Cathex Pad to CDF 22/11/2018

I note with surprise that this appears to be routed on the ML from Reading till it comes off for the water stop at Challow.

I guess all of the intervening stations have the fast line platforms gated off now?

 

I just opened the gate to access platform 1 at Cholsey.

Bitterly cold this morning meaning fantastic exhaust! 11 on, deisel unfortunately giving a slight push past Cholsey.

 

This FL path has been used a number of times recently. I tried to get to Didcot this AM but the road from Chislehampton was closed and delayed me too much. GRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I was speaking to a staff member at Elstree station where similar barriers exist a while back and he told me that the idea of the gates is not to absolutely ban access but to make anyone who is suicidally minded to think twice as they have to open a gate or climb over the fence and it apparently works quite well. The gates are not usually locked.

 

I think there is a gauging issue at one or more stations on the relief between Reading and Didcot East Junction. With N09 I was on a tour that was undertaken by a XC service on the relief whilst we were on the main. On another trip with 70013 we crawled through one station, (can not remember which one) at 5mph on the relief.

 

I thought that but at least two people did get onto the fast platform at Tilehurst today (I was on the island between fast and relief)

No. 9 was pulling well as she went through

 

My footage of the tour through West Drayton

 

Reading and Didcot this morning:

 

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=792495747755777

A quick shot from South Marston this morning. I hope you enjoy it!

 

South Stoke this morning. Edited to remove the overhead wires...

James

 

At Tilehurst

 

Couple of quick shots of 60009 at high speed through Didcot this morning, and powering past Cholsey this evening:

 

Nice pan!