FGW HST diversions via High Wycombe and SWML, Easter 2015

[hassaanhc]

Hello everyone

Me and my younger brother will be taking a trip on the FGW HST diversions this coming Easter. We are booked on Saturday 4 April on the 0800 from Paddington in First class as far as Taunton , arriving 1141, returning to Waterloo in Standard departing 1334 which arrives Waterloo at 1632.

Now, the day before, I am looking to photograph some of the HSTs on diversion. What locations along the SWML from Waterloo to Basingstoke as well as the Chiltern lines from South Ruislip to Banbury are your favourites? I know Berrylands is liked by some, you could manage at South Ruislip too. But are there any good bridges to photograph from, as those two locations the photos are from the platform.

And if anyone is looking for timings, departures from Paddington are here, or both departures and arrivals at Waterloo here (from which it appears a set or two are to be stabled at Clapham Yard ).

 

[James Wake]

Woking (the end of bay platform 3 looking towards London for good shots of country bound trains) and Weybridge are personal favourite stations for me, or from the platforms or road bridge at Fleet station.

 

[bb21]

The problem with Fleet is that when the HST comes through, there may be a stopper on the slow lines blocking the view.

 

[yorkie]

There are a group of forum members doing this on the same weekend if anyone is interested in joining us?

 

[NSEFAN]

Staying in the travelcard zones might be best if you want to see both SWML and NNML diversions.

There's a bridge at New Malden with good views of the SWML.

North Acton can provide a good shot with an HST and the Underground station in the background. Northolt provides a similar opportunity.

Finally, Wimbledon Park may provide an interesting shot if the HST gets sent on the up slow!

 

[168lover]

HSTs through my local(High Wycombe)...Yes please!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Hello everyone

Me and my younger brother will be taking a trip on the FGW HST diversions this coming Easter. We are booked on Saturday 4 April on the 0800 from Paddington in First class as far as Taunton , arriving 1141, returning to Waterloo in Standard departing 1334 which arrives Waterloo at 1632.

Now, the day before, I am looking to photograph some of the HSTs on diversion. What locations along the SWML from Waterloo to Basingstoke as well as the Chiltern lines from South Ruislip to Banbury are your favourites? I know Berrylands is liked by some, you could manage at South Ruislip too. But are there any good bridges to photograph from, as those two locations the photos are from the platform.

And if anyone is looking for timings, departures from Paddington are here, or both departures and arrivals at Waterloo here (from which it appears a set or two are to be stabled at Clapham Yard ).

Saunderton(Station after High Wycombe going north towards Banbury) is a very good station offering great views of trains coming from the London direction with a brilliant backdrop of the Chiltern hills.

 

[hassaanhc]

Thanks everyone for the replies! Some excellent suggestions here, many I'd not thought of!

Woking (the end of bay platform 3 looking towards London for good shots of country bound trains) and Weybridge are personal favourite stations for me, or from the platforms or road bridge at Fleet station.

Weybridge did occur to me shortly after my original post, but from the platform. However, I seem to have found a bridge to the country end of the station which has a good view.

The problem with Fleet is that when the HST comes through, there may be a stopper on the slow lines blocking the view.

Well spotted that one, or are you speaking from experience?

There are a group of forum members doing this on the same weekend if anyone is interested in joining us?

There is a chance I could bump into some of you on the Friday while taking photos, or maybe even on the trains on Saturday. I'm busy both Sunday and Monday.

Staying in the travelcard zones might be best if you want to see both SWML and NNML diversions.

There's a bridge at New Malden with good views of the SWML.

North Acton can provide a good shot with an HST and the Underground station in the background. Northolt provides a similar opportunity.

Finally, Wimbledon Park may provide an interesting shot if the HST gets sent on the up slow!

That actually is a good suggestion as I have a Z1-5 season . Ah yes, New Malden. Seen loads of photos taken from there, London-end view is good but country end a bit awkward. Also remembered there are various footbridges to the country end of Wimbledon that could do with investigating. The North Acton view is really good, will have to go there, but something lacking with Northolt though. Would have to be lucky with Wimbledon Park as they are booked to use the fast lines, so I'd probably give it a miss!

