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IET Driving Experiences on the Reading Simulator
First session 19th January -
Second session 2nd February
IET Simulator Experience First Session
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IET Driving Experience 19th January. Martin Stoolman has swapped his Train Manager role and is here driving the train out of Paddington on road 1. Ahead to the left is Westbourne Pk underground station on the Hammersmith & City line. (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 19th January. David Woodhead speeding along at 100mph is about to start breaking on the approach to Reading. (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 19th January. Geoff Warren waits at Tilehurst on the Up Main for clearance to proceed into Reading. (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 19th January. Nigel Colverson at the helm now pulling out of Reading. Passing over the Kennet Bridge heading towards Paddington on the Up Main. (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 19th January. Ron North is now in the driving seat taking the train through Sonning Cutting at full speed on it's way towards Paddington. (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 19th January. Luke Ripley going full bifters through Maidenhead on the Up Main. Probably the best way to get through Maidenhead (Mike Walker) |
IET Simulator Driving Experience ~ Second session
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IET Driving Experience 2nd February. Richard Preece was the first into the driving seat today, taking the train from Reading to London Paddington here speeding through Southall after facing rain hail and fog. (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 2nd February. John Beeney (GWR Driver Learning Manager (Simulation)) at the simulator control panel. We thank him for an interesting experience. (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 2nd February. Julian Heard passing Maidenhead on the way back to Reading. (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 2nd February. Mike Walker was at the helm between Didcot Parkway and Reading, completing an exercise to switch from diesel to electric power when John Beeney created a wheel bearing fire in one of the carriages somewhere around Cholsey.We decided that as the virtual passengers were jumping out of the train, we should do likewise and went off to the virtual pub by the line. (Richard Preece) |
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IET Driving Experience 2nd February. John Tuck at Stockley approaching Airport Junction (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 2nd February. Steve Sharp about to cross the Iron Bridge over the Uxbridge Road east of Southall. (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 2nd February. Laurence Hansford approaching West Ealing about to pass under 'Jacob's Ladder' footbridge, aka 'Wolfie Smith's Bridge' for those of a certain age... (Mike Walker) |
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IET Driving Experience 2nd February. Peter Hicks passing the West Coast depot at Southall. (Mike Walker) |
Watercress Line Spring Gala 28th April
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Watercress Line Spring Gala. Sunday morning and 45690 'Leander' is ready to take the 09:40 train from Alresford to Alton. This engine will soon be away for it's 10 year 'MoT' (Richard Preece) |
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Watercress Line Spring Gala. A rather disshevelled looking Battle of Britian class locomotive, MANSTON. (Richard Preece) |
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Watercress Line Spring Gala. This is how real carriages should look like, with comfy seats too (Richard Preece) |
West Somerset Railway Spring Gala 3rd - 6th May
This event was under a new team of organisers, and they pulled all the stops. There were five visiting locos -
LNWR Coal Tank 0-6-2T 1054
GWR 66xx 0-6-2T 6695
BR (WR) Modified Hall 4-6-0 6990 'Witherslack Hall'
BR (ER) B1 4-6-0 61306 'Mayflower'
East Moors Steelworks Hunslet 0-6-0ST 1873 'Jessie'
Operational attractions included early and late trains, goods trains with brake van rides, a 'parcels train', shunting at Washford yard, double-heading with unorthodox combinations, some limited stop services, some through running to/from Norton Fitzwarren, and more.
There were no major problems, so trains generally ran to time.
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West Somerset Railway Spring Gaia 24163 Bishops Lydeard 61306 passing 9466 with 10.45 Minehead-Norton Fitzwarren limited stop. (Tim Edmonds) |
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West Somerset Railway Spring Gaia 24166 Washford 'Jessie' shunting from 12.15 Bishops Lydeard-Minehead with 9466 (Tim Edmonds) |
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West Somerset Railway Spring Gaia 24203 Blue Anchor 6990 arriving with 08.03 Minehead-Norton Fitzwarren limited stop (Tim Edmonds) |
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West Somerset Railway Spring Gaia Visiting B1 no. 61306 Mayflower on the turntable at Minehead. (Martin Stoolman) |
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West Somerset Railway Spring Gaia On Sunday visiting 1888 built Webb coal tank no. 1054 is ready to leave Williton with the 11:02 goods from Williton to Bishops Lydeard. Brake van rides for the full journey to Lydeard were being offered. (Martin Stoolman) |
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West Somerset Railway Spring Gaia On Saturday 9466 and 6695 double head the 14:15 Minehead to Norton Fitzwarren on the approaches to Blue Anchor with evidence of the recent abnormal rainfall evident. (Maureen Stoolman) |
Mid Norfolk Steam Gala 28th - 30th June
The MNR were pleased to announce the long awaited return of their Steam Gala on 28th, 29th and 30th June.
To celebrate the reopening of their line between Dereham and Wymondham, they have been able to secure two guest steam locomotives to accompany the resident British Rail Standard 4MT 80078.
The first confirmed visiting loco is Great Western Railways 2-6-2 Large Prairie 4144, courtesy of Didcot Railway Centre. Built in September 1946, 4144 was withdrawn from service at the Severn Tunnel Junction depot in 1965 and was destined for cutting up until it was taken on for preservation in 1974. The rebuild was completed in 1997 and the locomotive was back in service in 1998.
The second visitor is the mighty Southern Railways 4-6-2 "Battle of Britain" Class 34072, 257 Squadron, appearing courtesy of Spa Valley Railway and Southern Locomotives Limited. Battle of Britain class 34072, designed by Oliver Bulleid, was built in 1948 and withdrawn from BR service in 1964. It was purchased by Southern Locomotives Ltd and restored at Swindon in 1990, moving to Swanage in 1992.
Also delighted to be able to announce that for the first time in the history of the Mid Norfolk Railway, we will be operating two trains which will both be running with matching Mk1 and Mk2 Maroon carriages.
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Mid Norfolk Railway Steam Gaia A rare sight these days, a 6 wheel milk wagon. The idea of having the 6 wheels was to reduce the rocking of the milk as it was being transported, so you didn't end up with yogourt at the destination. (Richard Preece) |
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Mid Norfolk Railway Steam Gaia A very adventurous timetable (MNR) |
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