34046 Padd to Worcester. 12/9/20

Or the first trespassing incident today, idiots on wrong side of a level crossing and a foot crossing earlier between Morton in Marsh and Evesham causing services to be delayed and now on the run up to Sapperton.
People will never learn, Network Rail will not tolerate the delays and and chaos caused. Unfortunately steam on mainline will be the loser.

 

34046 at Eckington Bridge on the return from Worcester.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/25640353@N05/50334800672/in/dateposted-friend/

 

No doubt they're still repairing their generator car, though that excuse is starting to wear thin.

 

They did well to find the location, it's like a jungle. Did they find their way to the last crossing?

 

Seems to be stuck at Milton Junction since 20:02.

 

Sounds like the great unwashed rather than tail enthusiasts. I wish local radio would stop publicising steam runs

 

Good to meet you today D1002 at the aforementioned noisy farm crossing. Glad you made it to the bridge in time. My shots are at that farm crossing then, River Severn at Worcester and two at Eckington.

 

Nice to meet you too. Shame about the crossing, but the racket from those sirens would have ruined a video. Must admit your photo is excellent, and proves what a good location it is.

 

I’m still trying to process just what happened at Sapperton this evening.

The Golden Valley is known for its evening light, this evening it was glorious. I was at the crossing just before the tunnel standing at a legal position of safety. A mate of mine passed word that the BTP were about and were monitoring every crossing after a number of fatalities (apparent reason Frampton crossing has closed). Braunton had reached Stroud and suddenly the BTP were at the crossing asking us all to move along for not using the crossing for its intended purpose. Three trespassers were then spotted at the tunnel mouth at which point the BTP requested the line be shut. My mate on top of the tunnel was, along with everyone else, also moved along. Unfortunately, after moving off to another location, it was discovered that a gent on top of the tunnel fell suddenly ill (is all I wish to mention)... having seen the twitter post it honestly seems insensitive giving the circumstances, and what was published was certainly an exaggeration of the events.

Braunton did eventually show, a few heavy slips towards the bottom of the bank bringing the loco to a near stand meant the diesel was thrown into life throwing out more exhaust than 34046! It turned into a fairly brisk entrance to the tunnel.

 

I had a similar incident with an over officious plod at a crossing, about ten years ago who told me that I was not allowed to loiter. The option was therefore to apply common sense or fir me to keep walking back and forth over the crossing. He got a call and had to attend a more urgent incident so I never did find out what he outcome would have been

 

What nonsense from the BTP, moving people on from a public access location 50+ foot above the tunnel !

 

I went to Frampton Mansell crossing because most of the line is now invisible behind tree growth with the intention of crossing to the north side of the line. There I met two BTP officers who told me no-one was allowed to cross there now as they have had 4 fatalities (probably suicides) there and fences have been erected to close it off. They also said that a woman had gone onto the track earlier and walked along the line - between the running rails!!!! - for about a hundred yards. There were cops everywhere and soon I and two locals were joined by more and more others who reported that they had been ejected from their spots by the police. The latter were saying that, even though the enthusiasts were outside the track boundary on a public foot crossing they were not "using it for its intended purpose". If true, this is a somewhat sinister extension of their powers, even if they have some justification as a result of the trespass situation.

 

The cops I spoke with at Frampton Mansell crossing said I could get to the other side of the crossing if I went over the top of the tunnel and walked round the track that leads back from there to the crossing! I'm far too old, fat and lazy to do such a thing so I stayed put.

 

The intended purpose is as a footpath to go from A to B. What they are saying is you can’t loiter. When I had my encounter with them I asked about a situation where I was tired and needed to rest. They didn’t seem to have an answer to that. As far as I can see, if they want to be silly and insist yoh kept moving, then it’s acceptable to keep walking back and forth over the crossing.

 

If my memory serves me correct, a local man in his Land Rover drove across the crossing without looking and was hit by a HST running down the bank, I think that was the most notable fatality, about 18 months ago.

 

So a victim of his own stupidity

 

Ouch . . . .

 

The trouble with "keeping on walking back and forth over the crossing" is that you might get mown down by a train; therefore by waiting at the crossing until a train has passed is the only safe thing to do . . . there's no law that states how many trains you can wait for to pass . . . therefore they should commend your attitude as it's the safe option.

 

Down by the Avon at Fladbury.

 

That’s a cracker Bob