HSTs through my local(High Wycombe)...Yes please!
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Saunderton(Station after High Wycombe going north towards Banbury) is a very good station offering great views of trains coming from the London direction with a brilliant backdrop of the Chiltern hills.

Cheers, it looks like an amazing background so may go there, https://flic.kr/p/nFD5bQ. But the hourly service to/from there is putting me off! :P

 

[NSEFAN]

Also remembered there are various footbridges to the country end of Wimbledon that could do with investigating.

The footbridge closest to the country end of Wimbledon is not good for pictures, as it has had narrow mesh added and has high sides. The bridge further out provides a good view, however.

 

[RPM]

Haddenham & Thame Parkway is a reasonable location for photography, especially for up trains. Example below:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmar...r9q-bJDwqZ-e7g2Zf-7GP3XJ-7HCVD1-8fkrqK-9qrsW9

The footbridge can be used for a higher viewpoint:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmar...r9q-bJDwqZ-e7g2Zf-7GP3XJ-7HCVD1-8fkrqK-9qrsW9

 

[TEW]

There's a footbridge the country side of Woking station which I quite like, about a 15 minute walk from the station. I did go there to get some photos of HSTs last time they were diverted this way but unfortunately the weather was pretty awful that day.

London-side view:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/connernolan/6854377808/in/set-72157626408710635

Country-side view:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/connernolan/7000500303/in/set-72157626408710635

 

[DaveHarries]

Staying in the travelcard zones might be best if you want to see both SWML and NNML diversions.

NNML = ___ ___ Main Line I guess but what is the NN?

Dave

 

[Mojo]

NNML = ___ ___ Main Line I guess but what is the NN?

New North Main Line

 

[hassaanhc]

Just come back to this after three weeks . For photos I've currently decided on:
North Acton, although the sides of the Victoria Road bridge look pretty high to me, and I'm not the tallest of people! There is a footbridge in the cemetery off Chase Road (country end of station) that looks of interest.
High Wycombe. I've just found this one, the bridge on the A404 next to the station looks good, and also seems to have low sides. Good shot here facing towards London and also one in the country direction.
New Malden, using the footbridge mentioned above. Only 1tph in each direction to/from Waterloo (both due 5 mins apart as well here), vs 2tph each way via High Wycombe.

 

[168lover]

Just come back to this after three weeks . For photos I've currently decided on:
North Acton, although the sides of the Victoria Road bridge look pretty high to me, and I'm not the tallest of people! There is a footbridge in the cemetery off Chase Road (country end of station) that looks of interest.
High Wycombe. I've just found this one, the bridge on the A404 next to the station looks good, and also seems to have low sides. Good shot here facing towards London and also one in the country direction.
New Malden, using the footbridge mentioned above. Only 1tph in each direction to/from Waterloo (both due 5 mins apart as well here), vs 2tph each way via High Wycombe.

One thing to say about the bridge by High Wycombe station is that it conveys one of the busiest roads in and out of Wycombe so you'll probably only get pictures of trains going one way and also there will be alot of cars passing you so it would be very noisy!

 

[NSEFAN]

I've just found this one, the bridge on the A404 next to the station looks good, and also seems to have low sides. Good shot here facing towards London and also one in the country direction.

The bridge you mention at High Wycombe is indeed very busy. The footpath on the side which faces the station is also quite narrow so you'll probably find yourself having to move a lot for pedestrians. If you're at High Wycombe for a while, you could also head to the London-end of platform 1, which also provides a good view of the trains.

