tangmere arrives on time working hard up the grade towards Liphook.
Edited to remove much of the chatter, we catch most of the action in this short clip although we are somewhat bothered by
the whine of the crossing.
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34067 Tangmere, nr Abinger Hammer
07 July 2007
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34067 Tangmere, nr Liss Forest
07 July 2007
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21 July 2007
Extensive flooding in Southern England in the days previous to
this trip meant this tour must have been in some doubt. However, far in the distance we can just make out
the slight burble of something approaching. A look down the line and we see what appears to be an erupting
volcano heading towards us. 34067 Tangmere at the head of this 'Cathedrals Express' makes spectacular if steady
progress past our position, at Whitchurch, running about an hour late. Strangely, we hear nothing of the loco as it
continues to climb towards Overton. A somewhat odd recording this. 34067 was reported to have grazed a bridge
near Sherborne as it headed this tour from Minehead on the West Somerset Railway to London Victoria. The return was
due to be diesel hauled arriving sometime after midnight. A long day having left Minehead at around 7.00am.
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34067 Tangmere, at Whitchurch
21 July 2007
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29 August 2007
Although we have been to this location before, at Theale Business
Park, I don't recall catching Tangmere here. On a fine, late summer evening, 34067 arrived early for this
water stop at nearby Theale UGL and departed more than ten minutes ahead of its booked time. We pick up 34067 as it
is well underway and we can also make out the peal of bells from one of the two nearby churches. The loco makes good
progress past our position and away under the M4 road bridge. A couple of onlookers jump in their cars and rush away
before we catch the distant whistle of Tangmere as it heads towards Reading and London Victoria following this trip
to Bristol. 34067 had only run as far as Westbury where the train was diesel hauled to Bristol while 34067 was turned.
Having now lost the VSOE contract to 850 Lord Nelson it could be some time before we hear Tangmere on another
VSOE trip.
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34067 Tangmere, at Theale Business Park
29 August 2007
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14 September 2007
My quiet, rural location had been turned into a building site for Network
Rail engineering work. Running a private charter train we first hear evidence of the works before 35028 Clan
Line whistles its approach. 35028 makes a good note as it passes on the Salisbury line and heads towards the
flyover. We hear more engineering as a 'down' train passes on the Southampton line and finally hear a distant whistle
from 35028 as it approaches the flyover. 35028 was heading only as far as Salisbury before the train would continue
to Kidderminster diesel hauled (D1015). 35028 would later return to Stewarts Lane depot.
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35028 Clan Line passes Worting Junction, Basingstoke
14 September 2007
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15 September 2007
A fine summer evening just outside Whitchurch sees us catch 34067
Tangmere on the climb to Overton. 34067 was returning to London Waterloo with the 'Atlantic Coast Express'
following a trip to Exeter. As we pick up the loco we get a weak whistle before it heads past our position. As
34067 enters a heavily wooded section we suddenly lose the sound though. There is what appears an idle diesel at the
rear. With volume turned up you may just make out the flies bouncing off the microphone too...
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34067 Tangmere, nr Whitchurch
15 September 2007
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29 September 2007
This VSOE tour had been due to run to Whitstable but a late change
meant the tour would run a circular route via Basingstoke, Andover, Eastleigh and Basingstoke before returning to London Victoria.
Hauled by VSOE regular 35028 Clan Line we catch the tour at an unusually quiet and almost deserted Micheldever.
We hear a whistle as 35028 passes under the Andover Road bridge before it thunders past us on the island platform and away
towards the Popham Tunnels. We hear the loco approaching the first tunnel driven through the chalky hillside to the
north of the station. Although not heard here a couple of service trains followed 35028 up the climb, the first gliding
effortlesly along some two blocks behind.
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35028 Clan Line at Micheldever
29 September 2007
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20 October 2007
On the return leg of this VSOE tour from London Victoria to
Southampton E Docks VSOE regular 35028 Clan Line paused at Brookwood for servicing. With no
need for water the crew took the opportunity to service the loco and I just managed to get set up in the car park for the
departure. 35028 made an amazing sight as with steam from the safety valves towering into the night sky and cylinder
cocks blasting the loco got underway. We hear a whistle but can hardly make out the departure against the noise of the
steam but we hear 35028 approaching our position. Every 'drop light' in the support coach was occupied by support crew
members getting a great view of the wonderful scene. The safety valves stop and the loco heads off into the night.
The recording is somewhat truncated due to a car careering about whose occupants decided to pull up beside me and yell
something about a train.
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35028 Clan Line departs Brookwood
20 October 2007
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01 December 2007
A couple of recordings here as LNER A4 Class no 60009 Union
of South Africa takes a Cathedrals Express tour from London Victoria to Bristol and return. First, on a day of bright
sunshine but strong winds 60009 tears up the climb towards Savernake at Crofton. Just a brief taste as the sound was
whipped away by the wind but if you like the whistle its almost constant on this clip. Second, a choice of two
clips. Full or edited as the A4 arrives on a windy night in Ascot on the return leg. 60009 whistles as it enters
the station and briefly turns on the power to get along the platform. The A4 gets ready to depart (the edited clip cuts
out around 1 1/2 minutes of the loco simmering in the station). The A4 whistles again and gets underway. Several
slips on the damp and greasy track before 60009 finds its feet and powers away. We hear the loco for a short time before
the track ends when the sizable crowd make for the car door slamming session.
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60009 Union of South Africa, Crofton, 01
December 2007
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60009 Union of South Africa, at Ascot, 01 December
2007
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11 December 2007
I'd started the day with high hopes of getting some noise
from 30777 Sir Lamiel and 35028 Clan Line. 30777 passed by with hardly burble on the outward
leg of its tour from London Waterloo to Salisbury at Pirbright. 35028 appeared to be being pushed by the Class 67 Diesel
on the rear in the Surrey Hills so little joy there. Last hope 30777 on the return at a Basingstoke water
stop. I perhaps, rather naively, hadn't realised how busy the car park would be on the north side of the station.
So, slightly edited, we get a first listen of 30777 after overhaul making a very smooth departure with 12 coaches in tow on
a very cold but still evening.
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30777 Sir Lamiel departs Basingstoke
11 December 2007
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18 December 2007
Tonight we are deep in the North Downs for the return leg of this
Cathedrals Express tour from London Victoria to Winchester. It is a very dark and very cold evening near the summit
of the climb from Shalford. Only the first quarter moon occasionally illuminates the scene through breaks in the dense
fast moving cloud. In the distance we hear the sound of 34067 Tangmere as it heads up the climb.
34067 makes steady but determined progress and passes us close to the summit of the climb in a shallow cutting. 34067
falls silent for a moment as if pausing, breathless from the effort. Soon we hear Tangmere again, heading
towards Gomshall before silence returns to the evening. 34067 was steady but not too loud so be sure to turn up the
sound on this recording.
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34067 Tangmere, Shere Heath
18 December 2007
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