Steam near Reading tonight?

Just had a text from a friend that he heard a steam train go past near Reading. Apart from the charter ban here at the moment I can't think what it could be. He was located near the line between Southcote Junction & Theale on the Berks & Hants. The only thing around is 45231 & the nearest point is Basingstoke, a bit too far to hear anything. He said he heard it whistle, I asked him if it was a hooter sound, his response was that it was a "parpy" whistle. The only thing that fits that description is something like a smaller LNER loco, B1 etc. Of course he may of been totally wrong & not a steam loco at all. Could be Tornado running early, there again not due in this area.
Any further thoughts?

 

There's a steam fair heading through that way, going to Streatham.. Could have been one of their traction engines.

 

Would a traction engine travel that distance under it's own steam? I presume you mean Carters Steam Fair.

 

About 40 odd miles at as an estimate.

 

Re ADB, it is Carters Steam Fair but they are based to the East of Reading near Maidenhead so wouldn't pass the area mentioned I wouldn't of thought.
http://www.carterssteamfair.co.uk/

 

Could be anything, I was having a liquid lunch at a pub alongside Shepperton Lock the other sunday, when a lone traction engine rocked up.

 

Tornado heading to NNR?

 

I mentioned this earlier. Totally different route unless they changed it, bit out of the way though.
http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t13/t0829p.htm

 

Just read how unlikely that is

 

If only there was still a connection at the Winchester end would be very likely

 

Still heading up for Saturday. NNR galas are great. sod it! Tornado will be around again

 

I didn't hear anything.

 

Not surprised if it was "LNERish" apart from A4's they have some pathetic whistles, particularly the A3/V2 type.

 

When I was working at Embsay many years ago, we had a visit from a small traction engine which was travelling from the Isle of Man to the Pickering Steam Fair under its own steam. And it was towing a camper van too! He had a make quite a few stops for water, and nearly called out the local police/fire brigade a few times when we couldn't find a handy hydrant or stream and thought he was going to go pop.

Richard

 

He still reckons it was a steam loco, sure he heard it "chuffing" & the usual train type noises, track noise etc. Not to mention the whistle, he knows the normal diesel horn sounds. Sounds if it was hauling stock as well.

 

Perhaps it was 4472 and 4771 then double headed.....FFS

 

Or a traction engine with a similar sounding whistle ?

 

lmfao......