 

[Clip]

The London end of South Ruislip would be good as it comes up the slight hill

 

[168lover]

Just come back to this after three weeks . For photos I've currently decided on:
North Acton, although the sides of the Victoria Road bridge look pretty high to me, and I'm not the tallest of people! There is a footbridge in the cemetery off Chase Road (country end of station) that looks of interest.
High Wycombe. I've just found this one, the bridge on the A404 next to the station looks good, and also seems to have low sides. Good shot here facing towards London and also one in the country direction.
New Malden, using the footbridge mentioned above. Only 1tph in each direction to/from Waterloo (both due 5 mins apart as well here), vs 2tph each way via High Wycombe.

the top of the car park would also be good

 

[hassaanhc]

lt diIdn't turn out to be very successful in the end. Overslept so I left around 1215 instead of 0930-1000, needed to be back by 1630 at the latest, preferably 1600. Just about made the 1232 Turbo at Southall as it was 2 late, 165125+165101 to Ealing Broadway. Central Line to North Acton, went to both my chosen bridges to find that they came to the top of my head and were pretty much no use . Back to the station to try from the station footbridge, location isn't bad but shot wasn't executed well by me.



Off to Marylebone from there via the Lancaster Gate to Paddington walk, which seemed quicker than what Google Maps suggested. Bakerloo Line to a very busy Marylebone, where I was in two minds over whether I should go to High Wycombe or not. l decided to go, and after getting my Boundary Zone ticket (issued from Avantix as well!) I boarded 165038+165009 on the 1409 Bicester North, but not before seeing the 1406 Birmingham Moor Street was 8 cars as 168111+168110+172103. Got to High Wycombe at 1442, turned out that if I missed the 1445 (non-stop) back I'd have a 30 minute wait, so decided to go back instead, on 165001+165032 . Should have gone to South Ruislip instead :cry:. So that bit was a waste. Bakerloo Line to Paddington for 165105+165120 on the 1530 to Hayes & Harlington, getting off at Southall for the bus home, arriving 1558.

So I didn't get a chance to see the Waterloo side, and only one shot of the Chiltern side, with a wasted journey to boot. Hopefully I manage New Malden today (Saturday), and squish in South Ruislip on Monday.

 

[Kite159]

Sorry for stealing your thread Hassaanhc, but I went for a walk today to get some fresh spring air, camera in hand to take a few pictures of the diversions (click picture for larger 4320 x 3240 version)

1101 Penzance to London Waterloo




1410 London Waterloo to Penzance

 

[30907]

Assume these are at Grateley?

 

[Kite159]

Assume these are at Grateley?

They are.

 

[hassaanhc]

They are.

You've managed some good shots there! Also don't worry about using "my" thread . On Saturday I took a shot of my train at Paddington, then later at Waterloo of the train I got back from Taunton. Loads about taking photos or videos. I'm certain the one using a tripod at Raynes Park by the 10 car stop got bowled by a 4-car stopper departing . I didn't want to go to New Malden afterwards, and can't see the time today (Monday) either, need to get ready for a wedding.

 

[Kite159]

Thanks

The first picture was lucky, a dash across the road (thankfully there was no cars passing at the time), and standing on tip-toes to get the camera high enough over the bridge to take a picture when the service was rushing pass.
Would have got a closer picture of the Penzance bound service if my camera didn't decide it would eat its battery

 

[RPM]

I was surprised to see a 5 car class 165/1 formation passing me on the up road near Haddenham on Saturday morning. That is the first non-HST FGW diversion I've seen on the Chiltern line, although I believe the Sleeper did pass through a few years ago.

 

[RPM]

With 165007 stabled behind, 43093 stands at Banbury with the diverted 1C07 08.00 Paddington - Plymouth First Great Western service. 4th April 2015.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

rather quirky to see a down Swansea at Padd , listed as first stop Oxford !

 

[hassaanhc]

With 165007 stabled behind, 43093 stands at Banbury with the diverted 1C07 08.00 Paddington - Plymouth First Great Western service. 4th April 2015.

Just realised it was the service I was on! I was in 1st for the 3h41 journey from Paddington to Taunton . Power cars were 43092+43093, always find it amusing when a formation has consecutive numbers
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Meanwhile, my two photos from Saturday 4 April:


First Great Western 43092+43093 on the 0800 London Paddington to Plymouth by hassaanhc, on Flickr


First Great Western 43171+43152 on the 1000 Penzance to London Waterloo (arrive 1432) by hassaanhc, on Flickr

The dark blue is so difficult to photograph in anything less than ideal light :P. Still, had a good day. This Sunday the 12th it is the diversions again, at least this time I don't have anything else planned so can take photos!