157kb 174kb	17 January 2009 In the midst of a howling gale, 35028 Clan Line pauses in the night at Basingstoke with this VSOE tour. The second, rather unsatisfactory view here, is included to show the 'Union Castle Express' headboard the locomotive was carrying.  This headboard was carried by 35028 under the guise of 35002 Union Castle Line in 2000 for the Centenary cruise of Union Castle Mailships that sailed between Southampton and South Africa.  Acknowledgement is given to the highly informative 'The Ocean Liner Virtual Museum' website which you can find here.  However, I am unsure of the relevance of the headboard to this particular trip.
212kb	30 January 2009 35028 Clan Line catches some fine winter sunlight as it gets away from Guildford.  35028 was heading the regular VSOE circular tour from London Victoria. Catch 35028 thundering by on Sound 2009 here.
155kb	14 February 2009 35028 Clan Line crosses the River Thames at Staines with this VSOE circular tour from London Victoria.  The railway bridge built for an independent railway in 1856 was soon taken over by the LSWR.  In the background, just visible in the bottom right of the picture, is the road bridge carrying the A308.  The bridge was completed in 1832 and is constructed of white granite.
	15 April 2009 A classic view of 35028 Clan Line heading through a deserted Fleet with this VSOE tour.  The tour ran from London Victoria to Bristol and return (via Newbury).  35028 only ran to Westbury and return with the remainder diesel hauled.
197kb	02 May 2009 Rebuilt Merchant Navy Class 35028 Clan Line heads through Wokingham with this VSOE tour.  35028 was returning to London Victoria following a trip to Oxford.  In the background is the spire of St Paul's Church.  In the foreground is the line for Guildford and Reigate, whilst Clan Line heads for London via Ascot, Staines and Clapham Junction. A very confined and public location in Wokingham on a Saturday night means we couldn't get the sound gear set up.
176kb 206kb	16 May 2009 35028 Clan Line heads climbs through the Surrey Hills with the regular VSOE circular trip from London Victoria in these two views. A day of heavy showers and blustery winds but 35028 is climbing at a very steady pace.  The sudden arrival of a group of noisy walkers mean a sound recording for purists only on Sound 2009 here.
202kb	23 May 2009 Temporarily released from its VSOE duties 35028 Clan Line puts in a stunning display as dashes through Fleet, with plenty of whistle, pretty much on the limit of 75mph.  On a bright morning 35028 was hauling a tour from London Waterloo to Eastleigh via Andover and Southampton as part of the Eastleigh 100 celebrations.  35028 would lead the return to London Victoria via Havant, Guildford and Sutton.
202kb	22 July 2009 35028 Clan Line cruises through Fleet with this VSOE tour from London Victoria to Bristol and return. As usual for this trip 35028 would only run as far as Westbury.
	11 November 2009 35028 Clan Line charges towards Basingstoke as the fireman peers ahead into the gloom.  35028 was heading a VSOE tour from London Victoria to Bristol and return.  Clan Line would only run from Victoria to Westbury and return with the section between Westbury and Bristol diesel hauled.
	21 November 2009 A dark and gloomy November day sees 35028 Clan Line working the climb towards Savernake, heading through Kintbury on the 'Berks and Hants' line.  Making another rare departure from VSOE duties 35028 was heading 'The Merchant Venturer' from London Waterloo to Bristol and return.  The tour was diverted via Kensington, Acton and Slough on the outward leg due to a flood damaged bridge at Feltham.
	19 December 2009 A last look at 2009 sees 35028 Clan Line in suitably volcanic action attacking the climb through the snow covered Surrey Hills at Gomshall.  35028 was working the regular VSOE circular route from London Victoria via Guildford. 35028 sounds great but too much extraneous noise means we don't have anything to listen to from this trip.

