The "proud" in the title is in respect of the wreath carried on the smokebox upper "disc" bracket in tribute to the passing of David Shepherd; artist, conservationist and pioneer of steam preservation in the U.K., may his legacy live on.
Summer briefly returns to the Westcountry for the postponed running of UK Railtours, Atlantic Coast Express: London Victoria to Exeter with the outward leg on “Southern” metals and homeward via the Great Western. We pick up the action at Templecombe with its Art Deco “Control Tower” and Southern Green signage. It all looks a tight squeeze as 35028 cruises up the bank on single track between the trees to the sound of the church clock chiming 11 o'clock and culminating in a dramatic pass which is not as close as it appears! At the top of the bank the trees which blocked my view of 35028 back in July 2011 have now all been cleared (credit to “GC Met” for his recent upload showing the present situation). The sun can be the photographers best friend but also his worst enemy and so it proved here with a powerful sun straight into the lens creating almost impossible filming conditions, however 35028 has now opened the regulator and the wonderful sounds she creates is ample compensation for the challenging visuals. Heavy traffic on the A303 meant I was limited to a quick grab shot by the Umborne Brook of the assault of Honiton Bank but this gave me time to film the depart from Honiton after a scheduled wait for a passing service train where excitement is provided by young children as the big pacific passes beneath. Finally to Burlescombe and Whiteball Tunnel where the sun lays down one last challenge and once more the incredible sound of 35028 with open regulator almost relegates the visuals to second place.
22 сен 2017