192kb 187kb	14 February 2009 Our first look at newly built A1 Class locomotive 60163 Tornado.  Not a preserved locomotive but a brand new machine.  The first main line steam locomotive to be built in the UK for almost 50 years.  You can read the amazing story of this project by the 'A1 Steam Locomotive Trust' here.  On its first main line run on 'Southern' metals we catch 60163 heading through Farnborough on the outward leg of a circular trip from London Waterloo via Andover and Eastleigh.  In the far top right of the image we can just view the very top of the church tower of St Michael`s Abbey. Second, on the return leg, 60163 pounds through Farnborough as the large crowd view this exciting occasion. Tornado ran another trip on the same day.  This time an evening circular tour following the regular VSOE route via Woking and Guildford from London Victoria.  The tour ran after dark but you can catch some sound from the trip as the loco climbs through the Surrey Hills on Sound 2009 here. Finally, you may like to watch a short BBC video of the day's events by following the link here.
176kb 169kb	16 May 2009 Early on a very wet and blustery morning at New Barnet 60163 Tornado rages north on the first leg of 'The Coronation'.  Departing Kings Cross at 7.25am, 60163 was a last minute replacement for the failed 60019 Bittern.  60163 took the tour to York before handing over to 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley on the three day tour to Scotland.  60163 would haul the final leg back to London on Monday 18th May.  In the second view some of the support crew enjoy the action as 60163 heads through the station. Despite the terrible conditions we manage to catch a 60163 as it tears by on Sound 2009 here.
179kb	18 June 2009 Running around 90 minutes late 60163 Tornado gets away from Theale in the late evening with this 'Cathedrals Express' tour.  The tour had been diesel hauled from London Victoria to Minehead on West Somerset Railway on the outward leg with 60163 on the return.  60163 was reported to be having brake problems but a huge crowd waited to view the A1 class loco nevertheless.   Despite the crowd and blustery conditions we manage to get some sound which you can listen to on Sound 2009 here.
169kb	21 June 2009 With just a hint of exhaust A1 Class no 60163 Tornado works through the South Downs near Chalton with this 'Cathedrals Express' tour.  Tornado worked a circular route from London Waterloo via the South Western Main Line to Eastleigh before returning via Havant and Woking. On a busy day for 60163, Tornado hauled another tour in the evening from London Victoria to Folkestone and return. We manage to capture some interesting sound which you can listen to on Sound 2009 here.
	15 August 2009 In a repeat of the 18 June run A1 Class no 60163 Tornado worked a circular route from London (Victoria) via the South Western Main Line to Eastleigh before returning via Havant and Guildford with a 'Cathedrals Express'. Two views here with the first at Winchfield followed by a view from the climb near Liss.  At Winchfield, 60163 runs steadily along the fast line.  On the 1 in 80 climb from Liss 60163 is working away almost effortlessly.  Little exhaust and very little sound despite 13 coaches and a diesel (not working).
	13 September 2009 60163 Tornado crosses Hurstbourne Viaduct on the outward leg of this 'Cathedrals Express' trip from London Waterloo to Exeter.  The tour would return only as far as Clapham Junction due to the train being too long to arrive at Waterloo.
	07 November 2009 60163 Tornado pounds through the Surrey Hills near Shere with 'The Thames Tornado'.  This tour began diesel hauled at Ealing Broadway for the run to Gloucester.  60163 then took over to return to London Victoria before the tour was diesel hauled back to Gloucester. Listen to 60163 heading by on Sound 2009 here.

195kb 146kb 145kb	21 February 2009 With a rare day time working towards London, 34067 Tangmere looks fine in the winter sunshine as it charges through Winchfield in the first view here.  34067 was heading 'The South Western Express' from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo and return. The second view sees the equally rare evening 'down' working for 34067.  First, waiting at Winchfield as the support crew service the loco and second, a dramatic overall view from Winchfield as the train prepares to depart. From our position on the Odiham Road bridge Class 47 no 47787 is pushing hard on departure and no sound to speak of really.
167kb	04 May 2009 SR Battle of Britain Class no 34067 'Tangmere' crosses Battledown Flyover near Basingstoke with 'The Royal Wessex'. 34067 was returning to London Waterloo having earlier departed from Swanage. 34067 had hauled the first through steam tour to Swanage since 1967 on Saturday 2nd May and remained at the line to haul the return leg of 'The Royal Wessex'. The outward leg from London Waterloo had been Diesel hauled by Class 47 no 47245. A blustery, dull evening in Hampshire and no worthwhile sound from 34067 to report.
164kb	05 July 2009 34067 Tangmere manages to blow a smoke ring as it leaves Woking with this 'Cathedrals Express' trip.  34067 was heading for Exeter before returning to London Waterloo.   Our location is York Road Bridge and the second image shows a message to others about a tour in 1998.  In the days before extensive Internet forums the message pertains to a tour by 34027 Taw Valley with a trip form London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour.  (Source - UK Steam)   We do get some sound despite a confined location which you can listen to on Sound 2009 here.
162kb	09 July 2009 The view from Hook as 34067 Tangmere heads by with a 'Sunny South Special' for Weymouth.  The return trip to London Waterloo departed Weymouth some 1 hour 45 minutes late due to a problem with the banking diesel required for the climb of Upwey Bank.  In the event 34067 made the climb unassisted with 11 carriages in what must have been a quite staggering performance!  The trip had originated at Clapham Junction.   34067 made up time and arrived back at Woking around an hour late but still put in a storming departure.  Listen on Sound 2009 here.
	19 August 2009 The final 'Sunny South Special' of the year finds late substitute 34067 Tangmere running in place of  70013 Oliver Cromwell. 34067 is depicted here just after sunset as it heads for Basingstoke near Micheldever.
	28 November 2009 This was the first through steam tour from Swanage since 1966.  34067 Tangmere at the head of trip is seen here at Winchfield during a water stop on the return leg from London Waterloo. In quite atrocious conditions you can listen as 34067 makes a very steady departure from Winchfield on Sound 2009 here.
	10 December 2009 Under a stunning winter sky 34067 Tangmere climbs towards Gomshall at full tilt beneath Ranmore Common.  In the first of these three views 34067 is on the outward leg of a 'Cathedrals Express' trip from London Victoria to Oxford. Second, on the return trip, a couple of views from Shalford.  34067 pauses for water before attacking the climb back over the downs. Listen to some sound from the trip on Sound 2009 here. Dec 2009: The final image here I didn't notice at the time and was taken as something of a test shot.  It's probably worth including though and shows 34067 a few seconds before the first view in this series.
	17 December 2009 About 30 seconds after the departure of the 11.44 to Basingstoke from this platform and being chased down by the 11.05 Waterloo to Weymouth express, 34067 Tangmere tears through Winchfield with a 'Cathedrals Express'.  34067 was heading for Sherborne and Yeovil Junction before returning to London Waterloo.  As 34067 passes the noise is terrific but didn't carry at all so another luckless day for sound.

165kb	01 March 2009 On a dreary Sunday morning 70013 Oliver Cromwell leaves Slough with this 'St David's Day Special' from London Paddington to Newport and return.  The Windsor and Eton Central shuttle service stands in the bay to the right of the picture.    Although in the middle of a busy town 70013 comes storming by and you can listen to scene on Sound 2009 here.
168kb	02 April 2009 Just as the sun begins to break through 70013 Oliver Cromwell makes a fine sight as it heads this 'Cathedrals Express' tour through Longcross.  70013 was heading for Bristol before returning to London Victoria.   70013 sounds good and you can listen to the loco on Sound 2009 here.  You can listen to action from the controversial return leg there too.
195kb 177kb	13 April 2009 Two views here of 70013 Oliver Cromwell with this 'Cathedrals Express' tour from London Victoria to Yeovil Junction and return.  The tour helped mark the 150th anniversary of the 'Portsmouth Direct' railway line and the tour ran via Haslemere and Petersfield on both legs.  Small ceremonies took place at several places along the route as the tour passed through. On the outward leg we catch 70013 on the 1/80 climb towards Haslemere on Witley Bank in the first view here.  Second, we are in Liss at dusk as 70013 makes for Liphook and Haslemere on another 1/80 climb on the return leg.  From a standing start at Liss 70013 is really working hard here and there is good action from this and the outward leg on Sound 2009 here.
	16 July 2009 70013 Oliver Cromwell with this 'Cathedrals Express' tour from London Victoria to Worcester and return charges through Tilehurst on the outward leg.  In a brave and commendable piece of routing 70013 is seen here running on the 'fast' along with the 125mph HST's.   The lack of exhaust belies the ferocity of the passing Britannia class loco which you can listen too on Sound 2009 here.
	30 July 2009 As night falls at Merstham Station 70013 Oliver Cromwell powers through with this 'Cathedrals Express' tour.  70013 was returning to London Victoria following a trip to Portsmouth Harbour.    The Britannia class loco sounds good as it climbs from Redhill to Merstham Tunnel on Sound 2009 here.
	13 August 2009 70013 Oliver Cromwell climbs through the Surrey Hills with a 'Cathedrals Express' tour from London Victoria to Oxford and return in these two views.    First on the outward leg 70013 approaches Gomshall following a huge slip but recovered well and is going well again here.   Second, and still in fine form, 70013 heads through the evening near Shere on the return.

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18 July 2009 With a 'Hogwarts Express' headboard 5972 Olton Hall runs along the Great Western Main Line near Purley.  5972 was running from London Paddington to Oxford with the return being diesel hauled.   A very short clip of the passing 'Hall' is on Sound 2009 here.

09 August 2009 With 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe hauling the regular 'Shakespeare Express' for Vintage Trains we catch a ride from Stratford-Upon-Avon to Birmingham Snow Hill and return in this short series.   First, having arrived at Snow Hill following a points failure at Hatton Junction 5043 runs around its train.  5043 is seen here ready to depart for a tender first run back to Stratford.   Second, we pass the signalbox at Bearley Junction heading for Wilmcote.  The line to the right is taken on the outward leg from Stratford and leads to Hatton Junction.   Next, we pass what is presumably the 'home' signal for Wilmcote on a line still possessing some semaphore signalling.  A sight long since vanished around regular North Hampshire section of the old LSWR.   Finally, at Stratford 5043 prepares to depart on its last trip of the day back to Snow Hill.   An extensive sound track of the journey can be found on Sound 2009 here.